Pleasing God: A Journey of Grace and Growth
Summary
Today’s focus is on the remarkable truth that, as God’s redeemed children, it is truly possible to please God. This is not a distant or unattainable goal, but a reality grounded in the new relationship we have with God through Christ. The passage from 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 reveals that God not only calls us to live in a way that pleases Him, but He also provides everything necessary for us to do so. This is a radical shift from both ancient and modern misconceptions about God—He is not a distant, disinterested deity, nor is He a capricious judge waiting for us to fail. Instead, He is a loving Father who delights in His children and invites us into a life that brings Him joy.
The Christian life is not about earning God’s love; that love is already given in Christ. Rather, it is about living out our new family identity, walking in ways that reflect our adoption as sons and daughters. Just as joining a new family changes our habits and traditions, so too does being adopted by God transform how we live. The call to “walk and to please God” is not legalism, but a response to grace—a way of living that flows from our secure place in God’s family.
God’s pleasure in us is not based on grand achievements, but on everyday faithfulness: turning from idols, persevering through suffering, imitating Christ and those who follow Him, and expressing faith, hope, and love. The Thessalonians were commended for these very things, and the encouragement is to “do so more and more.” No one has arrived; there is always room to grow in pleasing God, and this growth is both possible and expected.
God has graciously provided the means for us to please Him: the family of God to encourage and exhort us, the Word of God to instruct us, and the example of Christ to guide us. We are called to embrace these gifts, encourage one another, and pass on what we have received. Pleasing God is not only possible—it is the joyful calling of every believer, shaping our daily lives and relationships.
Key Takeaways
- Pleasing God Is Possible and Expected
The idea that we can actually please God is both humbling and empowering. It challenges the mindset that God merely tolerates us or is impossible to satisfy. Scripture affirms that, as His children, our daily lives—marked by faith, hope, love, and perseverance—can bring real pleasure to our Father. This truth should reshape our approach to obedience, moving us from duty to delight. [39:40]
- Grace Grounds Our Effort, Not Legalism
Our ability to please God is rooted in grace, not in earning His love or favor. We are adopted into God’s family by Christ’s work, not our own. Yet, this adoption brings with it a new “family way”—a call to live differently, not to secure our place, but to reflect our new identity. Legalism adds burdens, but grace empowers us to pursue holiness with joy and freedom. [52:43]
- God Provides All We Need to Please Him
God does not call us to please Him and then leave us to figure it out alone. He has given us His Word for instruction, His people for encouragement and accountability, and the example of Christ to follow. Even the Holy Spirit and the gift of faith are provided so that we might walk in a manner worthy of our calling. We are never left without resources for godly living. [44:01]
- Growth in Pleasing God Is a Lifelong Journey
No matter how faithfully we are living, there is always room to “do so more and more.” The Christian life is not about reaching a plateau but about continual growth in Christlikeness. Encouragement from others and honest self-examination help us press on, not out of insecurity, but because God’s pleasure is worth pursuing ever more deeply. [01:03:13]
- Passing On What Pleases God Is Essential
Every believer is both a recipient and a steward of God’s instruction. We are called not only to embrace what we have received but to pass it on to others—encouraging, exhorting, and teaching those around us. Like the Sea of Galilee, our faith is meant to flow through us, bringing life to others, rather than stagnating within. [01:14:07]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:55] - Announcements and Opening Prayer
[03:54] - Church Camp Out and Fellowship
[05:24] - Setting Our Hearts for Worship
[35:03] - Praying for Illumination
[35:52] - The Spirit’s Presence and Our Understanding
[36:49] - Discovering a Striking Truth in 1 Thessalonians
[38:00] - Reading and Structuring the Passage
[39:40] - The Possibility of Pleasing God
[40:58] - The Structure and Big Idea
[42:59] - God as Father: A Radical Shift
[44:01] - God Provides What We Need
[46:39] - Adoption and the Family of God
[48:07] - Apostolic Instruction and Expectation
[50:29] - Walking Worthy: Not Legalism, But Family Living
[53:17] - Everyday Faithfulness Pleases God
[56:33] - The Thessalonians’ Example
[01:01:21] - Encouragement to Grow More and More
[01:04:09] - Knowing and Receiving God’s Instruction
[01:07:11] - Apostolic Authority and Jesus’ Teaching
[01:09:45] - God’s Instruction Is for Our Good
[01:11:38] - The Means God Provides: Family, Word, Example
[01:12:22] - Embracing and Encouraging Pleasing Lives
[01:14:07] - Passing On What We’ve Received
[01:14:48] - Living Daily to Please God
[01:16:33] - Closing Prayer and Response
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Pleasing God as His Children
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### Bible Reading
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (ESV)
> Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)
> His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
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### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2, what does Paul urge the Thessalonians to do, and what does he say they are already doing?
2. In 2 Peter 1:3-4, what has God given to believers, and for what purpose?
3. The sermon mentions that the Thessalonians were already pleasing God. What specific actions or qualities were highlighted as pleasing to God? ([56:33])
4. What resources does God provide to help us live in a way that pleases Him, according to the sermon? ([01:11:38])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says it is possible to please God as His children. Why is this idea both humbling and empowering for believers? ([39:40])
2. How does understanding our adoption into God’s family change the way we approach obedience and daily living? ([46:39])
3. The pastor explained that God’s pleasure in us is not based on grand achievements but on everyday faithfulness. What does this look like in practical terms? ([53:17])
4. Why is it important to recognize that God provides everything we need to please Him, rather than leaving us to figure it out on our own? ([44:01])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged the idea that God is impossible to please or merely tolerates us. Have you ever struggled with this mindset? How does knowing you can actually please God change your perspective or motivation? ([39:40])
2. Think about your own life: In what areas are you already “walking to please God”? Where do you sense God encouraging you to “do so more and more”? ([01:03:13])
3. The Thessalonians were commended for turning from idols, persevering through suffering, and imitating Christ. Which of these is most challenging for you right now, and why? ([56:33])
4. The sermon emphasized that grace, not legalism, is the foundation for pleasing God. Are there ways you slip into trying to earn God’s love or approval? How can you remind yourself to live from your secure identity as God’s child? ([52:43])
5. God has given us His Word, His people, and the example of Christ to help us. Which of these resources do you rely on most? Which one could you lean into more intentionally this week? ([01:11:38])
6. The pastor encouraged us to pass on what we’ve received to others. Who is someone in your life you could encourage or share what you’ve learned about pleasing God? ([01:14:07])
7. The sermon used the image of the Sea of Galilee (life flows through) versus the Dead Sea (life stagnates). Is your faith flowing through you to others, or do you tend to keep it to yourself? What is one step you could take to let your faith “flow” this week? ([01:14:07])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for adopting us as His children and for providing everything we need to please Him. Ask for help to grow in faithfulness, to encourage others, and to live each day in a way that brings Him joy.
Devotional
Day 1: It Is Possible to Please God
Many believers live with the assumption that God merely tolerates them, but Scripture reveals that it is actually possible to please God through our daily lives. This is not about earning His love—His love is already given in Christ—but about living in such a way that brings Him joy, just as a parent delights in the good choices of their children. The call to please God is not reserved for spiritual giants; it is for every follower of Jesus, in the ordinary moments of faithfulness, kindness, and perseverance. You are invited to embrace the truth that your life, lived in faith and obedience, can bring pleasure to your heavenly Father. [39:40]
1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (ESV)
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
Reflection: In what area of your life have you doubted that you could actually please God, and how might embracing this truth change your attitude or actions today?
Day 2: God Has Provided All We Need for Godliness
God does not command us to please Him and then leave us to figure it out on our own; rather, He has given us everything necessary for life and godliness. Through His divine power, He supplies us with His promises, His Spirit, and the knowledge of Christ, so that we are fully equipped to live in a way that honors Him. This provision is comprehensive—nothing is lacking for those who seek to walk in His ways. You can rest in the assurance that God’s resources are sufficient for every challenge and every step of obedience He calls you to take. [44:50]
2 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV)
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Reflection: What is one area where you feel inadequate to live a godly life, and how can you specifically rely on God’s provision for that need today?
Day 3: We Are Adopted into God’s Family
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are adopted as God’s children, welcomed into a new family with a new way of living. This adoption is not based on our merit but on the finished work of Christ, and it brings with it both the privilege of relationship and the expectation of living according to the family’s values. As members of God’s household, we are called to reflect His character and love, knowing that our identity as beloved children is secure. Let this truth shape how you see yourself and how you relate to others in the family of God. [46:39]
Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)
He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.
Reflection: How does knowing you are adopted into God’s family affect the way you approach your daily relationships and responsibilities?
Day 4: Embrace and Pass On God’s Instruction
God’s instruction comes to us through His Word and through the faithful example and teaching of others. We are not meant to keep this wisdom to ourselves, but to let it flow through us—encouraging, exhorting, and equipping others to walk in ways that are pleasing to God. Just as the Thessalonians received instruction and became examples to others, we are called to be both learners and teachers in the family of faith. Consider how you can be a conduit of God’s truth and encouragement to someone else today. [01:14:07]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Reflection: Who is one person you can intentionally encourage or share a truth from God’s Word with this week?
Day 5: Keep Growing—Do So More and More
No matter how faithfully we are living, there is always room to grow in pleasing God. The call is to press on, to “do so more and more,” never settling for past victories or current strengths. Like a good coach urging a player to keep improving, God invites us to continue growing in faith, love, and obedience. This is not a burden, but a joyful pursuit, knowing that every step forward brings delight to our Father and shapes us more into the likeness of Christ. [01:03:13]
Philippians 3:13-14 (ESV)
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Reflection: What is one specific area where you sense God calling you to “do so more and more,” and what practical step can you take today to grow in that area?
Quotes
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