Embracing Purpose: Living for God's Kingdom
Summary
The sermon emphasizes the importance of setting one's mind on things above, as stated in Colossians chapter three, and living a life that glorifies God. The speaker reflects on the purpose of the past, including personal accomplishments and ego, as a means to serve God's divine purpose. The congregation is encouraged to focus on the kingdom of heaven rather than earthly achievements, with references to Matthew 6:33 and Mark 8:34-36, which stress the value of spiritual dedication over worldly gains.
The speaker shares personal stories, including being called "Sir Joe" and the growth in their preaching and teaching abilities, to illustrate the transformative work of God in their life. They also discuss the importance of handling life's pressures and frustrations well, contrasting the attitudes towards suffering between Christians in America and other parts of the world. The sermon calls for a full knowledge of Christ, embracing both the cross and the crown.
The importance of being part of the kingdom of God, rather than just a church community, is highlighted, with a focus on spiritual growth and maturity. The speaker compares this to acquiring a taste for coffee or broccoli, suggesting that Christians should mature in their servanthood. They also discuss the transformation that occurs when one has a true connection with Jesus, leading to a reevaluation of values and priorities.
The speaker shares anecdotes about a former student seeking guidance, a young photographer aspiring to take his job, and a small act of irresponsibility with a flower petal, to illustrate the importance of recognizing the purpose behind one's position and experiences. They emphasize that everything in life, including losses and promotions, has a purpose in God's plan.
The sermon concludes with the idea that all experiences, including tragedies, serve a purpose in God's plan and can become a testimony. The speaker challenges the congregation to reflect on what they would be willing to give up for the sake of knowing Jesus and to recognize the significance of their life experiences in forming connections with others for the kingdom of God.
Key Takeaways:
- The past, with all its achievements and ego, serves a divine purpose in God's plan. Personal stories and biblical references, such as Paul's transformation, illustrate that our previous experiences and accomplishments are meant to be used for glorifying God and serving His kingdom. [31:08]
- True spiritual dedication involves prioritizing the kingdom of heaven over earthly gains. The sermon underscores the futility of worldly achievements when compared to the eternal value of serving God's purpose, as taught by Jesus in Mark 8:34-36. [37:11]
- Suffering and challenges are to be embraced as part of knowing Christ fully. The sermon contrasts the different attitudes towards suffering among Christians globally and calls for a deeper understanding and acceptance of both the joys and hardships of following Christ. [57:51]
- Spiritual growth and maturity are likened to developing a taste for certain foods. As believers mature in their faith, they should increasingly embody servanthood and conformity to God's will, as exemplified by John the Baptist's understanding of his role in becoming less so that Christ could become greater. [48:19]
- Every aspect of life, including tragedies and promotions, has a purpose in the kingdom of God. The speaker encourages the congregation to discern true promotion from mere appearances and to understand that their experiences are shaped to make divine connections with others. [35:10]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Colossians 3:1-4: "Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
2. Matthew 6:33: "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. Mark 8:34-36: "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Colossians 3:1-4 instruct believers to focus on, and why is this important?
2. According to Matthew 6:33, what should be the primary focus of a believer's life, and what is promised as a result?
3. In Mark 8:34-36, what does Jesus say is required to be his disciple, and what is the consequence of trying to save one's life?
4. How did the speaker illustrate the concept of past experiences serving a divine purpose through personal stories? ([21:37])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does setting your mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-4) change the way you view your daily life and priorities?
2. What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness in practical terms? How might this look different from seeking earthly achievements? ([35:52])
3. How can the concept of taking up one's cross and following Jesus (Mark 8:34-36) be applied to modern-day challenges and sufferings? ([56:57])
4. How does the speaker's story about the former student seeking guidance illustrate the idea that our past experiences have a purpose in God's plan? ([21:37])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your past achievements and experiences. How can you use them to serve God's kingdom rather than your own ego? ([31:27])
2. What are some practical ways you can prioritize the kingdom of heaven over earthly gains in your daily life? ([35:52])
3. Think of a recent challenge or suffering you have faced. How can you embrace it as part of knowing Christ fully and growing in your faith? ([56:57])
4. The speaker mentioned the importance of spiritual growth and maturity, likening it to developing a taste for certain foods. What steps can you take to mature in your faith and servanthood? ([47:37])
5. How can you discern the true purpose behind your current position or experiences, and how can you use them to make divine connections with others? ([24:52])
6. The speaker shared a story about a small act of irresponsibility with a flower petal. What small acts of responsibility can you take in your daily life to reflect your commitment to God's kingdom? ([51:08])
7. Reflect on the idea that every aspect of life, including tragedies, has a purpose in God's plan. How can you turn a recent or past tragedy into a testimony that glorifies God? ([37:52])
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Purpose in Our Past
Our past experiences, including achievements and failures, are not mere happenstances but integral parts of God's divine narrative for our lives. They shape us and equip us to serve His kingdom with unique insight and empathy. Understanding this can transform our perspective on our history and its role in our spiritual journey. [31:08]
Ephesians 2:10 - "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Reflection: How can you view your past experiences as part of God's plan to equip you for service in His kingdom?
Day 2: Prioritizing the Eternal Kingdom
The pursuit of earthly achievements pales in comparison to the pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. True spiritual dedication calls for a reorientation of our priorities, where the eternal outweighs the temporal, and our daily choices reflect this kingdom-first mindset. [37:11]
Matthew 19:29 - "And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life."
Reflection: What worldly pursuits might you need to deprioritize to seek the kingdom of God more earnestly?
Day 3: Embracing Suffering in Christ
Suffering and challenges are not to be shunned but embraced as part of the Christian journey. They offer a means to know Christ more fully and to share in His sufferings, which leads to a deeper communion with Him and a more profound understanding of His grace. [57:51]
1 Peter 4:13 - "But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed."
Reflection: In what ways can your current struggles help you to better understand and share in Christ's sufferings?
Day 4: Maturing in Spiritual Servanthood
Spiritual growth is an ongoing process, akin to developing a taste for the things of God. As we mature, our servanthood should become more pronounced, reflecting a life that is increasingly aligned with God's will and less concerned with self-promotion. [48:19]
John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."
Reflection: What are some practical steps you can take to grow in humility and servanthood this week?
Day 5: Purpose in Every Experience
Every life event, from the mundane to the monumental, is woven into the fabric of God's sovereign plan. Recognizing the purpose behind our position and experiences helps us to see how God can use them to forge divine connections and advance His kingdom. [35:10]
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Reflection: Can you identify an experience in your life that seemed insignificant at the time but later revealed itself to be part of God's purpose for you?
Quotes
"We often seek to become the things that the world values, but we forget that everything that we become should be for kingdom work. That all of our efforts and ambitions should be in desire to do what God wants us to do for eternal mission." [27:59] (Download)
"Who we are matters, but how we use who we are matters more. It's not because they were a boss, a whole bunch of people are bosses, but it's how they used being a boss." [28:49] (Download)
"But if we start looking to the Holy Spirit to show this to us, we might start seeing some purpose behind some of the stuff that we're in, some of the things that we do, some of the positions that we have, some of the places that we are." [32:10] (Download)
"God has given us a past for a purpose. I hope the Holy Spirit's running your Rolodex right now back through some of the stuff that you've gone through and be like, why in the world? There's a purpose for it." [33:21] (Download)
"Just because something looks like a promotion, doesn't mean it's promotion. Just because it's gonna look like it's greater, doesn't mean it's God's will for us." [35:10] (Download)
"Our lives have a cause for the kingdom. And I wonder if you've ever stopped to consider that your life, your situations, your circumstances have been shaped to make divine connections with others." [25:40] (Download)
"Don't waste these moments. All of it is a cause for connection. Everything you've been through, everything you're going through, everything you're going to go through is a cause for connection." [01:00:51] (Download)
"May God give us grace for the journey as he's called us in every facet of our life to be a connection for his kingdom so that men and women can see his good works and glorify our father in heaven." [01:01:30] (Download)
"When you experience a connection with the savior, values change, priorities shift, and your mission is reevaluated." [44:29] (Download)
"Servanthood is an acquired taste for many. Spirituality or spiritual maturity is not always the order of the day for Christians." [47:37] (Download)
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