Fully Known, Fully Loved: The Power of Community

Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the power of God and the importance of community in times of need. We began by praying for Brayden, a young man from our church who is missing, asking God to intervene and bring him home safely. This moment underscored the significance of unity and collective faith in the face of adversity. We then transitioned into celebrating the achievements of our youth and the inspiring presence of Alice Cooper, who shared his journey and work with struggling teenagers.

The core of our discussion centered on the theme "Fully Known and Fully Loved." We explored the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. This relationship with God is not about religious rituals but about a deep, personal connection. We used the analogy of Buddy the Elf, who could distinguish the real Santa from an imposter because of his genuine relationship with him. Similarly, knowing God intimately helps us discern truth from deception.

We delved into Daniel 11:32, which contrasts those swayed by worldly flattery with those who remain steadfast in their faith. This passage reminds us that knowing God empowers us to resist evil and stand firm. We also examined Paul's concern in Galatians 4 about believers reverting to old, enslaving practices. Paul emphasized the importance of living in the freedom that comes from knowing Christ.

We discussed the dangers of counterfeit spiritual practices like astrology, horoscopes, and other new-age beliefs, urging everyone to focus on the true power of a relationship with Jesus. We concluded by encouraging everyone to cultivate a genuine relationship with God, which involves more than just religious observance but a heartfelt connection and daily communication with Him.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Collective Faith: When one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. This principle from the Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of unity and collective prayer. By coming together to pray for Brayden, we demonstrated our faith in God's ability to intervene and bring about miracles. This collective faith strengthens our community and brings us closer to God. [17:01]

2. Knowing God vs. Knowing About God: There is a significant difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. A genuine relationship with God involves more than just intellectual knowledge; it requires a heartfelt connection and daily communication. This relationship helps us discern truth from deception and empowers us to live a life that reflects His love and grace. [30:50]

3. Resisting Worldly Temptations: Daniel 11:32 highlights the contrast between those swayed by worldly flattery and those who remain steadfast in their faith. Knowing God intimately enables us to resist evil, temptation, and corruption. This steadfastness is crucial in a world filled with distractions and counterfeit spiritual practices. [36:02]

4. Freedom in Christ: Paul's message in Galatians 4 emphasizes the freedom that comes from knowing Christ. Before knowing God, we were bound by false gods and empty religious practices. True freedom is found in a relationship with Jesus, who sets us free from the bondage of sin and legalism. This freedom allows us to live a life of purpose and fulfillment. [46:53]

5. The Danger of Counterfeit Spiritual Practices: Many new-age spiritual practices, such as astrology, horoscopes, and tarot cards, are counterfeit and have no real power. These practices can distract us from the true power of a relationship with Jesus. By focusing on God's Word and His promises, we can experience genuine transformation and guidance in our lives. [54:12]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[17:01] - Praying for Brayden
[17:40] - Collective Faith and Unity
[18:09] - God's Intervention
[19:17] - Comfort in God's Promises
[27:24] - Celebrating Our Youth
[28:09] - Alice Cooper's Visit
[29:19] - New Series Introduction
[30:18] - Fully Known and Fully Loved
[34:04] - Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
[35:20] - The Importance of Relationship
[36:02] - Resisting Worldly Temptations
[46:53] - Freedom in Christ
[50:22] - Don't Go Back to Bondage
[54:12] - Counterfeit Spiritual Practices
[01:05:09] - Strength in Knowing God
[01:08:21] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Study Guide

### Bible Reading

1. Daniel 11:32 - "He will flatter and win over those who have violated the covenant. But the people who know their God will be strong and will resist him."
2. Galatians 4:8-9 - "Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?"
3. Psalms 34:18 - "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

### Observation Questions

1. What does Daniel 11:32 say about the people who know their God? How are they described in contrast to those who are swayed by flattery? ([36:02])
2. According to Galatians 4:8-9, what were the Galatians enslaved to before knowing God, and what is Paul’s concern for them now? ([46:53])
3. How does Psalms 34:18 provide comfort to those who are brokenhearted, and how was this verse used in the sermon to support the theme of collective faith? ([19:17])
4. What analogy did the pastor use to illustrate the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him? ([30:50])

### Interpretation Questions

1. In Daniel 11:32, what does it mean to "know their God" and how does this knowledge empower believers to resist evil and stand firm? ([36:02])
2. How does Paul’s message in Galatians 4:8-9 about returning to old practices relate to the dangers of counterfeit spiritual practices mentioned in the sermon? ([46:53])
3. How can the collective faith of a community, as demonstrated in the prayer for Brayden, strengthen individual believers in times of crisis? ([17:01])
4. What are the implications of having a genuine relationship with God versus merely participating in religious rituals, as discussed in the sermon? ([30:18])

### Application Questions

1. Reflect on a time when collective prayer and support from your community helped you through a difficult situation. How did this experience strengthen your faith? ([17:01])
2. Think about your daily routine. How can you incorporate more heartfelt communication with God to deepen your relationship with Him, rather than just going through religious motions? ([30:18])
3. Are there any "counterfeit" spiritual practices or distractions in your life that you need to let go of to focus more on your relationship with Jesus? What steps can you take to remove these distractions? ([54:12])
4. How can you apply the principle of being "fully known and fully loved" by God in your interactions with others this week? ([30:18])
5. In what ways can you resist worldly temptations and stand firm in your faith, as encouraged by Daniel 11:32? Identify a specific temptation you face and a strategy to overcome it. ([36:02])
6. How can you support someone in your community who is struggling, similar to how the church prayed for Brayden? What practical steps can you take to show them they are not alone? ([17:01])
7. Reflect on your spiritual journey. Are there any old habits or practices you are tempted to return to? How can you remind yourself of the freedom you have in Christ to avoid going back to those ways? ([46:53])

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Collective Faith
When one part of the body hurts, the whole body hurts. This principle from the Apostle Paul reminds us of the importance of unity and collective prayer. By coming together to pray for Brayden, we demonstrated our faith in God's ability to intervene and bring about miracles. This collective faith strengthens our community and brings us closer to God. [17:01]

1 Corinthians 12:26 (ESV): "If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

Reflection: Think of someone in your community who is currently facing a difficult situation. How can you join with others to support them through prayer and action today?

Day 2: Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
There is a significant difference between knowing about God and truly knowing Him. A genuine relationship with God involves more than just intellectual knowledge; it requires a heartfelt connection and daily communication. This relationship helps us discern truth from deception and empowers us to live a life that reflects His love and grace. [30:50]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Reflect on your daily routine. How can you incorporate more intentional time to deepen your personal relationship with God today?

Day 3: Resisting Worldly Temptations
Daniel 11:32 highlights the contrast between those swayed by worldly flattery and those who remain steadfast in their faith. Knowing God intimately enables us to resist evil, temptation, and corruption. This steadfastness is crucial in a world filled with distractions and counterfeit spiritual practices. [36:02]

1 John 2:15-17 (ESV): "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Reflection: Identify a specific temptation or distraction that you struggle with. What steps can you take today to resist it and focus more on your relationship with God?

Day 4: Freedom in Christ
Paul's message in Galatians 4 emphasizes the freedom that comes from knowing Christ. Before knowing God, we were bound by false gods and empty religious practices. True freedom is found in a relationship with Jesus, who sets us free from the bondage of sin and legalism. This freedom allows us to live a life of purpose and fulfillment. [46:53]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel bound or restricted. How can embracing the freedom found in Christ change your perspective and actions in that area today?

Day 5: The Danger of Counterfeit Spiritual Practices
Many new-age spiritual practices, such as astrology, horoscopes, and tarot cards, are counterfeit and have no real power. These practices can distract us from the true power of a relationship with Jesus. By focusing on God's Word and His promises, we can experience genuine transformation and guidance in our lives. [54:12]

Deuteronomy 18:10-12 (ESV): "There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on any practices or beliefs you may have that are not rooted in the Bible. How can you replace these with a deeper trust in God's Word and His promises today?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "How many believe that God really does love you? Amen. He loves you. He's not mad at you. He's for you. He's at the right, Jesus is at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. We know that. And we know that what we have here is not religion. This isn't religion. Religion is man-made. This is all about, about a relationship with God. We want to know him, not just know about him." [30:18] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If we spend time with God, and Jesus said, hey, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. So if you want to know what God is like, if you want to learn about his attributes, all you have to do is open up the word and read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, and you can read about the life, the ministry, and the miracles of Christ, and that will give you a glimpse into who God is, and you will find out that the good news is all about having a relationship with him." [34:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You have made us for yourself, O Lord. He created us for him so we could have fellowship with him. You have made us for yourself, O Lord. And our heart is restless until it rests in you. How many remember when you gave your life to Christ? When you prayed that prayer? When you said, God, I am committed to you. I need Jesus. Wow, I've been forgiven. Now that guilt, that shame, it's wiped." [43:46] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip | )

4. "When we accept Jesus, we get more than heaven. We get Jesus. We don't just get saved so we can go to heaven. We give our life to Christ so we can have a relationship with God. My friend Bill Vanderbush said this. The gospel is not an ideology to be defended. It's a relationship to be shared. We have relationship. And we have got to get to know God." [45:24] (37 seconds) ( | Download cropped clip)

5. "The only way to experience true freedom is to be connected to Christ. Jesus said, whoever the son sets free is free indeed. How many, you want to be free, stay free, live free. Then we got to stay connected to him and continue to cultivate our relationship with him. This means we will know about him, but more than that, we will know him." [49:02] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "It's crucial that we know the difference between knowing about God and knowing God. You might be able to take a test today if it were multiple choice, and you might be able to identify a number of things about God, and that would be good, but that is not the same as knowing him. That is not the same as having a relationship with him. That is not the same as making him Lord and Savior of your life, where you are living a life that's set apart unto him, where you are walking with him and talking with him." [37:56] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Paul says, uselessness. These spiritual principles of this world. He goes on to say in verse 10, you are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. Some of them got set free from legalism. They went right back to it. Verse 11 says, I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you is for nothing. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom. Everybody say freedom." [49:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Paul's message is clear. And his warning is timeless. It's a warning that not only were the Galatians supposed to heed, but today we're having this message because we need to pay attention to it. Because there are people every day, they're tempted to revert to their old habits. There are things that you were delivered from. And we have a number of people that show up every Friday night for Celebrate Recovery so they can surround themselves with people that will cheer their on in their sobriety." [51:40] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The only way you can change the way you think is to allow him to renew. To renew your mind with his word. So let's look at it, his word. Galatians chapter 4. We're going to see where Paul, he is super concerned about the Galatians. Because some of them are walking away. Daniel 11, 32. There was a king who was deceiving many. And they were walking away from their covenant with God. But those who knew him, they stayed strong. They remained faithful." [46:53] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "We should read the chapter. God will speak to us through the chapter. How do we approach it? Relationship or just to check a box. Some people, they observe religious holidays as just a tradition. They don't have a relationship with God. They go to church twice a year, Easter, Christmas. I'm glad they do. But that's not a relationship. It's got to go beyond that. We're not religious today. We have Jesus. And if you have Jesus, you should want to make Jesus known to everybody you know." [01:03:13] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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