Walking in Faith: Embracing Joy and Redemption

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we are reminded that being a Christian is not about having everything figured out or achieving a certain level of goodness. Instead, it is about walking in repentance and faith, acknowledging our shortcomings, and striving to live according to God's will. Jesus summarized the essence of God's commandments in Matthew 22, emphasizing the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This is the standard by which we are called to live, yet we often fall short. Our failures are opportunities to confess our sins and seek God's forgiveness, believing that through Jesus Christ, our sins are washed away, and we are made right with God.

The story of God can be encapsulated in four words: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. In creation, God established a perfect world, but through the fall, sin entered, bringing brokenness and separation from God. Yet, the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ brings hope and joy. The prophets foretold the coming of a Savior who would bring light and joy to those in darkness. Jesus' arrival is a cause for great joy, as He came not to condemn but to save the world, offering eternal life to those who believe.

As we await the full restoration of all things, we are called to live in joy, even amidst trials. Joy is not always natural for us, but it is a fruit of the Spirit and a result of walking in step with God. We are encouraged to preach the gospel to ourselves, reminding ourselves of the grace and love of Jesus. By walking by the Spirit, making disciples, and remembering the grand narrative of God's story, we can cultivate joy in our lives. The story is not yet complete, but we have the assurance that Jesus will return, and our joy will be made perfect. Until then, we rely on the Spirit and the community of believers to sustain us in joy and faith.

Key Takeaways

- The Essence of Christian Living: Being a Christian is about walking in repentance and faith, acknowledging our failures, and striving to love God and our neighbors as Jesus commanded. This journey is not about perfection but about sincere devotion and reliance on God's grace. [22:24]

- The Grand Narrative: The story of God is summarized in four words: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Understanding this narrative helps us see our place in God's plan and gives us hope for the future restoration of all things through Christ. [31:30]

- Joy in Redemption: Jesus' coming into the world is a source of great joy because He came to save, not condemn. This joy is rooted in the assurance of salvation and the promise of eternal life, transforming our fear into rejoicing. [39:40]

- Walking by the Spirit: Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and we are called to walk in step with the Spirit, resisting the desires of the flesh. This requires self-examination and repentance, allowing the Spirit to produce joy and other fruits in our lives. [51:51]

- The Joy of Disciple-Making: Engaging in disciple-making brings immense joy as we witness God's work in others' lives. By investing in others, we experience the joy of seeing their growth and faith, which enriches our own spiritual journey. [54:04]

Youtube Chapters

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [22:24] - The Great Commandments
- [23:07] - Confession and Repentance
- [29:57] - The Story of God in Four Words
- [31:30] - Creation and Shalom
- [32:41] - The Fall and Its Consequences
- [36:13] - The Tragedy of Separation
- [37:01] - The Promise of a Savior
- [38:43] - Joy in the Coming Messiah
- [39:40] - Redemption and Joy
- [42:20] - The Treasure of the Kingdom
- [43:29] - Joy in Repentance
- [45:01] - The Promise of Restoration
- [49:46] - Preaching the Gospel to Ourselves
- [51:51] - Walking by the Spirit
- [54:04] - The Joy of Disciple-Making
- [55:35] - Remembering the Story
- [58:05] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 22:37-39
2. Isaiah 9:2-3
3. Galatians 5:16-23

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Matthew 22, what are the two greatest commandments that Jesus highlights? How do these commandments summarize the law and the prophets? [22:24]

2. In Isaiah 9, what is the significance of the imagery of light and joy in the context of the coming Messiah? [37:01]

3. What does Galatians 5 describe as the "fruit of the Spirit," and how is joy positioned among these fruits? [50:51]

4. How does the sermon describe the four-word summary of God's story, and what does each word represent? [31:30]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the command to love God and our neighbors challenge our daily lives and priorities? In what ways might this command be difficult to live out consistently? [22:24]

2. The sermon mentions that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. How can believers cultivate this joy in their lives, especially during challenging times? [51:51]

3. Reflecting on the story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration, how does understanding this narrative provide hope and perspective in the face of life's difficulties? [31:30]

4. The sermon emphasizes the joy of disciple-making. How does investing in others' spiritual growth contribute to one's own joy and faith journey? [54:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current relationship with God and others. Are there specific areas where you struggle to love wholeheartedly? What steps can you take to align more closely with the great commandments? [22:24]

2. Joy is described as a fruit of the Spirit. Identify a specific situation in your life where you find it challenging to experience joy. How can you invite the Holy Spirit to transform your perspective in this area? [51:51]

3. Consider the grand narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. How does this understanding impact your view of personal struggles and the brokenness in the world? [31:30]

4. The sermon encourages preaching the gospel to oneself. What practical ways can you remind yourself of the gospel's truths daily to cultivate joy and faith? [49:46]

5. Disciple-making is highlighted as a source of joy. Identify one person in your life whom you can invest in spiritually. What specific actions can you take to encourage their faith journey this week? [54:04]

6. Reflect on a recent trial or challenge you faced. How did you respond, and what might it look like to choose joy in similar situations in the future? [56:40]

7. The sermon speaks of the assurance of Jesus' return. How does this promise influence your daily life and decisions? What changes might you make to live with this hope more intentionally? [45:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Walking in Repentance and Faith
In the Christian journey, the focus is not on achieving perfection but on walking in repentance and faith. This involves acknowledging our shortcomings and striving to live according to God's will. Jesus emphasized the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. This is the standard by which we are called to live, yet we often fall short. Our failures are opportunities to confess our sins and seek God's forgiveness, believing that through Jesus Christ, our sins are washed away, and we are made right with God. This journey is about sincere devotion and reliance on God's grace, not about having everything figured out. [22:24]

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to acknowledge your shortcomings and seek God's forgiveness today? How can you take a step towards walking in repentance and faith in that area?


Day 2: Understanding the Grand Narrative
The story of God can be summarized in four words: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. In creation, God established a perfect world, but through the fall, sin entered, bringing brokenness and separation from God. Yet, the promise of redemption through Jesus Christ brings hope and joy. Understanding this narrative helps us see our place in God's plan and gives us hope for the future restoration of all things through Christ. As we await the full restoration, we are called to live in joy, even amidst trials, knowing that the story is not yet complete, but we have the assurance that Jesus will return. [31:30]

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the grand narrative of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration change your perspective on your current circumstances? What is one way you can live in hope and joy today, knowing that Jesus will return?


Day 3: Joy in Redemption
Jesus' coming into the world is a source of great joy because He came to save, not condemn. This joy is rooted in the assurance of salvation and the promise of eternal life, transforming our fear into rejoicing. The prophets foretold the coming of a Savior who would bring light and joy to those in darkness. Jesus' arrival is a cause for great joy, as He offers eternal life to those who believe. As we await the full restoration of all things, we are called to live in joy, even amidst trials, knowing that our joy will be made perfect when Jesus returns. [39:40]

"Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one fear or worry that you can bring to Jesus today, allowing His joy to transform it into rejoicing? How can you remind yourself of the assurance of salvation and the promise of eternal life in your daily life?


Day 4: Walking by the Spirit
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and we are called to walk in step with the Spirit, resisting the desires of the flesh. This requires self-examination and repentance, allowing the Spirit to produce joy and other fruits in our lives. By walking by the Spirit, making disciples, and remembering the grand narrative of God's story, we can cultivate joy in our lives. The Spirit and the community of believers sustain us in joy and faith as we await the full restoration of all things. [51:51]

"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do." (Galatians 5:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one desire of the flesh that you need to resist today? How can you intentionally walk by the Spirit and allow Him to produce joy and other fruits in your life?


Day 5: The Joy of Disciple-Making
Engaging in disciple-making brings immense joy as we witness God's work in others' lives. By investing in others, we experience the joy of seeing their growth and faith, which enriches our own spiritual journey. As we make disciples, we are reminded of the grace and love of Jesus, and we are encouraged to preach the gospel to ourselves. This process of disciple-making not only brings joy but also strengthens our faith and deepens our relationship with God. [54:04]

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timothy 2:2, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can invest in and disciple today? How can you take a step towards engaging in disciple-making and experiencing the joy of witnessing God's work in their life?

Quotes

"We take a moment to remind ourselves that Christians are not people who have it all figured out, who have achieved some level of goodness, but what makes a Christian is walking in repentance and faith. And so we read God's law as his will for our lives. This is the standard by which we know how we're supposed to live." [00:21:38] (23 seconds)


"Everything that we are supposed to be, everything that we are supposed to do is wrapped up in these two commandments, to love God with all of our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Does your life look like that? Mine doesn't. None of ours do. And so this is our opportunity. To go before the Lord, our God and confess our sin." [00:22:49] (31 seconds)


"Creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. So in creation, God was at work creating the world, culminating in the creation of Adam. But do you remember what he said after he created Adam? He said, it's not good for this man to be alone. Still not quite complete. He needs a helper. He needs a companion. And so he made Eve." [00:31:51] (26 seconds)


"And with the creation of Eve, then everything was as it should be. That's peace. That's that shalom peace. And do you remember how Adam responded when he sees Eve? He says, this at last is bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called woman because she was taken out at men. At last." [00:32:37] (24 seconds)


"Creation, fall, and so we come then to the redemption of all things. And we read earlier a portion of Luke chapter 2 where the angels appear to the shepherds. And it says in verse 9, that an angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with great fear." [00:39:32] (25 seconds)


"For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Jesus has come, and that is the cause of great joy for those who have been waiting for him. Jesus has come, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom of God and the restoration of all things." [00:41:22] (24 seconds)


"In joy, we leave behind all the things that we had trusted previously, all of the false gods that we have worshiped, all of those false sources of peace. And we do it with joy and excitement and gladness because we have found the kingdom of heaven. And do you know how the kingdom of heaven responds when we do that?" [00:43:03] (27 seconds)


"So then there is joy on the part of the repenting sinner who has found the kingdom. And there is joy in heaven that that repenting sinner has found the kingdom. And so the result all around of a person repenting of their sin and placing their faith in Jesus is that there is joy in heaven." [00:43:49] (16 seconds)


"One of the other sources of joy that I have, found in my life, is being a disciple maker, to take joy in what God is doing in other people's lives. In 1 John 1, John says that he's writing to tell them what it is that they have seen, and what that which we have seen and heard, we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us." [00:53:13] (30 seconds)


"The last thing that I need to do to hang on to that joy is to remember the story. Four words, creation, fall, redemption, restoration. Where are we in that story? Are we at the end of that story right now? No. Story's not done. We're in between that redemption and restoration." [00:55:35] (33 seconds)


"And so we can have joy then, even in difficult circumstances, because the story that God is telling in this world isn't finished. That's why James can write to a church that has begun to experience violent violence, and he can say, count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." [00:56:08] (32 seconds)


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Transcript
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