Experiencing God's Nearness: Love, Grace, and Transformation
Summary
### Summary
In today's worship, we explored the profound and mysterious nature of God, likening it to the vastness of the sea. Just as the sea has a near end that we can experience and understand, so does God have a near side that we can encounter in our daily lives. This near side of God is where we find His love, grace, peace, and power. Through personal anecdotes and reflections, we were reminded of the many ways we can experience God's presence in our lives, from the comforting embrace of a parent to the joy of children playing together.
We also delved into the concept of the Incarnation, the moment when God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate expression of God's nearness to us. The story of Don Quixote and Aldonza was used as a metaphor to illustrate how God sees us not as we are, but as we can be through His love and grace. Just as Don Quixote saw Aldonza as Dulcinea, God sees us as beloved and worthy, despite our flaws and failures.
The sermon concluded with a call to recognize and embrace the near end of God in our lives, allowing His love and grace to transform us and flow through us to others. We were encouraged to be aware of God's presence in our daily interactions and to let that awareness guide our actions and relationships.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Near End of God: Just as we can experience the near end of the sea, we can also experience the near end of God. This is where we encounter His love, grace, peace, and power in our daily lives. It's a reminder that while we may never fully comprehend the vastness of God, we can still experience His presence in meaningful ways. [29:14]
2. The Incarnation: The moment when God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ is the ultimate expression of God's nearness to us. This act of divine love and humility allows us to have a personal relationship with God, experiencing His presence in a tangible way. [37:43]
3. Seeing God in Everyday Moments: We can find the near end of God in everyday moments, such as the comforting embrace of a parent or the joy of children playing together. These moments are reminders of God's love and grace, encouraging us to be more aware of His presence in our lives. [33:52]
4. Transformation Through God's Love: The story of Don Quixote and Aldonza illustrates how God's love transforms us. Just as Don Quixote saw Aldonza as Dulcinea, God sees us as beloved and worthy, despite our flaws and failures. This transformation is a testament to the power of God's love and grace. [49:00]
5. Living Out God's Nearness: We are called to recognize and embrace the near end of God in our lives, allowing His love and grace to transform us and flow through us to others. By being aware of God's presence in our daily interactions, we can let that awareness guide our actions and relationships, bringing God's love to those around us. [51:19]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[18:11] - Greeting and Announcements
[25:32] - Opening Prayer
[26:50] - Reflections by the Sea
[29:14] - The Near End of God
[30:36] - The Vastness of God
[32:00] - Believing in the Near End of God
[33:52] - Seeing God in Everyday Moments
[35:51] - The Incarnation
[37:43] - Holy Land Experience
[39:54] - Don Quixote and Aldonza
[49:00] - Transformation Through God's Love
[50:16] - The Near End of Jesus
[51:19] - Living Out God's Nearness
[01:05:48] - Closing and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 1:14 (NIV) - "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
2. Isaiah 53:3 (NIV) - "He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem."
3. Matthew 25:40 (NIV) - "The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John 1:14 tell us about the nature of Jesus and His relationship with humanity?
2. How does Isaiah 53:3 describe the suffering and rejection experienced by Jesus?
3. According to Matthew 25:40, how does Jesus view our actions towards others, especially those in need?
4. In the sermon, what are some examples given of experiencing the "near end of God" in everyday moments? ([33:52])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Incarnation, as described in John 1:14, demonstrate God's nearness to us? ([37:43])
2. What does the story of Don Quixote and Aldonza illustrate about how God sees us versus how we see ourselves? ([49:00])
3. How can recognizing the "near end of God" in our daily lives transform our interactions and relationships with others? ([51:19])
4. In what ways does Isaiah 53:3 help us understand the depth of Jesus' sacrifice and His identification with human suffering?
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent moment when you felt God's presence in your daily life. How did that experience impact you? ([33:52])
2. The sermon encourages us to see ourselves as God sees us, much like Don Quixote saw Aldonza as Dulcinea. How can you start to view yourself through the lens of God's love and grace? ([49:00])
3. Think of a specific relationship or interaction where you can be more aware of God's presence. What practical steps can you take to let that awareness guide your actions? ([51:19])
4. How can the concept of the Incarnation, God becoming flesh in Jesus, influence the way you approach your faith and daily life? ([37:43])
5. Identify a person in your life who might feel unworthy or unloved. How can you show them the love and grace that God extends to all of us? ([49:00])
6. Reflect on the ways you can bring the "near end of God" to others in your community. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate God's love and grace? ([51:19])
7. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's presence in your everyday moments, such as during work, at home, or in your interactions with others? ([33:52])
Devotional
Day 1: Experiencing the Near End of God
The vastness of the sea is often used as a metaphor for the profound and mysterious nature of God. Just as the sea has a near end that we can experience and understand, so does God have a near side that we can encounter in our daily lives. This near side of God is where we find His love, grace, peace, and power. In our everyday moments, we can feel God's presence, whether it's through the comforting embrace of a parent or the joy of children playing together. These experiences remind us that while we may never fully comprehend the vastness of God, we can still experience His presence in meaningful ways. [29:14]
Psalm 139:7-10 (ESV): "Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."
Reflection: Think of a recent moment where you felt a sense of peace or joy. How can you recognize this as an experience of God's near end in your life?
Day 2: The Incarnation: God’s Ultimate Nearness
The Incarnation, the moment when God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, is the ultimate expression of God's nearness to us. This act of divine love and humility allows us to have a personal relationship with God, experiencing His presence in a tangible way. Through Jesus, we see God's love, grace, and power manifested in human form, making it possible for us to connect with Him on a deeply personal level. The Incarnation is a reminder that God is not distant or detached but is intimately involved in our lives. [37:43]
John 1:14 (ESV): "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Reflection: How does the reality of the Incarnation change the way you view your relationship with God? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship today?
Day 3: Seeing God in Everyday Moments
We can find the near end of God in everyday moments, such as the comforting embrace of a parent or the joy of children playing together. These moments are reminders of God's love and grace, encouraging us to be more aware of His presence in our lives. By paying attention to these small, yet significant experiences, we can cultivate a greater awareness of God's nearness and allow His presence to guide our actions and relationships. [33:52]
Matthew 18:20 (ESV): "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
Reflection: Think about your daily routine. What are some specific moments where you can intentionally seek to recognize God's presence?
Day 4: Transformation Through God’s Love
The story of Don Quixote and Aldonza illustrates how God's love transforms us. Just as Don Quixote saw Aldonza as Dulcinea, God sees us as beloved and worthy, despite our flaws and failures. This transformation is a testament to the power of God's love and grace. When we embrace God's view of us, we can begin to see ourselves and others through the lens of His love, leading to profound personal and relational transformation. [49:00]
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Reflection: How do you think God sees you? What changes might occur in your life if you fully embraced His perspective of you?
Day 5: Living Out God’s Nearness
We are called to recognize and embrace the near end of God in our lives, allowing His love and grace to transform us and flow through us to others. By being aware of God's presence in our daily interactions, we can let that awareness guide our actions and relationships, bringing God's love to those around us. This means being intentional about how we treat others, showing kindness, compassion, and grace, and being a reflection of God's love in the world. [51:19]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to experience God's love through you. What specific action can you take today to show them kindness and compassion?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We are blessed by your presence. You are the angels of which we might be unaware. And so before you leave, when we get to passing of the peace, I want you to be sure that you look around, and if there is anybody that you do not know, give them time, not to get to know each other intimately, but to at least make their way and greet and welcome each other." [18:11] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Like the sea, God is so vast, so expansive, so mysterious, that I can and will never hope to fully comprehend it. In so many ways, the eternal is going to remain an enigma to my human mind. But like the sea, God has a near end, a near side." [29:14] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You and I, we're called to simply believe. We believe in as much of God as we can. And for me, the place to begin that belief is in the near end of God." [32:00] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "With my whole heart, I believe that our hope, your hope and my hope and everyone's hope lies in that near end of God. In God's hickness, if you will." [39:54] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What kind of powerful God is it who pursues us in such a way that reaches down into our hearts, our lives, and picks us up and grants us new being? What kind of God is this who washes over us in waves of hope, who sings to us in the rhythm of the tides of grace, who blesses the shores of our being so that Jesus could say, you who have seen me have seen the..." [50:16] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I saw God today as a tearful child. Was gathered into the arms of her dad and she put her head on his shoulder and felt comfort. I saw God today as an old man's face was lit up by the grasp of a warm hand. I saw God today as an older sister stepped from the chancellery to grab her younger sister in her arms and carry her up for children's moments. And both faces were totally lit by love." [33:52] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I know without a shadow of doubt that I am weaker and more sinful than I could ever believe. I am Aldonza. But through Jesus, through the incarnation, through the fleshing out of Christ, through a God who loved us so much that he came in the near end of Jesus, I am more loved and I am more accepted than I could ever dare hope. I am Dulcinea." [50:16] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Dear friends, may the near end of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, flood over us and flood over this community and flood over our world with new creation, new you, me. We are Dulcinea." [51:19] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "And would you listen to the words, once again, of the dream that we are sharing as a whole. As a church, with all of creation. Loving God, grant to us the will and the courage to use these gifts for your ministries. the waves wash over us, and we don't carry the waves out there to wash over others, dear friends, as you go forth from this place of worship, wherever you are at work, at play, at home this week, may the near side of God not only be real for you, may it be real through you. Go in peace, and go with purpose." [01:05:48] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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