Going All In: Commitment, Community, and Spiritual Growth
Summary
Today, I began by expressing gratitude for the support shown during last weekend's expedition offering, which raised over $4,000 for our teenagers' spiritual journeys. I also mentioned an upcoming Zoom meeting to affirm a new elder, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.
I then transitioned into the core message about going "all in" with Jesus, the church, and reaching out to others. I used the metaphor of cliff diving to illustrate the commitment required when you decide to fully trust and follow Jesus. This commitment isn't just a superficial leap but a deep, considered dive into living a life aligned with Christ's teachings and the church's mission.
I recounted the story of Nicodemus and his conversation with Jesus to highlight the concept of being "born again" or "born from above," which signifies a spiritual rebirth that allows us to see and enter the kingdom of God. This rebirth isn't about adhering to religious rituals but about a transformative relationship with Jesus that changes how we perceive and interact with the world.
I emphasized the importance of community and commitment within the church. I discussed the fear of commitment that many might feel and reassured that it's about finding a church where one can hear God's voice and grow spiritually, even if it doesn't align perfectly with personal preferences at all times.
The sermon also covered the proactive steps we should take as part of our church community: loving actively, growing continuously, protecting unity, and communicating openly. I stressed that these actions are not passive but require intentional effort and participation in church activities, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zones.
I shared a personal anecdote about my early 20s, when I was debilitated by an autoimmune disease yet felt called to minister to a small youth group. This experience underscored the sermon's theme of sacrifice and trust in God's plan, illustrating how such commitments can lead to unforeseen, larger-scale impacts.
Towards the end, I urged the congregation to consider their financial commitments, highlighting how increased giving could significantly expand our church's outreach and programs. I encouraged everyone to not be afraid of sacrifice, as it often leads to greater spiritual fulfillment and impact.
In conclusion, I invited the congregation to reflect on their personal commitments to Jesus and the church, encouraging them to take proactive steps in their spiritual growth and community involvement.
### Key Takeaways
1. Understanding True Commitment: Commitment to Jesus and the church isn't merely about attendance or following rituals; it's a deep, personal journey of trust and obedience. When we decide to go "all in," it's like cliff diving—scary yet exhilarating, and it requires both caution and courage. This metaphor helps us grasp the essence of faith: a leap into the unknown, trusting that God has prepared the way for us. [01:22]
2. The Power of Spiritual Rebirth: Being "born again" is a transformative process that changes how we perceive and interact with the world. It's not about religious acts but about a genuine, ongoing relationship with Jesus that continually renews our spirit and aligns us with God's kingdom. This rebirth allows us to see life through "Holy Spirit goggles," recognizing God's activity all around us. [03:15]
3. The Role of Community in Spiritual Growth: Our spiritual journey is significantly shaped by the community we choose to be part of. A church should not just be a place we attend but a community where we actively engage, grow, and contribute. It's about hearing God's voice and feeling connected to a family that supports and challenges us to deepen our faith. [10:11]
4. Sacrifice as a Path to Impact: My personal story of ministering during a time of illness illustrates that sacrifice can lead to significant spiritual and communal growth. Sometimes, God calls us to serve not despite our weaknesses but because of them, using our trials to demonstrate His power and purpose. [19:27]
5. Financial Stewardship as Worship: Encouraging the church to consider their financial contributions as a form of worship and a practical way to expand the kingdom of God. When we give, we're not just donating money; we're investing in God's work on Earth, enabling more people to experience His love and grace. This act of giving should be seen as a joyful expression of gratitude towards God. [24:08]
### Youtube Chapters
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [00:23] - Opening Thanks and Announcements
- [01:22] - The Concept of Going All In
- [02:20] - Discussion on Being Born Again
- [09:15] - Exploring Church Commitment
- [12:10] - Proactive Steps in Church Life
- [14:38] - Addressing Gossip and Unity
- [16:37] - Importance of Communication
- [19:27] - Personal Testimony on Sacrifice
- [24:08] - Call to Financial Stewardship
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. John 3:3-5 (NIV): "Jesus replied, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.' 'How can someone be born when they are old?' Nicodemus asked. 'Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!' Jesus answered, 'Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.'"
2. John 3:16 (NIV): "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
3. Matthew 11:12 (NIV): "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says, "no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again"? ([02:48])
2. How does the metaphor of cliff diving relate to the concept of going "all in" with Jesus? ([01:22])
3. What are the proactive steps mentioned in the sermon that we should take as part of our church community? ([12:10])
4. How did the pastor's personal story of illness and ministry illustrate the theme of sacrifice and trust in God's plan? ([19:27])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be "born of water and the Spirit," and how does this relate to spiritual rebirth? ([03:15])
2. How can the concept of "going all in" with Jesus challenge our current level of commitment to our faith and church community? ([01:22])
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that financial stewardship is a form of worship and commitment to God's work? ([24:08])
4. How does the pastor's story about his early 20s and his illness demonstrate the idea that God can use our weaknesses for His greater purpose? ([19:27])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current commitment to Jesus and the church. Are there areas where you feel hesitant to go "all in"? What steps can you take to deepen your commitment? ([01:22])
2. How can you actively engage in your church community to foster spiritual growth and unity? Identify one specific action you can take this week. ([12:10])
3. Think about a time when you felt called to serve despite personal challenges or weaknesses. How did that experience shape your faith? How can you apply that lesson to your current situation? ([19:27])
4. Financial stewardship was highlighted as a form of worship. How do you currently view your financial contributions to the church? What changes can you make to align your giving with your faith? ([24:08])
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of proactive love, growth, unity, and communication. Choose one of these areas and describe a practical way you can improve in it this month. ([12:10])
6. How can you overcome the fear of commitment in your spiritual journey? What support or resources do you need from your church community to help you in this area? ([09:15])
7. Reflect on the idea of sacrifice as a path to impact. What is one area of your life where you can make a sacrificial commitment to serve others and advance God's kingdom? ([19:27])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Full Commitment to Faith
Understanding true commitment involves more than just regular attendance at church services; it requires a profound, personal journey of trust and obedience. Imagine standing on the edge of a cliff, the ocean waves crashing below. The decision to jump—to go "all in"—is daunting yet exhilarating. This metaphor captures the essence of faith: a leap into the unknown, trusting that God has prepared the way. It's about moving beyond fear, embracing the thrill, and diving deep into a life aligned with Christ's teachings and the church's mission. This commitment is both a cautionary step and a courageous leap into a transformative experience that reshapes our entire being. [01:22]
James 1:5-8 ESV
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Transformation Through Spiritual Rebirth
The concept of being "born again" is pivotal in understanding the transformative power of a genuine relationship with Jesus. This spiritual rebirth is not about adhering to religious rituals but about experiencing a profound change that alters how we perceive and interact with the world. Through this rebirth, we begin to see life through "Holy Spirit goggles," recognizing God's activity all around us. It's a continuous renewal of our spirit that aligns us more closely with God's kingdom, enabling us to live out our faith authentically and dynamically. [03:15]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 ESV
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent decision where you could have used "Holy Spirit goggles." How might this perspective have changed your approach or outcome?
Day 3: Cultivating Growth Within Community
Our spiritual journey is significantly shaped by the community we choose to be part of. A church is not just a place to attend but a community where we actively engage, grow, and contribute. It's about finding a church where we can hear God's voice and feel connected to a family that supports and challenges us to deepen our faith. This involvement goes beyond superficial participation; it requires a commitment to loving actively, growing continuously, protecting unity, and communicating openly within the church setting. [10:11]
1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV
"As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Think of a way you can contribute more actively to your church community. What specific step can you take this week to engage more deeply?
Day 4: The Impact of Sacrificial Service
Sacrifice is often a pathway to greater spiritual and communal impact. Through personal challenges and sacrifices, we can demonstrate God's power and purpose in our lives. This might mean serving others even when we are dealing with personal struggles or weaknesses. God uses our trials not just despite them but because of them, turning our vulnerabilities into strengths and our sacrifices into opportunities for growth and outreach. [19:27]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV
"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: Can you identify a personal weakness or struggle that could be transformed into an opportunity for ministry or service?
Day 5: Joyful Generosity in Financial Stewardship
Encouraging the church to view financial contributions not just as donations but as acts of worship and practical ways to expand the kingdom of God is crucial. When we give, we invest in God's work on Earth, enabling more people to experience His love and grace. This act of giving should be seen as a joyful expression of gratitude towards God, reflecting our trust in His provision and our commitment to His mission. [24:08]
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 ESV
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
Reflection: How does your current giving reflect your trust in God's provision? What change can you make to your financial stewardship to more fully express your gratitude and commitment to God's work?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "When you go all in, it means you just jump, dude. I don't know if you've ever done any cliff diving. There's a couple things you need to do when you're going to dive off a cliff. First, you need to make sure it's deep enough down there. You also need to be sure that you can jump out over the ledge far enough that you won't hit some stuff on the way down. Once you've checked that, though, if you just keep looking down and you never decide I'm gonna go, it gets harder to go after a while because you're like, doggone, this is high. Oh my gosh, well, what if something did happen? Once you know it's good to go, you should just go." [01:22]
2. "God loved the world. This is the difference between Jesus and religion. Religion is all about me trying to get to God. Jesus is all about God getting to me. God so loved the world that he sent. That's what happened. We didn't like, oh God, would you please come to us? No, we weren't even paying attention. And God says, I'm in love with these people. I'm sending my son. It's God's intentional kindness and mercy toward you and me. That's where it starts. And all we do, yo, is we believe, and he says we have eternal life." [05:26]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Proactively love. Proactively love. That means don't just wait around to be loved. No. That's not what fiercers do. Fiercers say, I'm going to go do the things. I'm going to go to places. I'm going to serve. I'm going to put myself around stuff. I'm not going to wait. I'm not going to say, well, I wish somebody would love me. No, that's not the job. The job is for us to go love others. And if we just sit back and we wait and we don't serve and we don't go to stuff. I know that you're an introvert, but baby, if you're going to love people proactively, you have to go to stuff." [12:10]
2. "We don't gossip here. Hey, just so you know, we don't gossip here. I don't know where you've been. Maybe they did. We don't do it here. Here's what we do. We don't pass things around. We pass them up. Okay? So when you hear something like I don't know about that, you just pass it. You don't go tell somebody. You go ask the person responsible for that thing. I love it when I had a gal come to me once and she says, you know, I heard something weird about you and that you said something. Did you say that? And I'm like, no, but I'm glad you asked. I'm glad you didn't ask seven other people before you asked me." [14:08]
3. "I was sick in my early 20s for four and a half years with this debilitating autoimmune disease. Life shut down. Couldn't go to work. Very difficult to eat much at all. Had almost no energy. And yet, I felt like God was telling me, go to this random little youth group thing with like four people at it. And they're in a closet and just be their pastor. I had already been a pastor. It was a familiar world to me, but I was like, God, do you know that I'm sick? And there's only four. And yet, I just felt like I was going to die. And he didn't give me the vision. He didn't give me like what's going to happen next." [19:27]
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