Experiencing the Depths of God's Transformative Love

Summary

Today’s focus is on the immeasurable love of God and the invitation to experience the fullness of life that comes from truly knowing Him. Drawing from Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, we are reminded that God’s eternal plan has always included us—not as an afterthought, but as beloved children. The privilege of calling God “Father” is not just a title; it is a declaration of our identity, rooted in the grace and sacrifice of Jesus. This relationship is not distant or formal, but intimate and transformative, inviting us to approach the throne of grace with confidence.

Faith is not a static set of beliefs or a one-time decision; it is a living, growing relationship with Christ. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ dwells in our hearts—not as a guest, but as a permanent resident, shaping us from within. This indwelling leads us to be rooted and grounded in love, which is the very soil and foundation of our lives. But this love is not meant to be experienced in isolation. We are called to live in community, to do life together, and to discover the breadth, length, height, and depth of Christ’s love alongside one another.

God’s love is wide enough to embrace every person, regardless of background or brokenness. It is long enough to endure through every season, never giving up on us. It is high enough to exalt us to a place of honor as God’s children, and deep enough to reach into the darkest corners of our lives, offering forgiveness and redemption. This love surpasses knowledge—it is not just something to be studied, but something to be lived and experienced.

We are challenged not to settle for a shallow or partial experience of God. Instead, we are invited to press in, to seek the fullness of God, and to believe that He is able to do far more than we could ever ask or imagine. The possibilities for transformation—in our lives, our families, our communities—are endless when we lean into this love and allow God to work abundantly within us.

Key Takeaways

- The privilege of calling God “Father” is a profound declaration of our identity as His children, made possible by Christ’s sacrifice. This relationship is not distant or formal, but intimate, inviting us to approach God with confidence and to live out of the security of being fully known and loved. [29:59]

- Faith is not merely intellectual agreement or a one-time prayer; it is an ongoing, dynamic relationship with Christ. As Christ dwells in our hearts, He transforms us from within, moving us from initial belief to a life marked by continual growth, sanctification, and deeper intimacy with God. [36:12]

- The love of Christ is multidimensional: wide enough to include everyone, long enough to endure forever, high enough to exalt us, and deep enough to redeem even our darkest places. This love is not just a concept to understand, but a reality to experience, especially in the context of authentic Christian community. [42:58]

- True spiritual growth and the experience of God’s love require us to live in community. Isolation limits our ability to comprehend and live out the fullness of Christ’s love; it is through relationships with others that we are nurtured, challenged, and enabled to flourish in faith. [39:16]

- God calls us to more than just knowledge or routine; He invites us to pursue the fullness of His presence and power. We are urged to cast aside excuses, press into His Word, and pray bold prayers, trusting that God is able to do abundantly more than we can imagine, both in us and through us. [58:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:00] - Community Connection and Announcements
[05:54] - Introduction to Ephesians and “If You Only Knew”
[26:17] - God’s Eternal Plan and Our Potential
[27:48] - Paul’s Prayer: Bowing Before the Father
[29:59] - The Miracle of Calling God “Father”
[32:34] - Strengthened with Power Through the Spirit
[33:33] - Christ Dwelling in Our Hearts by Faith
[36:12] - The Transforming Power of Indwelling Faith
[37:19] - Rooted and Grounded in Love
[39:16] - The Necessity of Christian Community
[42:58] - Exploring the Dimensions of Christ’s Love
[49:24] - The Depth of Sacrificial Love
[52:49] - Experiencing the Fullness of God
[56:27] - God’s Abundant Power at Work in Us
[58:33] - The Challenge: What If We Don’t Settle?
[01:00:05] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Immeasurable Love of God (Ephesians 3:14-21)

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### Bible Reading

Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV)
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21, what does he specifically ask God to do for the believers?
2. What does it mean that Christ “dwells” in our hearts through faith, as described in verse 17?
3. The sermon describes God’s love as having “breadth, length, height, and depth.” What do these dimensions represent, based on the message? [[42:58]]
4. Why does Paul emphasize experiencing Christ’s love “with all the saints” rather than alone? [[39:16]]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says calling God “Father” is a declaration of our identity as His children. Why is this significant, and how does it change the way we approach God? [[29:59]]
2. The message explains that faith is not just a one-time decision but a growing relationship. How does this understanding of faith challenge or encourage you? [[36:12]]
3. The love of Christ is described as wide, long, high, and deep. What does it mean for God’s love to reach into the “darkest corners” of our lives? [[49:24]]
4. The sermon says that isolation limits our ability to experience God’s love. Why do you think community is so important for spiritual growth? [[39:16]]

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### Application Questions

1. The privilege of calling God “Father” means we are fully known and loved. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to believe you are truly God’s child? How might embracing this truth change your prayers or your daily life? [[29:59]]
2. The message challenges us not to settle for a shallow experience of God. Are there ways you have been “settling” in your faith—maybe by just going through the motions or avoiding deeper commitment? What is one step you could take this week to press in for more? [[58:33]]
3. Christ’s love is wide enough to include everyone, no matter their background. Is there someone in your life you find hard to love or include? How can you reflect Christ’s wide love to them this week? [[42:58]]
4. The sermon says God’s love is long enough to endure through every season and never gives up on us. Can you think of a time when you doubted God’s love or felt like giving up? What helped you hold on, or what could help you now? [[45:41]]
5. Paul prays that we would experience the fullness of God “with all the saints.” Are you currently connected to Christian community in a meaningful way? If not, what is one practical step you could take to build deeper relationships with other believers? [[39:16]]
6. The message encourages us to pray bold prayers and trust that God can do more than we imagine. What is one area of your life, family, or community where you need to pray a bold prayer? Will you share it with the group so others can pray with you? [[58:33]]
7. The sermon mentions that knowledge of God’s love is not enough—it must be experienced. What is one way you can move from just knowing about God’s love to actually experiencing it this week? [[52:49]]

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray that each person would experience the fullness of God’s love, not just in knowledge but in real, daily life, and that God would help you not to settle for less than what He wants to give.

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Our Identity as Children of God
To call God our Father is to declare the heart of the Gospel: that we are not distant or forgotten, but beloved children, adopted into His family through the sacrifice of Jesus. This truth is not just a theological concept but a living reality—God, the Creator of all, invites us into His presence, welcomes us to His throne of grace, and desires a relationship with us. When we pray, “Our Father,” we are reminded of our true identity, rooted not in our achievements or failures, but in His unchanging love and grace. Let this truth shape your prayers and your sense of belonging today. [31:46]

Ephesians 3:14-15 (ESV)
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,”

Reflection: When you pray today, intentionally address God as your Father. How does this change the way you approach Him, and what does it stir in your heart about your identity?


Day 2: Christ Dwelling in Our Hearts Through Faith
God’s desire is not just for us to know about Him, but for Christ to truly dwell in our hearts through faith—a faith that is alive, growing, and rooted in grace. This indwelling is not a fleeting visit but a permanent home, where Jesus shapes us from the inside out. Faith is more than a moment of decision; it is an ongoing relationship, nurtured by God’s prevenient, justifying, and sanctifying grace. As Christ settles in our hearts, He transforms us, making us more like Him and empowering us to live out our calling. [36:12]

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV)
“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you sense Jesus inviting you to let Him “move in” more fully, rather than just visit occasionally? What would it look like to welcome Him there?


Day 3: Experiencing the Fullness of God’s Love Together
The love of Christ is vast—wider, longer, higher, and deeper than we can imagine—and it is meant to be experienced not in isolation, but together with all the saints. God calls us into community, where we are rooted and grounded in love, and where we help one another flourish in faith. When we gather, share, and do life together, we more fully comprehend and experience the immeasurable love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God. Don’t settle for a solitary faith; lean into the gift of Christian community. [39:16]

Ephesians 3:18-19 (ESV)
“may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Reflection: Who in your church family or small group can you reach out to today to encourage or support, so that together you might experience more of Christ’s love?


Day 4: God’s Love Is Wide, Long, High, and Deep
God’s love for us is accepting, lasting, exalting, and sacrificial. It welcomes us no matter our past, endures through every season, lifts us to a new identity as His children, and reaches into the deepest places of our brokenness with forgiveness and grace. This love is not earned or lost by our performance; it is a gift, lavished upon us through Christ’s sacrifice. Even when we hide our mess or feel unworthy, Jesus knows and loves us completely, inviting us to rest in the security of His unending love. [51:15]

Ephesians 3:17b-19 (ESV)
“…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Reflection: Is there a part of your life you’ve been hiding from God or others out of shame or fear? How might you let God’s deep, sacrificial love meet you there today?


Day 5: Never Settling—Pursuing the Fullness and Freedom God Offers
God calls us not to settle for a shallow or stagnant faith, but to pursue the fullness of life He offers—believing that He is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or imagine. This means casting aside excuses, making time for His Word, and praying bold prayers for transformation. The freedom Christ offers is real and available; He longs to set us free from anything that holds us back, so we can become His hands and feet in the world. What if you truly believed God could do more in and through you than you ever dreamed? [57:43]

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Reflection: What is one area where you’ve been settling for less than God’s best? What bold prayer can you pray today, trusting God to do more than you can imagine?

Quotes

What I love about this, the love of Christ, the love of Christ is the soil and foundation at which our life is built upon. Right? Everything starts with this love of Christ, that starting faith of saying yes to Him, bowing our knees to Him, saying, yes, you are my Savior. You are my King. I am forgiven through what you have done for you and for me. Right? You, that is our starting point. Our life is built upon that. And yet, like I said, it's our starting point. There is more to experience beyond that initial call. We grow from that so we can experience all of what God has in store for us. [00:37:51] (47 seconds)  #LoveIsOurFoundation Edit Clip

That this, this idea of, of his high points to his exalting love. That Christ did not simply just come to save us from hell. He's not just a get out of hell card and that's about it. That he's trying to give us a good life this side of heaven. But he's trying, but he's, he came to love us and yes, to, to redeem us, to change our identity that we are now his children. But he also exalted us into the heavens as we talked about. When we pray, when we say our father, we're declaring the gospel of who we are, who we belong to, but we're also going before the throne room of grace. He exalts us into this status that we know we don't deserve. But it's because of Christ's love that we are there in the first place. [00:47:48] (52 seconds)  #ExaltedByChristsLove Edit Clip

That's who our God is. That's the idea of this sacrificial love. He shows up. Despite all that. Despite all of what we could put out on the table. Jesus accepts us deep into his soul. All the punishment that we deserved. And he took our sin and our brokenness upon that cross. All because of his great love. All because this was the eternal plan from the very beginning. This is the love of God. It is so wide. It is so long. It is so high. And it is so deep. [00:51:15] (48 seconds)  #LoveSoWideSoDeep Edit Clip

Because we constantly have to be reminded of who we are before, and we have to be reminded of our identity because the world will always come up to remind us of just the sin and the shame of our own sin, the hostility we will face within this world, and the lies, the evil one, will constantly come at us over and over and over again. But for us, he wants us to draw near so we can be confident in the gospel, we can be confident in the love of Christ. [00:55:39] (35 seconds)  #ConfidentInGospelLove Edit Clip