Through technology, we have access to more content and more conveniences than ever before, but we feel more disconnected than ever before. And while conveniences are great and can improve the quality of our lives, the danger is that we can soon prioritize convenience over the meaningful things in life. If you feel like you’ve been conveniencing the meaning from your life, there’s hope to readjust and bring more meaning and quiet to your life.

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MESSAGE NOTES

Today, we want to give you a chance to really consider what promise or commitment you want to make for your spiritual growth for 2021.

 

Now there’s a trap in what’s going on in with our spiritual development right now, too. Why is that? Because…

We have access to more content than ever before, but we feel more disconnected than ever before.

Pre-Covid: The average American spends 3 hours a day on social media/ texting. The average American spends 7 hours a day on screens, pre-Covid.

Danger of having all the right information but not doing the right things with the information.

They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his
eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

[Romans 1:19-20]

 

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

[Romans 1:21]

The end result in spiritual growth is increased worship, not increased knowledge.

The evidence of your growing is that your life worships God more.

Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

[Romans 1:22-23]

Have we gone from worshipping God to watching God?

I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 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 12:1b-2]

We’ve gone from watching our phones to worshipping our phones, and worshipping God to watching God.

If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most
High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone. You will trample upon lions and cobras; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.

[Psalm 91:9-14]

Your life may be loud, but your soul can still be quiet.

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?

2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?

3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?

4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?