Fiery Love: Embracing God and Community Through Pain
Summary
### Summary
Today's message focused on the importance of cultivating a fiery love for God and for those He has placed in our lives. Reflecting on my personal journey, I shared how growing up in a Christian home and experiencing the tragic loss of my younger brother shaped my faith. Despite the pain and emotional struggles, God's grace and the steadfast faith of my parents kept our family together. This journey led me to a profound encounter with God, transforming my understanding of Him from a distant figure to a personal Savior.
I emphasized the necessity of being rooted in a local church community, especially in times of emotional and spiritual wandering. The story of my radical encounter with the Holy Spirit and the subsequent transformation in my life underscored the power of God's presence. This encounter not only changed my life but also set me on a path to ministry, despite initial reluctance and uncertainty about vocational ministry.
The message also touched on the importance of enduring pain and challenges, both in personal growth and in our spiritual walk. Pain, while often seen as negative, can be a catalyst for growth and deeper intimacy with God. I shared how my journey through professional soccer, personal loss, and eventual ministry work has been marked by both highs and lows, but always underpinned by God's faithfulness.
In conclusion, I urged everyone to cultivate a deep, genuine love for God and for each other, especially in these challenging times. The love of many may grow cold, but we are called to keep our love for God and for one another burning brightly. This love is not just for those we choose but for those God has placed in our lives. By doing so, we can navigate the complexities of modern life with hope and resilience, always looking forward to the return of our Lord.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Fiery Love for God and Others: Cultivating a passionate love for God and those He has placed in our lives is crucial. This love helps us stay grounded and connected, especially in times of emotional and spiritual wandering. It is essential to be part of a local church community where we can grow and support each other. [28:33]
2. God's Transformative Power: Personal encounters with God can radically transform our lives. My experience of God's tangible presence changed my understanding of Him from a distant figure to a personal Savior. Such encounters can set us on a path of purpose and ministry, even if we initially resist or feel unqualified. [15:23]
3. Enduring Pain as a Catalyst for Growth: Pain, while often seen as negative, can be a powerful catalyst for personal and spiritual growth. My journey through professional soccer and personal loss taught me that enduring pain can lead to deeper intimacy with God and a stronger faith. [11:20]
4. The Role of Community and Family: The steadfast faith and commitment of my parents during our family's darkest times were instrumental in shaping my faith. Being part of a supportive community and family can provide the strength and encouragement needed to navigate life's challenges. [05:47]
5. Hope in the Lord's Return: Cultivating a genuine hope in the Lord's return is essential for enduring life's trials. Recognizing the deep groan in our hearts for His presence helps us persevere and remain faithful. Jesus' return is not a threat but a promise, offering hope and assurance in the midst of our struggles. [35:50]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:49] - Personal Encounter with God
[04:24] - Impact of Brother's Death
[07:25] - Inner Healing and Anger
[09:37] - Family's Faith Journey
[11:20] - Pain and Growth in Sports
[14:00] - Transformation through the Holy Spirit
[16:22] - Special Time in Finland
[18:57] - Calling to Ministry
[20:02] - Starting Braveheart
[22:15] - Joy in Ministry Work
[23:33] - Challenges in Ministry
[27:52] - Globalization and Emotional Capacity
[28:33] - Cultivating Fiery Love
[32:36] - Authenticity in Faith
[35:10] - Hope in the Lord's Return
[36:27] - God's Personal Nature
[37:50] - Invitation to Know Jesus
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 15:12-13 (NIV): "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
2. Romans 5:3-5 (NIV): "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
3. Hebrews 10:24-25 (NIV): "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus command us to do in John 15:12-13, and how does He describe the greatest form of love?
2. According to Romans 5:3-5, what are the outcomes of suffering, and how does it relate to our hope in God?
3. In Hebrews 10:24-25, what are believers encouraged to do, and why is it important not to give up meeting together?
4. Reflecting on the sermon, how did the pastor's personal encounter with the Holy Spirit transform his understanding of God? [15:23]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the command to love one another in John 15:12-13 challenge our everyday relationships, especially with those we find difficult to love?
2. Romans 5:3-5 speaks about glorying in sufferings. How can enduring pain and challenges lead to personal and spiritual growth, as mentioned in the sermon? [11:20]
3. Hebrews 10:24-25 emphasizes the importance of community. How does being part of a local church community help us stay grounded and connected in our faith journey, especially during times of emotional and spiritual wandering? [28:33]
4. The pastor shared about his family's faith journey and the impact of his parents' steadfast faith. How can the faith and commitment of family members influence our own spiritual walk? [05:47]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current relationships. Are there people in your life whom you find difficult to love? How can you cultivate a fiery love for them as Jesus commands in John 15:12-13? [28:33]
2. Think about a time when you experienced pain or suffering. How did it impact your faith? How can you use that experience to grow closer to God and develop perseverance, character, and hope as described in Romans 5:3-5? [11:20]
3. Are you actively involved in a local church community? If not, what steps can you take to become more connected and engaged with a church family? How can this help you in your spiritual journey? [28:33]
4. The pastor mentioned the importance of enduring pain and challenges. What are some practical ways you can embrace and learn from the difficulties you face in life, rather than avoiding them? [11:20]
5. How can you support and encourage your family members in their faith journey, just as the pastor's parents did for him? What specific actions can you take to strengthen your family's spiritual foundation? [05:47]
6. The pastor spoke about the hope in the Lord's return. How does this hope influence your daily life and decisions? What can you do to cultivate a deeper sense of anticipation and readiness for Jesus' return? [35:50]
7. Identify one person in your life who may be wandering emotionally or spiritually. How can you reach out to them and offer support, love, and encouragement to help them reconnect with God and the church community? [28:33]
Devotional
### Day 1: Cultivating Fiery Love for God and Others
Cultivating a passionate love for God and those He has placed in our lives is crucial. This love helps us stay grounded and connected, especially in times of emotional and spiritual wandering. It is essential to be part of a local church community where we can grow and support each other. [28:33]
Bible Passage:
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:8-9, ESV)
Reflection:
Think of someone in your church community who might be struggling. How can you show them God's love in a tangible way this week?
### Day 2: Experiencing God's Transformative Power
Personal encounters with God can radically transform our lives. Understanding God as a personal Savior rather than a distant figure can set us on a path of purpose and ministry, even if we initially resist or feel unqualified. These encounters are powerful and life-changing, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him. [15:23]
Bible Passage:
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection:
Reflect on a moment when you felt God's presence in a powerful way. How did it change your understanding of Him, and how can you seek more of these encounters?
### Day 3: Embracing Pain as a Catalyst for Growth
Pain, while often seen as negative, can be a powerful catalyst for personal and spiritual growth. Enduring pain can lead to deeper intimacy with God and a stronger faith. Life's challenges, whether through personal loss or professional struggles, can shape us and draw us closer to God if we allow them to. [11:20]
Bible Passage:
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)
Reflection:
Identify a painful experience in your life. How can you see God's hand in it, and what growth has come from it? How can you use this experience to deepen your faith?
### Day 4: The Strength of Community and Family
The steadfast faith and commitment of family and community can provide the strength and encouragement needed to navigate life's challenges. Being part of a supportive community helps us stay grounded and connected, especially during difficult times. The faith of those around us can be a powerful influence on our own spiritual journey. [05:47]
Bible Passage:
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection:
Think about your own family and community. How have they supported you in your faith journey? What can you do to be a source of strength and encouragement for them?
### Day 5: Hope in the Lord's Return
Cultivating a genuine hope in the Lord's return is essential for enduring life's trials. Recognizing the deep groan in our hearts for His presence helps us persevere and remain faithful. Jesus' return is not a threat but a promise, offering hope and assurance in the midst of our struggles. [35:50]
Bible Passage:
"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into." (Matthew 24:42-43, ESV)
Reflection:
How does the promise of Jesus' return influence your daily life? What steps can you take to live with a greater sense of hope and anticipation for His coming?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We really need to cultivate a love that is fiery hot for God and for the ones that God's put in our lives. If we do that, if we love God really, really, really, really well, and we love one another, not who you want to love, who God's called you to run with. Those that are wandering right now from community to community because they keep getting their feelings hurt and they're all prickly. It's dangerous right now. We need the family of God. We need local church." [28:33] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "He can raise the dead. He can restore any broken relationship. He can redeem any tragedy. Jesus is coming. And for a lot of people, that's a threat. But it's not a threat. It's a promise. He's our blessed hope. And so I just would want to bless people to cultivate a genuine hope in the Lord's return. The one there, there's an ache, Joe, in everyone's heart to see him and to be with him." [35:10] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The first step is realizing that, that God is not imperfect. He's not personal. He sees. He's the God who sees. That's one of His names. I think one of the biggest lies on the earth today is that God doesn't see. He doesn't care. And it's a lie. So it starts there. You say, well, how do you know? Well, He sent His son, and His son died on a cross 2000 years ago." [36:27] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God's a relational God. And, and we couldn't be in family because of all the nastiness in the world and all the sin in the world. He had to eradicate that sin to bring people close into His, into His arms, into His bosom. And, um, and I think for people struggling to believe that, thinking it's just hype, um, try whispering the name of Jesus." [37:07] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Holy Spirit is a real person, not some impersonal charismatic member of the Trinity. Um, He's real. And He loves them deeply and wants to meet with them right where they're at. Yeah. In their mess, in their brokenness. It's one of the things I love most about God is He's unafraid of our humanity. He's unafraid of our doubts, our questions, our fears. He's not shocked by it." [37:50] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "I am a product of their simple obedience to God and to one another. I wouldn't be here had they not said yes to God and yes to each other. I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing. There would be collateral damage. I'm certain of it that, that God's grace spared us from because of their, their commitment to each other and to the Lord." [05:47] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I had this power encounter with the Lord. I tell people it was like God pulled my SIM card out, like just laid out on the ground, um, his presence over me physically. I could physically feel the tangible pulsing power of God. Wow. Um, it was March 7th, 2006 and I've never been the same. Wow. I've never been the same. That moment changed my life forever." [15:23] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "I was in a pretty desperate place cause I was driven, Joe. I mean, I was, I was working hard. I was pursuing this thing and now I'm just living the, the Dallas life. And it was kind of made a, made me kind of, uh, I needed an adventure. So, so in that season we were really seeking the Lord. Christie and I will always had a heart for the Lord and for the things that, you know, my heart was still burning for God from that 2006 encounter." [17:57] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I didn't realize work was so deep. Work was so deep in my heart that I didn't never feel like I was working. I'd work 60, 70 hour weeks. I get home. I'm working. I'm, I'm, I'm always working, but because it was coming out of me and I still feel that way. I still feel like it's a privilege and an honor to get to labor the way I do with the Lord. It's just, it's the best." [22:15] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We still were created with a village sized soul, meaning we don't have the capacity emotionally to handle this much bad news. We just don't. And so I would give people permission to not consume as much of that. Absolutely. Period. Turn it off. Turn it off. And then the second thing I would say is, you know, Jesus said in the last days, the love of many will, will grow cold." [27:52] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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