Grounded in Truth: Living Purposefully in Faith

 

Summary

Summary:

Today, we are reminded of the importance of grounding ourselves in the foundational truths of our faith. As we navigate through life's phases, it is crucial to understand and hold tightly to the doctrines that define us as a church community. We are called to be more than just passive participants in our faith; we are to actively engage with the Word of God, allowing it to transform us from the inside out. This transformation is not about mere behavior modification but about becoming new creations in Christ.

We explored the necessity of absolute truth in a world that often promotes subjective beliefs. Our faith is not a matter of personal opinion but is rooted in the objective truth of God's Word. This truth is unchanging and serves as the sole authority for our lives. We must be vigilant against influences that distort our understanding of Scripture and instead immerse ourselves in the Bible, allowing it to shape our beliefs and actions.

Furthermore, we affirmed our belief in the triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—and the role each plays in our lives. The Holy Spirit, a personal being, empowers us for mission and guides us into all truth. We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, a gift we cannot earn but are called to share with urgency. Our purpose is to know Jesus and make Him known, living as missionaries in our everyday environments.

Finally, we anticipate the return of Jesus, living with the hope and urgency that His coming instills. This anticipation should drive us to live purposefully, sharing the gospel and embodying the love and truth of Christ in all we do. Let us commit to living out these truths, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us and guide us in our mission.

Key Takeaways:

1. Grounding in Scripture: Our faith must be rooted in the objective truth of God's Word, not personal opinion. Immersing ourselves in Scripture allows us to discern truth from cultural distortions and strengthens our ability to stand firm in our beliefs. [47:46]

2. Transformation, Not Modification: Following Jesus is about becoming a new creation, not merely modifying behavior. True transformation occurs when we allow God's Word to mold us into the image of Christ, leading to a life that reflects His love and truth. [52:12]

3. Understanding God's Character: Knowing God's true nature—His compassion, mercy, and unfailing love—helps us see ourselves correctly as His image bearers. This understanding anchors our identity in Him, providing stability amidst life's challenges. [56:22]

4. Living with Urgency: We are called to share the gospel with urgency, recognizing our role as missionaries in our everyday environments. Our jobs and relationships are avenues for God's love and truth to flow through us to others. [01:06:08]

5. Anticipating Christ's Return: The promise of Jesus' return should inspire us to live purposefully, knowing Him and making Him known. This anticipation fuels our mission and reminds us of the eternal significance of our faith. [01:09:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Convoy of Hope and Prayer for California
- [03:10] - Introduction to the Phases Series
- [05:30] - Importance of Doctrinal Foundations
- [10:15] - Influence of External Media on Theology
- [15:00] - Lifeway Study on Theology in America
- [20:45] - Absolute Truth vs. Personal Opinion
- [25:30] - The Authority of Scripture
- [30:00] - Transformation Through God's Word
- [35:45] - Understanding God's Character
- [40:20] - Identity in Christ
- [45:00] - The Role of the Holy Spirit
- [50:30] - Salvation by Grace
- [55:00] - Urgency in Proclaiming the Gospel
- [01:00:00] - Anticipating Christ's Return

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:

1. Hebrews 4:12-13
2. 2 Corinthians 5:17
3. Matthew 28:18-20

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the role of the Bible in shaping our beliefs and actions? How does it serve as the sole authority for our lives? [49:58]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the difference between behavior modification and true transformation in Christ? [52:12]

3. How does the sermon describe the character of God, and why is this understanding important for our identity as His image bearers? [56:22]

4. What is the significance of living with urgency in sharing the gospel, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:06:08]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of absolute truth, as discussed in the sermon, challenge the cultural notion of subjective beliefs? [47:46]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that understanding God's character can provide stability amidst life's challenges? [56:22]

3. How does the anticipation of Christ's return influence the way believers are encouraged to live their lives according to the sermon? [01:09:08]

4. What role does the Holy Spirit play in guiding believers into all truth, and how is this reflected in the sermon? [01:02:21]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current engagement with Scripture. How can you increase your time in the Word to ensure it shapes your beliefs and actions more than external influences? [49:58]

2. Consider an area of your life where you have focused on behavior modification rather than true transformation. What steps can you take to allow God's Word to transform you into a new creation? [52:12]

3. How can you remind yourself of God's compassionate and merciful character in times of personal crisis or identity struggles? What practical steps can you take to anchor your identity in Him? [56:22]

4. Identify a specific relationship or environment where you can share the gospel with urgency. What practical actions can you take this week to live as a missionary in that context? [01:06:08]

5. Reflect on the anticipation of Christ's return. How does this hope influence your daily decisions and interactions with others? What changes can you make to live more purposefully in light of this promise? [01:09:08]

6. Think about a time when you felt the Holy Spirit guiding you. How can you cultivate a greater sensitivity to His leading in your daily life? [01:02:21]

7. What is one specific way you can embody the love and truth of Christ in your workplace or community this week? How can you ensure that your actions align with your faith? [01:06:47]

Devotional

Day 1: Grounding in Scripture as Our Anchor
Our faith is not a matter of personal opinion but is rooted in the objective truth of God's Word. In a world that often promotes subjective beliefs, it is crucial to immerse ourselves in Scripture, allowing it to shape our beliefs and actions. This grounding in Scripture helps us discern truth from cultural distortions and strengthens our ability to stand firm in our beliefs. By engaging deeply with the Bible, we can ensure that our faith remains anchored in the unchanging truth of God's Word. [47:46]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to immerse yourself more deeply in Scripture, allowing it to shape your beliefs and actions?


Day 2: Transformation Through Christ, Not Mere Modification
Following Jesus is about becoming a new creation, not merely modifying behavior. True transformation occurs when we allow God's Word to mold us into the image of Christ, leading to a life that reflects His love and truth. This transformation is an internal change that affects every aspect of our lives, moving beyond superficial adjustments to a profound renewal of our hearts and minds. As we engage with Scripture, we invite the Holy Spirit to work within us, bringing about this deep and lasting change. [52:12]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you seeking mere behavior modification instead of true transformation? How can you invite God to bring about genuine change in these areas?


Day 3: Understanding God's Character as Our Foundation
Knowing God's true nature—His compassion, mercy, and unfailing love—helps us see ourselves correctly as His image bearers. This understanding anchors our identity in Him, providing stability amidst life's challenges. By recognizing the character of God, we can better understand our own purpose and calling, living as reflections of His love and truth in the world. This foundational knowledge of who God is shapes our identity and influences how we interact with others, offering a stable foundation for our faith. [56:22]

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." (Psalm 103:8, ESV)

Reflection: How does your understanding of God's character influence your identity and actions? What steps can you take to deepen your knowledge of His nature?


Day 4: Living with Urgency in Our Mission
We are called to share the gospel with urgency, recognizing our role as missionaries in our everyday environments. Our jobs and relationships are avenues for God's love and truth to flow through us to others. This sense of urgency is not about rushing but about living with intentionality, making the most of every opportunity to share the hope we have in Christ. By viewing our daily interactions as opportunities for mission, we can live purposefully, allowing God's love to impact those around us. [01:06:08]

"Conduct yourselves wisely 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." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel? How can you intentionally create opportunities to share God's love and truth with them this week?


Day 5: Anticipating Christ's Return with Purpose
The promise of Jesus' return should inspire us to live purposefully, knowing Him and making Him known. This anticipation fuels our mission and reminds us of the eternal significance of our faith. By living with the hope and urgency that His coming instills, we can focus on what truly matters, aligning our lives with God's purposes. This perspective encourages us to prioritize our relationship with Christ and our mission to share His love with the world, living each day with eternal significance in mind. [01:09:08]

"Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming." (Matthew 24:42, ESV)

Reflection: How does the anticipation of Christ's return influence your daily priorities and actions? What changes can you make to live more purposefully in light of His promised return?

Quotes



And so when we come in here on Sunday morning, and this is genuinely our only time in the text of scripture, or we expect me to feed us for the rest of the week, one, we'll be extremely malnourished, and two, we won't have the proper perspective of who God is so that we can end up in the same place. [00:43:39] (22 seconds)


To believe our faith is mere opinion and not objective truth, and that's what this statement is saying, is to believe that our faith in Christ ultimately does not provide salvation. And as followers of Jesus, we must believe in absolute truth. We can't ride this. There's this wave, if you didn't know, of culture that's ultimately saying everybody has their own truth. [00:47:55] (23 seconds)


God tells us the absolute truth in his word. And frankly, it doesn't matter if we feel or believe something different. We will all stand before the creator of absolute truth one day, regardless of our feelings, and so what we believe really does matter. [00:49:09] (17 seconds)


The word of God is doing something in us and we ought to approach it with reverence, asking it to reveal things in us that we cannot see, asking the word of God to shape us more into the image of Christ Jesus. [00:51:54] (14 seconds)


Behavior modification is in full swing. Like it just is. All of us are trying to behave differently. I'm trying to work out more. I built a gym in my garage and I still haven't worked out more. Like I'm doing my best, right? Behavior modification. Behavior modification is in full swing, but following Jesus and spending time in God's word is not about behavior modification. [00:52:25] (24 seconds)


It's about us becoming a new creation. This is transformation, not modification. And life transformation starts when we ground ourselves in the text of scripture. And so the question is, is do you want to be modified or do you want to be transformed? [00:52:57] (18 seconds)


We should see ourselves primarily as image bearers of God. Our core identity is in him. And so whatever you do or whatever relationship we have, it's not an identity. It's not. You know what you do or what relationship you have? You know what it is? It's an avenue. [00:58:06] (20 seconds)


I want you to have a sense of urgency. I want you to genuinely live in your purpose. I want you to know that life is about knowing me and making me known. That is your purpose. If you're seeking it, there it is. It's that simple. [01:09:08] (19 seconds)


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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
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