Every story has a beginning, including yours. But as individuals our story always begins in the middle of a much larger story than our own. We are born into God’s story. Unfortunately, it often takes us a long time to figure that out.
Awe
Jesus Culture
Raise a Hallelujah
Bethel Music
Good Plans
Red Rocks Worship
Nothing Else
Cody Carnes
Janet O. Hagberg and Robert A. Guelich
“The process and passages of our response to God’s overture.”
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The Critical Journey
1. The stages on your spiritual journey are fluid.
2. No stage is better than another.
3. We get stuck in a stage.
4. We all have a home stage.
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Stage One
The recognition of God.
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Ecclesiastes 3:11
He (God) has also set eternity in the human heart.
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Isaiah 6:5-8
“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
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Matthew 13:18-23
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
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Reasons for Getting “Stuck”
1. There is no establishment of roots where our faith can grow.
2. The idols of our life become bigger than God in our life.
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How to Get “Unstuck”
1. Respond to the love of God in Jesus.
2. Open yourself to other followers of Jesus to walk with you.
3. Make God bigger.
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