Embrace Adventure: Live Boldly in Faith
Summary
In today's message, I wanted to challenge you to break free from the societal norms that prioritize safety and comfort over a life of faith and adventure. Many people, especially college students, are caught in a cycle of planning their lives around security, aiming for a predictable path that leads to a comfortable retirement. However, this approach often results in a mundane existence, devoid of the excitement and unpredictability that comes with living by faith.
Reflecting on my own experiences and the stories of others, like Steve Lungu, I realized that the most profound moments in life occur when we step out of our comfort zones and trust God to guide us. College is a unique time when you have the freedom to take risks and explore your faith without the constraints that come later in life. It's a time to seize opportunities and make the most of every moment, as Ephesians 5:15-16 urges us to do.
Living a life of faith means doing things that scare you, things that require you to rely on God. It's about being filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing His presence to influence every aspect of your life. This isn't a one-time event but a continuous process of being in tune with God's will, speaking His praises, and living in gratitude. When you live this way, you become a beacon of light on your campus, drawing others to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
As you navigate your college years, I encourage you to break away from the cookie-cutter life plan and embrace the adventure that God has for you. Live boldly, take risks, and let your faith be the driving force in your life. Remember, it's not about comparing yourself to others but about living out the radical call of the gospel in your own unique way.
Key Takeaways:
- Embrace a Life of Faith: College is a time to break free from societal expectations and live a life of faith and adventure. Don't settle for a predictable path; instead, seek opportunities to step out in faith and trust God to guide you. [05:15]
- Make the Most of Every Opportunity: Time is fleeting, and it's crucial to make the most of every moment. Ephesians 5:15-16 reminds us to live wisely and seize the opportunities before us, as the days are evil and time is our adversary. [21:10]
- Be Filled with the Spirit: Living a Spirit-filled life means allowing the Holy Spirit to influence every aspect of your being. This continuous process involves speaking God's praises, singing in your heart, and living in gratitude. [35:56]
- Impact Through Authenticity: True change comes from living an authentic, Spirit-filled life. Programs and events don't change people; the Holy Spirit does. When you live differently, filled with the Spirit, you become a catalyst for change in others. [48:22]
- Live Beyond Comparison: Don't measure your spiritual life against the standards of a materialistic society. Instead, strive to live out the radical call of the gospel, focusing on what God calls you to be, not how you compare to others. [58:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Fear of a Boring Life
- [01:12] - The Safety Trap
- [02:09] - Childhood Paranoia
- [03:38] - College and Comfort
- [05:00] - Desire for Adventure
- [06:13] - Freedom in College
- [07:26] - The Overlooked College Ministry
- [08:17] - Living by Faith
- [09:51] - The Call to Faith
- [11:02] - The Boring Life Trap
- [13:25] - Stepping Out in Faith
- [20:35] - Making the Most of Time
- [32:24] - Understanding God's Will
- [35:56] - Being Filled with the Spirit
- [48:22] - The Impact of a Spirit-Filled Life
- [58:05] - Living Beyond Comparison
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:15-20
- Hebrews 11:6
- 1 Corinthians 7
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 5:15-16, what does it mean to "make the most of every opportunity"? How does this relate to the idea of time being an adversary? [21:10]
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of living a life of faith that requires stepping out of one's comfort zone? [13:25]
3. How does the speaker describe the influence of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life, and what analogy is used to explain this influence? [35:56]
4. What does the speaker identify as the common life plan for many college students, and why does he challenge this approach? [05:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the speaker's story about his daughter pretending to be a statue illustrate the impact of societal norms on our perception of safety and comfort? [03:12]
2. What does Hebrews 11:6 suggest about the necessity of faith in pleasing God, and how does this align with the speaker's call to live a life of adventure and faith? [10:04]
3. In what ways does the speaker suggest that college is a unique time for spiritual growth and taking risks for God? How does this compare to other stages of life? [06:13]
4. How does the speaker's experience with JD in downtown LA exemplify the concept of living by faith and stepping out of one's comfort zone? [17:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current life plan. Are there areas where you are prioritizing safety and comfort over faith and adventure? How can you begin to shift your focus? [05:00]
2. Identify a specific opportunity in your life where you can step out in faith. What steps can you take this week to pursue this opportunity? [21:10]
3. Consider the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life. How can you be more intentional about allowing the Spirit to influence your actions and decisions? [35:56]
4. Think about a time when you felt God calling you to do something that scared you. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [13:25]
5. How can you incorporate the practice of speaking God's praises and living in gratitude into your daily routine? What specific changes can you make to ensure this becomes a habit? [40:12]
6. Reflect on the relationships you have on your campus or in your community. How can you be a beacon of light and a catalyst for change through your authentic, Spirit-filled life? [48:22]
7. In what ways can you live beyond comparison and focus on the unique call God has for your life, rather than measuring yourself against societal standards? [58:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Unpredictable Journey of Faith
Living a life of faith means stepping away from the societal norms that prioritize safety and predictability. Many people, especially college students, find themselves planning their lives around security, aiming for a comfortable retirement. However, this often leads to a mundane existence, lacking the excitement and unpredictability that comes with living by faith. Embracing a life of faith involves taking risks and trusting God to guide you through the unknown. College is a unique time when you have the freedom to explore your faith without the constraints that come later in life. It's a time to seize opportunities and make the most of every moment, as Ephesians 5:15-16 urges us to do. [05:15]
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are choosing safety over faith? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?
Day 2: Seize the Fleeting Moments
Time is a precious commodity, and it's crucial to make the most of every moment. Ephesians 5:15-16 reminds us to live wisely and seize the opportunities before us, as the days are evil and time is our adversary. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it's easy to get caught up in routines and miss the opportunities God places before us. Living wisely means being intentional with your time, seeking God's will, and making the most of every opportunity to grow in faith and serve others. [21:10]
"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one opportunity you have been overlooking in your daily life? How can you make the most of it today?
Day 3: Be Continuously Filled with the Spirit
Living a Spirit-filled life means allowing the Holy Spirit to influence every aspect of your being. This is not a one-time event but a continuous process of being in tune with God's will, speaking His praises, and living in gratitude. When you live this way, you become a beacon of light, drawing others to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. It's about being filled with the Spirit, allowing His presence to guide your actions and decisions. [35:56]
"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." (Ephesians 5:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you invite the Holy Spirit to influence your daily decisions and interactions with others today?
Day 4: Authenticity as a Catalyst for Change
True change comes from living an authentic, Spirit-filled life. Programs and events don't change people; the Holy Spirit does. When you live differently, filled with the Spirit, you become a catalyst for change in others. It's about living out your faith authentically, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you to impact those around you. Your life becomes a testimony of God's transformative power, drawing others to Him. [48:22]
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: How can you live more authentically in your faith today, allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you to impact others?
Day 5: Live Beyond Comparison
In a world that often measures success by materialistic standards, it's important to live beyond comparison. Don't measure your spiritual life against the standards of society. Instead, strive to live out the radical call of the gospel, focusing on what God calls you to be, not how you compare to others. It's about embracing your unique journey of faith and trusting God to guide you along the way. [58:05]
"For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." (Galatians 1:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you been comparing yourself to others? How can you focus on God's unique call for your life today?
Quotes
Many people today are obsessed with this whole idea of a life of safety, of being comfortable, of making sure we're set up for the rest of our lives. You know, and so a lot of you in this room, I'm guessing just because it was my mentality in college, you know, that I had to fight. [00:03:48]
Is there any desire in you to just live a life of adventure where you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow and to put yourself in a situation where you just have no clue what's going to happen tomorrow? Is there any sense in which you want to live by faith? [00:05:04]
Right now is the time when you have an opportunity to do some crazy things. Is this the freest time of your life? Is the only time when you really experience freedom because when you're in high school you can only do what your parents will allow you to do. [00:06:04]
Living by faith, you know, Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it's impossible to please God. It's impossible if you want to live a life where you don't require faith. This is what everyone's pursuing. Everyone in America right now is pursuing, I should say everyone, 99% of America. [00:10:00]
When I do something crazy in the name of Jesus, when I do something that takes some faith, that's the only time I really experience God. It's not when I'm comfortable. And so what are you doing right now that requires faith? [00:13:09]
Ephesians 5:15 says be very careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Do you see that? He goes be careful then how you live, not as unwise but as wise. [00:20:56]
The Bible says if you want to be spirit filled you have to do this. I mean can you imagine how different your life would be if every time you ran into another believer they came to you and shared what they were learning from God and their praises? [00:41:00]
Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Think about these words: always giving thanks to God the Father for everything. What if you woke up tomorrow morning and you never stopped thanking God through the whole day? [00:44:56]
Forget the programs, forget everything else. If you don't really stand out and you're not really different, there's no impact because who changes lives? Who changes lives? There's a question. Jesus. Good, good. The Holy Spirit. You know the Bible talks about how it's the Holy Spirit. [00:48:22]
Seek to be the real thing, to live this out. What time do we have right now? 11:27. Okay, well can I say one more thing and then we'll be done? Okay, you probably heard this online. She listens to me when she runs. [00:53:51]
I feel like in America we live in the most materialistic, self-centered, arrogant, ungodly place and so the moment we do anything for God we look like a saint and everyone says ooo you're so Godly, you're so spiritual. [00:58:05]
I pray that as you leave here that you really will take the words of scripture and live them out completely. Say you know what, doesn't matter that people don't give thanks at all, I want to give thanks always for everything. [00:58:05]
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