Finding Direction: Jesus as Our Guiding Light

Devotional

Day 1: The Discomfort of Being Lost

Description: Being lost, whether physically or spiritually, brings about feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Just as one might need help finding their way on a blind date, people need guidance to find their way to God. The feeling of being lost can be overwhelming, leading to a sense of disorientation and confusion. In these moments, it is crucial to have someone who can provide direction and clarity. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be that guiding light for others, helping them navigate through the complexities of life and find their way to God. [02:31]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of a time when you felt lost or confused. How did you find your way? How can you be a guide for someone who is currently feeling lost?

Day 2: Jesus as the Ultimate Guide

Description: In John 14, Jesus reassures His disciples that He is the way, the truth, and the life. This means that knowing Jesus is essential for a fulfilling and eternal relationship with God. He is the only path to the Father, and we must help others understand this truth. Jesus' words provide comfort and direction, reminding us that He is the ultimate guide in our spiritual journey. By following Him, we can navigate through life's challenges and uncertainties with confidence and hope. [05:48]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to trust Jesus more as your guide? How can you actively seek His direction this week?

Day 3: The Danger of Assumptions

Description: We often assume that people know about Jesus and the way to salvation, but many are confused and misled. Just as the disciples needed continuous guidance, people today need us to show them the way to God. Making assumptions can lead to missed opportunities to share the Gospel. It is important to approach each person with an open heart and mind, ready to provide the guidance and support they need. By doing so, we can help them find clarity and direction in their spiritual journey. [12:51]

James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent interaction where you assumed someone knew about Jesus. How can you approach future conversations with more openness and a willingness to share the Gospel?

Day 4: The Burning Questions

Description: Many people have deep, burning questions about life and faith, much like Thomas and Peter did. These questions often stem from confusion and life's hardships. As believers, we have a responsibility to address these questions and guide people towards the truth of Jesus. By engaging in meaningful conversations and providing thoughtful answers, we can help others find the clarity and understanding they seek. It is through these interactions that we can make a significant impact on their spiritual journey. [15:42]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: What are some burning questions you have about your faith? How can you seek answers and also be prepared to help others with their questions?

Day 5: Invitation and Relationship

Description: Research shows that most people come to faith through personal relationships and invitations. We must be intentional in inviting others to church and sharing our faith. Building relationships and having spiritual conversations are crucial for helping people find their way to God. By fostering genuine connections and extending invitations, we can create opportunities for others to experience the love and grace of Jesus. It is through these relationships that we can make a lasting impact on their spiritual journey. [25:30]

Colossians 4:5-6 (ESV): "Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may be seeking spiritual direction. How can you build a deeper relationship with them and invite them to explore faith with you?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the theme of being lost and finding direction, both in a literal and spiritual sense. I began by sharing a personal story about a blind date that involved getting lost multiple times, which served as a metaphor for the disorientation and confusion we often experience in life. This led us to reflect on how people in our world are in desperate need of direction and how, as followers of Jesus, it is our mission to guide them.

We turned to John 14, where Jesus comforts His disciples as He prepares for His departure. Jesus reassures them that He is going to prepare a place for them and that they know the way to where He is going. Thomas, expressing confusion, asks how they can know the way, to which Jesus responds, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This passage highlights the importance of knowing Jesus as the ultimate guide and the only way to eternal life.

We discussed the dangers of making assumptions about people's spiritual knowledge and health. Just as the disciples needed continuous guidance despite being close to Jesus, people today need us to show them the way to God. We often assume that people know about Jesus and the path to salvation, but many are confused and misled by various ideologies and beliefs.

The sermon concluded with a call to action: to invite and pray for those who are lost. We are starting a new series called "Finding Your Way Back to God," aimed at helping people discover or rediscover their relationship with Jesus. This series is not just for non-believers but also for us to deepen our own faith. We were encouraged to use tools like invite cards and social media to reach out to others and to pray for both the invitees and our own spiritual growth.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Discomfort of Being Lost: Being lost, whether physically or spiritually, brings about feelings of uncertainty and anxiety. Just as I needed help finding my way on a blind date, people need guidance to find their way to God. We must be willing to step in and provide that direction. [02:31]
2. Jesus as the Ultimate Guide: In John 14, Jesus reassures His disciples that He is the way, the truth, and the life. This means that knowing Jesus is essential for a fulfilling and eternal relationship with God. He is the only path to the Father, and we must help others understand this truth. [05:48]
3. The Danger of Assumptions: We often assume that people know about Jesus and the way to salvation, but many are confused and misled. Just as the disciples needed continuous guidance, people today need us to show them the way to God. Making assumptions can lead to missed opportunities to share the Gospel. [12:51]
4. The Burning Questions: Many people have deep, burning questions about life and faith, much like Thomas and Peter did. These questions often stem from confusion and life's hardships. As believers, we have a responsibility to address these questions and guide people towards the truth of Jesus. [15:42]
5. Invitation and Relationship: Research shows that most people come to faith through personal relationships and invitations. We must be intentional in inviting others to church and sharing our faith. Building relationships and having spiritual conversations are crucial for helping people find their way to God. [25:30]
### [25:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Getting Lost on a Blind Date
[02:31] - The Discomfort of Being Lost
[04:47] - Our Mission as the Church
[05:48] - Jesus Comforts His Disciples
[08:53] - The Great Assumption
[10:38] - Jesus' Familiarity with Our Eternal Home
[12:51] - The Danger of Assumptions
[15:42] - The Burning Questions
[18:19] - Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life
[20:51] - Jesus Offers a Better Story
[21:38] - New Series: Finding Your Way Back to God
[24:07] - Tools for Invitation
[25:30] - The Power of Invitation and Relationship
[27:00] - Our Mission to Help People Find Their Way Home
[28:32] - Casting Crowns' Song: Does Anybody Hear Her?
[29:48] - Invitation to Know Jesus
[31:05] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the context in which Jesus comforted His disciples in John 14? ([05:48])
How did Thomas respond to Jesus' statement about knowing the way to where He is going? ([05:48])
What does Jesus mean when He says, "I am the way and the truth and the life"? ([18:19])
What assumptions did Jesus' disciples make about knowing the way to the place He was going? ([08:53])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus' disciples, who had been with Him for almost three years, still needed guidance about the way to the Father? ([08:53])
How does Jesus' statement, "I am the way and the truth and the life," address the confusion and questions of His disciples? ([18:19])
What are the dangers of making assumptions about people's spiritual knowledge and health, as discussed in the sermon? ([12:51])
How can personal relationships and invitations play a role in helping others find their way to God? ([25:30])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt lost, either physically or spiritually. How did you find your way, and who helped guide you? ([02:31])
Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life." How does this statement impact your understanding of your relationship with God? ([18:19])
Have you ever made assumptions about someone's spiritual knowledge or health? How can you be more intentional in understanding and guiding others? ([12:51])
Think of someone in your life who might be spiritually lost or searching. What steps can you take this week to invite them to church or have a spiritual conversation with them? ([25:30])
The sermon emphasized the importance of addressing burning questions about life and faith. What are some questions you have about your faith, and how can you seek answers? ([15:42])
How can you use tools like invite cards or social media to reach out to others and invite them to church? What specific actions will you take this week? ([24:07])
The new series "Finding Your Way Back to God" is not just for non-believers but also for deepening our own faith. How can you prepare your heart and mind to grow closer to God during this series? ([22:35])

Sermon Clips

1. "But, you know, there are a few things in life that can make us feel more uncertain, more confused, more even disoriented at times than when we are lost. And we've all experienced it, right? We've all had times when we were lost, whether we were lost trying to find someone's house on a blind date or for a blind date, or whether you're lost in some new unfamiliar place or lost while you were on vacation. We know what it's like, and it doesn't feel good to be lost." [02:31] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And yet sometimes, sometimes as the church, we fail them. We fail them by forgetting our mission. We fail them by forgetting that our number one job as followers of Jesus, our number one job as the church of Jesus Christ, is to help people find direction and to help people find their way home." [04:47] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And so the first big issue that I want us to think about here today that we find in this text is that of one great association. One great assumption that we all have made. One great assumption that we've all made. If we look again in what we just read in John chapter 14, verse number 4, Jesus says to his disciples, You know the way to the place where I am going. You know the way." [08:53] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Friends, Jesus' disciples, they needed someone to keep showing them the way. To make sense of the confusion. And I want you to understand that today we live in a culture where people need the same thing. Because we live in a culture that communicates a lot of different things. A lot of different ideas and ideologies and belief systems. We live in a world that often says, you know, all roads lead to the same place. All roads lead to that same heavenly environment. Eternal home. And so people, they need us who follow Jesus to come alongside of them and to show them the way." [11:47] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Friends, you and I, we often make great assumptions about the spiritual health of people. And when we do, we forget that we, we have been put in their lives for a time such as this. We have been put in their lives in order to help them find their way home. And making assumptions is a very dangerous thing to do." [12:51] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "When Jesus says, I am the way and the truth and the life, what's he saying? Well, first, let's break it down. When he says, I am the way, he's saying, I am the intimate knowledge of God. In other words, I am the way to know God intimately. I am the way to have a personal, satisfying, fulfilling, eternal relationship with the God of the universe." [19:09] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Jesus offers a better story to all who will receive him. That's what Jesus does. He offers us a better story. And when I say that Jesus offers a better story, I am not in any way discounting the hardships and the trials that we go through in life. When I say that Jesus offers a better story, I'm not saying that he's some sort of secret recipe or magic. He's a magic potion that just instantly makes life perfect and makes all the trials and struggles and problems of life go away. In fact, Jesus said just the opposite." [20:51] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Friends, let us not forget our mission. Let us not forget that we exist. The very reason the church exists is We exist. We exist. We exist. We exist. We exist. We exist. We exist. We exist. It's to help people find their way home. It's to help people find hope. It's to help people discover purpose. It's to help people receive salvation from their sins through the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who bled and died on an old rugged cross, but didn't stay dead because on the third day, he was resurrected from the grave." [27:00] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "And so my encouragement to you this week is to invite and to pray. Invite and pray. Invite people to come and worship with us and to be a part of this new teaching series that will be beginning. And pray for those people that you're inviting. Pray for those people that God is laying it upon your heart to invite to church this next week. And as we go through this five-week series, pray for them. But also, pray for your own hearts." [22:35] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The truth is, just because we're all here doesn't mean we're all where we need to be spiritually. And so I'm also asking that you pray for your heart and pray for the hearts of our fellow church members as well and those that we gather with here on a weekly basis. That the Holy Spirit would also reveal to us the great love of God. And that no matter what our spiritual relationship is like, that we would strengthen it. And that we would strengthen it. That we would grow closer to God." [23:30] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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