Living Under God's Reign: Choices, Mercy, and Trust
Summary
In my sermon, I began by welcoming everyone to our service, expressing joy in seeing the congregation, and extending a special welcome to first-time visitors and those joining us online. I then transitioned into the heart of the sermon, which focused on the present reign of God in our lives, building upon last week's message about God's reign over our past. I emphasized the importance of our choices, which reveal who truly reigns in our lives. Our daily decisions, whether big or small, indicate whether we are listening to God or to the world.
I delved into Romans chapter 12, urging the congregation to present themselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, as their true worship. This act of sacrifice is not about death but about living in a way that honors God, reflecting on the mercy He has shown us. I challenged the congregation to see life through the lens of God's mercy, which should transform our perspective and influence every decision we make.
I shared an analogy of using binoculars at Stone Mountain to see the carvings in detail, likening it to how viewing our lives through the lens of God's mercy can bring clarity and appreciation for His work in us. I stressed that this perspective change is essential for understanding Scripture and living a life that is pleasing to God.
I also addressed the patterns of our lives, encouraging the congregation to identify and change patterns that lead to brokenness. By changing our patterns, we can change our lives, aligning them with God's will. I reminded everyone that God's love and mercy provide the motivation to transform our lives and renew our minds.
I spoke about the importance of trading our will for God's will, explaining that the ultimate outcome of a sacrificial life and a renewed mind is the ability to discern God's will for our present life. I encouraged the congregation to trust in the Lord with all their hearts and not to rely on their own understanding, as stated in Proverbs 3:5-6.
I concluded the sermon with a call to action, asking the congregation to sincerely pray and ask God what areas of their lives need to be seen in light of His mercies. I prayed for the congregation, thanking God for His sacrifice and love, and for the guidance to live lives fully devoted to Him.
Key Takeaways:
1. Our choices are a reflection of who reigns in our lives. The decisions we make, whether consciously or subconsciously, reveal whether we are following God's will or our own desires. It's a daily litmus test of our allegiance, and we must strive to make choices that honor God and demonstrate His rule in our lives. ([30:34])
2. Viewing life through the lens of God's mercy is transformative. When we truly grasp the depth of God's mercy towards us, it changes how we see everything—our decisions, our worship, and our approach to Scripture. This perspective allows us to appreciate God's work in our lives and to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. ([35:10])
3. Identifying and changing our life patterns can lead to a renewed life. Patterns of behavior are often ingrained and can lead to destructive outcomes. By recognizing these patterns and intentionally changing them, we can align ourselves with God's will and experience the fullness of life He intends for us. ([51:04])
4. Trading our will for God's will is the key to discerning His plans for us. When we surrender our desires and seek God's direction, we open ourselves to His guidance and the straight paths He has laid out for us. This requires trust and a willingness to follow God's lead, even when it challenges our own understanding. ([01:01:51])
5. Trusting in God's love is essential for living under His reign. As a parent desires the best for their children, God desires the best for us. Trusting in His love means believing that He is always seeking our best and obeying Him out of love, not obligation. This trust allows us to live confidently under His reign, knowing that His plans are for our good. ([01:03:43])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Romans 12:1-2 (NIV): "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul urge believers to do in Romans 12:1-2, and why is this significant?
2. How does the analogy of using binoculars at Stone Mountain help illustrate the concept of viewing life through the lens of God's mercy? [33:39]
3. What are some patterns of behavior mentioned in the sermon that can lead to brokenness? [49:19]
4. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate outcome of living a sacrificial life and having a renewed mind? [01:01:51]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices in Romans 12:1? How does this relate to our daily choices? [29:05]
2. How can viewing life through the lens of God's mercy transform our perspective and influence our decisions? [35:10]
3. What does it mean to trade our will for God's will, and how can this help us discern His plans for our lives? [01:01:51]
4. How does trusting in God's love and mercy provide the motivation to transform our lives and renew our minds? [01:03:43]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily choices. What do they reveal about who reigns in your life? Are there specific areas where you need to align your decisions more closely with God's will? [30:34]
2. Think about a recent decision you made. Did you view it through the lens of God's mercy? How might your decision have been different if you had? [35:10]
3. Identify a pattern in your life that leads to brokenness. What steps can you take to change this pattern and align it with God's will? [51:04]
4. Consider a time when you struggled to discern God's will for your life. How can you practice trading your will for God's will in similar situations in the future? [01:01:51]
5. Trusting in God's love is essential for living under His reign. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's love in your daily life? Are there specific actions you can take to remind yourself of His love and mercy? [01:03:43]
6. How can you incorporate the practice of viewing life through the lens of God's mercy into your daily routine? What practical steps can you take to make this a habit? [35:10]
7. Reflect on the sermon’s call to action. What areas of your life need to be seen in light of God's mercies? How will you pray and seek God's guidance in these areas this week? [01:10:13]
Devotional
Day 1: Sovereignty in Our Choices
Our daily choices serve as a testament to who we hold as sovereign in our lives. Each decision, whether it's a significant life change or a small daily habit, is a reflection of our allegiance. When we choose paths that honor God, we demonstrate that His reign is paramount in our lives. It's not just about avoiding wrongdoing; it's about actively seeking to do what is right and good in the eyes of the Lord. This requires constant self-examination and a commitment to align our will with God's will, acknowledging that every choice we make is an opportunity to glorify Him.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:2
Reflection: What choice can you make today that will clearly reflect God's sovereignty in your life? [30:34]
Day 2: Transformed by Mercy
Understanding and embracing God's mercy is a transformative experience that reshapes our entire outlook on life. When we view our lives through the lens of His mercy, our decisions, worship, and interpretation of Scripture are all affected. This new perspective allows us to appreciate the intricacies of His work within us and compels us to live in a manner that pleases Him. It's about recognizing the vastness of His grace and allowing that recognition to guide us in every aspect of our lives, leading to a deeper, more meaningful relationship with our Creator.
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved." - Ephesians 2:4-5
Reflection: How can you apply the understanding of God's mercy to a current situation in your life? [35:10]
Day 3: Breaking and Making Patterns
Our life patterns can either lead us to brokenness or to a life that is in harmony with God's will. It's crucial to identify the patterns that cause harm and to work diligently to replace them with ones that foster growth and health. This process of change is not easy; it requires intentionality and the willingness to step out of our comfort zones. However, the reward is a life that is increasingly aligned with God's will, filled with the peace and joy that comes from living according to His design.
"Put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." - Ephesians 4:22-24
Reflection: What is one unhealthy pattern in your life that you can begin to change this week? [51:04]
Day 4: Surrendering to God's Will
The journey of faith involves the crucial step of trading our will for God's will. This surrender is not a one-time event but a daily practice of seeking His direction and submitting to His guidance. It's about trusting that God's plans for us are better than our own and that His understanding surpasses ours. When we let go of our desires and embrace His will, we open ourselves to a life that is rich with purpose and direction, one that leads us to the fullness of what God has in store for us.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to surrender more fully to God's will, and what practical step can you take to do so? [01:01:51]
Day 5: Trusting in God's Love
Living under God's reign is fundamentally rooted in trust—trust that His love for us is unwavering and that He desires the best for us. Like a parent who wants only good things for their child, God's intentions for us are pure and filled with hope. Trusting in His love means obeying Him not out of fear or obligation but out of a deep-seated belief that He is good and that His plans for us are for our ultimate benefit. This trust allows us to live confidently and joyfully under His reign, secure in the knowledge that we are loved and cared for by the Almighty.
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you." - Isaiah 54:10
Reflection: How can you demonstrate trust in God's love in a practical way in a challenging circumstance you're facing? [01:03:43]
Quotes
1) "My choices reveal who reigns in my life. The things we choose to do. The things we choose not to do. Show who we are listening to. Our lives are largely made up of the decisions that we make. The choices that we make each and every day. And that can be a painful litmus test of to whom or what has our allegiance." [30:34]
2) "Paul begins by saying that every instruction that he is about to give must be seen through a specific lens. Everything that he is about to say must be seen through a specific lens, and in order to fully grasp this new way of living in the present, we have to see all of life in a certain way." [31:55]
3) "It was amazing how looking through the mountain, you could see all the details in those carvings on that mountain. Looking through that lens could bring you up close to the details in that mountain. It changed everything, and all because it changed our point of view." [35:10]
4) "Changing your patterns will change your life. With a little bit of attention, patterns can be easily. Identified. It's a skill that we have been learning from childhood... But listen to me, the same is true in our lives as well." [51:04]
5) "Trade your will for God's will. The ultimate outcome of a sacrificial life and a renewed mind is the ability to distinguish the will of God for your present life. To understand God's will for your life right now." [01:01:51]
6) "Because of the mercy that he has granted you, because of the fact that you no longer, as a Christian, face the persecution of your sin. Because of the mercy of God, you no longer face the persecution of your sin. You no longer are held responsible in a spiritual sense to the King of kings and Lord of lords for your past actions." [37:18]
7) "The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled life. Heart. You see, the author of Psalm 51 is shedding light on the real reason behind the sacrificial system that the Jews had in place." [43:38]
8) "The only way to have a successful life is to project forward and understanding that there is something more glorious beyond what you have today." [58:03]
9) "Chase Jesus with everything, everything, everything. Make every decision you have according to the lens of, what is God's will for me? Is this what God wants me to do? Is this what Jesus, Jesus would have me to do?" [01:00:02]
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