Intimate Knowledge: God's Call and Unconditional Love
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound theme of being known by God and the deep desire within each of us to be truly understood. Drawing from the Gospel of John, chapter one, we delved into the story of Nathanael's encounter with Jesus. This narrative beautifully illustrates how God knows us intimately, beyond the superficial layers that often define our social interactions. We all yearn for relationships where we are genuinely seen and understood, and this is precisely the kind of relationship God offers us.
The story of Nathanael is particularly striking because it highlights the personal nature of Jesus' call. Nathanael's initial skepticism about Jesus being from Nazareth quickly transformed into faith when Jesus revealed his intimate knowledge of Nathanael's heart and thoughts. This encounter underscores the truth that God knows us completely and loves us unconditionally. He sees beyond our doubts and fears, inviting us into a relationship that is both personal and transformative.
We also discussed the idea that Jesus doesn't call the qualified; instead, He qualifies those He calls. This is a powerful reminder that our limitations and lack of qualifications do not hinder God's plans for us. He equips us for the tasks He sets before us, ensuring that we rely on Him and not on our own abilities.
Furthermore, we emphasized the importance of inviting others to "come and see" the goodness of God. This simple yet profound invitation can lead to life-changing encounters with Jesus, just as it did for Nathanael. By sharing our personal stories and inviting others to experience God's love, we participate in the mission of expanding His kingdom.
Ultimately, the message is one of hope and assurance. Despite our flaws and imperfections, God knows us fully and loves us deeply. He calls us to follow Him, to trust in His perfect knowledge, and to embrace the life of purpose and truth He offers.
Key Takeaways:
- The Deep Desire to Be Known: We all long to be truly known and understood, not just on a superficial level but in the depths of our being. God offers us this kind of relationship, where we are fully known and fully loved. [20:12]
- God Qualifies the Called: Jesus doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies those He calls. Our limitations are not obstacles to God's plans. He equips us for the tasks He sets before us, ensuring that we rely on Him. [23:51]
- The Power of Personal Invitation: The simple invitation to "come and see" can lead to transformative encounters with Jesus. By sharing our stories and inviting others to experience God's love, we participate in His mission. [26:56]
- God's Intimate Knowledge of Us: God knows us intimately, beyond our doubts and fears. He sees our struggles, dreams, and hopes, and He knows exactly what we need to hear at the right moment. [31:18]
- Unconditional Love and Purpose: Despite our flaws, God loves us unconditionally and calls us to follow Him. He offers us a life of purpose and truth, inviting us to trust in His perfect knowledge and love. [34:49]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:00] - Introduction to the Theme
- [05:30] - The God Who Sees
- [10:00] - The Desire to Be Known
- [15:00] - Nathanael's Encounter with Jesus
- [20:12] - Jesus Qualifies the Called
- [23:51] - The Significance of Being Known
- [26:56] - The Power of "Come and See"
- [31:18] - God's Intimate Knowledge
- [34:49] - Unconditional Love and Purpose
- [40:00] - Invitation to Deeper Relationship
- [45:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflections
- [46:28] - Announcements and Community News
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- John 1:43-51
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Observation Questions:
1. What was Nathanael's initial reaction to hearing about Jesus from Nazareth, and how did his perspective change after meeting Jesus? [23:51]
2. How did Jesus demonstrate His intimate knowledge of Nathanael during their encounter? [31:18]
3. What does the phrase "come and see" signify in the context of Philip's invitation to Nathanael? [26:56]
4. How does the sermon describe the type of people Jesus called to be His disciples? [20:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Nathanael's transformation from skepticism to faith reveal about the nature of encountering Jesus personally? [31:18]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept that "Jesus doesn't call the qualified; He qualifies the called"? [20:12]
3. In what ways does the story of Nathanael highlight the importance of being known and understood by God? [34:49]
4. How does the invitation to "come and see" serve as a model for evangelism and sharing one's faith? [26:56]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt truly known and understood by someone. How did that experience impact your relationship with them, and how can it relate to your relationship with God? [34:49]
2. Consider your own limitations or doubts about your abilities. How can the idea that Jesus qualifies those He calls encourage you to step out in faith in a specific area of your life? [20:12]
3. Who in your life might benefit from a simple invitation to "come and see" the goodness of God? What steps can you take this week to extend that invitation? [26:56]
4. How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of God's intimate knowledge of you, and how might this change the way you approach your daily life and decisions? [31:18]
5. Identify a personal story of transformation or encounter with God that you can share with others. How can sharing this story help in expanding God's kingdom? [26:56]
6. Reflect on any skepticism or doubts you may have about your faith. How can Nathanael's story inspire you to seek a deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus? [23:51]
7. What practical steps can you take to move beyond a surface-level relationship with God to one that is more intimate and transformative? [34:49]
Devotional
Day 1: The Yearning to Be Fully Known
In the depths of every human heart lies a profound desire to be truly known and understood. This longing goes beyond the surface-level interactions that often characterize our daily lives. God offers us a relationship where we are fully known and fully loved, seeing beyond our external facades to the core of who we are. This divine understanding is beautifully illustrated in the story of Nathanael's encounter with Jesus, where Jesus reveals His intimate knowledge of Nathanael's heart and thoughts. This encounter reminds us that God knows us completely, loves us unconditionally, and invites us into a relationship that is both personal and transformative. [20:12]
"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: Think of a time when you felt misunderstood. How can you invite God into that space to experience His understanding and love today?
Day 2: God Equips the Called
God's call is not limited by our perceived qualifications or abilities. Instead, He equips those He calls, ensuring that we rely on His strength rather than our own. This truth is a powerful reminder that our limitations are not obstacles to God's plans. Nathanael's story illustrates this as his initial skepticism transforms into faith through Jesus' intimate knowledge of him. God sees beyond our doubts and fears, inviting us to trust in His perfect knowledge and love. [23:51]
"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel inadequate. How can you trust God to equip you for the tasks He has set before you?
Day 3: The Transformative Power of Invitation
The simple invitation to "come and see" can lead to life-changing encounters with Jesus. By sharing our personal stories and inviting others to experience God's love, we participate in His mission of expanding His kingdom. Nathanael's encounter with Jesus began with such an invitation, leading to a transformative experience that changed his life. This highlights the importance of extending this invitation to others, allowing them to witness the goodness of God firsthand. [26:56]
"And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him." (Matthew 4:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you invite to "come and see" the goodness of God? What steps can you take today to extend this invitation?
Day 4: God's Intimate Knowledge of Our Hearts
God knows us intimately, beyond our doubts and fears. He sees our struggles, dreams, and hopes, and He knows exactly what we need to hear at the right moment. This intimate knowledge is a source of comfort and assurance, reminding us that we are never alone in our journey. Nathanael's encounter with Jesus exemplifies this truth, as Jesus reveals His deep understanding of Nathanael's heart, leading to a transformative relationship. [31:18]
"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar." (Psalm 139:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How can you seek God's intimate knowledge and guidance in this situation?
Day 5: Embracing Unconditional Love and Purpose
Despite our flaws and imperfections, God loves us unconditionally and calls us to follow Him. He offers us a life of purpose and truth, inviting us to trust in His perfect knowledge and love. This message of hope and assurance is evident in Nathanael's story, where Jesus' intimate knowledge and love transform his skepticism into faith. We are called to embrace this love and purpose, trusting in God's plans for our lives. [34:49]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to accept God's unconditional love? How can you begin to embrace His purpose for you today?
Quotes
"We want people to really know who we are down deep, and I think if we really pray and think about it and consider the people in our lives, we want to know them too, and not just, I talked about, was it last week or the week before about Jesus? I, and an incident 30 years ago or more in a bar where a man was coming at me not to shake my hand. He was looking to take me out, and I talked about how this man was always around, and I knew his name, but not much more. I'm talking about knowing Jesus, Jesus, and being known much deeper than that on a deep level. We all want to be known. We want people to really see us, to understand what makes us tick, what we love, and what we hate deep down." [00:15:15] (60 seconds)
"We want to know who others are as well. That's the only way. I used, I wrote down here at first, that's the only way relationships are formed, but that's not true. It's the only way trusting relationships are formed, and we live in a culture where, where we're at a trust deficit, that there isn't a whole lot of trust around, and God, we already know that God knows everything about us, right? He knows our thoughts. He knows our heart. He, he wove us together in our mother's womb, the very fiber of our being. He knows everything about you, but he doesn't want just that." [00:16:14] (46 seconds)
"Jesus doesn't just call the qualified, but he always qualifies the called. You say, I can't do that, I don't have a degree. Jesus doesn't care. He doesn't care what letters are behind your name. You say, well, I don't have that skill. I've never done that before. Ooh, he loves to grab people and say, if you've never done it before, that's exactly why you're gonna do it now. Ask me about that." [00:20:14] (34 seconds)
"Jesus doesn't usually, or he doesn't always call the qualified, but he always qualifies the called. And that's what he's doing right now. Before he performed even his first miracle, well, you know, he had help from his cousin out there, you know, stirring up the crowd, letting them know everything. Look for the Messiah, he's on his way. And just like Jesus didn't hesitate, he had been preaching on one message, repent and be baptized. So he was preaching and he was baptizing, and he was telling everyone to get ready for the Messiah." [00:21:11] (38 seconds)
"He wants to reveal himself to us in a personal, very personal, deeper way than we have ever experienced him before. To move beyond knowing about him and knowing him, knowing his heart, knowing his character, knowing his nature, knowing his love. That's what makes the story of Nathaniel so powerful. Out of all the other disciple calling stories, this one stands out to me because it's so personal." [00:24:24] (36 seconds)
"It's the best form of evangelism. Come and see. You want to evangelize? You want to do what God has called us to do, to grow this church and to invite people into the kingdom of God? You tell them, you know, it's a perfect model. Something's happening at my church, and I think it's important. I want you to come and check it out with me. Oh, no, I've been to church before. I know those people. Come and see. Prove it for yourself." [00:26:21] (35 seconds)
"You know, we have a group of men that get together and have breakfast, and we discuss what's going on in our lives and how that applies and how we can fix and resolve the situations that we're going through. They're a men's group from my church. Oh, no, I don't like that. It's just a bunch of... Come and see. Come and see. Those words that Philip gave to us, and then you tell your story. That's how you customize it. Let me tell you what happened to me and how I met God. Oh, that's good for you, but I don't think that'll help. Come and see." [00:27:16] (35 seconds)
"God knows us. He knows us fully and completely. And he loves us in the same manner. That's the kind of knowing that God wants for you and I. He doesn't just see the surface. It's not, as I said, social media knowing. It's not just that type of friend. You push a button and add friend. God wants to know us deeper, below the surface. It's not a platonic relationship." [00:34:36] (30 seconds)
"It's something very, very deep. And Jesus wants that same thing because he doesn't just see the surface. He sees everything. He sees our struggles. He sees our dreams, our hopes, our longings, every thought within us. He knows exactly where we are. And he knows exactly what we need to hear at exactly the moment we need to hear it. That's why I love that. I've used this quote before from Mother Teresa that says, Don't get mad when people say bad things about you." [00:35:05] (32 seconds)
"But Jesus knows everything about us and he knows exactly when we need to hear, what we need to hear. And he makes that happen. And the best part, even though Jesus knows everything about you and everything about me, he loves us anyway. He loves us anyway. We have to understand. You need to write that on your mirror. He loves us anyway." [00:35:58] (26 seconds)
"we marvel that that you know us in the same uh intimate way you know our flaws our hearts our fears our joys and you still say to each one of us come and follow me and holy spirit still our hearts to respond to this call there are some of us in this room we may not have have made that first call for jesus to come in but there's there's something inside of us whether we're sitting here in this place or or watching online something that's tugging at us to find out more" [00:42:19] (46 seconds)
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