The Cost of God's Presence | Bobby Schuller | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Cost of God's Presence

Shepherd's Grove • May 23, 2026 • 37 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this message, Pastor Bobby Schuller calls believers to pursue the manifest presence of God at all costs, emphasizing that true discipleship requires daily sacrifice and self-surrender. Warning against modern church tendencies to substitute entertainment or worldly tactics for true spiritual power, he reminds us that worship must be centered on God rather than self-indulgence. Drawing from the lives of Moses and King David, the sermon encourages us to humble ourselves and offer God costly devotion, recognizing that drawing near to His presence transforms our lives completely.

Themes

God's PresenceCost of DiscipleshipSacrifice in WorshipHumility vs. IdolatrySpiritual TransformationHoliness and Mercy

Key Points

1.
The central goal of the church must never be finding clever substitutes to fill seats, but asking how to bring the manifest presence of God into the house.
2.
True worship requires cost and sacrifice; as King David declared, we must refuse to offer God sacrifices that cost us nothing.
3.
In Exodus 32, Aaron crafted a golden calf and mistakenly called the idolatrous revelry a 'festival to Yahweh,' serving as a grave warning against slapping God's name on worldliness and self-indulgence.
4.
When Moses prayed to see God's glory, God revealed Himself as both compassionate and gracious, abounding in faithful love, yet remaining holy and just against unrepentant sin.
5.
Encountering the presence of the Lord transforms a believer deeply, radiating spiritual light and life that human education or good works can never replicate.
6.
The cost of non-discipleship—a lukewarm walk devoid of spiritual revelation, miracles, and intimacy with God—is far too high a price to pay compared to daily self-denial.
7.
Stepping deeper into the presence of God requires surrendering worldly security, pride, and personal attachments that compete for complete devotion to Christ.
8.
God entrusts His power and spiritual authority to humble worshipers who depend entirely on Him, rather than the proud and self-reliant.

Sermon Moments

“What you win them with, you win them to. If you win them with entertainment, you win them to entertainment; if you win them with sacrifice, you win them to the kingdom.”

“Leonard Ravenhill said, 'Entertainment is a substitute for Christian joy.' The more Christian joy you have in your life, the more boring entertainment seems.”

“I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

“I'd rather die in the desert being in the presence of the Lord than to leave your face.”

“The cost of non-discipleship is too much for me to bear.”

“The deeper you go into God's presence, the less you can take with you.”

“God cannot trust His power and authority to the proud and arrogant, but He anoints humble worshipers.”

This Week

Commit to seeking God’s presence above all else, rather than focusing on personal comfort or church entertainment.

Daily practice surrendering your self-will to God, praying 'not my will, but Yours be done.'

Evaluate the sacrifices you bring to God in worship and giving, ensuring you do not offer Him what costs you nothing.

Guard against subtle idolatry by examining whether you are seeking God Himself or merely man-made comfort and worldliness with God's name attached to it.

Spend uninterrupted time in prayer and reading Scripture to behold God’s holiness, mercy, and grace.

Search your heart and identify any worldly attachments, pride, or safety nets you must leave behind to draw closer to the Lord.

Live courageously and boldly for Christ throughout your week, not being afraid to stand out or 'get cringey for God' when sharing your faith.

Remember This

Pursuing the real presence of God requires daily self-denial and costly sacrifice, but the cost of a lukewarm, non-discipleship life is far too high to bear.

A Challenge for You

The deeper you go into God's presence, the less you can take with you. Search your heart, let go of what holds you back, and choose to draw near to the Lord at all costs.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.