Rooted in Grace: Finding Connection Through Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Prayer

Prayer is not just a religious ritual, but a powerful tool for spiritual growth and connection with God. Paul, a devout Jew, developed a rhythm of praying three times a day, each for an hour. This practice allowed him to deeply know God and advance spiritually. It's a reminder that what we invest our time in shapes what we care about and ultimately, what we become. [28:01]

Psalm 1:2-3 - "But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever he does prospers."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more prayer into your daily routine? What changes might you need to make to ensure this happens?

Day 2: The Supremacy of Christ

The supremacy of Christ is not just a theological concept, but a practical guide for navigating life's complexities. When we root ourselves deeply in the Word, we grow and flourish, able to handle life's challenges with wisdom and grace. [13:02]

Colossians 1:17 - "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Reflection: How can you root yourself more deeply in the Word? What steps can you take to ensure that Christ's supremacy guides your decisions?

Day 3: The Global and Personal Gospel

The Gospel is both a global message and a personal one. It bears fruit and increases around the world, but also wants to bear fruit and increase in you. This requires hearing the message of grace, learning it, and putting your faith in Jesus. [45:02]

Acts 1:8 - "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Reflection: How can you allow the Gospel to bear fruit and increase in your life? What steps can you take to share this message with others?

Day 4: The Family of God

Through the grace of Jesus Christ, we are knit together into a family. Once far apart, we now have a place together. This is a deeply personal message that celebrates the kindness of God and the unity He brings. [27:29]

Ephesians 2:19 - "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household."

Reflection: How can you contribute to the unity and love within the family of God? What steps can you take to foster deeper relationships with your spiritual siblings?

Day 5: Trust in Christ Jesus

Trust in Christ Jesus is not just a religious belief, but a way of life. It's not about adhering to a philosophy, ideology, or political system, but about living and moving within Jesus Christ. This trust produces a love for all the saints, connecting our faith with our love for others. [29:35]

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Reflection: How can you deepen your trust in Christ Jesus? How can this trust influence your love for others?

Sermon Summary

In my sermon, I emphasized the global and personal nature of the Gospel, highlighting the longing for spiritual and relational connection that we all have. I stressed that we are all broken due to sin, but God has provided a solution through Jesus Christ. The grace of God is not something we earn, but a gift given out of love. This message of grace, when truly heard and understood, leads to faith in Jesus and love for God and others. I also discussed the importance of being deeply rooted in the Word, allowing it to bear fruit in our lives. I challenged the congregation to sink their roots deep into the Word this spring and let it bear fruit in them.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "The globe is seeking Jesus because he sought us. This gospel is bearing fruit and it's increasing just as it's done it among you. We're seeing it here. Even in our little slice of this little slice, we see the gospel bearing fruit and increasing. God is on the move, building a family. It's global but it's also very personal. God's coming for you and he's coming for me." - 41:04

2. "This gospel is bearing fruit and increasing around the world and it wants to bear fruit and increase in you. What do you need to do? Hear the message that you're not okay. All of us are broken because of sin and God has a solution. He sent a savior, the Messiah, the King, Jesus Christ. When you hear that message of grace, you don't earn heaven, it's a gift as a powerful God stoops in love to redeem you." - 43:37

3. "The message of Jesus Christ is advancing across ethnic barriers, across national borders, across tribal separations. The gospel is advancing. And let me tell you some good news today, friend, that's true today too. The headlines may not show you what God is up to but this personal message of Jesus Christ building a holy family, it is bearing fruit and increasing all around the world." - 33:29

4. "This message that Paul's proclaiming is such good news. Why? Because it makes us holy to God and it makes us family with each other. God is knitting together a family because of the grace of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. And this message is deeply personal." - 26:34

5. "What you think about will be what you care about and what you care about you will chase. Some of us feel frustration that we don't feel like we're advancing as people are advancing spiritually and yet it's your inputs that determine your outputs. How could Paul know God so deeply? He lingered in the presence of God for three hours a day. For many of us, we linger in the chaos of our phones and wonder why we're anxious. The inputs determine the outputs." - 26:34

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