Keeping the Fire of Passion for God's House
Summary
In today's message, I explored the metaphor of keeping a fire alive as a representation of maintaining passion in various aspects of life, particularly in our relationship with God and His church. Just as a fire requires constant attention and fuel to keep burning, so too does our spiritual life require continual nurturing through practices like prayer, Bible reading, and active participation in a church community. Without these, our passion can dwindle, leaving us with only the ashes of what once was.
I emphasized the importance of having a heart for God's house, the church, which is not just a building but a community of believers. Drawing from the example of King David, who had a deep passion for building a house for the Lord, I encouraged everyone to cultivate a similar zeal for the church. The church is described as the bride of Christ, and just as we cannot claim to love someone while disliking their spouse, we cannot truly love Jesus without loving His church.
The local church, when mobilized, is a powerful force for good, offering hope, healing, and community. Despite its imperfections, the church remains the hope of the world, a place where broken people can find restoration. Jesus loved the church so much that He gave His life for it, and we are called to love it with the same fervor.
To keep the fire of passion for God's house burning, I suggested three practical steps: pray for your church, prioritize it in your life, and actively participate in its mission. Prayer is a powerful tool that can bring about transformation and growth within the church. Prioritizing the church means making it a non-negotiable part of your life, not just an occasional activity. Participation involves engaging in community, serving others, and contributing to the church's mission.
As we approach our annual Heart for the House offering, I encouraged everyone to consider how they can contribute to the vision and mission of the church. This is an opportunity to demonstrate our love for God's house and to invest in something that will outlast us and have eternal significance.
Key Takeaways:
- Stoking the Fire of Passion: Just as a fire needs constant fuel to keep burning, our spiritual life requires regular nurturing through prayer, Bible reading, and community involvement. Without these, our passion for God can fade, leaving us spiritually cold. [02:18]
- A Heart for God's House: God desires us to have a passion for His church, much like King David's zeal for building a house for the Lord. The church is not just a building but a community of believers, and loving Jesus means loving His church. [05:07]
- The Church as a Powerful Force: When mobilized, the local church is a powerful force for good, offering hope, healing, and community. Despite its imperfections, it remains the hope of the world, and we are called to be part of its mission. [06:25]
- Practical Steps to Keep the Fire Burning: To maintain a passion for God's house, we should pray for our church, prioritize it in our lives, and actively participate in its mission. These actions help keep our spiritual fire burning bright. [12:45]
- Investing in Eternal Significance: Contributing to the church's mission through offerings and active involvement is an investment in something that will outlast us and have eternal significance. It's an opportunity to demonstrate our love for God's house. [29:59]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:18] - Keeping the Fire Alive
- [05:07] - A Heart for God's House
- [06:25] - The Church as a Powerful Force
- [09:30] - Building God's Kingdom
- [11:37] - Loving the Bride of Christ
- [12:45] - Stoking the Fire
- [13:41] - Power of Prayer
- [15:03] - Praying for the Church
- [17:16] - Prioritizing the Church
- [19:14] - The Importance of Community
- [21:40] - Setting Priorities
- [23:02] - Participating in the Church
- [25:42] - Taking the Next Step
- [29:59] - Heart for the House Offering
- [30:59] - Invitation to Faith
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Kings 8:17 - "Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel."
2. Psalm 122:1 - "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord."
3. Ephesians 5:25 - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
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Observation Questions:
1. What metaphor did the pastor use to describe maintaining passion in our spiritual lives, and how does it relate to our daily practices? [02:18]
2. How did King David's passion for building a house for the Lord serve as an example for us in the sermon? [05:07]
3. According to the sermon, what role does the local church play in the world, and how is it described when it is mobilized? [06:25]
4. What are the three practical steps mentioned in the sermon to keep the fire of passion for God's house burning? [12:45]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the metaphor of a fire needing constant fuel help us understand the importance of spiritual disciplines like prayer and Bible reading? [02:18]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that having a heart for God's house is similar to King David's zeal for building a house for the Lord? [05:07]
3. How does the sermon address the imperfections of the church while still emphasizing its importance and role as the hope of the world? [06:25]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between loving Jesus and loving His church, and how does this relate to Ephesians 5:25? [11:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current spiritual practices. Are there any areas where you feel your passion for God has dwindled? What specific steps can you take this week to "add logs to the fire"? [02:18]
2. How can you cultivate a heart for God's house similar to King David's passion? What practical actions can you take to demonstrate this passion in your church community? [05:07]
3. The sermon emphasizes the church as a powerful force for good. How can you actively contribute to your church's mission to offer hope, healing, and community? [06:25]
4. Consider the three practical steps mentioned in the sermon: praying for your church, prioritizing it, and participating in its mission. Which of these areas do you feel most challenged by, and how can you address this challenge? [12:45]
5. As the church approaches the annual Heart for the House offering, how can you contribute to the vision and mission of your church? What does investing in something with eternal significance mean to you personally? [29:59]
6. Reflect on the metaphor of the church as the bride of Christ. How does this perspective influence your view of the church and your role within it? [11:37]
7. How can you ensure that your involvement in the church is not just a routine but a passionate commitment to something greater than yourself? What changes might you need to make in your life to prioritize this commitment? [21:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Nurturing the Spiritual Flame
In our spiritual journey, maintaining passion requires intentional nurturing, much like tending to a fire. Without regular practices such as prayer, Bible reading, and community involvement, our spiritual fervor can diminish, leaving us feeling cold and disconnected. Just as a fire needs fuel to keep burning, our spiritual lives need consistent attention and care. By engaging in these practices, we can keep our passion for God alive and vibrant, ensuring that our spiritual flame continues to burn brightly. [02:18]
"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, ESV)
Reflection: What specific practice can you incorporate into your daily routine this week to nurture your spiritual passion and keep your fire for God burning brightly?
Day 2: Cultivating a Heart for God's Community
Having a heart for God's house means developing a deep passion for the church, which is not merely a building but a community of believers. Drawing inspiration from King David's zeal for building a house for the Lord, we are encouraged to cultivate a similar love for the church. Loving Jesus involves loving His church, as it is described as the bride of Christ. This love calls us to actively engage with and support the community of believers, recognizing its significance in our spiritual journey. [05:07]
"For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me." (Psalm 69:9, ESV)
Reflection: How can you demonstrate your love for Jesus by actively supporting and engaging with your local church community this week?
Day 3: The Church as a Beacon of Hope
The local church, when mobilized, serves as a powerful force for good, offering hope, healing, and community to those in need. Despite its imperfections, the church remains the hope of the world, a place where broken people can find restoration and purpose. We are called to be part of this mission, contributing to the church's efforts to bring about positive change and transformation in the world. By participating in the church's mission, we can help extend its reach and impact, bringing hope to those who need it most. [06:25]
"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: In what ways can you contribute to your church's mission this week to help it become a beacon of hope and healing in your community?
Day 4: Practical Steps to Ignite Passion
To maintain a passion for God's house, we are encouraged to pray for our church, prioritize it in our lives, and actively participate in its mission. Prayer is a powerful tool that can bring about transformation and growth within the church. Prioritizing the church means making it a non-negotiable part of our lives, not just an occasional activity. Participation involves engaging in community, serving others, and contributing to the church's mission. These actions help keep our spiritual fire burning bright and our connection to the church strong. [12:45]
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality." (Romans 12:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: What specific action can you take this week to prioritize your church and actively participate in its mission, thereby igniting your passion for God's house?
Day 5: Investing in Eternal Significance
Contributing to the church's mission through offerings and active involvement is an investment in something that will outlast us and have eternal significance. This is an opportunity to demonstrate our love for God's house and to invest in a vision that extends beyond our lifetime. By supporting the church's mission, we are participating in a legacy that impacts lives and communities for generations to come. Our contributions, whether financial or through service, are a testament to our commitment to God's work on earth. [29:59]
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invest in your church's mission this week in a way that reflects your commitment to something of eternal significance?
Quotes
1. "If you don't keep adding wood to the fire and you don't keep stoking the fire, the fire will eventually go out on you. And I want to propose that that's true in a lot of areas of our life. That if you don't keep adding logs to the fire and you don't keep stoking the fire, then the fire will eventually go out on you. And I've heard people say, well, I just, I don't have a passion for that anymore. Or I just don't love that anymore. Or I just don't have energy for that anymore. And I would propose that it's not that we lose passion. It's that we stop putting logs on the fire." ([00:01:12] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. "In our walk with Jesus and in us loving the things that God loves, that we've got to continually add logs onto the fires. Why? Reading your Bible is so important. Why? Because you're putting a log on the fire of your passion for Jesus. It's why a healthy prayer life is so important. And we're going to teach you that in January through prayer and fasting, how to develop a healthy prayer life. Why? Because it adds logs onto the fire. It's why being a part of a church community is so important. Why? You're adding logs onto the fire to keep your passion, for Jesus, white hot." ([00:02:57] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "When you're building the house of God, you're not building it for people. You're building it for the name of the Lord. In another part in Chronicles, David says, this house should be magnificent so that God's name would be known around the region. In other words, he wanted the name of Jesus to be lifted up. When you have a heart for the house of God, you have a heart for the things that God has a heart for. You have a heart for his name to be known, his name to be magnified, his name to be spread to the four corners of the earth." ([00:05:29] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "The local church, let me say it this way, the local church mobilized. The local church setting in its seats is not the hope of the world. By then, it's just at its best, it's a club. But we're not a club. We're not a country club. We're a hospital. We're the ER. We're the place where broken and hurting people come in. And they can meet the master who can heal and save and deliver and change. Come on, can I get a better amen in God's house? This is who we are." ([00:06:21] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "The church is full of broken, messy people that are coming together in perfect, but serving a perfect savior. And his name is Jesus. Come on, put your hands together. You're thankful for the church. I love the local church. There's no more powerful force for good in the earth than when the church is mobilized. There's no more powerful force for the gospel to be preached. The good news that Jesus died was buried and rose again three days later." ([00:08:23] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "You want to keep your passion for the house of God high, love what Jesus loves, then participate in your church. The Bible says this, Acts 2, 42 through 47. This is what the New Testament church did. They devoted themselves. That's where it starts. They devoted themselves. It was a commitment. It was a passion. It was a decision. Can I tell you what a commitment is? A commitment is something that you do once the feeling is left." ([00:22:25] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "And what a sad thing to get to the end of your life and realize you gave your life to things that don't matter and will not outlast you and live for eternity. So I'm praying God gives you a heart for his house, that the fire and passion for the house of God burns bright into your heart. And that you participate, you get involved. We have a great opportunity coming up. I told you four weeks ago, November 17th, it is our heart for the house year-end offering. We do it every year." ([00:27:37] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "Because on that day, we'll get to demonstrate our heart for the house of God. So how can you fan the flame? Pray for your church. Pray for it. Prioritize your church because it matters to Jesus. And then participate in your church. And if you do that, I believe your heart will be filled with joy. And you'll grow more and more for the thing that is on the heart of God. And that's building his house." ([00:29:39] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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