GDLC Audio

Regardless of your personality type, “introvert” or “extrovert”, everyone has issues with giving up control. As sinful human beings, we want things our way and our personality type simply dictates how aggressively we pursue our controlling behavior. As a Christian however, the identity which supersedes our personality types and our behaviors, we are called to give up control, open our hands and “let go”, otherwise said, let the Lord have His way in our lives. We may not always understand where He is leading us or why, but nonetheless, since He always wants what’s best for us, we give up control and quite simply, follow Him. So today we remember our Christian faith is one of “Taking Up Open Hands”.

Regardless of your personality type, “introvert” or “extrovert”, everyone has issues with giving up control. As sinful human beings, we want things our way and our personality type simply dictates how aggressively we pursue our controlling behavior. As a Christian however, the identity which supersedes our personality types and our behaviors, we are called to give up control, open our hands and “let go”, otherwise said, let the Lord have His way in our lives. We may not always understand where He is leading us or why, but nonetheless, since He always wants what’s best for us, we give up control and quite simply, follow Him. So today we remember our Christian faith is one of “Taking Up Open Hands”.

We begin our Lenten journey with what is perhaps the most difficult thing for us to give up...during Lent or otherwise...and that being giving up ourselves. To be sure, the Lord wants us to love ourselves and take care of ourselves and view ourselves as valuable creations of His almighty hand. But true Christianity is one of self-denial...more than that...one of dying to self and doing so on a daily basis that you may unhindered, follow Jesus wherever He wants you to go. As we begin our “Taking Up” sermon series, we begin by “Taking Up” what will cause us to truly live for Jesus in this world. As we give up ourselves, we find it easier to live for Jesus daily and follow Him! So today we remember that your Christian faith is one of “Taking Up Selflessness”.

We began this series looking at the sweet promise that God has forgiven us of all our sins. This week we look at the promise that God will use us to spread this news throughout the world. C.S. Lewis famously wrote “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you”. There is no greater joy God could give to us than to be used by Him to spread the news of His love and mercy for this world and to be used as an ambassador of His forgiveness for all!

We began this series looking at the sweet promise that God has forgiven us of all our sins. This week we look at the promise that God will use us to spread this news throughout the world. C.S. Lewis famously wrote “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you”. There is no greater joy God could give to us than to be used by Him to spread the news of His love and mercy for this world and to be used as an ambassador of His forgiveness for all!

For all of us, the forced social isolation, and required physical disconnection from people, has been incredibly difficult. This week we remember that it isn’t the church building, the worship style, or even if we are in person that unites us as a people but in fact it is God Himself that unites us. Jesus said that true worship won’t happen at this place or at this time, but true worship will happen in Spirit and in truth. Whether or not we’re in the church building, or at home, we are united as God’s people and find comfort and strength in this promise.

For all of us, the forced social isolation, and required physical disconnection from people, has been incredibly difficult. This week we remember that it isn’t the church building, the worship style, or even if we are in person that unites us as a people but in fact it is God Himself that unites us. Jesus said that true worship won’t happen at this place or at this time, but true worship will happen in Spirit and in truth. Whether or not we’re in the church building, or at home, we are united as God’s people and find comfort and strength in this promise.