Transforming Chaos: Surrendering Control to God
Summary
In this sermon, I explored the concept of surrendering control to God, using the example of our church's journey in finding a venue. I shared how we had to set up and tear down in various locations for ten years, which often felt like things were spinning out of control. However, I emphasized that this process was a metaphor for how God transforms lives, taking something ordinary and turning it into something extraordinary. I also drew parallels between the transformation of a venue into a church and the transformation of a person's life before and after accepting Christ.
In the second part of the sermon, I delved into the scripture from Matthew chapter 16, where the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus for a sign. I highlighted how we often ask God for signs or guarantees before we trust Him, but Jesus reminds us that we already have all the signs we need. I also discussed the story of Peter, who tried to take control when he heard that Jesus would be killed. I used this story to illustrate how we often try to take control when life feels out of control, but God calls us to trust Him instead.
Key Takeaways:
- Trusting God often means surrendering control, even when life feels chaotic or uncertain. This surrender can lead to transformation, much like a basketball court can be transformed into a church. (#!!04:55!!#)
- We often ask God for signs before we trust Him, but Jesus reminds us that we already have all the signs we need. The key is to open our eyes and see them. (#!!23:13!!#)
- When life feels out of control, we may be tempted to take matters into our own hands. However, God calls us to resist this temptation and trust Him instead. (#!!31:43!!#)
- Miracles happen when we trust God and surrender control to Him. This requires faith and patience, but the result is worth it. (#!!34:04!!#)
- Recounting stories of God's faithfulness in the past can help build our faith for the future. (#!!16:40!!#)
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. God invites us to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and be disciples of Jesus. This requires us to let go of control and trust in His plan for our lives. This can often feel like a rollercoaster ride, but we are safe in His hands. [03:37]
2. We often make gods out of ourselves due to our pride. God is patient and waits for us to surrender and fully depend on Him. He is looking for fully devoted followers, not lukewarm Christians. [07:49]
3. We often ask God for signs and seek the elimination of doubt before we trust Him. However, we already have all the signs we need to trust God. The sign of Jonah, the death and resurrection of Jesus, is all we need to trust God. [23:13]
4. Trusting God often requires us to surrender and lean in on a whole new level. This can lead to revival and transformation in our lives and communities. [17:57]
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Matthew Chapter 16
2. John Chapter 11
3. The Book of Jonah
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 16, how does Jesus invite us to deny ourselves and take up the cross?
2. How does the story of Jonah illustrate the concept of surrender and trust in God?
3. What signs do we already have that should lead us to trust God?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does pride prevent us from fully depending on God as described in the sermon?
2. How does the resurrection of Jesus serve as a sign for us to trust God?
3. What does it mean to surrender and lean in on a whole new level as mentioned in the sermon?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when you had to let go of control and trust in God's plan? How did that experience shape your faith?
2. In what areas of your life are you struggling to fully depend on God? How can you surrender these areas to Him?
3. How can you apply the concept of 'leaning in on a whole new level' in your personal life and community?
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God in the Midst of Change
Change is a constant part of life, and it can often be unsettling. However, God is unchanging and steadfast. He is our rock and our fortress in times of change. Trusting in Him can bring peace and stability even in the midst of upheaval.
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: Reflect on a recent time when you faced a significant change or disruption in your life. How did you respond? Did you trust God during this time, or did you rely on your own understanding? What is one area of your life currently undergoing change where you can actively choose to trust God more? How can you practically demonstrate this trust?
Day 2: The Transformation Power of God
God's power to transform lives is limitless. He can take our brokenness and make us whole, turn our sorrow into joy, and our despair into hope. This transformation is not just about changing our circumstances, but about changing our hearts and minds.
Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Reflection: Can you identify a specific area in your life that has been transformed by God? How did this transformation impact your relationship with Him? Is there an area in your life that you feel needs transformation? How can you invite God into this process?
Day 3: The Cost of Discipleship
Following Jesus is not without cost. It requires self-denial, taking up our cross, and following Him. But the rewards of discipleship far outweigh the cost.
Luke 9:23 - "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your journey of discipleship. What has been the most challenging aspect of denying yourself and taking up your cross? How can you practically live out the call to deny yourself and take up your cross in your daily life?
Day 4: The Reward of Trusting God
Trusting God is not always easy, but it is always rewarding. When we trust in Him, we experience His peace, His joy, and His fulfillment.
Psalm 28:7 - "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him."
Reflection: Can you recall a time when you experienced peace, joy, or fulfillment as a result of trusting God? How did this experience strengthen your faith? In what area of your life do you find it most challenging to trust God? How can you work on surrendering this area to Him?
Day 5: The Contrast Between Trusting in Man and Trusting in God
There is a stark contrast between trusting in man and trusting in God. Man is fallible and limited, but God is infallible and limitless. Trusting in God brings peace and security that trusting in man cannot.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 - "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you placed your trust in man rather than God. What was the outcome and what did you learn from this experience? How can you ensure that your trust is placed in God rather than in human strength or wisdom? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this trust?
Quotes
1. "Sometimes life can feel like a roller coaster out of control, but the truth is, you ain't going nowhere. You're good and God's got you if you trust him. And sometimes it's hard to just enjoy the ride because it face trials with joy. What a weird statement, James, you must be crazy. But God's inviting you to trust him." - 21:19
2. "We already have the signs, we just need to see them. We need to open our eyes and see Christ. I don't know where you're hesitating on trusting God and you might not feel ready to trust God. We likely hardly ever feel ready to trust God, but you and I already have all that we need to trust God." - 23:13
3. "I'm done trying to take control and I actually gonna follow Jesus. It might not be popular, it's not trusting God, surrendering your life into his hands. It's the most unpopular thing in Western world right now. Living by the truth of scripture, having a higher truth, not your truth, my truth, and whatever your truth wants to be. But we have an objective truth and I trust it. That's not popular but this is how you and I were created to be. Life is found when we let go of control and we trust God." - 42:41
4. "God's calling you and I to trust him. We had to trust. And so we got full-time availability here. This is a flexible space that we've never had before. We can do men's and women's stuff out of here. We're going to relaunch all in our team service on October 4th. There is Revival on the horizon and it's going to require each and every one of you. It's going to require us to surrender and lean in on a whole new level." - 17:57
5. "God is inviting people to deny themselves, to take up the cross and be Disciples of Jesus. And his presentation of that is very problematic because it requires us to let go of control. It's kind of like your life or my life. There's a before Christ moment, there's a dividing line where he comes in and he revives your heart and he renews your soul, changes your life forever if you trust him." - 06:06
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