Living with Holy Expectation: Embracing Faith's Journey
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the importance of living a life of holy expectation and avoiding the pitfalls of routine and comfort in our faith journey. Drawing from personal experiences, I shared how my passion for baseball and subsequent injury led to a period of stagnation in my physical fitness, which was only revitalized when I embraced the dynamic and unpredictable nature of CrossFit. This experience parallels our spiritual lives, where we must avoid getting stuck in routines and instead approach our faith with a sense of holy expectation, ready for God to move in unexpected ways.
We delved into Ephesians 5, emphasizing the need to imitate God by spending time with Him, much like how children emulate their parents. We are dearly loved children of God, and our obedience should stem from this love, not as a means to earn it. The chapter also calls us to walk in love, as Christ did, and to avoid immorality, which is about taking rather than giving. We discussed the importance of worshiping God not for what we can get but for what we can give, and how our words reflect the state of our hearts.
The sermon also addressed the concept of idolatry, highlighting how even good things like children can become idols if they take precedence over God. We are called to live as children of light, making the most of every opportunity because our time is fleeting. The importance of being filled with the Holy Spirit and being part of a local church community was stressed, as was the need for accountability.
Finally, we tackled the controversial topic of submission within marriage, emphasizing mutual submission out of reverence for Christ. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, and husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This mutual submission and love form the foundation of a healthy, Christ-centered marriage.
### Key Takeaways
1. Holy Expectation in Faith: Just as CrossFit revitalized my physical fitness by breaking routines, our spiritual lives thrive when we approach God with holy expectation. Avoiding the comfort of routine and being open to God's unpredictable movements can lead to profound spiritual growth. [02:49]
2. Imitating God Through Relationship: To emulate God, we must spend time with Him, much like children imitate their parents. Our obedience to God should stem from our identity as His dearly loved children, not as a means to earn His love. This relationship-based obedience transforms our lives. [08:33]
3. Avoiding Idolatry: Even good things, like our children, can become idols if they take precedence over God. We must ensure that nothing, not even our most cherished relationships, comes before our devotion to God. This helps us maintain a balanced and God-centered life. [16:56]
4. Making the Most of Time: Our time on earth is fleeting, and we must make the most of every opportunity to live for God. By recognizing the brevity of life, we can prioritize what truly matters and live with an eternal perspective, making each moment count for God's kingdom. [22:44]
5. Mutual Submission in Marriage: Submission in marriage is about mutual respect and love, not domination or inferiority. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, and husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loved the church. This mutual submission fosters a healthy, Christ-centered marriage. [29:11]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Personal Story: Baseball and Injury
[02:49] - Embracing CrossFit and Holy Expectation
[04:10] - Avoiding Comfortable Faith
[05:36] - Introduction to Ephesians 5
[06:53] - Imitating God as Dearly Loved Children
[08:33] - Walking in Love and Avoiding Immorality
[10:08] - Agape Love vs. Immorality
[11:45] - Worship: Giving vs. Taking
[13:03] - Humility and Selflessness
[14:24] - Words Reflect the Heart
[15:42] - Idolatry and Prioritizing God
[18:17] - Living as Children of Light
[19:45] - Understanding God's Preferences
[21:11] - Making the Most of Every Opportunity
[22:44] - The Fleeting Nature of Time
[25:04] - Being Filled with the Spirit
[26:27] - Importance of Local Church Community
[27:48] - Submission in Marriage
[29:11] - Wives Submit to Husbands
[30:45] - Husbands Love Your Wives
[32:15] - Leaving and Cleaving in Marriage
[33:48] - The Pain of Divorce
[35:05] - Love and Respect in Marriage
[36:32] - Conclusion and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Ephesians 5:1-2
- Ephesians 5:15-21
- Ephesians 5:22-33
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 5:1-2 say about how we should live our lives? How does it describe our relationship with God?
2. According to Ephesians 5:15-16, why is it important to make the most of every opportunity? What does it say about the nature of our time on earth?
3. In Ephesians 5:22-24, what specific instructions are given to wives? How is this related to the concept of mutual submission mentioned in verse 21?
4. How does Ephesians 5:25-28 describe the way husbands should love their wives? What comparison is made to illustrate this love?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon emphasized the importance of living with "holy expectation" rather than getting stuck in routines. How does this concept relate to the instructions in Ephesians 5:1-2 about imitating God and walking in love? [02:49]
2. Ephesians 5:15-16 talks about making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. How does this align with the sermon’s message about the fleeting nature of time and the urgency to live for God? [22:44]
3. The sermon discussed the potential for good things, like children, to become idols. How does Ephesians 5:5-7 address the issue of idolatry and its consequences? [16:56]
4. The concept of mutual submission in marriage was highlighted in the sermon. How does Ephesians 5:21-33 explain the roles of husbands and wives in a Christ-centered marriage? [29:11]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current faith practices. Are there areas where you have become too comfortable or routine? How can you cultivate a sense of holy expectation in your daily walk with God? [04:10]
2. Think about your daily schedule and priorities. Are there ways you can better make the most of your time for God's kingdom? What specific changes can you implement this week to live with an eternal perspective? [22:44]
3. Consider the relationships in your life. Are there any that have taken precedence over your devotion to God? How can you re-prioritize to ensure that God remains at the center of your life? [16:56]
4. In what ways can you spend more intentional time with God to better imitate Him? What practical steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him this week? [08:33]
5. If you are married, how can you practice mutual submission and love in your relationship? What specific actions can you take to show sacrificial love to your spouse this week? [29:11]
6. Reflect on your worship practices. Do you approach worship with a mindset of giving to God rather than taking? How can you shift your focus to ensure your worship is centered on God’s preferences rather than your own? [13:03]
7. Identify one area in your life where you need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. What steps can you take to empty yourself of distractions and make room for the Holy Spirit to work in you? [25:04]
Devotional
### Day 1: Embracing Holy Expectation
In our spiritual journey, it is easy to fall into the comfort of routine, which can lead to stagnation. Just as physical fitness can be revitalized by embracing dynamic and unpredictable activities like CrossFit, our spiritual lives can thrive when we approach God with a sense of holy expectation. This means being open to God's unpredictable movements and ready for Him to work in unexpected ways. By doing so, we can experience profound spiritual growth and avoid the pitfalls of a comfortable, routine faith. [02:49]
Bible Passage: "But as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him'—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Think about an area of your spiritual life where you have become too comfortable. How can you invite God to move in unexpected ways in this area today?
### Day 2: Imitating God Through Relationship
To truly emulate God, we must spend time with Him, much like children imitate their parents. Our obedience to God should stem from our identity as His dearly loved children, not as a means to earn His love. This relationship-based obedience transforms our lives, allowing us to walk in love as Christ did. By spending time with God, we learn to reflect His character and love in our daily actions, leading to a deeper and more authentic faith. [08:33]
Bible Passage: "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally spend more time with God this week to better reflect His love and character in your daily life?
### Day 3: Avoiding Idolatry
Even good things, like our children, can become idols if they take precedence over God. Idolatry occurs when anything or anyone takes the place of God in our lives. To maintain a balanced and God-centered life, we must ensure that our devotion to God comes first. This helps us keep our priorities in check and prevents us from placing undue importance on things that, while good, should not overshadow our relationship with God. [16:56]
Bible Passage: "Little children, keep yourselves from idols." (1 John 5:21, ESV)
Reflection: Identify something or someone in your life that may be taking precedence over your relationship with God. How can you re-prioritize to ensure God remains at the center?
### Day 4: Making the Most of Time
Our time on earth is fleeting, and we must make the most of every opportunity to live for God. By recognizing the brevity of life, we can prioritize what truly matters and live with an eternal perspective. This means making each moment count for God's kingdom and being intentional about how we spend our time. By doing so, we can ensure that our lives reflect our commitment to God and His purposes. [22:44]
Bible Passage: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to make better use of your time for God's kingdom?
### Day 5: Mutual Submission in Marriage
Submission in marriage is about mutual respect and love, not domination or inferiority. Wives are called to submit to their husbands, and husbands are called to love their wives sacrificially, as Christ loved the church. This mutual submission and love form the foundation of a healthy, Christ-centered marriage. By practicing mutual submission, couples can build a relationship that honors God and reflects His love to the world. [29:11]
Bible Passage: "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior." (Ephesians 5:21-23, ESV)
Reflection: How can you practice mutual submission and sacrificial love in your marriage or close relationships today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "The truth is that if you want to follow Jesus, it is going to cost you everything. If you want to follow Jesus, it is going to cost you everything. But it's not easy, but it is worth it to follow Jesus. The distance between where you are right now and where God wants you to be is what's in between those two is your willingness to surrender things to him." [04:10] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The Bible is not a book of self-help philosophies. It is a revelation of Jesus Christ. And so it's so important that we understand it and we go through it, not just trying to see how does God meet my needs, but trying to understand who is God? What does God teach us to do? And we approach it open-minded. God, whatever you want to do, I'm in." [05:36] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We are called to make disciples. We are called to grow roots down into Jesus. And it's so important that we do that. There's a huge problem I think we have, especially in the church. We have a lot of people who are like, I don't know, I don't know, I don't in the United States as Christians, which is that sometimes we get too comfortable." [04:10] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Love is an action. And so the Bible tells us even to love our enemies. So even those who we don't like that we can't stand, we can still act lovingly towards them and love those who we don't like, even our enemies. So the Bible encourages us to do." [10:08] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Part of loving God is coming to God, not for what we can just take from him, but for what we can give to him. And God is good. He will give to you, but we need to come to God and say, God, I want to give you my worship. God, I want to give you my praise. I want to give you my adoration. I didn't come to ask something and demand something from you. I came to give something to you." [13:03] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "If you want to emulate God, if that's what the Bible tells us to do, to be like God in his essence, in his nature, how do we do that? We spend time with God. You become like the people that you hang out with. That's why it's so important that we carve out time in the midst of a noisy world to spend time with Jesus." [08:33] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "What comes out of your mouth is what is stored up in your heart. And so if your conversation is negative, toxic, cynical, jaded, gossipy, ultimately that's a reflection of what's going on in your heart. And so my encouragement is don't ask God to change your language. Lord, I'm saying these things. Can you change my language? Ask God to change your heart. Because if God changes your heart, your language will change as a result." [14:24] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The average life expectancy in the US is 79 years. If you subtract a third of that for sleep, when we're sleeping, that's 53 years. You take away school, that's 48 years. You take away job and commute, that's 36 years. You take away the time we spend eating, that's 34 years. The amount of time we do chores and cleaning and just things that have to get done, that gets us down to 29 years. The average person spends 13 years of their life on their phone. That'll take you from 29 years down by 13 years, that gets you to 16 years." [22:44] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "To submit means to willingly place yourself under someone else's authority. Now, what this does not mean, and I think we can develop this wrong mindset, that submission means you're less than. Jesus submitted to the father. Is Jesus any less God than the father? No, they are all co-equal. And so ultimately it is about functionality. It's not about superiority." [29:11] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The ultimate thing you can do is create an environment in your home where your wife is loved. It's the number one thing that she's looking for. Where she's loved, cared for, pursued, looked after, wooed, husband's love, your wives. And then it says, wives respect your husbands. They've done studies, they'll pull men, and they'll say, would you rather be married to someone who doesn't love you, but respects you, or would you rather be married to someone who loves you, but doesn't respect you? The majority of men will say, I would rather be with someone who does not love me, but they respect me." [36:32] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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