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Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd.
(Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia.

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A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY


AUDIO


What in the world is God doing?
(second in the series, 'Experiencing God')

Jerry Varnado, pastor
Gateway Church, Athens GA

February 13, 2005
  • Main Scripture text: John 5:16-20.
  • God has not left the world to function on its own.

  • He's been involved throughout history, orchestrating time and events to fulfill His will and purpose on the earth.

  • In the Bible study, Experiencing God, Henry Blackaby and Claude King present seven realities about God.

  • The first is this: God is always at work around us.
  • When God reveals something to us, we shouldn't treat it as simply a "devotional thought" meant to encourage us.

  • We need to ask God to help us connect what He is showing us with what is going on around us.

  • It is then that might see just what in this world God is doing so we can join with Him in His work.

  • The second reality of experiencing God is this: God pursues a love relationship with us.
  • Before we made one move toward God, or read one page in the Bible, or attended one worship service, God loved us enough to die for us.

  • If we really know Him, how much he loves us, it is quite natural for us to return that love.

  • Way back in the late 1950s, young songwriter Phil Spector inspired to write a song after reflecting on the epitaph on his father's tombstone that read, "To have known him was to have loved him."

  • Here's the chorus of the song -- some of you will remember it:

To know, know, know him
Is to love, love, love him.

Just to see him smile
Makes my life worthwhile.

To know, know, know him
Is to love, love, love him
-- And I do

  • Perhaps if Phil Spector had learn to sing those words about Jesus, he wouldn't be on trial for murder today.

  • Do you know Jesus? Do you love Him?

  • God is always at work in this world, pursuing a love relationship with human beings.

  • If we will respond to Him, if we will just seek to know Him, we will love Him. His smile will make our lives worthwhile.

  • When your life is filled with the presence and the love of the living God, what else do you need?


Supporting texts: John 14:10-12 | 1 John 4:10 | 1 John 4:8 | John 14:23 | 1 John 4:19

A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here (28:00).
(Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.)


An audio tape of this sermon is available
free of charge (U.S. requests only).
Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office.
Please specify tape number 050213a: What in the World is God Doing?


© 2005 Gerald R. Varnado

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