THE GREAT EXCHANGE, After Sermon Notes
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or to be used for a sermon group discussion. CLICK HERE to find a discussion group. Enjoy!
Sermon Title: THE GREAT EXCHANGE
Main Scriptures: 2 Peter 1: 3-10; Romans 1: 21-32; Matthew 13: 18-23; Revelation 3: 14-22
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
The GREAT EXCHANGE means to give up something for something else; to give and to receive. God has made a way through His son Jesus Christ to exchange all we are for all we can receive from Him. He has set a great feast before us with everything we need to have ABUNDANT life and to live out that life for Him. Yet, individuals have a choice. We can receive all God has prepared for us, or reject His bounty entirely, or only give up some of ourselves for less than what God wants to provide in a relationship with Him. God asks for our surrender, a giving over of our independence for dependency upon Him.
Sermon Notes:
THE ULTIMATE EXCHANGE
This is an exchange where we surrender all of ourselves to God and in return, we receive all of His great bounty.
The bounty God provides is like a GREAT FEAST where we come and “eat” at His table set for us. God provides everything we need for LIFE and to live a godly life.We’ve accepted the invitation
We’ve Come to the table to eat
We’ve chosen to Die to ourselves, our ways and become something new, better, productive, purposed
We are Living a FULL AND ABUNDANT Life with a core of joy, peace, grace, love, and FREEDOMWe are Surrendering our all to God and living dependent on Him
(2 Peter 1: 3-10)
This LIFE is ABUNDANT life - great quantity; more than adequate, abounding; rich and satisfying; full until it overflows; absolute fulness of life, a life that is real and genuine, active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed
ZOE LIFE – God breathes His life into us through the Holy Spirit and our spirit is made ALIVE
To Live out GODLINESS – fully devoted to God – ALL IN, right living, respect and reverence to God and His plan.
2 Peter 1:10, AMP Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]
Be diligent; behave in such a way that reflects and confirms our relationship with God; actively develop these virtues; you will never stumble – in your spiritual growth
LIVING A LIFE THAT LEADS OTHERS AWAY FROM SIN
The Ultimate Exchange requires our surrender (Luke 9:23-24)
THE DARK EXCHANGE
This is an exchange where one rejects, dismisses, and pushes away all God offers us.
Romans 1: 21-32 speaks of the Dark Exchange
Romans 1: 21-24 - Exchanging the glory of a LIVING God for idols
In turn, God gives them over (Permitted them or allowed them to continue in their ways) to the lusts of their own hearts - Craving, longing, desire for what is forbidden, impure motivesRomans 1: 25-26 - Exchanging the truth of who God is for lies
In turn, God gives them over to degrading and vile passions - Dishonor, disgraceRomans 1: 28 - Exchanging the acknowledgment of God
In turn, God gives them over to a depraved mind - A vain, empty mind incapable of knowing the difference between good and evilOur world needs Jesus. We don’t give up on them, write them off, or act as if there is no hope for them. God invites EVERYONE to His banquet table to eat. EVERYONE is offered the invitation.
Our responsibility is to be an example of Christ to this world and share about the feast God has laid out before them.
Believe that their minds can be renewed and restored.
THE PARTIAL EXCHANGE
This is an Exchange where one only exchanges some of their independence and receives only some of God’s bounty.
This is an exchange where they won’t give God their all.
Matthew 13: 18-23 The Parable of the Sower and the Seeds
Have shallow roots and don’t last long under stress, life’s confrontations
The worries and cares of this life overtake them so easily
They long to be satisfied by those “things” around them
Addictions, hobbies, financial gain, material possessions, relationships with others
They continue to search for something to fill the HUGE hole in their soul
They rush to others for answers before They run to the Word of God, worship, and prayer
They offer God a token appearance at the table. But They are easily distracted
They don’t like to be told what to do – like forgive, and love, and care, and serve, and seek Him with all their heart, mind soul, and strength
They know God is there, and They’ll go see Him and talk to Him on their own terms
To pick and choose what they want, how they want it, when they want it
They are not ALL in – They are “picky eaters”How do we recognize a partial exchange?
When the going gets tough, do we cower, and complain or take courage?
When we face a crisis do we panic, and fall apart or pray?
When we feel that a situation is hopeless, do we fall into despair or reach for God’s hand?
Are we dealing with the same things in our lives we’ve been dealing with for years, even after seeking godly wisdom and counsel?
Are we a victim in our life or are we a victor through Jesus Christ our Lord?
When we must make an important choice, whom do we seek for wisdom?
Who are we trying to please? God or man?
When we are hungry, what do we go to for satisfaction?Revelation 3:14-22 - God wants us to be either hot or cold, but not lukewarm
TAKEAWAYS:
By God’s divine power, He has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
The life God provides is abundant life – rich and satisfying, more than adequate, abounding, full, real and genuine, active and vigorous
Our world is in desperate need of Jesus. As believers, as disciples of Jesus, we have a feast to share. As we are filled at the banquet table, we invite others to come to the table to feast with us.
We have a choice to make. We can receive all we can from God through complete surrender, or we can choose to push ourselves away from the table in search of our own ways and be left wanting.
Our God is glorious, magnificent, all-powerful, all-knowing, always present. He is Truth and Love. Our God is worth knowing and wants to be known by us in relationship.
Discussion:
What was one big takeaway for you from today’s message?
What something new you learned, today?
What scripture verse stuck out to you and why?
What did you sense the Holy Spirit was saying to you during this message?
Which exchange have you experienced and where are you today in your walk with God?
What steps can you take to be ALL IN with God, receiving His full bounty of ABUNDANT LIFE?
Did you know God wants you to be in His family no matter your background? Jesus made it possible…
If you are in this dark place today –
you doubt that God is who He claims to be
you are believing lies instead of the truth
you choose not to hear the sweet whisper in your heart calling you to the table to feast
On behalf of God, we extend an invitation to you to come to this great big humungous table to share in the feast He has prepared for you - great promises, blessings, and new life
Believe, through faith, that God is who He says He is
He is good, faithful, trustworthy, He cares, He is powerful, able, all-knowing, and always there
If you are ready to experience salvation and be transformed we encourage you to say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I see who I am without Jesus. Thank you for saving me from my sin, my past, this world, and your judgment. I repent, I turn away from that life and I put my faith and life in Jesus! Amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know!
Pray:
We thank you today for the incredible feast you have set before us through the sacrifice you made by sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our freedom. Lord, we come to you today and we choose to surrender our ALL to you. Forgive us, Lord, for any areas in our lives where we have made only a partial exchange. Thank you that you provide for us a bounty of your presence, your provision, your care, your joy, peace, love, grace, mercy, and freedom. May we live a life that pleases you so we might be an example to others of the feast you have provided. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!