Results

  • Pastor Josh Smith
Are you living a life that reflects the transformative power of Christ, or are you merely going through the motions? In a world where authenticity is often overshadowed by appearances, discover how to live with deep reverence and obedience, allowing God to change your desires and empower you to fulfill His purpose. Let’s explore how to truly embody the attitude of Christ in every aspect of our lives.

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Results

Message Summary
Are you living a life that reflects the transformative power of Christ, or are you merely going through the motions? In a world where authenticity is often overshadowed by appearances, discover how to live with deep reverence and obedience, allowing God to change your desires and empower you to fulfill His purpose. Let’s explore how to truly embody the attitude of Christ in every aspect of our lives.
Key Scripture
“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:12-13 NLT
Additional Scriptures

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

Day 1: Living by Faith, Not by Sight

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NLT

So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. For we live by believing and not by seeing. Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Devotional: Living by faith requires us to trust in God’s promises and His unseen work in our lives. It means relying on the Holy Spirit’s guidance rather than our limited human understanding. This faith journey is about pleasing God, knowing that our ultimate home is with Him. As we navigate life’s challenges, we are called to maintain our confidence in God’s plan, even when we cannot see the full picture.

Response Questions:

  1. What are some areas in your life where you find it difficult to live by faith?
  2. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God’s unseen work?
  3. In what ways can you focus on pleasing God in your daily decisions?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the strength to trust God in areas where you struggle to see His hand at work.
  2. Ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance to live a life that pleases God, even in uncertainty.

Day 2

Day 2: The Attitude of Christ

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-8 NLT

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Devotional: The call to have the attitude of Christ is a call to humility and selflessness. Jesus, though divine, chose to serve and sacrifice for others. This mindset challenges us to prioritize others’ needs above our own and to live in unity and love. By adopting Christ’s attitude, we reflect His love and grace to the world around us.

Response Questions:

  1. How can you demonstrate humility in your interactions with others?
  2. What are some practical ways to prioritize others’ needs above your own?
  3. How does adopting Christ’s attitude change your perspective on service and sacrifice?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for a heart of humility and a willingness to serve others selflessly.
  2. Ask God to help you reflect Christ’s love and grace in your relationships.

Day 3

Day 3: Obedience and Reverence

Scripture: Philippians 2:12-13 NLT

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Devotional: Obedience to God is a reflection of our reverence for Him. It is not about earning salvation but demonstrating the transformation that has occurred in our lives. God is actively working in us, changing our desires and empowering us to live in a way that pleases Him. This obedience is a daily commitment to align our actions with His will.

Response Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you to “work hard to show the results of your salvation”?
  2. How can you cultivate a deeper reverence for God in your daily life?
  3. In what ways is God changing your desires to align with His will?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the strength to obey God with deep reverence and fear.
  2. Ask God to continue transforming your desires to align with His purpose.

Day 4

Day 4: The Power of God at Work

Scripture: Ephesians 3:14-21 NLT

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

Devotional: God’s power is at work within us, enabling us to live out His purposes beyond our natural abilities. This power is rooted in His love, which strengthens and sustains us. As we trust in Christ and allow Him to dwell in our hearts, we experience the fullness of life and the ability to accomplish more than we could imagine. This divine empowerment is a testament to God’s glory and His work in our lives.

Response Questions:

  1. How have you experienced God’s power at work in your life?
  2. In what areas do you need to trust God more to accomplish His purposes?
  3. How does understanding God’s love empower you to live out your faith?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for a deeper understanding of God’s love and its power in your life.
  2. Ask for God’s strength to accomplish His purposes beyond your natural abilities.

Day 5

Day 5: Transforming Desires

Scripture: Romans 12:1-2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, 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.

Devotional: Transformation begins with surrendering our lives to God as a living sacrifice. This act of worship involves allowing God to change our thinking and desires, aligning them with His will. As we resist conforming to the world’s patterns, we open ourselves to God’s transformative work, discovering His good, pleasing, and perfect will for our lives.

Response Questions:

  1. What does it mean to you to be a “living and holy sacrifice”?
  2. How can you resist conforming to the world’s patterns in your daily life?
  3. In what ways is God transforming your thinking and desires?

Prayer Points:

  1. Pray for the willingness to surrender your life as a living sacrifice to God.
  2. Ask God to transform your thinking and desires to align with His will.

GrowGroup Guide

A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.

Opening Prayer:

Begin with a prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your discussion and open hearts to the message of transformation and obedience.

Introduction:

Briefly summarize the sermon, emphasizing the call to live authentically in Christ, allowing God to transform our desires and empower us to live out His purpose. Highlight the importance of living with deep reverence and obedience, as discussed in Philippians 2:12-13.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does it mean to “work hard to show the results of your salvation”?
    • Context: The sermon emphasized that this is not about earning salvation through works but demonstrating the transformation that has occurred in our lives. Discuss how this can be seen in everyday actions and attitudes.
    • Follow-up: How can we ensure that our actions reflect our faith, even when no one is watching?
  2. How can we live by faith and not by sight, as mentioned in the sermon?
    • Context: The pastor referenced 2 Corinthians 5:7, encouraging us to rely on Holy Spirit discernment rather than our human understanding. Discuss practical ways to lean into the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
    • Follow-up: Share a time when you had to trust God beyond what you could see or understand.
  3. In what ways can we cultivate a deep reverence and fear of the Lord in our daily lives?
    • Context: The sermon described deep reverence as a recognition of our inability to live for God on our own, requiring a dependency on Him. Discuss how this perspective can change our approach to obedience.
    • Follow-up: How does this reverence impact our relationships with others?
  4. What desires in your life might God be calling you to change?
    • Context: The pastor challenged us to invite God to transform our desires, aligning them with His will. Reflect on areas where your desires may not align with God’s purpose.
    • Follow-up: How can we support each other in this process of transformation?
  5. How can we ensure that our faith is not just a Sunday experience but a daily reality?
    • Context: The sermon highlighted the danger of living differently in church than at home. Discuss strategies for maintaining a consistent faith walk.
    • Follow-up: What role does community play in helping us live authentically?

Closing Activity:

Invite group members to write down one desire they want God to transform. Encourage them to pray over it throughout the week, asking for God’s power to align their desires with His will.

Closing Prayer:

Conclude with a prayer asking God to continue His transformative work in each group member’s life, empowering them to live out their faith authentically and with deep reverence.

Family Table Talk

A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.

📖 Scripture

❓Family Question

💬 Parent Prompt:

Weekly Practice

A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.