Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

Our Extraordinary God
by Tom Goodman
February 8, 2012

Several years ago in Britain researchers went door to door asking people about their belief in God. They would ask, "Do you believe in a God who intervenes in human history, who changes the course of affairs, and who performs miracles?"

The title of their published study came from the response of one man whose reply was typical of many answers they received: "No, I don't believe in that God, I just believe in the ordinary God."

When we believe only in an ordinary God, oh, what peace we often forfeit, and oh, what needless pain we bear.

In Psalm 40, the sacred poet celebrates an extraordinary God -- a God who can deliver us from impossible situations. This God, wrote David, "lifted me out of the slimy pit" and "gave me a firm place to stand" and "put a new song in my mouth."

How do you come to believe in a God like that?

Here's what you need to do. I learned this from someone who is in a 12-step recovery group where they remind each other, "We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

In those words -- "We came to believe" -- you'll find everything you need to know about starting a relationship with the extraordinary God.

First, "We came." Show up. Attend a church service, read a book about faith that a friend loans you. Join a Bible study. It's helpful to see how faith in God is lived out by people you know. So, come.

Second, "we came to" -- that is, we woke up to spiritual reality. Most of us would describe our conversion like that: As if coming out of a daze, we woke up to the fact that life didn't have to be lived the way we were living it.

And then, third, "we came to believe" -- that is, you decide that this God-talk makes sense, and you accept it.

This Sunday, we'll look closely at Psalm 40 and come -- or come again -- to believe in the extraordinary God who can deliver us out of impossible situations.

It's part of our new sermon series in February and March called "Growing Pains of the Soul." Join us @ 10 a.m. for an hour of worship and study!

--Tom

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Our Extraordinary God by Tom Goodman February 8, 2012 Several years ago in Britain researchers went door to door asking people about their belief in God. They would ask, "Do you believe in a God who intervenes in human history, who changes the course of affairs, and who performs miracles?" The title of their published study came from the response of one man whose reply was typical of many answers they received: "No, I don't believe in that God, I just believe in the ordinary God." When we believe only in an ordinary God, oh, what peace we often forfeit, and oh, what needless pain we bear. In Psalm 40, the sacred poet celebrates an extraordinary God -- a God who can deliver us from impossible situations. This God, wrote David, "lifted me out of the slimy pit" and "gave me a firm place to stand" and "put a new song in my mouth." How do you come to believe in a God like that? Here's what you need to do. I learned this from someone who is in a 12-step recovery group where they remind each other, "We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." In those words -- "We came to believe" -- you'll find everything you need to know about starting a relationship with the extraordinary God. First, "We came." Show up. Attend a church service, read a book about faith that a friend loans you. Join a Bible study. It's helpful to see how faith in God is lived out by people you know. So, come. Second, "we came to" -- that is, we woke up to spiritual reality. Most of us would describe our conversion like that: As if coming out of a daze, we woke up to the fact that life didn't have to be lived the way we were living it. And then, third, "we came to believe" -- that is, you decide that this God-talk makes sense, and you accept it. This Sunday, we'll look closely at Psalm 40 and come -- or come again -- to believe in the extraordinary God who can deliver us out of impossible situations. It's part of our new sermon series in February and March called "Growing Pains of the Soul." Join us @ 10 a.m. for an hour of worship and study! --Tom Beacon Articles Available Online: The staff newsletters that appear each week in the Beacon are also available on our website. You can find them here. Check out my weblog here. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.