Journey of Salvation: Growing Closer to God
Summary
In today's sermon, I explored the multifaceted nature of salvation and the practical steps we can take to grow closer to God. I began by discussing the "main gate," which represents our initial salvation experience. This is where we put our trust in Jesus and are saved from the penalty of sin. It's a crucial step, but it's just the beginning of our journey on God's ranch.
I then moved on to the "front pasture gate," which symbolizes our ongoing sanctification. Here, we are saved from the power of sin as we learn to live in freedom and victory. This is a process, not an instantaneous event, and it involves a daily struggle against sin. I emphasized that we can only defeat sin that has already been forgiven, and that our efforts should be focused on knowing God better, not on trying to earn His favor through our own strength.
The "home place gate" points us to our ultimate hope of salvation, where one day we will be completely removed from the presence of sin. This future hope gives us the strength to endure the waiting time we find ourselves in now.
I challenged the common notion that we should "try hard" to obey God, suggesting instead that we should strive to know Him better. Knowing God leads to loving Him, which in turn leads to trusting Him, and ultimately, to obeying Him. This is similar to the relationship between a colt and its master in the round pen, where trust and communication are key.
I shared practical advice on how to grow in Christ, drawing parallels between our spiritual lives and the training of a horse. We discussed the natural resistance we have to God's work in our lives and the importance of overcoming it through spiritual disciplines, such as reading the Bible and prayer.
I also highlighted the value of small groups, or "round pen groups," as a means of support and growth. These groups provide a space for accountability, encouragement, and learning to follow God's lead together.
Finally, I encouraged everyone to develop a daily time alone with God, emphasizing the importance of starting the day with prayer and Scripture reading. This practice is essential for learning to communicate with God and building a trust relationship with Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Salvation is not just a one-time event but a journey that includes being saved from the penalty, power, and presence of sin. It begins with an initial trust in Jesus and continues as we grow in our relationship with Him, looking forward to the day we will be free from sin's presence entirely. [41:55]
- Effort in the Christian life should not be confused with earning God's favor. Our efforts should be directed toward knowing God more intimately because a deeper knowledge of Him leads to love, which fosters trust, and results in obedience. This is the natural progression of a relationship built on grace, not performance. [01:06:00]
- The analogy of the round pen in horse training is a powerful illustration of our spiritual growth. Just as a horse must learn to trust and communicate with its master, we too must develop trust and communication with God. This involves overcoming our natural resistance and embracing spiritual disciplines that may not come naturally to us. [47:10]
- Small groups, or "round pen groups," are vital for Christian growth. They provide a context for mutual care, accountability, and encouragement. As we do life together, we learn to follow God's lead and support one another in our spiritual journeys. [50:10]
- A daily time alone with God is the most important practice for spiritual growth. It allows us to hear from God through His Word and speak to Him in prayer. This time should be prioritized, even if it means waking up a little earlier, to ensure that we start our day focused on God and His will for us. [58:08]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:10-14
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 8:10-14, what does the Spirit give us even though our bodies are subject to death because of sin?
2. What obligation do we have according to Romans 8:12-13, and what are the consequences of living according to the flesh versus living by the Spirit?
3. In the sermon, what are the three gates mentioned, and what does each gate symbolize in our spiritual journey? [40:13]
4. How does the analogy of the round pen relate to our spiritual growth and relationship with God? [42:43]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean to be saved from the penalty, power, and presence of sin as described in the sermon? How does this three-fold view of salvation impact our daily lives? [42:07]
2. The sermon suggests that our efforts should be directed toward knowing God more intimately rather than trying hard to obey Him. How does this perspective change the way we approach our spiritual disciplines? [01:05:09]
3. How does the analogy of the round pen help us understand the importance of trust and communication in our relationship with God? [47:01]
4. What role do small groups, or "round pen groups," play in our spiritual growth according to the sermon? How can they provide support and accountability? [49:01]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your initial salvation experience. How did you come to put your trust in Jesus, and how has that decision impacted your life since then? [40:16]
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing God more intimately. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your relationship with God? [01:05:09]
3. Consider the analogy of the round pen. What are some areas in your life where you feel natural resistance to God's work? How can you overcome this resistance through spiritual disciplines? [47:01]
4. Small groups are highlighted as vital for Christian growth. Are you currently part of a small group? If not, what steps can you take to join one or start one? [49:01]
5. The sermon encourages developing a daily time alone with God. What practical steps can you take to prioritize this time, even if it means waking up a little earlier? [56:02]
6. Reflect on the idea that knowing God leads to loving Him, which fosters trust and results in obedience. How can you apply this progression in your daily walk with God? [01:05:09]
7. The sermon suggests that our efforts should be focused on knowing God rather than trying to earn His favor. How can this shift in focus change the way you approach your spiritual life and relationship with God? [01:05:09]
Devotional
Day 1: Journey Beyond Initial Salvation
Salvation is often viewed as a singular moment of transformation, but it is, in reality, the commencement of a lifelong journey. The initial act of putting trust in Jesus is akin to stepping through a gate that opens up into a vast and beautiful landscape of spiritual growth. This journey involves not only being saved from the penalty of sin but also growing in grace and knowledge to overcome the power of sin in daily life. As believers walk this path, they look forward to the ultimate promise of salvation: the complete freedom from the presence of sin. This hope is not a distant dream but a future reality that fuels perseverance and faithfulness in the present. [41:55]
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." - Titus 2:11-13
Reflection: How does the hope of future salvation influence your daily walk with God, and what steps can you take today to live in light of that hope?
Day 2: Intimacy with God Fosters Obedience
The Christian life is not a quest to accumulate God's favor through human effort but an invitation to deepen one's relationship with the Divine. Efforts should be channeled towards knowing God more intimately, as it is through knowing Him that love is kindled. This love begets trust, and trust naturally leads to obedience. Like a dance that flows from the music, obedience to God's will is the natural outcome of a heart in tune with His. The focus, therefore, should not be on the steps of the dance but on listening to the music—knowing God Himself. [01:06:00]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." - John 17:3
Reflection: What are some practical ways you can shift your focus from merely trying to obey God to truly knowing Him better this week?
Day 3: Trust and Communication with God
The analogy of a horse and its trainer in the round pen beautifully illustrates the relationship between a believer and God. Just as the horse must learn to trust and communicate with its master, believers are called to develop a similar trust and communication with God. This relationship requires overcoming natural resistance and embracing spiritual disciplines that foster intimacy with the Creator. Through practices such as prayer and Scripture reading, believers can learn to discern God's voice and follow His lead, much like a well-trained horse responds to the subtle cues of its trainer. [47:10]
"But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." - Hebrews 5:14
Reflection: What is one spiritual discipline you can practice this week to enhance your communication with God, and how will you implement it?
Day 4: The Value of Community in Growth
Christian growth is not a solitary endeavor but one that flourishes in the context of community. Small groups, or "round pen groups," serve as a microcosm of the church at large, providing a space for believers to support and sharpen one another. In these groups, individuals find accountability, encouragement, and the collective wisdom to navigate the complexities of following God's lead. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another, and these groups become the forge where spiritual maturity is crafted. [50:10]
"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
Reflection: How can you contribute to or draw from a small group this week to mutually foster spiritual growth?
Day 5: Prioritizing Daily Time with God
The cornerstone of spiritual growth is the daily, intentional time set aside for God. This sacred time is essential for cultivating a relationship with the Almighty, akin to the first moments of the day when the world is still, and one can hear the whisper of the Divine. It is in these moments of prayer and Scripture reading that believers find the strength and guidance for the day ahead. Prioritizing this time, even if it means rising earlier, ensures that each day is anchored in the presence of God. [58:08]
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1
Reflection: What changes can you make to your morning routine to ensure that you start your day with God, and what might be the first step you take tomorrow morning?
Quotes
"The horse doesn't naturally want to be with the master in the round pin. This is going to really help us know what we need to do to grow in Christ. The horse doesn't naturally want to be with that master in the round pin. That paint pony BB, she didn't want to be in the arena. There's things God wants us to do. I just don't want to do them." [46:25]
"The horse learns to communicate with the master in the round pen. This doesn't happen naturally either. The master horsewoman or horseman sometimes just gets in the round pen with the horse and then pretends to completely ignore the horse. Just go off to the other side and leave him alone. Here's what I read one trainer to say. See if this relates to relationship with God." [53:13]
"We talked about the fact that the main gate is the salvation experience, the initial experience, where I put my trust in Jesus. And that's how I get on God's ranch. That's how I get a relationship with God. And we learned that the main gate teaches us that I have been saved from the penalty of my sin." [40:25]
"And so today the Round Pen Gate is a very practical gate. Because it's the practical way that you and I learn how to, in that process, get closer and closer to the Lord and learn to trust Him. And so that's what we're going to look at in the Round Pen Gate today." [43:25]
"And it doesn't tell us. Now, don't confuse effort with earning. We should make efforts. But the efforts we should make, I just told you what they are, and we're fixing to make those efforts. Here's what we should do. Instead of trying so hard to obey God, we should just put that effort into getting to know Him better." [01:05:27]
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