Reminders of God's Faithfulness and Unconditional Promises
Summary
Today, I began our Gospel Brunch Sunday by sharing a childhood memory of mine involving a Sesame Street book titled "Don't Forget the Oatmeal." This story illustrated how easy it is to forget even simple things despite having reminders, like Bert who, despite tying a string around his finger, forgot to buy oatmeal. This led into a broader discussion about the necessity of reminders in our lives, especially spiritual ones. I emphasized how, in our Christian walk, we are often forgetful, necessitating symbols and rituals like communion and biblical monuments to keep our faith alive and our memories sharp.
Continuing, I delved into the story of Noah from Genesis chapter 9, focusing on the covenant God made with Noah after the flood. This covenant was symbolized by a rainbow, which God set as a perpetual reminder of His promise never to destroy the earth with a flood again. I explained that this covenant required nothing from Noah or humanity; it was a unilateral promise from God, showcasing His grace and commitment.
I highlighted how the rainbow serves not only as a reminder of God’s promise but also of His patience and His refusal to judge the earth immediately despite ongoing sinfulness. This point bridged into a reflection on God's nature: His faithfulness, His inability to lie, and His eternal commitment to His word. I stressed that these characteristics of God are crucial for us to remember, especially when we face personal trials or global challenges.
Towards the end of our gathering, I encouraged the congregation to reflect on the various ways we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and love in our daily lives, not just through biblical stories or natural phenomena like rainbows but also through our community and personal experiences of grace and provision.
As we concluded, I led a prayer of thanks for the food and fellowship we were about to share, reminding everyone of the importance of communal support and encouragement in reminding us of God's omnipresence and kindness.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Necessity of Reminders in Faith
Just as Bert needed a string around his finger to remember the oatmeal, we often need physical or communal reminders to keep our spiritual commitments in focus. Communion, biblical stories, and even natural phenomena like rainbows serve this purpose, helping us remember God's past deeds and promises. This is crucial because our human nature is forgetful, especially when life gets busy or challenging. [14:00]
2. The Unconditional Nature of God’s Promises
The covenant with Noah highlights that God’s promises are not dependent on human actions. This unconditional aspect of God's promises reassures us that His love and commitment are constant, regardless of our failures or forgetfulness. This teaches us about the grace-filled nature of God’s dealings with humanity. [17:20]
3. God’s Patience and Grace in Withholding Judgment
The rainbow is not just a reminder of a past promise but also a current assurance of God's patience. This patience is part of God's character, allowing time for repentance and salvation. Understanding this can change how we view our own sins and the sins of the world, knowing that God’s delay in judgment is an opportunity for salvation. [21:31]
4. The Faithfulness of God
God’s faithfulness is a cornerstone of our faith. The reliability of God's word, as seen in His promises and their fulfillments, should be a bedrock for our trust in Him. When we see a rainbow, or any other reminder, it's an opportunity to reaffirm our faith in God's unchanging nature and His ability to fulfill every promise He makes. [21:57]
5. Community as a Reminder of God’s Goodness
Just as we shared food and fellowship at our Gospel Brunch, regularly gathering in community serves as a reminder of God’s provision and love. These interactions are practical demonstrations of God’s ongoing work in our lives and serve as encouragement to each member within the community. [22:58]
Chapters:
- 0:00 - Welcome
- 0:12:48 - Introduction and Childhood Memory
- 0:14:00 - Importance of Reminders in Faith
- 0:15:30 - Discussion on Noah and God's Covenant
- 0:18:26 - The Unconditional Nature of God's Promises
- 0:20:00 - Reflection on Sin and God's Judgment
- 0:21:06 - God's Patience and Promise
- 0:22:25 - Community Reflections on God's Faithfulness
- 0:22:58 - Closing Prayer and Fellowship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Genesis 9:12-17
- Joshua 4:1-7
- 2 Peter 3:9
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the sign of the covenant that God made with Noah, and what did it signify? (Genesis 9:12-17)
2. How did Joshua commemorate the crossing of the Jordan River, and why was this important? (Joshua 4:1-7)
3. According to 2 Peter 3:9, what is the reason for God's patience in withholding judgment?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose a rainbow as the sign of His covenant with Noah? What does this tell us about God's character? [16:49]
2. How do the 12 stones set up by Joshua serve as a reminder for future generations? What might this teach us about the importance of physical reminders in our faith? [14:38]
3. In what ways does 2 Peter 3:9 expand our understanding of God's patience and His desire for humanity?
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you needed a reminder to stay focused on your faith. What physical or communal reminders help you keep your spiritual commitments in focus? [14:00]
2. How can you incorporate the practice of setting up "spiritual monuments" in your life to remember God's faithfulness and provision? [14:38]
3. The covenant with Noah was unconditional, showcasing God's grace. How does understanding the unconditional nature of God's promises affect your relationship with Him? [17:20]
4. The rainbow is a reminder of God's patience and His refusal to judge the earth immediately. How does this perspective change the way you view your own sins and the sins of the world? [21:31]
5. In what ways can you be a reminder of God's goodness and faithfulness to others in your community? How can you actively encourage and support your fellow believers? [22:58]
6. Think about a personal experience where you felt God's provision and love. How can you share this testimony to encourage others in your small group? [22:25]
7. As we gather in community, what are some practical ways we can remind each other of God's omnipresence and kindness? How can you contribute to this communal support? [22:58]
This guide is designed to help your small group delve deeper into the themes of the sermon, reflect on their personal faith journeys, and find practical ways to apply these lessons in their daily lives.
Devotional
Day 1: Symbols and Rituals Anchor Our Faith
In our journey of faith, it's easy to lose sight of the spiritual truths that guide and sustain us, especially in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Just as Bert in the Sesame Street story needed a string around his finger to remember to buy oatmeal, we too need tangible reminders to keep our spiritual commitments in focus. Communion, biblical stories, and natural phenomena like rainbows are not just traditions or interesting tales; they serve a vital purpose in helping us remember God's past deeds and promises. These reminders are crucial because our human nature is inherently forgetful, particularly when life gets busy or challenging. [14:00]
"That this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever."
Reflection: What physical or communal reminders could you create or uphold to strengthen your daily walk with God?
Day 2: God’s Promises Stand Independent of Our Actions
The story of Noah and the covenant God made with him after the flood highlights a profound truth about the divine nature: God's promises are not contingent upon human actions. This covenant, symbolized by a rainbow, was a unilateral promise from God, showcasing His grace and commitment. It reassures us that God's love and commitment are constant, regardless of our failures or forgetfulness. This teaches us about the grace-filled nature of God’s dealings with humanity, reminding us that His promises are gifts, not contracts. [17:20]
"I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth."
Reflection: How does understanding the unconditional nature of God’s promises change your view of God and your relationship with Him?
Day 3: God’s Patience Offers Salvation
The rainbow serves not just as a reminder of a past promise but also as a current assurance of God's patience. This patience is a critical aspect of God's character, allowing time for repentance and salvation. Understanding this can profoundly change how we view our own sins and the sins of the world, knowing that God’s delay in judgment is not negligence but an opportunity for salvation. This perspective invites us to embrace God's grace and extend it to others. [21:31]
<2 Peter 3:9>
"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Reflection: In what ways can you practice patience and grace in your interactions today, reflecting God's patience with humanity?
Day 4: The Faithfulness of God as Our Foundation
God’s faithfulness is a cornerstone of our faith. The reliability of God's word, as seen in His promises and their fulfillments, should be a bedrock for our trust in Him. When we see a rainbow, or any other reminder, it's an opportunity to reaffirm our faith in God's unchanging nature and His ability to fulfill every promise He makes. This understanding should fortify our trust and reliance on Him, especially during uncertain times. [21:57]
"God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you witnessed God's faithfulness in your life. How can this memory help you trust in His promises today?
Day 5: Community Reflects God’s Ongoing Goodness
Just as we shared food and fellowship at our Gospel Brunch, regularly gathering in community serves as a reminder of God’s provision and love. These interactions are practical demonstrations of God’s ongoing work in our lives and serve as encouragement to each member within the community. By engaging with one another, we not only share in God's blessings but also remind each other of His presence and kindness in our lives. [22:58]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: How can you contribute to your community this week in a way that reflects and reminds others of God’s goodness?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We need these reminders. I need these reminders in my life to do things or else I'll forget, right? I'll just, it'll slip my mind. I think in our Christian life, we need reminders as well. At times, right? We take communion once a month, and Jesus says, when he instituted the Lord's Supper, when he instituted communion, he says, what does he say? He says, do this in remembrance of me, right? We're a forgetful people." [14:00]
2. "This covenant between God and Noah is a little different, right? There's no requirement from Noah or creation for them to do anything for this covenant to be fulfilled, right? This is a promise that God is making to Noah regardless of anything that Noah or anyone else will do." [17:20]
3. "The rainbow is a reminder of God's grace. It's also a reminder of God's patience. The rainbow is a reminder of God's promise to withhold judgment from the earth while salvation is occurring. So during this time, this whole period on earth, before Christ returns, God is allowing people, even though we're sinful, to repent, to experience salvation." [21:06]
4. "The rainbow is a reminder to us that God is faithful, that God keeps his promises. If God says something, that we can be confident that what he says is true because he is true. He is incapable of lying. He is incapable of failure. He is incapable of being able to fulfill his promise." [21:57]
5. "This morning as we have our gospel brunch, we enjoy the fellowship around the table. I wanted to share about the different ways that we're reminded of God's faithfulness, that the ways we are reminded of God's love for us, right? The ways we are reminded of his grace, his provision." [22:25]
### Quotes for Members
1. "We might not ever say it or think it, but when things are going well and times are good, it's easier to kind of forget to pray, right? When things are not going well and times are tough, I think it's easy to forget. Remember that, oh, to think that maybe God has forgotten me or God doesn't care. And we know that's not the case." [15:30]
2. "God says, I am doing this. I am making this promise to you. Verse 16. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth. So God said to Noah, this is the sign of the covenant I have established between me, and all life on the earth." [18:26]
3. "No matter how sinful earth becomes, God promises he will never again destroy the earth with a flood. The rainbow also reminds us that sin is still a problem though, right? After the flood, everything was destroyed. We know that sin was still not completely wiped out, right? He might've gotten rid of all the people besides Noah and his family, but sin still existed." [19:29]
4. "He promises not to destroy the world again with a flood because sin is still a problem. He says, I know that sin is gonna continue, but I will not judge you in the same way with a flood. So the rainbow, it reminds us that God will not destroy the earth with a flood, but also that we're still sinful, that we still deserve judgment." [20:00]
5. "Everything else was completely destroyed. And so God now, after Noah has gotten off the ark, God says to Noah, never again will I do that. I will never wipe out the earth again with a flood. This is my promise to you. This is the covenant I am making with you. And there is nothing that you have to do for me to keep this promise." [18:26]
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