Embracing Goodness: Living a Life of Significance

 

Summary

Reflecting on the essence of our lives, we are reminded of the importance of how we wish to be remembered, not just at the end of our lives, but at the end of each day. The Apostle Peter provides a profound yet simple description of Jesus: "He went around doing good." This simplicity is a powerful reminder that we are made to count, and our purpose is fulfilled through acts of goodness. Dallas Willard, in "The Divine Conspiracy," emphasizes that the ordinary is a vessel for the divine, and God is not pushy. This means that God respects our will and does not force His way into our lives.

The ordinary, when separated from its Creator, loses its significance. We are not meant to be just another face in the crowd; we are created to be extraordinary, to make unique contributions. This drive for significance is not egotism but a reflection of the creative impulse of God. Egotism, on the other hand, is a self-obsession born from anxiety about our worth. It can only be healed by experiencing adequate love.

Our hunger for significance is a signal of our purpose and is the basis of humanity's response to Jesus, who values each individual deeply. Embracing this drive for significance means focusing outwardly on the good to be done. Even in pain, there is an opportunity for good to flow from it. We are encouraged to do good for one person today, regardless of our circumstances or perceived inadequacies.

By the end of the day, let it be said of us that we went around doing good. Ask God to guide you in noticing opportunities to pray, encourage, or help others. You are made to count, and your actions can reflect that divine purpose.

Key Takeaways:

- The Simplicity of Doing Good: Jesus' life is encapsulated in the simple act of going around doing good. This simplicity is accessible to all of us, regardless of our background or circumstances. We are called to fulfill our purpose by engaging in acts of goodness each day. [01:30]

- The Divine in the Ordinary: The ordinary aspects of life are meant to be vessels for the divine. God is not pushy; He respects our will and invites us to participate in His work. Recognizing the divine in the mundane can transform our daily experiences. [02:13]

- Significance vs. Egotism: Our drive for significance is a reflection of God's creative impulse, not egotism. Egotism is a self-obsession that stems from anxiety about our worth, while the drive for significance is outwardly focused on doing good. [06:18]

- Pain as a Conduit for Good: Even in the midst of pain, there is potential for good to emerge. Our experiences, no matter how difficult, can be opportunities for growth and service to others. Embrace the good that can flow from your pain. [09:05]

- Everyday Acts of Kindness: We are encouraged to do good for one person today, regardless of our circumstances. Simple acts of kindness, prompted by God, can have a profound impact on others and fulfill our purpose of counting in this world. [10:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:33] - Reflecting on Life's End
- [00:55] - Describing Jesus' Life
- [01:18] - The Simplicity of Doing Good
- [01:45] - The Divine in the Ordinary
- [02:13] - God is Not Pushy
- [03:17] - The Ordinary Without God
- [04:05] - Created to Be Extraordinary
- [05:06] - Egotism vs. Significance
- [06:18] - Outward Focus on Good
- [07:35] - Recognizing Egotism
- [08:38] - Conversations and Goodness
- [09:05] - Pain as a Conduit for Good
- [10:08] - Everyday Acts of Kindness
- [10:48] - Made to Count

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 10:38: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."

Observation Questions:
1. How does the Apostle Peter describe Jesus' life in Acts 10:38, and why is this description significant? [01:18]
2. What does Dallas Willard mean by saying "the ordinary is made to be a receptacle of the divine"? [01:45]
3. How does the sermon differentiate between egotism and the drive for significance? [06:18]
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the concept of "pain as a conduit for good"? [09:05]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why might the simplicity of Jesus' actions, as described in Acts 10:38, be a powerful model for believers today? [01:30]
2. How can recognizing the divine in the ordinary transform our daily experiences, according to the sermon? [02:13]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our drive for significance aligns with God's creative impulse? [06:18]
4. How does the sermon propose that pain can lead to opportunities for doing good? [09:05]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. How can you incorporate the simplicity of "doing good" as Jesus did? What is one specific action you can take today? [01:30]
2. Think about a mundane task you do regularly. How can you invite God into that task to make it a vessel for the divine? [01:45]
3. Identify a situation where you might be acting out of egotism. How can you shift your focus outward to align with God's purpose for significance? [06:18]
4. Consider a painful experience you are currently facing. What is one way you can allow good to flow from that pain, as suggested in the sermon? [09:05]
5. Who is one person you can do good for today, regardless of your circumstances? How will you act on this opportunity? [10:08]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt insignificant. How can you remind yourself of your unique purpose and contribution in God's plan? [04:05]
7. How can you be more attentive to God's promptings to pray, encourage, or help others in your daily life? What steps will you take to be more open to these opportunities? [10:33]

Devotional

Day 1: The Simplicity of Doing Good
In a world often filled with complexity and chaos, the life of Jesus offers a profound yet simple model: "He went around doing good." This simplicity is not only accessible but also transformative. It calls us to engage in acts of goodness each day, regardless of our circumstances or background. By focusing on the good we can do, we align ourselves with a divine purpose that transcends the ordinary. This approach to life is not about grand gestures but about the small, everyday acts of kindness that can have a profound impact on those around us. [01:30]

Acts 10:38 (ESV): "How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him."

Reflection: Who is one person you can do something good for today, and what specific action will you take to make it happen?


Day 2: The Divine in the Ordinary
The ordinary aspects of life are often overlooked, yet they are meant to be vessels for the divine. God respects our will and invites us to participate in His work, transforming our daily experiences. Recognizing the divine in the mundane can change how we perceive our lives and the world around us. It encourages us to see every moment as an opportunity to engage with God's presence and purpose. This perspective invites us to live with intention, seeing the sacred in the everyday. [02:13]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: What is one ordinary task you do daily that you can transform into an act of worship by recognizing God's presence in it?


Day 3: Significance vs. Egotism
Our drive for significance is a reflection of God's creative impulse within us, not a manifestation of egotism. While egotism is a self-obsession born from anxiety about our worth, the true drive for significance is outwardly focused on doing good. This distinction is crucial for understanding our purpose and aligning our actions with God's will. By focusing on the good we can do for others, we fulfill our divine purpose and find true significance in our lives. [06:18]

Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

Reflection: In what ways can you shift your focus from self-centered concerns to serving others, and how might this change your sense of significance?


Day 4: Pain as a Conduit for Good
Even in the midst of pain, there is potential for good to emerge. Our experiences, no matter how difficult, can be opportunities for growth and service to others. Embracing the good that can flow from our pain allows us to transform our suffering into a source of strength and compassion. This perspective encourages us to see our challenges as opportunities to reflect God's love and grace to those around us, turning our pain into a conduit for good. [09:05]

2 Corinthians 1:4 (ESV): "Who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reflection: Think of a painful experience you have gone through. How can you use what you learned from that experience to help someone else who is currently facing a similar challenge?


Day 5: Everyday Acts of Kindness
We are encouraged to do good for one person today, regardless of our circumstances. Simple acts of kindness, prompted by God, can have a profound impact on others and fulfill our purpose of counting in this world. These acts do not need to be grand or elaborate; they simply need to be genuine and heartfelt. By focusing on the needs of others and responding with kindness, we reflect God's love and make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us. [10:08]

Hebrews 13:16 (ESV): "Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."

Reflection: Identify one small act of kindness you can perform today. How can you make it a regular part of your daily routine to impact others positively?

Quotes


when you get to the end of your life and you will get to the end of your life how would you like somebody to look back and describe it or let's make it a simpler question when you get to the end of this day and you will get to the end of this day how would you like to have people to describe what you did with this day [00:00:28]

jesus of nazareth was filled by god with power and the holy spirit and he went around doing good because god was with him and i love the simplicity of that description he just went around doing it you can do that you could do that today we're looking at the reality that we were made to count and it is as simple as this really that is something that we fulfill as we go around doing good [00:01:15]

the obviously well-kept secret of the ordinary is that is made to be a receptacle of the divine a place where the life of god flows but the divine is not pushy now let's pause there for a moment maybe the whole need that you have at these moments to hear these words is just that phrase right there the divine that is god is not pushy [00:02:11]

considered apart from its creator which was never intended the ordinary truly is so ordinary and commonplace it's of little interest or value no atom by itself radiates solar power in its own right everything is always just another one of those to be ordinary is to be only more of the same and that's part of why reality apart from god loses the significance and the story and the glory for which it was intended [00:03:17]

the human being screams against this from its every pore to be just another one of those is deadening agony for us indeed it actually drives some people to their death it was never god's intention for anyone no one was created by god to be just another one of those this is why everyone from the smallest child to the oldest adult naturally wants in some way to be extraordinary outstanding making a unique contribution [00:03:51]

egotism is a pathological self-obsession a reaction to anxiety about whether one really does count it is a form of acute self-consciousness the egotistical person cannot stop thinking about herself himself and can be prevented and healed only by the experience of being adequately loved it is indeed a desperate response to frustration of the need we all have to count for something and be held to be irreplaceable without price [00:05:23]

unlike egotism the drive to significance is a simple extension of the creative impulse of god that gave us being it is not filtered through self-consciousness any more than is our lunge to catch a package falling from someone's hand it is outwardly directed to the good to be done it is outwardly directed to the good to be done we were built to count as water is made to run downhill [00:06:15]

our hunger for significance is a signal of who we are and why we are here it is also the basis of humanity's enduring response to jesus for he always takes the individual human being as seriously as their shredded dignity demands and he has the resources to carry through with his high estimate of them so today embrace the drive for significance that is in you [00:06:54]

and now in this season even though there is pain in my life there is also good that can flow out of that pain that would not be there if it were not for that pain what is good that you can do today don't worry about the scale of it do good to one person i was talking to a good friend last week and he's been going through a very difficult season [00:09:08]

i hope this doesn't sound strange but i just had this prompting i think it was god to come over and pray for you would that be okay my friend was like are you kidding me my friend doesn't said he doesn't often have experiences where it feels like god is just sending him a message of care but this was one that's one person doing good for one person jesus went around doing good you can do that today [00:09:50]

by the end of this day people might say about you she went around he went around doing good now ask god just like this guy did god would you prompt me would you help me notice if there is somebody that i could pray for if there's somebody that i could encourage if there is an errand that i can run if there is a note that i can write if there is a call that i can make if there is a gift that i can give you are made to count [00:10:22]

thanks for joining us here at becomenew.me if you'd like to receive the daily emails that go along with each video let us know at becomenew.me gmail.com or if you want prayer you can text us at 855-888-0444 [00:10:56]

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Transcript
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