Transformative Power of Service and Authentic Connection
Summary
The sermon began with an emphasis on the transformative power of enduring difficult times and how it shapes our character and hearts. The pastor shared personal experiences of witnessing people going through challenging situations and seeing how God works through those circumstances to bring about amazing growth and dependence on Him. The pastor highlighted the importance of living for the will of God rather than being influenced by the passions and desires of the world. The sermon then transitioned to the importance of being faithful stewards of God's multifaceted grace, using the gifts that each believer has received to serve one another and edify the body of Christ.
The pastor then introduced the concept of the "last days," referring to the period between the first coming of Christ and his eventual return. He emphasized the importance of being prayerful and sober-minded during this time, reminding the congregation that one day, in Christ, they will no longer have sin as a part of their experience. The pastor also emphasized the importance of serving others and how it is an investment in eternity. He encouraged the congregation to serve others in Jesus' name, for His sake and glory, and to practice authentic connection and serving one another.
The pastor then discussed the story of Balaam and his donkey from the book of Numbers, emphasizing that God can speak through anyone, including us, to deliver His message to others. He also highlighted the importance of serving others in a general sense, meeting their needs, and coming alongside those who are struggling or isolated. This act of service should be done in the strength that God supplies, with the motive of reflecting Christ's love and provision.
The sermon then focused on the concept of fellowship and unity among believers, introducing the passage of 1 Peter 4:7-11 as a guide on how to develop authentic connections and fellowship. The pastor also emphasized the importance of love and forgiveness within the body of believers, reminding the congregation that, just as Jesus has shown love and forgiveness to them, they should also love one another. The pastor concluded by emphasizing the importance of authentic connection and serving others, highlighting the negative impact of social media on intimacy and encouraging the congregation to seek genuine connections with others.
Key Takeaways:
- The transformative power of enduring difficult times shapes our character and hearts, leading to growth and dependence on God. This growth is not achieved by living for worldly passions and desires, but by living for the will of God. ([12:45])
- Being faithful stewards of God's multifaceted grace involves using the gifts that each believer has received to serve one another and edify the body of Christ. These gifts are not for individual glory but for the growth of the body of Christ. ([24:30])
- God can speak through anyone to deliver His message to others, as illustrated in the story of Balaam and his donkey. This serves as a reminder that we can be used by God to impact the lives of others. ([36:15])
- Love and forgiveness within the body of believers are crucial. Just as Jesus has shown love and forgiveness to us, we should also love one another. This love is expressed through various actions such as praying for one another, caring for one another, and serving one another. ([48:20])
- Authentic connection and serving others are essential in the Christian life. The pastor encourages the congregation to seek genuine connections with others, where they can be honest and receive both encouragement and loving correction. ([59:10])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
```
1. 1 Peter 4:7-11
2. John 13:34-35
3. Matthew 18
```
Observation Questions:
1. What does 1 Peter 4:7-11 say about the use of spiritual gifts and how they should be used within the body of believers?
2. In John 13:34-35, what new commandment does Jesus give and how does He say others will recognize His disciples?
3. What does Matthew 18 teach about forgiveness within the community of believers?
Interpretation Questions:
1. Based on 1 Peter 4:7-11, how does the use of spiritual gifts reflect God's multifaceted grace and contribute to the edification of the body of Christ?
2. How does the commandment given by Jesus in John 13:34-35 challenge the way believers interact with one another and the world around them?
3. How does the teaching on forgiveness in Matthew 18 align with the concept of love and forgiveness within the body of believers?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a difficult time you have endured. How did that experience shape your character and draw you closer to God?
2. Identify a spiritual gift you believe God has given you. How can you use this gift to serve others and edify the body of Christ this week?
3. Think of a person or group of people you interact with regularly. How can you demonstrate the love of Jesus to them in a tangible way this week?
4. Is there someone you need to forgive or seek forgiveness from within your community of believers? What steps can you take towards reconciliation this week?
5. In what ways can you foster authentic connections within your community of believers, moving beyond the superficial interactions often promoted by social media?
Devotional
Day 1: Transformation Through Trials
Enduring difficult times can shape character and hearts, leading to growth and dependence on God. This growth is not achieved by living for worldly passions and desires, but by living for the will of God. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZUpinruqE&t=750s)) This transformative power is a testament to the strength and resilience that can be found in faith.
James 1:2-4 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Reflection: How have you seen your character shaped by difficult times? Can you identify a specific trial that led to growth and dependence on God?
Day 2: Stewards of Grace
Being faithful stewards of God's multifaceted grace involves using the gifts that each believer has received to serve one another and edify the body of Christ. ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZUpinruqE&t=1455s)) These gifts are not for individual glory but for the growth of the body of Christ.
1 Peter 4:10 - "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms."
Reflection: What gifts have you received from God? How can you use these gifts to serve others and edify the body of Christ?
Day 3: God Speaks Through Us
God can speak through anyone to deliver His message to others. ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZUpinruqE&t=2160s)) This serves as a reminder that we can be used by God to impact the lives of others.
Numbers 22:28 - "Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and it said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?'"
Reflection: How have you experienced God speaking through you or others? Can you recall a specific instance where you felt used by God to deliver a message?
Day 4: Love and Forgiveness
Love and forgiveness within the body of believers are crucial. ([48:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZUpinruqE&t=2885s)) Just as Jesus has shown love and forgiveness to us, we should also love one another.
Colossians 3:13 - "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Reflection: How can you show love and forgiveness to others in your life? Can you think of a specific person you need to forgive or show love to?
Day 5: Authentic Connection
Authentic connection and serving others are essential in the Christian life. ([59:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZUpinruqE&t=3535s)) Seek genuine connections with others, where honesty, encouragement, and loving correction can be shared.
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you foster authentic connections in your life? Can you identify a specific relationship that needs more authenticity?
Quotes
1. "To transform us into the image of Christ, it's no fun to go through them but it can be very fruitful, especially if we're cooperating with the Lord in those things, we're leaning into him, we're trusting him in the middle of whatever the difficulty is." [36:06]
2. "God uses those things to hone us and to shape our character, our hearts. I was sharing with someone this morning about that who's just gone through some very difficult things, and you don't want them for anybody, you don't want to repeat them, but I'll tell you God can do an amazing work through those things." [36:39]
3. "This world has passions, desires, things they think are significant and important, and they want to press us as followers of Christ into their mold, and they're surprised when we choose not to go after those temporal things but to go after the things of Eternal consequence and value." [37:19]
4. "When we serve others, we are investing in eternity. The ways that we serve others will be reflected in our experience for all of eternity. It's an amazing promise." [01:03:23]
5. "If you practice these two things - authentic connection and serving one another - you won't be able to keep people away from this place because Christ will show up in a major way. People want to be a part of that, they want to experience His love and provision." [01:04:02]
6. "Peter says serve one another as each one has received a gift... the reason you're gifted is so that the body can be edified, it's given for the building up the growing of the body." [54:10]
7. "That's how we practice good stewardship by serving one another... when we serve for the sake of making Christ look good, making God look good, God shows up." [54:48]
8. "If God can speak through a donkey to a prophet, then he can speak through me to you, and he can speak through you to others." [58:01]
9. "I want to be that instrument that's serving in the strength that God supplies, and he will show up when we serve that way." [58:44]
10. "Keep loving one another earnestly since love covers a multitude of sins... it's hard to strive for and do everything we can to keep the unity of the body when we keep holding grudges, we won't forgive." [47:09]
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