Freedom Through Giving: Letting Go to Embrace God
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the significance of giving to God, not just in terms of financial contributions but as a holistic act of worship encompassing reverence, obedience, and sacrifice. The speaker draws from the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel chapter one, illustrating how giving to God is essentially giving back what He has already given, leading to freedom from attachments. The narrative of Hannah's vow to dedicate her son Samuel to the Lord if she were granted a child is used to demonstrate the importance of moving towards God in affliction and committing to prayer as an active part of a believer's life.
Pastor Ryan Brown shares his personal story of injury and the subsequent realization of the importance of letting go of attachments to find fulfillment in God's gifts. He encourages the congregation to identify their own attachments and ask God to strip them away to fully follow Him, emphasizing that true freedom comes from contentment, faith, and making daily offerings to God.
The sermon also addresses the congregation's attitude towards giving, challenging them to examine their attachment to worldly possessions and whether they are truly free from them to give to God. The speaker reminds the congregation that everything they have is a gift from God, and giving to God is about giving back to Him.
The speaker discusses the transformative power of prayer, asserting that it changes individuals and has the ability to bring about change in the world. They urge the audience to follow Hannah's example of keeping vows, drawing them closer to God, and taking practical steps to prepare for giving to God.
The concept of a reverse bucket list is introduced, encouraging the audience to minimize attachment to what one has and increase gratitude and happiness. The speaker concludes by inviting the congregation to participate in the Lord's Supper, reflecting on the significance of Jesus' sacrifice, and encouraging them to surrender their attachments to God.
Key Takeaways:
- Giving to God involves more than financial contributions; it is an act of worship that includes living a life of reverence, obedience, and sacrifice. This form of giving leads to freedom from the attachments that can dominate our lives, as seen in the biblical story of Hannah. [49:33]
- Personal afflictions and challenges can be transformative experiences that lead to a deeper understanding of God's grace and the importance of letting go of worldly attachments. Pastor Ryan Brown's personal narrative illustrates how such experiences can redirect one's life towards a path of contentment and faith in God. [01:06:06]
- The act of giving is a reflection of our freedom from attachments. The congregation is encouraged to examine their own lives for idols that may hinder their relationship with God, recognizing that stewardship of God's gifts is a testament to our trust in Him. [55:40]
- Prayer is a powerful tool for change, both personally and globally. The story of Hannah exemplifies the impact of prayer and the importance of keeping vows to God, which can lead to a closer relationship with Him and the ability to combat darkness in the world. [59:52]
- The concept of a reverse bucket list serves as a reminder to focus on gratitude for what we already have and to recognize the potential idols in our lives. By identifying and surrendering these attachments, we can experience increased happiness and a deeper connection with God. [41:59]
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1 Samuel 1:21-28 (ESV)
> "The man Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to the Lord the yearly sacrifice and to pay his vow. But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband, 'As soon as the child is weaned, I will bring him, so that he may appear in the presence of the Lord and dwell there forever.' Elkanah her husband said to her, 'Do what seems best to you; wait until you have weaned him; only, may the Lord establish his word.' So the woman remained and nursed her son until she weaned him. And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord at Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli. And she said, 'Oh, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here in your presence, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.' And he worshiped the Lord there."
### Observation Questions
1. What did Hannah promise to do if God granted her a son? (1 Samuel 1:11, 1 Samuel 1:27-28)
2. How did Hannah prepare to fulfill her vow to God after Samuel was born? (1 Samuel 1:24-25)
3. What was the significance of the items Hannah brought with her when she took Samuel to the house of the Lord? (1 Samuel 1:24)
4. According to the sermon, what does giving to God represent in our lives? [49:33]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Hannah’s act of giving Samuel to the Lord illustrate the concept of giving back to God what He has given us? [50:21]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that personal afflictions and challenges can lead to a deeper understanding of God's grace? [01:06:06]
3. How does the concept of a reverse bucket list help us identify and surrender our attachments to God? [39:47]
4. What role does prayer play in transforming our lives and bringing us closer to God, as illustrated by Hannah’s story? [58:19]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: What are some attachments or idols that you need to surrender to God? How can you start this process today? [41:33]
2. Pastor Ryan shared his personal story of injury and how it led him to let go of his attachment to success. Can you think of a time when a personal challenge helped you grow closer to God? How did it change your perspective? [01:06:06]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of giving to God as an act of worship. What are some practical ways you can give back to God in your daily life, beyond financial contributions? [48:36]
4. Hannah moved towards God in her affliction and committed to prayer. How can you incorporate more intentional prayer into your life, especially during difficult times? [57:39]
5. The concept of a reverse bucket list encourages us to minimize our attachments and increase gratitude. What are some things you are currently attached to that you could let go of to find more contentment and happiness? [39:47]
6. How can you prepare and put effort into giving to God, whether it’s through your time, talents, or resources? What steps can you take this week to start this preparation? [56:54]
7. The sermon concluded with an invitation to participate in the Lord’s Supper and reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice. How does remembering Jesus’ sacrifice help you in surrendering your attachments and living a life of worship? [01:09:37]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship Beyond Wealth
True worship encompasses a life lived in reverence, obedience, and sacrifice, not just financial giving. This holistic approach to worship liberates one from the grip of materialism and fosters a deeper relationship with God. [49:33]
1 Samuel 1:27-28 - "I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord."
Reflection: What does holistic worship look like in your daily life, and how can you incorporate more acts of reverence, obedience, and sacrifice?
Day 2: Transformation Through Trials
Afflictions can be a catalyst for spiritual growth, leading to a greater appreciation of God's grace and the relinquishment of worldly attachments. Embracing these trials can guide one towards a life marked by contentment and faith. [01:06:06]
James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent trial you've faced. How has it helped you to grow in your faith and reliance on God?
Day 3: The Freedom of Giving
Examining one's life for idols and attachments reveals the true nature of one's freedom to give. Stewardship of God's gifts reflects a heart free from worldly bonds and full of trust in Him. [55:40]
Matthew 6:21 - "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: What possessions or attachments might be competing with God for your heart's treasure?
Day 4: The Power of Prayerful Promises
Prayer is not only a personal spiritual discipline but also a force for global change. Keeping vows to God, as exemplified by Hannah, draws us closer to Him and empowers us to shine light in the darkness. [59:52]
2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Reflection: What vow or commitment can you make to God today that will enhance your prayer life and impact the world around you?
Day 5: Gratitude Over Accumulation
Creating a reverse bucket list encourages a focus on gratitude and contentment, reducing the hold of potential idols in our lives. This practice leads to increased joy and a more profound connection with God. [41:59]
1 Timothy 6:6-7 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it."
Reflection: What can you add to your reverse bucket list today that will help you cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment?
Quotes
"If you truly want to give back to God, you need to receive gifts from God." [01:05:34] (Download)
"My desire for achievement, my desire to be seen as successful, it was just thrown to the side. And I was broken. I was stripped away of all that I felt like I wanted and I desired." [01:06:41] (Download)
"Giving to God must be grounded in his grace. This is so important, so important. Giving to God must be grounded in his grace. Must be grounded in his grace." [01:01:48] (Download)
"Prayer changes you. It changes us. It changes you. It changes you. And not only does prayer change us, but prayer changes things. We have the opportunity, God has given us prayer so that we can partner with him to push back against the darkness of the world and to usher people into marvelous light." [59:21] (Download)
"We live in a culture, man, where it's just, it's totally fine to make a vow, to make a commitment, and then when things get hard, we're just like, well, I'm out. But if we follow after Hannah's example here, we need to vow and to keep it." [59:52] (Download)
"The path to freedom, purpose, fulfillment is to go to God. It's to give to God. Give your very life to him. If you need your life's circumstances to go a certain way to be happy or to find peace, then you will ultimately never be happy or find peace." [01:08:39] (Download)
"The opposite of attachment is not detachment. The opposite of attachment is contentment. The opposite of attachment is faith. The opposite of attachment is offering, making offerings, daily offerings to God." [01:08:39] (Download)
"A reverse bucket list takes an inventory of the things that you have or the things that you are doing, and if you minimize your attachment to what you have, you'll actually be more grateful and you'll be more happy." [40:50] (Download)
"Giving to God is the path to freedom from attachment. You see, all the things that you have, everything that you have in this world, it is all given to you from God." [48:33] (Download)
"Giving to God is giving back to God. All that you have is a gift from God, and giving back to Him will lead you down the path to freedom from the attachments in your life." [49:33] (Download)
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