From Hiding to Seeking: Transforming Your Relationship with God

Summer at Christ Fellowship

Charlotte

July 17, 2023

The weekend doesn't have to end. Keep Talking on your own or with a group.

Pastor Charlotte mentioned that the root word that ‘disciple’ comes from means to be a student. What does it look like to be a disciple – a student or follower of Jesus?

Read these Scriptures out loud:

James 4:8

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

This verse, and others [see also Prov. 8:17], make it clear that if we want to grow deeper in our relationship with God, it starts with us.
Have you been actively seeking after God? What are some areas in which you feel you are doing well? Where do you see that you need to be more intentional?

Luke 19:1-10

This is the biblical narrative of Zacchaeus.

Take a moment to read this passage.
What stands out to you the most from this story? What do you see that you perhaps haven’t noticed before?

1. Seek To See

Luke 19:3 says that Zacchaeus “wanted to see who Jesus was” (NIV). Another translation says that he “was seeking to see who Jesus was” (ESV).
Pastor Charlotte stated that some of us are so full of information that we’ve stopped seeking revelation, we have so many opinions we’ve stopped seeking truth, and we’re so immersed in culture that we’ve stopped seeking the kingdom of God. Does this resonate with you? Do you find that you’ve stopped seeking after more and more of Jesus? What needs to change?

2. Seek To Stay

In the story of Zacchaeus, the result of him seeking to see Jesus also includes Jesus seeing him. Jesus’ statement is profound: “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” When we seek after Jesus, we also have to be willing to stay at the table with Him and His people – even when the conversation is awkward or uncomfortable.
Are you being intentional about seeking to stay at the table with Jesus and His followers? How are you doing this right now? If this is an area you need to grow in, what next steps are for you?

3. Seek To Stand

When we seek to stay long enough to know and be known, to be transformed by the presence of Jesus, something amazing happens. The real us – the person we were created to be by God – stands up and our behavior and actions begin to align with our God-given identity. Take a moment to read Luke 19:8. Do you see the radical progression made in Zacchaeus’ life?
Have you experienced this type of transformation in your life? What do you need to do to place yourself in a position in which you can seek to stand?

Take some time this week to honestly evaluate where you are as a seeker after Jesus. What is your next step?
Pick one of this week’s key Scriptures and make it a reminder in your phone. Spend a few minutes repeating it and thinking about it each day.
S.O.A.P out the Scripture this week.

Or check out our "Faith Over Fear" playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.