Total Surrender: Embracing God's Covenant Love

Today, the focus is on the profound reality that we gather not for ourselves, but for God alone—He is our audience of one. Everything we do, from singing to praying to listening, is meant to honor and glorify Him. We began by humbling ourselves in prayer, seeking God’s presence, and repenting of the ways we have neglected Him—whether by failing to share Christ, harboring anger, or simply not spending time with Him. God desires not just our attendance, but our hearts, our worship, and our surrender.

Children and adults alike were reminded that God wants to connect with us personally. We don’t need an intermediary; through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we have direct access to God. He longs for us to bring our needs, our joys, and our struggles to Him, and to remember that He is always near, always listening, and always loving.

We explored Genesis 17, where God reaffirms His everlasting covenant with Abraham. This covenant is not based on Abraham’s performance, but on God’s unchanging strength, His faithful promises, and ultimately, His provision of a Savior. God’s promises are sure—He will not break them. He transforms nobodies into His own people, giving us a new identity and a future inheritance that is imperishable.

God’s covenant is threefold: it is assured by His strength (He is El Shaddai, God Almighty, who is strong where we are weak), ensured by His statements (His “I will” is certain and unbreakable), and insured by a Savior (Jesus Christ, whose work on the cross secures our eternal life). Unlike earthly insurance, God’s “policy” never lapses, never drops us, and covers all our failures. We are invited to walk honestly, humbly, wholly, and hungrily with God, remembering His faithfulness and responding with total surrender.

The call is clear: whether you are a believer who needs to surrender more fully, or someone who has never trusted Christ, today is the day to respond. God’s arms are open wide, ready to receive all who come to Him in faith and repentance. Our lives are not meant to be lived in our own strength or for our own purposes, but in joyful, surrendered relationship with the God who keeps every promise.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Worship is about God alone, not about us or those around us. True worship requires humility, repentance, and a heart that seeks God above all else. When we focus on Him as our audience of one, our hearts are aligned with His purposes, and we experience His presence in a deeper way. [03:27]
• 2. God’s covenant with us is rooted in His unchanging strength and faithfulness, not our performance. Like Abraham, we may grow impatient or try to force God’s hand, but His timing and promises are perfect. Waiting on the Lord develops our spiritual discernment and dependence on Him, reminding us that He is El Shaddai—sufficient in every weakness. [39:29]
• 3. Remembering God’s past faithfulness is essential to our spiritual health. We are prone to forget the “good stuff” God has done, especially in seasons of waiting or hardship. Writing down His works, meditating on His Word, and sharing testimonies help us keep His promises alive in our hearts and guard us from spiritual amnesia. [46:09]
• 4. Our relationship with God is secured by Jesus, not by our own righteousness. God’s “insurance policy” of salvation is based on Christ’s finished work, not our efforts. Once we are His, He will never drop us, and His grace covers all our failures—inviting us to come boldly, confess, and receive ongoing forgiveness and restoration. [57:06]
• 5. Total surrender is the only fitting response to God’s covenant love. Partial commitment or occasional consultation with God falls short of the relationship He desires. Whether you need to recommit your life or come to Christ for the first time, God calls you to lay down your own control and trust Him fully, knowing that His arms are always open to receive and restore. [67:26]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [03:27] - Why Are We Here? Worship as an Audience of One
• [04:26] - Humbling Ourselves in Prayer
• [05:11] - Repentance and Preparing Our Hearts
• [06:30] - Worship and Comfort for the Struggling
• [07:18] - Surrendering Our Lives to God
• [08:24] - Kids’ Time: Connecting with God
• [21:49] - God Wants Personal Relationship
• [23:22] - Praying for Others and Needs
• [31:46] - Group Prayer and Unity
• [36:38] - God’s Covenant: The Lock and the Key
• [39:29] - God’s Strength in Our Weakness
• [44:53] - Walking Honestly, Humbly, and Hungrily
• [46:09] - Remembering God’s Faithfulness
• [50:45] - The Promises to Abraham
• [53:11] - God’s Covenant: Forever and for All
• [57:06] - Salvation: God’s Eternal Insurance
• [63:04] - Surrender and the Example of Hulk Hogan
• [67:26] - The Call to Total Surrender
• [70:59] - Responding to God’s Invitation
• [78:00] - Announcements and Closing

Bible Reading

Genesis 17:1-8 (ESV) — When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

Observation Questions

1. In Genesis 17, what new name does God give to Abram, and what does it signify about his future?
2. According to the sermon, how many years had passed since God first spoke to Abram in Genesis 12, and how did Abram respond during that waiting period? [[39:29]]
3. What are the three ways the sermon described God’s covenant as being secured (assured by His strength, ensured by His statements, insured by a Savior)? [[38:42]]
4. What does God promise Abraham about his descendants and their future inheritance? [[54:28]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says God’s covenant with Abraham is unconditional and based on God’s strength, not Abraham’s performance. Why is this distinction important for how we view our own relationship with God? [[39:29]]
2. The pastor mentioned that God’s “I will” statements are certain and unbreakable. How does this contrast with human promises, and what does it reveal about God’s character? [[48:49]]
3. The sermon compared God’s salvation to an insurance policy that never lapses or drops us. How does this analogy help us understand the security of our salvation in Christ? [[57:06]]
4. The call to “walk honestly, humbly, wholly, and hungrily with God” was emphasized. What do each of these words mean in the context of a relationship with God? [[44:53]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon began by reminding us that worship is for God alone, not for ourselves or those around us. When you come to church or spend time with God, what distractions or motivations sometimes get in the way of true worship? How can you refocus your heart to see God as your “audience of one”? [[03:27]]
2. The pastor shared examples of ways we might neglect God—by not sharing Christ, harboring anger, or not spending time with Him. Which of these (or others) do you struggle with most, and what is one step you can take this week to turn back to God in that area? [[05:11]]
3. God’s covenant is rooted in His faithfulness, not our performance. When have you felt tempted to “hurry up” God’s plan or take matters into your own hands? What would it look like to trust His timing in your current situation? [[39:29]]
4. The sermon encouraged us to remember God’s past faithfulness by writing down His works, meditating on His Word, and sharing testimonies. What is one way you can intentionally remember and celebrate what God has done in your life this week? [[46:09]]
5. The analogy of God’s “insurance policy” was used to describe salvation. Do you ever struggle with feeling like God might “drop” you because of your failures? How does the truth of God’s unbreakable promise in Christ change the way you approach Him after you sin? [[57:06]]
6. The call to total surrender was clear—God wants more than partial commitment. Is there an area of your life where you are holding back from God? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him today? [[01:07:26]]
7. The pastor said God’s arms are always open, ready to receive us in faith and repentance. If you need to recommit your life or come to Christ for the first time, what is holding you back? How can this group support you in taking a next step of faith? [[01:10:59]]