Series: Made For This
Sermon Title: Made to Reflect God’s Image
Passage: Genesis 3:8-11

Reno Campus
Pastor Jericho Toilolo

Carson Campus
Pastor Dusty Braun

Campus Announcements / Service Moments

Reno Campus

• Baptism Class
• Kids Baptism Class
• Sparks Campus Launch Team Meeting
• Baby Dedication Class
• LifeGroups begin the week of 1/19/25

Carson Campus

• Baptism Class
• Kids Baptism Class
• Baby Dedication Class
• LifeGroups begin the week of 1/19/25

Series: Made For This
Sermon Title: Made to Walk With God
Passage: Genesis 3:8-11

SERMON POINTS: 

• God created us to know Him, love Him, and enjoy Him.
  Genesis 3:8
  Genesis 5:24
  Matthew 22:37
  • John Piper – “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him”

Psalm 16:11
Psalm 37:4
Psalm 32:11
Habakkuk 3:18

• Our sin, guilt, and shame broke the plan.
  Genesis 2:16-17
  • Tim Keller – “God is saying, “Where did that new consciousness come from? What has changed? Why is nakedness now something you can’t stand?” Because nakedness originally simply meant to be known. What it means to be naked is to be known. Before Adam and Eve decided to be their own masters, they had no problem with radical vulnerability. Now suddenly being vulnerable, being seen by somebody, being observed, being visible, being open and uncovered is traumatic.” 
• God did not give up on His purpose.
  Genesis 3:21
  2 Corinthians 3:17
  Galatians 5:1
• Learning to know, love, and enjoy God is a lifelong journey.
  • Eugene Peterson – “Worship does not satisfy our hunger for God—it whets our appetite. Our need for God is not taken care of by engaging in worship—it deepens.”
    

 

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

• In Genesis 3:8, God walks in the garden seeking Adam and Eve. What does this reveal about God’s desire for a relationship with us?
• Reflect on Psalm 16:11. What does “the fullness of joy in His presence” look like in your life today?
• Genesis 2:16-17 shows God’s clear command. How does this moment highlight the weight of disobedience?
• How has guilt or fear hindered your relationship with God or others?
• In Genesis 3:21, God makes garments for Adam and Eve. How does this act of covering reflect God’s grace and provision?
• Read 2 Corinthians 3:17. How does God’s Spirit bring freedom and restoration to our broken relationship with Him?
• Galatians 5:1 reminds us of the freedom we have in Christ. What steps can we take to walk in that freedom daily?
• Eugene Peterson speaks of worship as deepening our hunger for God. How has worship transformed your relationship with God?
• What might it look like for you to increase your experiential knowledge of God?
• Habakkuk 3:18 speaks of rejoicing in the Lord, even amid trials. How can joy in God anchor you through difficult seasons?

 

PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

Where are you hiding from God?

• In Genesis 3:8-11, Adam and Eve hid from God because of their shame and fear. Are there areas in your life where you’re avoiding God’s presence or voice? What might He be calling you to bring into the light of His grace and healing?

• How do you see the effects of shame in your life, and how does God’s love provide healing?

How do you experience God’s joy and love?

• Psalm 16:11 speaks of fullness of joy in God’s presence. When was the last time you truly felt God’s joy and love? What practices or moments draw you closer to knowing and enjoying Him?

• Read Matthew 22:37. How does loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind deepen our ability to enjoy Him?

What keeps you from embracing radical vulnerability with God?

• Tim Keller notes that sin creates a fear of being fully known. Are there parts of your heart or life you struggle to surrender to God? How might trusting in His grace allow you to experience deeper intimacy with Him?

 

SCRIPTURES TO MEDITATE ON:

• Psalm 139:1-6, 13-14
• Isaiah 43:1
• John 15:15
• John 15:4-5
• Isaiah 43:1-2

 

RESOURCES:

• PODCAST | JENNIE ALLEN | MADE FOR THIS, S18 E14 CONVERSATION WITH MART GREEN 
• PODCAST | JOHN ELDRRIDGE | WILD AT HEART: DEEPER PT 1. EP. 730
• BOOK | DAVID G BRENNER | THE GIFT OF BEING YOURSELF

Spiritual Discipline Practice: Longing For More

Scott Peck, in The Road Less Traveled, said, “Emotional sickness is avoiding reality at any cost. Emotional health is facing reality at any cost.” This truth applies not only to our emotional well-being but also to our faith and hunger for God. The discipline of longing for more is, at its core, about confronting the desires of our hearts and evaluating them honestly.

In Matthew 20, we read about the request made by the mother of James and John, asking Jesus for her sons to sit at His right and left in His glory. At the heart of this request lies the disciples’ deeper desires, which are being shared and discussed openly. Maturity begins when we can honestly share our inner fears and desires with the God who longs to draw close to us.

Do I long for a deeper relationship with God? Many verses in the New Testament frame our faith in terms of maturity (James 1:4, Hebrews 5:14, Ephesians 4:13-16). Where are you on your journey? Can you look into the mirror of your heart and say you want more of a relationship with God today than you did a year ago? Is this longing becoming a deep passion—a desire to explore new areas within your soul and invite the Holy Spirit to influence and transform them?

When we read the Gospels, we often see Jesus interacting with people in ways that bring healing, mercy, and grace. Many of these individuals do not want to leave His presence after experiencing Him. This is the kind of reality we need to cultivate in our lives: real presence, real transformation, and a real longing for more of God.

Weekly Practice: Opening ourselves up to God

Ruth Haley Barton – “Opening up our desire in God’s presence—even when we’re not sure which parts are true and which are false—is humbling, but it gives God a chance to help us sort it all out.”

5-Step Daily Practice to Develop a Deeper Longing for Intimacy with Jesus

This practice is designed to help you cultivate a daily rhythm of opening your heart to God, deepening your longing for His presence, and fostering spiritual maturity. Drawing inspiration from Rob Hans’ teaching and the wisdom of Ruth Haley Barton, this practice emphasizes honesty, vulnerability, and intentionality.

Step 1: Center Your Heart in Silence

Time: 5 minutes

• Begin by finding a quiet space where you can be still.

• Take slow, deep breaths, inviting God’s presence into the moment.

• Pray: “Lord, I am here. Help me to quiet my soul and hear Your voice today.”

• Spend a few moments in silence, focusing on the reality of God’s nearness.

Purpose: Silence prepares your heart to meet God and allows you to become aware of His presence.

Step 2: Honestly Examine Your Desires

Time: 10 minutes

• Reflect on this question: “What do I truly desire in my relationship with God today?”

• Write your thoughts in a journal, whether they are fears, doubts, hopes, or longings.

• Consider your spiritual journey: Are you moving toward deeper intimacy with Jesus, or are distractions keeping you stagnant?

Scripture Focus:

• Matthew 20:20-28 – The honest desires of the disciples’ hearts.

• Psalm 139:23-24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.”

Purpose: Honest self-reflection fosters humility and creates space for God to work in your heart.

Step 3: Present Your Desires to God

Time: 5 minutes

• Pray through what you’ve written. Speak openly to God, sharing your fears, joys, and longings.

• Use Ruth Haley Barton’s guidance: “Lord, I bring these desires to You, even the ones I don’t fully understand. Help me to sort out what is true and align my heart with Yours.”

Purpose: Presenting your desires invites God’s transforming work into the deepest parts of your soul.

Step 4: Immerse Yourself in the Word

Time: 10 minutes

• Read a passage where Jesus interacts with others, focusing on His presence and transformative power. Suggested passages:

• Luke 7:36-50 – Jesus and the woman who anointed His feet.

• John 4:1-26 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman.

• Mark 10:46-52 – Jesus and Bartimaeus.

• Ask: “How is Jesus inviting me to stay in His presence today?”

• Journal any insights or reflections.

Purpose: Immersing yourself in Scripture fosters a deeper longing for Jesus by reminding you of His character and love.

Step 5: Commit to Action

Time: 5 minutes

• End your practice by identifying one tangible way to respond to God’s invitation today. Examples:

• Spend more time in prayer.

• Extend grace to someone in your life.

• Take a moment during your day to pause and reconnect with God.

• Pray: “Lord, thank You for meeting me here. Help me live today with a heart that longs for You.”

Purpose: Responding in action solidifies your daily longing for Jesus into a lived reality.

Weekly Reflection

At the end of the week, take time to review your journal and reflect on how this practice has shaped your heart. Ask yourself:

• How has my longing for Jesus grown this week?

• What areas of my life have been transformed by His presence?

 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Walking Closer to God: You Were Created for This

You were created for an intimate and unbreakable relationship with God. From the beginning, His desire has been to know you deeply and walk with you closely, with nothing standing in the way of His love. Romans 8:39 declares, “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This truth reflects the very heart of why you were born—to live in close communion with Him.

But life often brings hurts, traumas, and habits that cloud this truth. Sometimes, it’s our own shame, guilt, or fear that becomes the barrier. Like Adam hiding in the garden after sinning (Genesis 3:10), we too can feel exposed and unsure of how to approach God. Yet, even in those moments, He is gently calling you to step out from hiding and return to the relationship for which you were made.

In my own journey, I’ve wrestled with the fear that God might not accept or love me fully in my brokenness. There are parts of my heart that feel too messy or painful to bring to Him. Yet, those are the very places God wants to touch with His healing and grace. His desire is to meet you in those hidden areas, not to condemn, but to restore and renew you.

God is patiently waiting for your invitation. He wants to bring peace to your anxious heart, joy to your weary spirit, and healing to the deepest wounds of your life. You were not created to live at a distance from Him. You were born to know His love, to experience His goodness, and to walk in the closeness He always intended for you.

When you embrace this truth, you step into the life you were designed for—a life of freedom and fullness. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” This is the life God offers: a life where His love fills every empty place, His grace empowers you to move forward, and His presence brings the fulfillment your heart has always longed for. You were made for this relationship—let Him lead you deeper into it today.

 

Rob Hans | Spiritual Formation and Connections Pastor