Pastor Matt reminded us that every great story begins with a Creator — and His first words over you, when he created you, were very good … most importantly because you are loved beyond your ability to comprehend the depth of God's affection for you
MY STORY
Who gives your heart a flicker of delight when he or she walks into the room? (Don't name anyone currently present in your group).
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth … And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:1, 31)
You are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you (Isaiah 43:4)
Why would God take so much delight in what he created? What brings delight to the heart of God about you?
How did the creation of human beings stand apart from the rest of creation?
Define how you, specifically, would be precious to God, honored by him, and loved deeply?
If you struggle with grasping this, why do you think that is?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passages above, what are the factual "takeaways" that are meaningful to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
What difference does it make that God sees you as "very good" (while still in need of redemption)?
What types of growing-up experiences might hinder our ability to see or experience God's delight in us?
What's something about which God might brag about you to the angels?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit's leading, nudging us toward?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
Pastor Matt suggested a statement that Jesus might make directly to you:
I love you, so much so that I came to you as one of you. I have taken what you are as my own. I have gone to the places of deepest darkness and forsakenness to rescue you from your own sin, and so that wherever you go, you will know that my light shines even there. I want you to be with me forever, and I have staked my very life, even unto the cross, to keep you with me. I will get you home to my Father's house.
On a scale of one-to-ten, how much would you say that you're aware of the depth of God's delight in you?
In your circle of influence, or perhaps even among the people at Crossroads, what parents do you know who take absolute delight in their children?
What can you learn about how much God loves you, as a heavenly parent, by looking at the examples of the moms and dads you mentioned above?
Offer up a prayer of thanks to God for the degree to which you can sense his delight in you … and acknowledge that the reality is exponentially greater.
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step is the Holy Spirit is calling you toward?
Message Notes
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