Proclaiming the Eternal Word: Hope and Transformation
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of God's Word in our lives, emphasizing that it is not merely a word for the year but the eternal Word for our lives. As we conclude our series, "Word of the Year," we are reminded that Jesus is the Word given to us, and through Him, we find meaning, guidance, and hope. Our journey through the scriptures is not just about personal transformation but also about proclaiming the good news to the world around us.
We delved into Mark 16, where Jesus commissions His disciples to preach the gospel to all creation, promising His presence and power to accompany them. This call is not just for the early disciples but for us today. We are invited to be bearers of the light, sharing the good news of Jesus with our words, actions, and lifestyles.
In a world that often prioritizes individualism and consumerism, we are challenged to move beyond hoarding the light of God's Word for ourselves. Instead, we are called to be channels of His love and truth, sharing the transformative message of the gospel with others. This involves not only receiving God's Word but also living it out and proclaiming it boldly.
As we navigate the complexities of our world, we recognize the desperate need for hope and truth. The gospel offers a message of freedom, healing, and salvation that transcends any earthly promise. We are encouraged to preach with presence, embodying God's love and being present with others. We are also called to preach the promises of God, reminding ourselves and others of His faithfulness and the hope found in Christ. Lastly, we are to preach with power, partnering with the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the reality of God's kingdom through signs and wonders.
As we move forward, let us embrace the call to be proclaimers of God's Word, sharing His light and love with a world in need. May we be vessels of hope, empowered by His presence and guided by His promises, as we live out the transformative message of the gospel in our daily lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Eternal Word: Jesus is not just a word for the year but the eternal Word for our lives, offering us meaning, guidance, and hope. As we engage with the scriptures, we are invited into a deeper relationship with God and others, finding significance and purpose in His story. [41:08]
2. Proclaiming the Good News: We are called to be bearers of the light, sharing the good news of Jesus with our words, actions, and lifestyles. This involves moving beyond individualism and consumerism to become channels of God's love and truth. [50:04]
3. Preaching with Presence: Preaching begins with presence—God's presence and our presence with others. By being present, we reveal that God is with us, offering hope and connection to those around us. [56:49]
4. Preaching the Promise: God's Word is filled with promises that speak to every aspect of our lives. As we proclaim these promises, we remind ourselves and others of God's faithfulness and the hope found in Christ. [01:06:11]
5. Preaching with Power: We are invited to partner with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the reality of God's kingdom through signs and wonders. This supernatural partnership reveals God's love and power to a world in need. [01:17:20]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [41:08] - The Eternal Word
- [45:32] - Story Time: Glowing Treasure Hunt
- [47:55] - The Call to Proclaim
- [50:04] - Moving Beyond Individualism
- [53:34] - The World’s Need for Good News
- [54:52] - Preach the Word of God
- [56:49] - Preaching with Presence
- [58:26] - The Gospel of Presence
- [01:00:19] - Action Step: Be Present
- [01:04:38] - Preaching the Promise
- [01:06:11] - The Hope of God’s Promises
- [01:10:22] - Being a Vessel of Hope
- [01:17:20] - Preaching with Power
- [01:20:49] - Demonstrating God’s Kingdom
- [01:24:05] - Responding to God’s Call
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Mark 16:15-20
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Observation Questions:
1. In Mark 16:15-20, what specific instructions does Jesus give to His disciples regarding the proclamation of the gospel?
2. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus as the eternal Word in our lives? [41:08]
3. What are some examples given in the sermon of how we can be "bearers of the light" in our daily lives? [50:04]
4. According to the sermon, what is the significance of preaching with presence, and how is it demonstrated in the life of Jesus? [56:49]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of Jesus as the eternal Word challenge the idea of having a "word for the year"? [41:08]
2. What does it mean to move beyond individualism and consumerism in the context of sharing the gospel, as discussed in the sermon? [50:04]
3. How can the presence of God in our lives influence the way we preach and share the gospel with others? [56:49]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that preaching with power involves partnering with the Holy Spirit? [01:17:20]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current relationship with God's Word. How can you deepen your engagement with the scriptures to find more meaning, guidance, and hope in your life? [41:08]
2. Identify one area in your life where you tend to prioritize individualism or consumerism. How can you shift your focus to become a channel of God's love and truth to others? [50:04]
3. Think of a situation where you can be more present with someone in need. What practical steps can you take to embody God's love and presence in that relationship? [56:49]
4. Consider a promise from God's Word that has been significant in your life. How can you share this promise with someone who might need encouragement or hope? [01:06:11]
5. Reflect on a time when you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. How can you be more open to partnering with the Holy Spirit in your daily interactions and ministry? [01:17:20]
6. Identify a person or group in your community who might benefit from hearing the good news of Jesus. What specific actions can you take to share the gospel with them this week? [50:04]
7. How can you cultivate a lifestyle that consistently demonstrates the reality of God's kingdom through your words, actions, and presence? [01:17:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus, the Eternal Word for Our Lives
The eternal Word, Jesus, is not just a guiding principle for a specific time but a constant source of meaning, guidance, and hope throughout our lives. Engaging with the scriptures invites us into a deeper relationship with God and others, allowing us to find significance and purpose in His story. This relationship is not static but dynamic, continually shaping and transforming us as we immerse ourselves in the Word. Jesus, as the eternal Word, offers a foundation that transcends the temporal, providing a steadfast anchor in the ever-changing tides of life. [41:08]
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." (John 1:1-3, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally engage with the Word of God this week to deepen your relationship with Jesus and find new meaning in your daily life?
Day 2: Bearing the Light of the Gospel
We are called to be bearers of the light, sharing the good news of Jesus through our words, actions, and lifestyles. This calling challenges us to move beyond individualism and consumerism, encouraging us to become channels of God's love and truth. By embracing this role, we participate in the transformative work of the gospel, impacting the world around us. Our lives become a testament to the hope and redemption found in Christ, inviting others to experience the same. [50:04]
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:14-15, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you share the light of the gospel with someone in your community this week through your actions or words?
Day 3: The Power of Presence in Preaching
Preaching begins with presence—God's presence and our presence with others. By being present, we reveal that God is with us, offering hope and connection to those around us. This presence is not passive but active, inviting us to engage deeply with others, listening and responding with compassion and love. In a world often marked by isolation and disconnection, our presence can be a powerful testament to the reality of God's love and care. [56:49]
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs you to be present with them this week, and how can you intentionally make time to offer them your undivided attention and support?
Day 4: Proclaiming the Promises of God
God's Word is filled with promises that speak to every aspect of our lives. As we proclaim these promises, we remind ourselves and others of God's faithfulness and the hope found in Christ. These promises are not just words but assurances that God is actively working in and through us, providing strength, comfort, and guidance. By holding onto these promises, we can navigate life's challenges with confidence, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. [01:06:11]
"For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory." (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one promise from God's Word that you need to hold onto this week, and how can it shape your perspective and actions?
Day 5: Partnering with the Holy Spirit in Power
We are invited to partner with the Holy Spirit, demonstrating the reality of God's kingdom through signs and wonders. This supernatural partnership reveals God's love and power to a world in need, offering a glimpse of His kingdom on earth. By stepping out in faith and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, we become vessels of God's transformative power, bringing healing, freedom, and hope to those around us. [01:17:20]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invite the Holy Spirit to work through you this week to demonstrate God's love and power in a specific situation or relationship?
Quotes
"We are not simply given a word for the year. We are given the word for our lives. Amen? And how many of you know that that word, his name is Jesus? And he's given us his scriptures and the story of God found in these pages so that it would lead us into the gift of relationship with him." [00:41:32]
"The word that we've been given is Jesus, and his word to us is not just a word for the year, it's our word for our lives. As we've started out 2025, we looked at the call to prioritize the word in our lives, to study the word on a daily basis, to not just hear the words and read the words, but to do them." [00:42:47]
"Everywhere in the world, the church is thriving. In certain places, we see exponential growth in the church, and people are coming through signs and wonders and dreams and visions. And the supernatural moments. We see a move of God's presence accompanied with the proclamation of his gospel. God's still at work doing these things today, amen?" [00:48:19]
"How many of you know, though, that our calling from the Lord is not to be hoarders of his word and of his light and of his message, but to be sharers and proclaimers of the only message that can change anything? How many of you know that our calling is not simply to live in an individual blessing, but to receive the Lord's blessing so that we could be a blessing?" [00:50:36]
"Billy Graham put it this way. We are not cisterns made for hoarding. We are channels made for sharing. God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with. Friends, when we look to God's word, we find a story about a creator who made all things in perfect, covenantal, beautiful relationship with him." [00:51:11]
"Preaching and proclaiming God's word begins with presence. First and foremost, it starts with God's presence and then it's extended through our presence. Maybe you noticed in Mark chapter 16, Jesus commissions, he commissions the disciples to go into all the world to proclaim the good news to all of creation. But he tells them this by first being present with them." [00:56:16]
"God's presence always precedes preaching and proclamation, and because of that, we must prioritize preaching with God's presence and by being present as well. And this is why I bring this up. This is why this is so important, for two reasons. Number one, people will never listen to those they don't know or trust, and they won't know or trust somebody that's not present." [00:57:58]
"The ministry of presence looks like authentically engaging with other people and listening to them, not interrupting them, not listening just so that we can get our two cents out, but honoring others with intentionality and planning and purpose and giving them undivided attention and ultimately being a safe space for another person to be themselves and to be heard and to be known." [01:01:38]
"Preaching the promise of God is deeply interconnected to preaching the word. Because the word of God, the story of God, is filled with the promises of God. Whether these be promises that God has made and has fulfilled already in human history, or promises that were made and he continues to fulfill, or promises that he made that we are awaiting the fulfillment of that, all of these speak about who the Lord is." [01:04:00]
"We talk about the promise that God's love casts out fear and God's peace goes beyond what we can understand and God's comfort comes to those who mourn and God's grace covers every sin and God's goodness surrounds us and leads us and even follows us. We speak about God's provision that meets every need. We speak about God's joy that is our strength." [01:06:11]
"Beloved, we are called not to be hoarders of God's word and God's message of blessing and light to the world around us, but to be a source of blessing and light to the world around us. And we are called not to be preachers and proclaimers of the story of God. We are invited, we are commissioned by Jesus to preach his good news to all of creation and to partner with his presence, to partner with his power." [01:23:22]
"This morning, we want to open space for you to respond in this time. There's been a lot of words that have been spoken this morning. So we want to give you the opportunity to allow the spirit of God to search you, to guide you, to lead you into the next steps that God is calling you into. And so just a moment, Aaron's going to lead us in a time of worship." [01:24:05]
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