Defining Your Win: Purposeful Living in Christ
Summary
Winning is a concept that resonates deeply with all of us, whether we are naturally competitive or not. The essence of winning is not just about triumphing over others but about defining what success looks like in the various arenas of our lives. From personal experiences, I have learned that understanding what winning means to us individually is crucial. It is not enough to simply participate in the race of life; we must know what the finish line looks like for us.
Reflecting on my own journey, I realized that my reluctance to engage in activities where I might fail was not cowardice but a reflection of my personality. This realization led me to understand the importance of defining the win in every aspect of life. Whether it’s in relationships, finances, or personal growth, knowing what the win looks like helps us live with purpose and direction.
In relationships, for instance, it’s not enough to just be in love. We must ask ourselves what the win is for that relationship. Is it about mutual respect, companionship, or something else? Similarly, in our professional lives, we must define what success looks like to avoid running aimlessly. Without a clear understanding of the win, we risk adopting someone else’s goals and living a life that doesn’t truly fulfill us.
The Apostle Paul provides a profound example of defining the win. His life was transformed by a clear understanding of his purpose: to win people to Christ. This clarity gave him the focus and discipline to live a life of impact. Like Paul, we must identify our wins and live with the urgency and discipline of an athlete in training. This means saying no to certain things to say yes to what truly matters.
Ultimately, defining the win in our lives is not just about personal success. It’s about living in a way that reflects our values and impacts those around us positively. As followers of Christ, our ultimate win is to live in a way that reflects God’s love and grace to the world. This kind of intentional living not only changes us but has the power to change the world.
Key Takeaways:
- Defining the win in life is crucial for living with purpose and direction. Without a clear understanding of what success looks like, we risk adopting someone else’s goals and living a life that doesn’t fulfill us. [06:44]
- In relationships, knowing the win helps us build meaningful connections. It’s not enough to just be in love; we must define what success looks like in our relationships to ensure they are fulfilling and lasting. [07:48]
- The Apostle Paul’s life demonstrates the power of a clear win. His focus on winning people to Christ gave him the discipline and urgency to live a life of impact. We too must identify our wins and live with similar focus. [22:30]
- Living with purpose requires discipline and sacrifice. Like an athlete in training, we must be willing to say no to certain things to say yes to what truly matters. This discipline helps us achieve our goals and live a life of impact. [29:03]
- As followers of Christ, our ultimate win is to live in a way that reflects God’s love and grace. This intentional living not only changes us but has the power to change the world. [39:56]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Winning
[00:31] - Personal Story: Eighth Grade Basketball
[01:20] - Discovering the Enneagram
[01:44] - Golf and Self-Perception
[03:16] - Realization and Acceptance
[05:09] - Different Perspectives on Winning
[06:10] - The Life-Changing Question
[07:35] - Identifying the Win
[10:26] - The Importance of Defining Success
[12:32] - Marriage: Defining the Win
[16:44] - Parenting: Setting Goals
[19:04] - Paul's Win Statement
[22:30] - Paul's Approach to Winning
[26:24] - Living with Urgency and Focus
[31:14] - Competing for an Eternal Crown
[34:22] - Preparing to Win in Life
[37:59] - The Christian Perspective on Winning
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
2. John 13:34-35
3. Ecclesiastes 1:14
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Observation Questions:
1. In 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, what does Paul mean when he says he has made himself "a slave to everyone"? How does this relate to his goal of winning people to Christ? [22:54]
2. How does the sermon describe the difference between winning in a race and winning in life? What are some challenges mentioned in identifying the "win" in life? [27:42]
3. What is the significance of the "crown that will last forever" mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:25, and how does it contrast with the temporary crown of laurel leaves? [31:14]
4. How does the pastor use his personal story about golf to illustrate the concept of defining a win in life? [03:41]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Paul's approach to becoming "all things to all people" reflect the commandment Jesus gave in John 13:34-35? What does this suggest about the nature of love and influence in Christian life? [24:25]
2. The sermon mentions that without defining a win, life can feel like "chasing the wind" as described in Ecclesiastes. What does this metaphor suggest about the importance of having clear goals? [06:32]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that defining a win in relationships, finances, or personal growth can lead to a more purposeful life? How does this align with Paul's disciplined approach in 1 Corinthians 9:27? [32:11]
4. How does the pastor's story about his marriage illustrate the importance of having a shared vision or "win" in relationships? What can this teach us about setting goals in our personal lives? [12:32]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal life. What is one area where you feel like you're "chasing the wind"? How can you begin to define a clear win in that area this week? [06:32]
2. Consider your relationships. What does a "win" look like for you in your closest relationship? How can you work towards that win in practical ways this month? [07:48]
3. In your professional life, have you clearly defined what success looks like for you? If not, what steps can you take to identify and pursue your professional win? [08:19]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of discipline and sacrifice, similar to an athlete in training. What is one habit or activity you need to say "no" to in order to focus on what truly matters? [29:03]
5. As a follower of Christ, how can you live in a way that reflects God's love and grace more intentionally? Identify one specific action you can take this week to demonstrate this in your community. [39:56]
6. Think about your family or parenting goals. What is one specific win you want to achieve with your family, and what changes can you make to work towards that goal? [16:44]
7. Reflect on the concept of living with urgency and focus. What is one area of your life where you need to increase your urgency to achieve a meaningful win? How will you start this process? [28:42]
Devotional
Day 1: Defining Personal Success
Understanding what winning means to you personally is essential for living a life of purpose and direction. Without a clear definition of success, you risk adopting someone else's goals and living a life that doesn't truly fulfill you. Reflect on your own journey and consider what the finish line looks like in various aspects of your life. This clarity will help you navigate your path with intention and avoid the aimlessness that comes from pursuing undefined goals. [06:44]
"For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?" (Luke 14:28, ESV)
Reflection: What does success look like for you in one specific area of your life, and how can you take a step today to move towards that vision?
Day 2: Building Meaningful Relationships
In relationships, knowing what the win looks like helps build meaningful and lasting connections. It's not enough to just be in love; you must define what success looks like in your relationships to ensure they are fulfilling. Consider what mutual respect, companionship, or other values mean to you and how they shape your interactions with others. This intentional approach to relationships can lead to deeper and more satisfying connections. [07:48]
"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one relationship in your life where you can clarify what success looks like. What steps can you take today to align your actions with this vision?
Day 3: Living with Focus and Discipline
The Apostle Paul's life demonstrates the power of having a clear win. His focus on winning people to Christ gave him the discipline and urgency to live a life of impact. Like Paul, identifying your wins can help you live with similar focus and discipline. This means being willing to say no to certain things to say yes to what truly matters. Embrace the discipline of an athlete in training, and let it guide you towards achieving your goals. [22:30]
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to exercise more discipline? How can you start practicing this discipline today to achieve your goals?
Day 4: Embracing Sacrifice for Purpose
Living with purpose requires discipline and sacrifice. Like an athlete in training, you must be willing to say no to certain things to say yes to what truly matters. This discipline helps you achieve your goals and live a life of impact. Consider what sacrifices you need to make to align your life with your values and purpose. Embrace these sacrifices as a necessary part of your journey towards meaningful success. [29:03]
"Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21, ESV)
Reflection: What is one thing you need to say no to in order to say yes to what truly matters in your life? How can you make this change today?
Day 5: Reflecting God's Love and Grace
As followers of Christ, your ultimate win is to live in a way that reflects God's love and grace. This intentional living not only changes you but has the power to change the world. Consider how your actions and choices can reflect God's love to those around you. Embrace the opportunity to live a life that impacts others positively and aligns with your faith. [39:56]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect God's love and grace in your interactions today? What specific action can you take to demonstrate this love to someone in your life?
Quotes
"I want to talk about winning because winning is better than not winning. Winning is better, thank you, than not winning. And I know this for a fact because I have been a not winner, okay? Being a not winner started for me in the eighth grade when I tried out for eighth grade basketball, at Tucker High School, and I got cut at the last night, but there were so many, I think the whole, everybody in the eighth grade went out for eighth grade basketball, boys basketball." [00:00:22]
"This is a question that most people never ask. Consequently, it's a question that most people never answer. And if you don't answer it, if you don't answer it, in some arena of your life, maybe not your whole life but in some arena of life, life'll begin to feel like a race that you feel the pressure to finish but you're not sure where the course is and the course doesn't seem to be laid out very well and everybody else seems to be running with purpose and you're just running but you don't know how to run with purpose because you're just not sure where the race ends but you feel the pressure to finish it." [00:06:44]
"If you don't define the win for yourself, you'll end up adopting somebody else's. You will date like everybody else dates. You will spend your money like everybody else spends their money. You will spend your time like everybody else spends their time. You will parent either like you were parented or in reaction to how you were parented or you'll simply take your parenting cues from everybody else around you. You'll work like everybody else. You will settle for what my friend Adam Johnson calls not goals." [00:09:11]
"Have you ever given any thought to what you want those words to be? Wouldn't that be a win to decide ahead of time and to order your life and to order your conduct and to order your character in such a way that you define the win for who you are and who people perceive you to be?" [00:12:06]
"Our win, we decided was to always want to be where the other person is. I know, isn't that great? Yeah, we just decided, you know what, I mean, this isn't complicated. We didn't have a verse or a scripture or something from Psalms, nothing embroidered. It was just, hey, you know what, if at every season of our life, I want to be where you are and you want to be where I am, I, that's a win." [00:14:35]
"We wanted children who want to be with one another and with us when they no longer have to be. We wanted our kids when they were older to want to be with each other and with us when they were old enough that they didn't have to be. And we parented toward this north star. And I'm telling you, once you decide what the win is, whatever the win is, you will change your parenting style and you will change the way you discipline and the way you talk when you realize what are we trying to get to." [00:17:33]
"Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. So Paul, what's your win? He would say, My win is to win people. I want to convince Jewish people that Jesus is their Messiah and I want to convince Gentile people that God has done something in the world on their behalf and through the person of Jesus." [00:22:55]
"Live your life with the same urgency, with the same focus, with the same order that you would bring to a race or a competition to where there was a clock, where there were fans, where you knew who the competition was and you knew how you were doing against the competition. Live in such a way that you win. Pay the price you have to pay to make sure you're prepared to win, right?" [00:28:42]
"Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. Why? Because they want to win. Everybody who wants to win knows there's a sacrifice. Everybody who wants to win knows there has to be focus. Everybody who wants to win knows you have to say no to some things in order to say yes to prepare yourself to win." [00:29:27]
"You don't win by wishing. You don't win by hoping. You don't even win by just praying. You win by preparing to win. You win by preparing to win. You win by saying no to you so that you can win. But you'll never say no to you with the urgency you must say no to you until you have identified the win." [00:34:06]
"When you win, when you win in the arenas of life that matter most, you're not the only person that wins. The people closest to you win as well and when you lose, they lose as well." [00:37:42]
"Let your life, let your light shine in such a way that people would catch a glimpse of your Father in heaven, because at the end of the day, that's a win. At the end of the day, that kind of Christian living changed the world once." [00:39:56]
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