Join God's Team: Embrace Your Divine Potential
Summary
In today's gathering, we delve into the profound truth that Jesus created you for His team. This is not a mere suggestion but a divine reality. Jesus, the ultimate coach, has a place for you, regardless of where you find yourself today. Many struggle to see their potential, much like a naturally gifted athlete who never pursues a professional career due to a focus on personal failures rather than inherent greatness. God has endowed you with remarkable gifts, and He desires for you to be part of His team. However, recognizing this begins with the foundational belief that God is good.
We explored the concept of spiritual fruit and how our interactions, even on a playful Jersey Sunday, reveal the areas where we need growth. It's a day to discover patience and joy for others, regardless of their affiliations. Being a Christian should be filled with laughter and joy, despite life's challenges. Following Jesus may come with persecution, but in America, we have the freedom to boldly declare Jesus as Lord and the captain of His team.
I shared personal experiences of feeling inadequate and not consistent enough to be part of God's team. But the revelation that Jesus created me for His team changed everything. It's not about our failures; it's about His invitation. Jesus doesn't dwell on our past mistakes; He sees us as first-round draft picks, eagerly waiting for us to accept His invitation to join the team.
The enemy, Satan, tries to blind us to the truth of God's goodness and our place on His team. But when we start believing in God's goodness, we begin to see our potential. We must not let the opinions of others, or our own self-doubt, prevent us from believing in God's goodness and joining His team.
God's team is designed to help us be our best. No one achieves greatness alone; we need a team and a coach. Why then do we think we can be our best selves without God's team? The local church, our spiritual community, provides the coaching and accountability we need to grow and fulfill our purpose.
To join God's team, we must believe in our hearts that Jesus is Lord and openly declare our desire to be on His team. Heaven rejoices over each person who makes this decision. Remember, God doesn't celebrate our worldly achievements; He celebrates when someone joins His team.
Key Takeaways:
- Recognizing your place on Jesus' team begins with the unwavering belief in God's goodness. This belief is the lens through which you can see your potential and the potential in others. It's a transformative perspective that shifts your focus from past failures to future possibilities in Christ. [34:46
- Spiritual growth is often revealed in unexpected ways, such as how we interact with those who are different from us. Embracing others, even when it's challenging, is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit within us. This growth requires patience, love, and a commitment to seeing others through the eyes of Christ. [23:09
- The local church is not an optional accessory to our faith; it is the God-ordained environment for spiritual coaching and growth. Just as athletes need a team and a coach to reach their full potential, Christians need a spiritual community to become who God created them to be. [43:07
- God's invitation to join His team is not based on our performance but on His grace. We are all first-round draft picks in His eyes. Accepting this truth allows us to step into the fullness of life He has for us, free from the burden of earning our place. [44:18
- Heaven's celebration is uniquely triggered by one event: a person's decision to follow Jesus. This celebration is a powerful reminder of the value God places on each individual and the joy that accompanies each soul's homecoming. [50:31
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Corinthians 4:4 - "Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God."
2. Proverbs 19:20 - "Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life."
3. Romans 10:9 - "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, what is the role of Satan in the lives of those who do not believe? How does this relate to the sermon’s message about recognizing our potential in God? [35:16]
2. What does Proverbs 19:20 suggest about the importance of advice and instruction? How does this connect to the idea of needing a spiritual community and coach? [43:07]
3. In Romans 10:9, what are the two actions required for salvation? How does this verse support the sermon’s call to openly declare our desire to be on Jesus' team? [48:29]
4. The pastor mentioned personal experiences of feeling inadequate. What was the turning point that changed his perspective about being on God's team? [31:35]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does believing in God's goodness help us see our potential and the potential in others? Why is this belief foundational to joining Jesus' team? [34:46]
2. The sermon mentioned that spiritual growth is often revealed in unexpected ways, such as how we interact with those who are different from us. How can embracing others be a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit within us? [23:09]
3. Why is the local church described as a God-ordained environment for spiritual coaching and growth? How does this compare to the role of a coach in sports? [43:07]
4. The pastor emphasized that God's invitation to join His team is based on grace, not performance. How does this understanding change the way we view our relationship with God and our place on His team? [44:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to see your potential due to past failures. How can believing in God's goodness help you shift your focus from past mistakes to future possibilities in Christ? [34:46]
2. Think of someone in your life who is different from you and may be challenging to embrace. What specific steps can you take this week to show them patience and love, demonstrating the work of the Holy Spirit within you? [23:09]
3. How can you actively participate in your local church or spiritual community to receive the coaching and accountability needed for spiritual growth? What specific actions can you take to engage more deeply with your church? [43:07]
4. Consider the ways you might be disqualifying yourself from God's team due to self-doubt or the opinions of others. What truths from the sermon can you hold onto to combat these negative thoughts? [30:00]
5. The pastor mentioned that heaven celebrates when someone decides to follow Jesus. How does this perspective change the way you view evangelism and sharing your faith with others? [50:31]
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel inadequate or inconsistent. How can you invite Jesus to be your coach in this area and rely on His grace rather than your performance? [31:35]
7. Reflect on the importance of openly declaring your faith. How can you be more bold in sharing your belief in Jesus with others, and what steps can you take to make this a regular practice in your life? [48:29]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Goodness as Our Lens
Believing in God's goodness is essential to recognizing one's place on Jesus' team. This belief acts as a lens, allowing individuals to see beyond their past failures and embrace the potential that lies within them and others. It's a transformative perspective that shifts focus from what has been to what can be through Christ. This belief in divine goodness is not just about acknowledging it but truly internalizing it, letting it change the way one views themselves and the world around them. It's about understanding that one's value and potential are not defined by past mistakes but by the possibilities that God has laid out for them. [34:46]
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Reflection: How can you shift your focus today to see yourself and others through the lens of God's goodness?
Day 2: Celebrating Diversity Through Spiritual Growth
Spiritual growth often manifests in the way individuals interact with those who are different from them. It's about embracing others with patience, love, and joy, reflecting the work of the Holy Spirit within. This growth is not always easy; it requires a commitment to see others through the eyes of Christ, especially when it's challenging. It's about finding patience and joy for others, regardless of their affiliations, and recognizing that being a Christian is about embodying laughter and joy, even amidst life's challenges. [23:09]
"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor." - Romans 12:9-10 ESV
Reflection: In what ways can you demonstrate genuine love and honor to someone who has different views or beliefs than you?
Day 3: The Church as Our Spiritual Coaching Ground
The local church is not merely an accessory to faith; it is the environment God has ordained for spiritual coaching and growth. Just as athletes require a team and a coach to achieve greatness, Christians need a spiritual community to become who God created them to be. This community provides the necessary coaching, accountability, and support to help individuals grow and fulfill their purpose. It's about recognizing that no one achieves greatness alone and that the path to becoming one's best self is through the collective effort and guidance of God's team. [43:07]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to engage more deeply with your spiritual community and be open to its coaching?
Day 4: First-Round Draft Picks in God's Eyes
God's invitation to join His team is based on grace, not performance. Everyone is seen as a first-round draft pick in His eyes, which means that past performances and failures do not determine one's place on the team. Accepting this truth liberates individuals from the burden of trying to earn their place and allows them to step into the fullness of life that God has for them. It's about recognizing that Jesus doesn't dwell on past mistakes but eagerly awaits each person's acceptance of His invitation to join the team. [44:18]
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
Reflection: How can you live today with the understanding that you are chosen by God's grace, not by your own merit?
Day 5: Heaven's Joy in Our Homecoming
Heaven's celebration is uniquely triggered by the decision to follow Jesus. This celebration is a powerful reminder of the value God places on each individual and the joy that accompanies each soul's decision to come home. It's about understanding that God doesn't celebrate worldly achievements as much as He rejoices over someone joining His team. This realization can be a profound source of encouragement and motivation for believers to share the good news with others. [50:31]
"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents." - Luke 15:10 ESV
Reflection: Who can you share the joy of Jesus with today, and how can you demonstrate the value God places on them?
Quotes
"God created a team for you to belong to so that you can be more fulfilled, find purpose, true joy, contentment, and live a life that honors God. We need to be part of a spiritual community with other believers." [43:42
"Jesus drafted you in round one. You're a first-round draft pick, which means you are given the opportunity to say yes or no to joining His team." [44:18
"God created you with amazing gifts for His team, but many can't see it. To see your potential, you first have to start with the belief that God is good." [34:46
"Every time someone surrenders their life to Jesus, Heaven celebrates. Jesus celebrates because He put you as a first-round draft pick and you said yes." [49:31
"No one achieves greatness alone; we need a team and a coach. Why then do we think we can be our best selves without God's team and spiritual community?" [41:28
"When you start believing God is good, you can start hearing the voice of the coach telling you how amazing and qualified you really are." [35:16
"Being a Christian should be filled with laughter and joy. Following Jesus may come with challenges, but we have the freedom to declare Jesus as Lord." [24:10
"Jesus came and died for us at our worst. When you were throwing interceptions and fumbling, Jesus still wanted you. He drafted you for His team." [46:41
"Don't let the opinion of someone else affect your ability to believe that God is good. It's not worth it. Believe in God's goodness for yourself." [36:47
"God's team can help you be your best. No one's ever been called the greatest player ever of any sport without being part of a team and having a coach." [40:26
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