Experiencing God's Love Through Scripture and Family
Summary
Summary:
Tonight, we gathered to explore the profound truth of God's love and the role of scripture as His love letter to us. We began by acknowledging the presence of our guardian angels, a testament to God's enduring love and protection. This love is further expressed through the Bible, a diverse collection of stories and teachings that reveal God's nature and His plan for humanity. The Bible is not just a historical document but a living testament of God's love, filled with various genres that communicate deeper truths about our relationship with Him.
We discussed the importance of understanding the Bible as a safe and reliable source of divine wisdom. It's crucial to recognize that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament, both passionately in love with His creation. Through stories like "Finding Nemo" and "Taken," we illustrated how God relentlessly pursues us, much like a loving parent seeking a lost child. This pursuit is a reflection of His unyielding love and desire for us to know Him intimately.
We also emphasized the role of parents as the primary educators of their children's faith, encouraging them to engage in family faith formation. This responsibility is a sacred vow made during baptism, highlighting the importance of nurturing a child's spiritual growth at home. By teaching our children to pray and listen to God's voice, we unlock their innate ability to communicate with their Creator.
Finally, we engaged in a prayer exercise to experience God's voice and love personally. Through simple questions, we invited God to reveal His love and the unique gifts He has placed within us. This practice not only deepens our relationship with God but also equips us to bless our children with His love and wisdom.
Key Takeaways:
- Guardian Angels and God's Love: Our guardian angels are a testament to God's love, created to guide and protect us throughout our lives. They remind us that we are never alone and that God's love is constant and unwavering. This divine companionship is a reflection of God's desire for us to be with Him eternally. [02:07]
- The Bible as a Love Letter: The Bible is a diverse collection of stories that reveal God's nature and His love for us. It is not merely a historical document but a living testament of God's desire to communicate with us. Understanding the Bible as a safe and reliable source of divine wisdom allows us to experience God's love more fully. [07:09]
- God's Relentless Pursuit: Like the stories of "Finding Nemo" and "Taken," God relentlessly pursues us, demonstrating His unyielding love and desire for us to know Him intimately. This pursuit is a reflection of His passion for His creation and His willingness to go to great lengths to bring us back to Him. [20:24]
- Parents as Faith Educators: Parents are the primary educators of their children's faith, a sacred vow made during baptism. Engaging in family faith formation at home is crucial for nurturing a child's spiritual growth. By teaching our children to pray and listen to God's voice, we unlock their innate ability to communicate with their Creator. [05:19]
- Experiencing God's Voice: Through prayer, we can experience God's voice and love personally. By asking simple questions, we invite God to reveal His love and the unique gifts He has placed within us. This practice deepens our relationship with God and equips us to bless our children with His love and wisdom. [49:42]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [00:49] - Opening Prayer
- [02:07] - Guardian Angels
- [03:47] - Family Faith Formation
- [07:09] - The Bible as God's Love Letter
- [09:28] - Understanding Biblical Genres
- [11:37] - The Truth of the Resurrection
- [14:21] - The Safety of Scripture
- [19:56] - God's Consistent Nature
- [20:24] - God's Relentless Pursuit
- [25:42] - The Story of Salvation
- [31:15] - Hearing God's Voice
- [39:12] - Learning to Love
- [46:04] - Can You Hear God's Voice?
- [49:42] - Experiencing God's Love Through Prayer
- [51:44] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Isaiah 43:4 - "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life."
2. Luke 15:4-7 - The Parable of the Lost Sheep
3. Matthew 18:10 - "See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
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Observation Questions:
1. How does the sermon describe the role of guardian angels in our lives? ([02:07])
2. What analogy is used in the sermon to illustrate God's relentless pursuit of us? ([20:24])
3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of understanding the Bible as a "love letter" from God? ([07:09])
4. What responsibility do parents have in the faith formation of their children, as discussed in the sermon? ([05:19])
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of guardian angels reflect God's love and protection for us, as mentioned in Matthew 18:10? ([02:07])
2. In what ways does the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:4-7) parallel the stories of "Finding Nemo" and "Taken" as used in the sermon? ([20:24])
3. How does Isaiah 43:4 illustrate the depth of God's love for us, and how is this reflected in the sermon? ([23:03])
4. What does the sermon suggest about the consistency of God's nature between the Old and New Testaments? ([19:56])
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt the presence of your guardian angel. How did it impact your understanding of God's love and protection? ([02:07])
2. How can you view the Bible more as a personal love letter from God rather than just a historical document? What steps can you take to deepen this understanding? ([07:09])
3. In what ways can you, as a parent or mentor, actively engage in the faith formation of the children in your life? What challenges do you face, and how can you overcome them? ([05:19])
4. Consider a moment when you felt lost or distant from God. How did you experience His pursuit of you, similar to the stories of "Finding Nemo" or "Taken"? ([20:24])
5. How can you incorporate the practice of asking God simple questions in your daily prayer life to experience His voice and love more personally? ([49:42])
6. What specific fears or obstacles prevent you from fully trusting in God's safety and love? How can you surrender these to Him in prayer? ([05:01])
7. How can you use the insights from this sermon to bless and encourage others in your community, especially those who may feel distant from God's love? ([13:51])
Devotional
Day 1: Guardian Angels as Divine Companions
Our guardian angels are a testament to God's unwavering love and protection. They are divine companions, created to guide and protect us throughout our lives. This companionship is a reflection of God's desire for us to be with Him eternally, reminding us that we are never alone. The presence of guardian angels serves as a constant reminder of God's love, which is steadfast and unchanging. They are a symbol of His commitment to our well-being and His desire for us to experience His love in every moment of our lives. [02:07]
"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone." (Psalm 91:11-12, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a time when you felt protected or guided in an unexpected way. How might this have been an expression of God's love through your guardian angel?
Day 2: The Bible as a Living Testament of Love
The Bible is not merely a historical document but a living testament of God's love for humanity. It is a diverse collection of stories and teachings that reveal God's nature and His plan for us. Understanding the Bible as a safe and reliable source of divine wisdom allows us to experience God's love more fully. It communicates deeper truths about our relationship with Him and serves as a love letter from God, inviting us to know Him intimately. By engaging with the Bible, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's love and wisdom. [07:09]
"For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a passage from the Bible that has spoken to you recently. How does it reveal God's love for you personally?
Day 3: God's Relentless Pursuit of His Creation
God's love is relentless, much like a loving parent seeking a lost child. Through stories like "Finding Nemo" and "Taken," we see how God pursues us with unyielding love and a desire for us to know Him intimately. This pursuit is a reflection of His passion for His creation and His willingness to go to great lengths to bring us back to Him. God's relentless pursuit is a testament to His love and His desire for us to experience a deep and meaningful relationship with Him. [20:24]
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt distant from God. How did He pursue you and draw you back to Him?
Day 4: Parents as Primary Faith Educators
Parents are the primary educators of their children's faith, a sacred vow made during baptism. Engaging in family faith formation at home is crucial for nurturing a child's spiritual growth. By teaching our children to pray and listen to God's voice, we unlock their innate ability to communicate with their Creator. This responsibility is a reflection of God's love and His desire for us to pass on His wisdom and love to the next generation. Parents play a vital role in shaping their children's faith and helping them develop a personal relationship with God. [05:19]
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6, ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate a new faith-building activity into your family's routine this week to nurture your children's spiritual growth?
Day 5: Experiencing God's Voice Through Prayer
Through prayer, we can experience God's voice and love personally. By asking simple questions, we invite God to reveal His love and the unique gifts He has placed within us. This practice deepens our relationship with God and equips us to bless our children with His love and wisdom. Experiencing God's voice through prayer is a powerful way to connect with Him and understand His will for our lives. It allows us to experience His love in a personal and transformative way. [49:42]
"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21, ESV)
Reflection: Set aside time today to ask God to reveal a unique gift He has placed within you. How can you use this gift to bless others?
Quotes
1) "How many of you have a guardian angel? You can all raise your hand. Cause you got one. Whether you like it or nothing. And sometimes people are like, well, I gave my guardian angel a name and I'm like, well, first off, he's not your pet, okay? Your guardian angel was created way before you were created. And he was he or she, it, the thing of angel, they don't have gender, they're like in heaven, they were created by God and then they were purposed from all of time for you. The only thing, the only thing that they do in this life be with you. That is how much God loved you when he created you." [02:07] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "We love being priests, at least we particularly do. We love Jesus, we love giving our life to the Lord and letting him do what he wants to do. And we love being able to communicate that love to other people because it's Jesus's love to you. But we are nothing the primary educators of your children, you know that? Who is the primary educators of your children? Yeah, you are. That's right. Can you just say we are yeah, you are. Say it with some pride there. We are the primary educators of our children, particularly in the faith." [04:33] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Can you just say God has a love letter and it's written to me and it's called the Bible? Woo. Yeah, the Bible. How do you say, how do you say library in Spanish? Anybody know Biblioteca? How do you say Bible in Spanish? Bibia. Biblio. How do you say it in other languages? Bibia. Same thing. So what is the Bible? It's a library. Of what? Of stories." [07:09] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "The God in the Old Testament is the same God as the God of the New Testament. Amen. Yeah. You may not understand it because that's what we've been taught, but the God of the Old Testament is the same God as the God of the New Testament. Where do we have. Where can we get that? Finding Nemo. Anybody ever seen it? Nobody? Finding Nemo. Let me say that again. I didn't think it was a different language. Anybody ever seen finding Nemo? Okay, you all have children. That's why you're here. I expect that you've seen finding Nemo." [19:56] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "That the God of the Old Testament is about vengeance and violence, and the God of the New Testament is about love and gentleness and butterflies and rainbows and unicorns. No, it's the same God, and he's ferociously in love with you. He's fervently in love with you. In the book of Isaiah, he says, I would trade nations for you. I will wipe out countries for you because of my unconditional, unrelenting love. I will trade nations for you. You are worth more than nations. That's how much you're worth." [23:03] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "The reality that there's a God, and I'm going to live my life in accord with that, and then I die and find out that there's not. Well, at least I lived a pretty darn good life because the people who follow a lifestyle of godliness are actually happier than people that don't. The other option, I live my life like there is no God. And then I find out that there is, and then there's punishment, there's eternal fire. That's just basic philosophy. That's called Pascal's wager." [38:12] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "The thing I love most in this life, besides Jesus, it has to do with Jesus, is helping other people encounter the voice of God. Because there was a long time in my life where I didn't hear his voice. I didn't believe it was possible. I went on a retreat and I asked the Lord for that grace. I begged him for that grace. God, I just want to hear your voice. I just want to know you're real. Because it's hard to believe that you're real when I see all the chaos around me." [48:37] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "How do I know if this is God's voice or if I'm just making it up? We'll get to that. All right. All right. So we're going to start off with the first question. We're going to ask God a question. Close your eyes. Or if you don't want to close your eyes, that's okay. Don't look at me, though. I want you to look at Jesus up there. If you're looking at your phone, you can put your phone down. You can look up Jesus up there, or close your eyes, whatever you prefer. And I want you to say out loud with me, say, Jesus, do you love me? And wait for the first thing that you heard." [56:06] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9) "If there's nothing else you do as a father or a mother, bless your children every night. Simple blessing is this. I take my thumb. Everybody show me your opposable thumbs. Hey, thumbs up. Thank you. I did a great job. Thank you very much. Thank you. This opposable thumb filled with power. Say, my thumb is filled with power. My thumb is filled with power. You don't believe that, but that's okay. We'll get there. And what do we do? We put it on their forehead and we say, I bless you. Say this. I bless you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen." [14:49] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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