Rooted in Christ: Living a Blessed Life

Summary

In today's message, I shared the joy and privilege of being part of Community Church for 25 years, witnessing the transformative power of God in countless lives. From students accepting Christ to miraculous healings, the evidence of God's work is abundant. This season, as Pastor Charlie mentioned, is pivotal for our church, and I believe Psalm 1 offers profound insights into living a blessed life. Psalm 1 describes the blessed person as one who avoids ungodly influences, delights in God's Word, and is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in its season.

The blessed life is not about material prosperity but about being spiritually nourished and fruitful. To be "that person," we must avoid sin and ungodly counsel, which leads to unfruitful living. Instead, we should delight in and meditate on God's Word, allowing it to transform us. God's Word is like a mirror, soap, a sharp knife, a light, and a weapon, each illustrating its power to cleanse, guide, and equip us for spiritual battles.

Being planted in Christ and His church is crucial. As we root ourselves in Him, we become fruitful and resilient, able to withstand life's trials. This season, I encourage you to be planted, to lean into God's Word, and to avoid ungodly counsel. Let's strive to be that person who prospers in every season, living a life that blesses others and glorifies God.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of Being Planted: Being spiritually planted, like a tree by streams of water, ensures that we are nourished and fruitful. This means being deeply rooted in Christ and His Word, which allows us to withstand life's challenges and remain productive in every season. [36:34]

2. Avoiding Ungodly Counsel: The path to a blessed life involves avoiding sin and the influence of ungodly counsel. Sin may seem appealing, but it ultimately leads to unfruitful living and spiritual death. Instead, we should seek wisdom from God's Word, which offers life and guidance. [39:13]

3. Delighting in God's Word: To truly delight in God's Word, we must invest time in it, allowing it to transform us. God's Word acts as a mirror, revealing our true selves, and as a light, guiding our path. Regular engagement with Scripture is essential for spiritual growth and discernment. [45:04]

4. The Transformative Power of Scripture: God's Word is powerful, like a sharp knife that penetrates our innermost being, revealing and refining us. It equips us for spiritual battles, enabling us to go on the offensive against the enemy's attacks. [50:18]

5. Community and Spiritual Growth: Being part of a church community provides fertile ground for spiritual growth. As we engage with others, we are encouraged and challenged to live out our faith, becoming a blessing to others as we are blessed. [01:00:38]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [26:28] - Reflecting on 25 Years
- [27:22] - Witnessing Life Change
- [28:28] - Serve Saturday Impact
- [30:12] - Meeting Jackie
- [31:45] - Entering a Pivotal Season
- [32:22] - Reading Psalm 1
- [33:06] - Attributes of the Blessed
- [34:20] - Being "That Person"
- [35:26] - Understanding Prosperity
- [36:34] - The Well-Nourished Soul
- [37:05] - Standing Through Trials
- [38:07] - Preparing for Judgment
- [39:13] - Avoiding Sin and Ungodly Counsel
- [45:04] - Delighting in God's Word

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Psalm 1

Observation Questions:
1. According to Psalm 1, what are the characteristics of the blessed person? How does this relate to the imagery of a tree planted by streams of water? [32:22]
2. What examples of life change and transformation were shared in the sermon that illustrate the power of being spiritually planted? [27:22]
3. How does the sermon describe the impact of ungodly counsel on a person's life? What progression does it lead to according to the pastor? [43:48]
4. What metaphors are used in the sermon to describe the transformative power of God's Word? How do these metaphors help us understand its role in our lives? [47:44]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does Psalm 1 suggest that being spiritually planted leads to resilience and fruitfulness? How does this compare to the description of the wicked? [36:02]
2. How does the pastor's personal testimony about the effects of sin and ungodly counsel provide insight into the importance of avoiding these influences? [41:43]
3. What does it mean to truly delight in God's Word, and how can this delight lead to spiritual growth and transformation? [45:04]
4. How does being part of a church community contribute to spiritual growth and the ability to bless others, as mentioned in the sermon? [01:00:38]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be influenced by ungodly counsel? What steps can you take to seek wisdom from God's Word instead? [39:13]
2. How can you make time to meditate on and delight in God's Word daily? What practical changes can you implement to ensure regular engagement with Scripture? [45:46]
3. Consider the metaphor of being a tree planted by streams of water. What does it mean for you to be spiritually planted in Christ and His church? How can you deepen your roots? [36:34]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of being part of a church community. How can you actively engage with your church to foster spiritual growth and be a blessing to others? [01:00:38]
5. Identify a specific trial or challenge you are currently facing. How can being spiritually planted help you withstand this trial and remain fruitful? [37:05]
6. The pastor shared a story about a young man seeking help to overcome sin. Are there areas in your life where you need to seek help or accountability? How can you take the first step? [42:39]
7. Reflect on the various metaphors used to describe God's Word. Which metaphor resonates most with you, and how can you apply it to your spiritual journey this week? [47:44]

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Being Planted
Being spiritually planted is akin to a tree rooted by streams of water, ensuring nourishment and fruitfulness. This concept emphasizes the importance of being deeply rooted in Christ and His Word, which provides the strength to withstand life's challenges and remain productive in every season. When one is spiritually planted, they draw sustenance from a source that never runs dry, allowing them to flourish regardless of external circumstances. This rootedness in faith not only benefits the individual but also enables them to be a source of blessing to others. [36:34]

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your spiritual roots this week to ensure you remain nourished and fruitful, even in challenging times?

Day 2: Avoiding Ungodly Counsel
The path to a blessed life involves steering clear of sin and the influence of ungodly counsel. While sin may appear enticing, it ultimately leads to unfruitful living and spiritual death. Instead, seeking wisdom from God's Word offers life and guidance. By avoiding ungodly influences, one can maintain a clear focus on the path that leads to spiritual prosperity and fulfillment. This involves being discerning about the voices and advice one allows into their life, ensuring they align with the teachings of Scripture. [39:13]

Proverbs 4:14-15 (ESV): "Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on."

Reflection: Identify a source of ungodly counsel in your life. How can you replace it with wisdom from God's Word today?

Day 3: Delighting in God's Word
To truly delight in God's Word, one must invest time in it, allowing it to transform them. God's Word acts as a mirror, revealing one's true self, and as a light, guiding their path. Regular engagement with Scripture is essential for spiritual growth and discernment. This delight is not a passive enjoyment but an active pursuit of understanding and applying God's teachings in daily life. By meditating on Scripture, believers can experience a profound transformation that aligns their lives with God's will. [45:04]

Psalm 119:15-16 (ESV): "I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take this week to increase your engagement with God's Word and allow it to transform your life?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of Scripture
God's Word is powerful, like a sharp knife that penetrates the innermost being, revealing and refining the believer. It equips them for spiritual battles, enabling them to go on the offensive against the enemy's attacks. This transformative power of Scripture is not just about personal growth but also about being prepared to stand firm in faith amidst spiritual challenges. By internalizing God's Word, believers are armed with the truth and strength needed to overcome adversities and live victoriously. [50:18]

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV): "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."

Reflection: How can you allow the transformative power of Scripture to equip you for a specific spiritual battle you are facing right now?

Day 5: Community and Spiritual Growth
Being part of a church community provides fertile ground for spiritual growth. As believers engage with others, they are encouraged and challenged to live out their faith, becoming a blessing to others as they are blessed. This communal aspect of faith is vital for nurturing spiritual maturity and accountability. By participating in a community of believers, individuals can experience mutual support, shared wisdom, and collective worship, all of which contribute to a deeper and more vibrant spiritual life. [01:00:38]

Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to your church community this week to foster both your spiritual growth and that of others?

Quotes

1) "I would probably have to say it's the incredibly positive life change that I get to be a part of and get to see on a weekly basis here at this church. Whether it's one of our students in our school accepting Christ or someone in our church who's recommitting their lives to Christ and praying with our Hope Team here on Sunday morning, or maybe a marriage that has been restored through counseling and coaching from one of our pastors, a kid in Africa who is encouraged to dream big dreams because we serve a big God, or maybe it's someone experiencing miraculous healing." [27:22] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "You know, Jesus said all you have to do to be great is to serve people and to actually bless others. And I got to meet a great person yesterday. I met a mother named Jackie who has nine foster children. Come on. And she said to me, Pastor Mike, I'm going to come to church tomorrow. And in my head I thought, okay, I get told that a lot. I do. And I don't hold it against people, but I just know. The devil fights us when we get up in the morning, try to keep us out of church. But she is here today at the 930 service." [30:12] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Psalm 1 highlights the attributes of a person who is truly blessed. Somebody say blessed. Blessed. The blessed one. One who is happy, fulfilled, filled with joy. Verse 3 is the power verse here and the one that my mind came to. Let's read that one again. It says, That person. Everybody say that person. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever they do prospers." [33:06] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "That person whose soul is so well nourished, come on, planted by a stream of water, has a great water source, that he or she is fruitful, a producer of goodness for others. Have you ever been around somebody and caught some of their overflow? You know, they just are so filled up and completely nourished themselves by the Spirit of God that they have an overflow that flows out and blesses other people. That's what God, the type of person God wants us to be, that person." [36:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "I'm here to tell you this morning that sometimes as believers, we go through hard times. We go through trials. Jesus didn't promise us a walk in the park through this life. He actually told us that we would experience difficult times, but that person who is like this tree that is planted by the rivers of water, they're able to go through any season and still prosper. You look at them and you're like, I don't understand it. I don't see, I don't understand how they're going through this. And they still have a smile on their face. They're still serving and helping other people." [37:05] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Facts. If we want to be our most fruitful, we must value and fill our minds and hearts with God's word. You know, I'm glad we're here this morning, on Sunday morning. You can give yourselves a star, right? If you were in my kindergarten class years ago, I would give you a star on the board. But once a week makes one week. That's a play on words, right? We don't need God's word just on Sunday. We need God's word more than that. Some need it more than others. We need God's word daily." [45:04] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "God's Word is like a mirror. It's a mirror that allows us the opportunity for change. James 1, 22 through 24, let's read it. It says, Do not merely listen to the Word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks at. Come on, so it's not just hearing God's Word. Hearing God's Word is great because it builds faith. But when we actually begin to apply God's Word, that's when we're really to experience the change that we need to experience." [48:22] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "God's Word is like soap. Come on. God's Word, did anybody not put this on? Come on, don't raise your hand this morning. God's Word is like soap that keeps our soul clean. How's that for soul care? Come on. Like the application of soap cleanses our body, so does the Word cleanse our soul. If we take soap away from us, look, we can put the best clothes on, we can have the best intellect, but if you take soap away from us, every one of us is going to start to stink. God's Word is the same way." [49:03] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "God's Word is like a light. Have you ever walked to the bathroom at night and tried not to turn the light on and stub your toe? Oh, thank you, Jesus. I must have needed that. You're so sovereign, God. God's Word tells us it's like a lamp to our feet, a light to our path. God's Word gives us direction in life. Listen, here's the application. You don't get anything else. You don't have to walk through life stubbing your toe. Somebody say amen. How many times you gonna stub your toe? God's Word is like a light." [52:34] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10) "We need to be planted in Christ, right? We need to be planted in Christ first and foremost. Colossians 2, six through seven says, so then just as you received Christ, hopefully you have received Christ. But even after it received Christ, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught and overflowing with thankfulness. You know, that scripture is one of the hallmark scriptures of our foundation scores. We have just under a hundred people who are doing just that. They're rooting themselves in Christ, aligning their lives with God's word." [58:43] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?