Love the Dream God Put Inside You
Sermon Notes
Living a meaning full life requires us to lean into the unique of who you are.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
- Psalm 139:13-16
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
- Romans 12:2 (MSG)
You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.
- Matthew 5:14 (MSG)
4 Types Of Kingdom People
1. Disruptors: Call out injustice and systems of oppression.
2. Healers: Soothe the hurting souls.
3. Creators: Put imagination and new ideas into the world.
4. Servers: Meet practical needs.
Table Group Resources
Mixer
What is a fun QUIRK about you?
Connect
1. Last week, you were challenged to do something for self-care - what did you do? How did it go? Would you do it again?
Sermon Questions
In Sunday’s message, Mike Foster talked about how we find meaning in our lives when we align our stories with God. What is a time when you turned the pen over to God and trusted Him to write?
What would He write over the blunders and the mishaps? Are you surprised? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Romans 12:2 speaks about being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Why would this be important to fulfilling the dream that God placed in your heart even before you were born?
Go Deeper
In 2012, my story had a chapter that no one ever invites God to write. Perhaps you are feeling that right now in your current circumstances - that you don’t want. In 2012, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer that spread to my spine. Rewind to the Fall of 2011, I was experiencing some relentless back pain - severe at times - and I remember a night when I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t get comfortable, so I decided to get up and sit on my exercise ball to bring some relief to my back. In the still and darkness of that midnight hour, I began to pray and I had a clear impression of “Psalm 139” in my head. I couldn’t recall it right then, but when I looked it up in my Bible in the light of the day, this is what I read:
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways….” (vs 1-3)
I remember stopping there (I read the rest of course) in just awe of Who was sitting with me in the dark the night before. Little did I know, at that time, the chapter that would soon unfold, but reading through the rest of the 139 passage started to shape new thoughts about God and what He can do, and was the foundation of my trust in Him when I was diagnosed later and underwent a long road of surgeries and treatment. To His glory, I am in remission 8 years later!
So, I gave God the pen of my story. Why? Because of “beauty from ashes.” (Isaiah 61:3) And then I asked God, “What?” And He answered with the whole of His Word that I cherish and appreciate, and it is where I see what He is up to in me, and through me, with the dream He placed in my heart. A dream for His Kingdom People, and I am one of those, quirks and all. And you are too! I pray that to discover what kind of Kingdom Person you are, you will hand over the pen of your story to the One who loves you, will never leave you, and who never writes a colossally bad story! That’s interesting, huh? So have peace in knowing that you actually can’t do anything to mess up any of God’s plans! Just keep doing you and trust the Writer!
(Julie Peacock)
Suggestions to Serve
Good Neighbor Drop-N-Drive | The Church at RB | Thursday 10AM-2PM
Prayer
For the month of August, partner up to pray over one another.
Reminder
If you or someone you know is struggling, our counseling ministry is taking new appointments via zoom to help navigate these unusually challenging days.
