God Wants to Know Me

“ ¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” —Colossians 3:12-17

Big Idea: A God-Centered life is centered on his presence, voice, love and purpose!

“ ¹ One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, ² he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by fishermen, who were washing their nets. ³ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.” —Luke 5:1-3

(1.) The God-centered life is centered on God’s presence

(2.) A God-centered life is centered on his voice

“ ⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ ⁵ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. Because you say so, I will let down the nets.’” —Luke 5:4-5

“ ¹⁶ All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” —2 Timothy 3:16-17

“ ¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” —Hebrews 4:16

“ ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” —Proverbs 3:5-6

(3.) A God-centered life is centered on his love

“ ⁶ When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. ⁷ So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’ ⁹ For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, the Sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid: from now on you will catch men.’” —Luke 5:6-10

“ ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any power, ³⁹ 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.” —Romans 8:38-39

(4.) A God-centered life is centered on his purpose

“ ¹¹ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” —Luke 5:11