Studies show that 2/3 of all people on a first date tell lies. Men most commonly lie about wealth and success while women most commonly lie about age and occupation. Why is lying up front so common? The common progression is to hide the real you long enough so they love you just enough to keep from turning back.
There is something terrifying about being fully known. There is something fascinating about being fully loved.
If I’m fully known then surely I can’t be fully loved. But with God you are.
He who knows you the best loves you the most.
The big news of the Bible is not that you love God but that God loves you. The biggest news isn’t that you can know God but that God already knows you and he loves you! At some point you came to believe in God but he believed in you first.
You’re more sinful and flawed than you care to believe. You’re more accepted and loved than you can possibly imagine.
He fully sees you, fully knows you yet he fully loves you. When you come this realization it will truly change your life. John addresses with certainty.
1 John 3:16-24 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. 23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us. TLB
So many people struggle with so many internal wars going on within their soul and the less they feel loved the more severe the battle becomes. Over the next several weeks we are going to dive into a greater understanding of this.
God fully sees you, fully knows you and yet fully loves you because God fully designed you.
The video we saw in the service of the young man who couldn’t seem to quit drumming on his desk can be seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p5286T_kn0
We are all uniquely gifted by God. Many of us simply live misunderstood lives because we ourselves don’t understand ourselves.
Maybe today you’re coming to a conclusion not satisfied w ur life. Don’t wake up tomorrow and just keep doing the same thing hoping something changes. For the next two weeks we are going to offer a special class for anybody who truly wants to discover more about their design from God as well as learn how to connect their gifted lives with a world who needs what we carry. This will be from 11:00-11:30 between the two services. Pause for a moment and text destiny to 474747 to have access to our digital connect card. Fill that out and we will get you on the list!
Jesus teaches us to love others “as we love ourselves.” The big question we need to ask is, “Do we love ourselves?”
According to Jesus your ability to love yourself determines your capacity to love others.
Something inside each of us is broken because of the Fall of Adam & Eve. Think about how Adam must have felt about himself and about God before the Fall. He was at complete and total peace with God and with himself knowing nothing of any kind of shame or any kind of guilt. This is what Jesus wants to restore in you and me.
It’s so sad that so many feel they have to choose to be spiritual or happy. For so many religion is the place where they get in touch with all that they are not awakening their deepest sense of shame. We should discover that God's plan is for us to learn to enjoy him and to understand that he actually enjoys us this is the relationship Jesus came to provide.
God didn’t love you back he loved you first. Your responsedetermines God’s reach. Our response continues to determine his reach.
We’ve all experienced the frustration of having some kind of car trouble. Its even more frustrating when we take the car that is acting up to the mechanic and it won’t act up in front of the mechanic. I’ve left the presence of the mechanic on different occasions only to discover moments later it starts acting up again! Finally when it is in the presence of the mechanic and acts up I’m overjoyed! Why am I overjoyed that my car has a problem? Because it is in the presence of the one who can fix it.
If you’re not satisfied with your life and you are ready to go deeper with God we want to hel
GP2RL: Purpose to get up tomorrow morning and be intentional about an enjoyable time alone with God. Sign up for Discovering Destiny to learn more about God’s plan for your life.
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for downloadable pdf file of this guide.
LEADER’S NOTES: In this season we are addressing the deepest sense of insecurity that exists within humanity. Only God’s love can reach deeply enough into our souls to restore our lives. This is the place where we begin finding confidence and strength to love God and to love others as we love ourselves because we have learned to love ourselves.
THE POINT: We are more sinful and flawed than we care to believe. We are more accepted and loved than we can possibly imagine. God’s love unlocks our lives.
1 John 3:21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. TLB
1 Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. NIV
Everybody is uniquely gifted by God.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. What is your most unusual talent? Demonstrate it.
The big news of the Bible is not that you love God but that God loves you! He designed you on purpose.
He fully knows you. He fully loves you.
He who knows you the best loves you the most.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Studies show 2/3 of people lie about something on their first date. What do you believe those lies most commonly be and why would so many people feel so compelled to do this?
3. How does a sense of shame and deception impact a relationship with others? How does this impact your relationship with God?
1 John 3:21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. TLB
God’s plan is for you to feel a total sense of freedom in his presence. In fact the New Testament defines our relationship with God with a resemblance to an intimate connection with a loving father who affirms us, guides us, embraces us, corrects us but always believes in us.
Because the church has not gotten this right many have erroneously felt they had to choose to be spiritual or be happy. For so many people religion is the place where they get in touch with all that they are not awakening their deepest sense of shame. We should discover that God’s plan is for us to learn to enjoy him and to understand that he actually enjoys us. This is the relationship Jesus came to provide.
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
4. What one lesson about love would you share with those younger than you about your faith and a relationship with God?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Purpose to get up tomorrow morning and be intentional about an enjoyable time alone with God. Sign up for Discovering Destiny to learn more about God’s plan for your life.