Rediscovering Wonder in Our Spiritual Lives

 

Summary

In reflecting on the beauty of Lake Superior, I am reminded of how easy it is to lose our sense of wonder, not just in nature, but in our spiritual lives as well. Just as the lake can become a mundane backdrop to those who live near it, our relationship with God can become routine if we are not intentional about maintaining our awe and reverence. Psalm 8:3-4 reminds us of the majesty of God's creation and His care for us, which should inspire a sense of wonder and gratitude. Yet, like the people of Nazareth in Mark 6, we can become so familiar with the sacred that we lose sight of its significance.

Jesus, despite performing miracles and teaching with wisdom, was met with skepticism and offense in His hometown. This passage warns us of the danger of allowing familiarity to breed contempt, leading to a lack of faith that even amazed Jesus. We must guard against this spiritual dullness by intentionally cultivating a sense of wonder in our worship and daily lives. Our faith and praise are offerings to God, and without a true revelation of His love and sacrifice, our worship can become a mere routine.

To rekindle our wonder, we must focus on the extraordinary aspects of our faith: the redemption offered through Jesus, the new life symbolized in baptism, and the profound meaning of the Lord's Table. These are not mere rituals but sacred moments that connect us to the divine. As we gather as a community, let us be intentional in our worship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. May we never lose sight of the wonder of God's love and grace, and may our lives reflect His glory to inspire others.

Key Takeaways:

1. Rediscovering Wonder: Just as the beauty of Lake Superior can become mundane to those who see it daily, our spiritual lives can lose their wonder if we are not intentional. We must actively seek to maintain our awe of God's creation and His work in our lives, recognizing that He cares for us deeply. [02:16]

2. Familiarity Breeds Contempt: The people of Nazareth missed the extraordinary in Jesus because they were too familiar with Him. This serves as a warning to us not to let our familiarity with the sacred lead to spiritual boredom or contempt. We must remain open to the awe-inspiring work of God in our midst. [09:20]

3. The Sacredness of Worship: Our Sunday gatherings are not ordinary; they are sacred moments where the Holy Spirit works in powerful ways. We must approach worship with intentionality and expectation, recognizing that God is at work transforming lives and calling us to deeper faith. [10:25]

4. The Wonder of Redemption: Reflecting on our need for a Savior and the gift of redemption through Jesus should fill us with gratitude and awe. This awareness keeps us humble and prevents self-righteousness, reminding us of the depth of God's love and grace. [18:22]

5. Inspiring Others Through Our Faith: When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. [16:13]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - The Beauty of Lake Superior
- [01:27] - Losing Wonder in Familiarity
- [02:16] - Spiritual Journey and Wonder
- [03:23] - Psalm 8: Awe of Creation
- [04:37] - Offering Faith and Praise
- [05:45] - The Purpose of Worship
- [06:20] - Mark 6: Jesus in Nazareth
- [08:02] - Amazed by Lack of Faith
- [09:20] - The Danger of Familiarity
- [10:25] - The Sacredness of Sunday Worship
- [12:10] - Spiritual Dullness and Gratitude
- [14:15] - Offense Replacing Awe
- [16:32] - Steps to Restore Wonder
- [18:22] - The Wonder of Redemption
- [20:28] - The Significance of Baptism
- [21:46] - The Wonder of the Cross

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 8:3-4
2. Mark 6:1-6
3. Romans 1:21

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Observation Questions:

1. In Psalm 8:3-4, what does David reflect on when he considers the heavens and the work of God's fingers? How does this reflection relate to our sense of wonder? [02:46]

2. According to Mark 6:1-6, how did the people of Nazareth react to Jesus' teachings and miracles? What does this reveal about their perception of Him? [07:02]

3. The sermon mentions the danger of losing our wonder in our spiritual journey. What are some signs that someone might be experiencing spiritual dullness? [02:31]

4. How does Romans 1:21 describe the consequences of failing to glorify God and give thanks? How might this relate to losing our sense of wonder? [15:25]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why might familiarity with the sacred lead to a loss of wonder, as seen in the reaction of the people of Nazareth to Jesus? How can this familiarity impact one's faith? [09:20]

2. The sermon suggests that our worship can become routine without a true revelation of God's love. What might be some ways to cultivate a deeper understanding of God's love and sacrifice? [05:13]

3. How does the concept of redemption through Jesus serve as a foundation for rekindling our sense of wonder? What role does gratitude play in this process? [18:22]

4. In what ways can the sacredness of Sunday worship be preserved to prevent it from becoming mundane? How can intentionality and expectation transform our worship experience? [10:25]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current spiritual journey. Have you noticed any areas where you've lost your sense of wonder? What steps can you take to rekindle that wonder? [02:31]

2. Think about your weekly worship routine. How can you approach Sunday gatherings with a renewed sense of intentionality and expectation? What specific actions can you take to prepare your heart for worship? [10:25]

3. Consider the people in your life who may be too familiar with the sacred. How can you inspire them to see the extraordinary in their faith? What role can you play in helping them rediscover their wonder? [16:13]

4. Reflect on the concept of redemption and the gift of salvation through Jesus. How does this awareness impact your daily life and interactions with others? What specific ways can you express gratitude for this gift? [18:22]

5. Identify one aspect of your faith that has become routine or mundane. What practical steps can you take to transform this area into a sacred moment that connects you to the divine? [11:50]

6. How can you ensure that your life reflects the hope and excitement of your faith, drawing others to the light of Christ? What specific actions can you take this week to inspire those around you? [16:13]

7. Reflect on the significance of baptism and the Lord's Table in your spiritual journey. How can these sacred moments serve as reminders of God's love and grace in your life? What can you do to approach these rituals with renewed reverence? [21:06]

Devotional

Day 1: Rediscovering the Awe of God's Creation
In our daily lives, it's easy to become desensitized to the beauty around us, much like those who live near Lake Superior might overlook its grandeur. This can happen in our spiritual lives as well, where the extraordinary becomes ordinary. Psalm 8:3-4 reminds us of the majesty of God's creation and His care for us, which should inspire a sense of wonder and gratitude. We must actively seek to maintain our awe of God's creation and His work in our lives, recognizing that He cares for us deeply. [02:16]

Psalm 104:24-25 (ESV): "O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great."

Reflection: What is one aspect of God's creation that you have taken for granted? How can you intentionally appreciate it today?


Day 2: Guarding Against Spiritual Familiarity
The people of Nazareth missed the extraordinary in Jesus because they were too familiar with Him. This serves as a warning to us not to let our familiarity with the sacred lead to spiritual boredom or contempt. We must remain open to the awe-inspiring work of God in our midst, ensuring that our faith does not become routine. Familiarity can breed contempt, leading to a lack of faith that even amazed Jesus. [09:20]

Hebrews 3:12-13 (ESV): "Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."

Reflection: Is there a part of your spiritual life that has become routine? How can you invite God to renew your sense of wonder in that area today?


Day 3: Embracing the Sacredness of Worship
Our Sunday gatherings are not ordinary; they are sacred moments where the Holy Spirit works in powerful ways. We must approach worship with intentionality and expectation, recognizing that God is at work transforming lives and calling us to deeper faith. Worship is not just a routine but a profound encounter with the divine. [10:25]

1 Chronicles 16:29 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness."

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart and mind to experience the sacredness of worship this week?


Day 4: The Transformative Power of Redemption
Reflecting on our need for a Savior and the gift of redemption through Jesus should fill us with gratitude and awe. This awareness keeps us humble and prevents self-righteousness, reminding us of the depth of God's love and grace. Redemption is not just a theological concept but a transformative reality that should inspire wonder in our hearts. [18:22]

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV): "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Reflection: In what ways has the redemption through Jesus transformed your life? How can you express your gratitude for this gift today?


Day 5: Inspiring Others Through a Life of Wonder
When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. Our faith is not just for ourselves but a beacon to those who are searching for hope. [16:13]

1 Peter 3:15 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to see the wonder of Christ through you? How can you intentionally share your faith with them this week?

Quotes


In reflecting on the beauty of Lake Superior, I am reminded of how easy it is to lose our sense of wonder, not just in nature, but in our spiritual lives as well. Just as the lake can become a mundane backdrop to those who live near it, our relationship with God can become routine if we are not intentional about maintaining our awe and reverence. [00:02:10]

Psalm 8:3-4 reminds us of the majesty of God's creation and His care for us, which should inspire a sense of wonder and gratitude. Yet, like the people of Nazareth in Mark 6, we can become so familiar with the sacred that we lose sight of its significance. [00:02:16]

Jesus, despite performing miracles and teaching with wisdom, was met with skepticism and offense in His hometown. This passage warns us of the danger of allowing familiarity to breed contempt, leading to a lack of faith that even amazed Jesus. [00:09:20]

We must guard against this spiritual dullness by intentionally cultivating a sense of wonder in our worship and daily lives. Our faith and praise are offerings to God, and without a true revelation of His love and sacrifice, our worship can become a mere routine. [00:10:25]

To rekindle our wonder, we must focus on the extraordinary aspects of our faith: the redemption offered through Jesus, the new life symbolized in baptism, and the profound meaning of the Lord's Table. These are not mere rituals but sacred moments that connect us to the divine. [00:18:22]

As we gather as a community, let us be intentional in our worship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and through us. May we never lose sight of the wonder of God's love and grace, and may our lives reflect His glory to inspire others. [00:16:13]

When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. [00:16:13]

The people of Nazareth missed the extraordinary in Jesus because they were too familiar with Him. This serves as a warning to us not to let our familiarity with the sacred lead to spiritual boredom or contempt. We must remain open to the awe-inspiring work of God in our midst. [00:09:20]

Our Sunday gatherings are not ordinary; they are sacred moments where the Holy Spirit works in powerful ways. We must approach worship with intentionality and expectation, recognizing that God is at work transforming lives and calling us to deeper faith. [00:10:25]

Reflecting on our need for a Savior and the gift of redemption through Jesus should fill us with gratitude and awe. This awareness keeps us humble and prevents self-righteousness, reminding us of the depth of God's love and grace. [00:18:22]

When we lose our wonder, we fail to inspire others. Our lives should reflect the hope and excitement of our faith, drawing others to the light of Christ. By maintaining our sense of wonder, we can effectively share the gospel and inspire those around us. [00:16:13]

May we never lose sight of the wonder of God's love and grace, and may our lives reflect His glory to inspire others. [00:16:13]

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?