Embracing Time: The Urgency of Faith and Service
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, I want to emphasize the importance of time and how we use it in our walk with God. Time is a precious gift from God, and we are not promised another minute. Reflecting on the past week, we realize how quickly time flies and how unpredictable life can be. This unpredictability underscores the urgency of getting serious about our relationship with God. We must not waste another day chasing things that don't matter. Instead, we should focus on what truly matters: our salvation and our walk with God.
We began by discussing the significance of salvation. If you are not saved, heaven will not be your home. Salvation is not just a concept; it is a reality that determines our eternal destiny. When you give your life to Jesus in faith, you receive undeserved grace, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. This is a gift that we should not take lightly. I shared the Romans Road to salvation, a series of five verses from the book of Romans that clearly outline the path to salvation. These verses help us understand that we are all sinners, the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Next, we talked about the importance of getting serious about our faith. Romans 13:11-12 tells us that the hour has come for us to wake from sleep because salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. We must cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. This means moving away from sinful behaviors and growing closer to God. I shared a personal story about how a sports injury in high school served as a wake-up call for me to get serious about my faith. Sometimes, God uses difficult circumstances to draw us closer to Him.
We also discussed the importance of serving others. Jesus set the ultimate example of service by coming not to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. When we serve others, we reflect the love of Jesus and draw people to Him. Each of us has received gifts from God, and we are called to use these gifts to serve one another as good stewards of God's grace. Serving others is not just an act of kindness; it is a way to fulfill God's plan for humanity and draw lost people to salvation.
Finally, we reflected on the passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, which reminds us that there is a time for everything under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die, and what we do with the time in between is crucial. This passage encourages us to use our time wisely and to focus on what truly matters: our relationship with God and our service to others.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Urgency of Salvation: Time is fleeting, and we are not promised another minute. The most important decision you can make is to accept Jesus as your Savior. Salvation is a gift that brings forgiveness, eternal life, and a relationship with God. Don't wait another day to get saved. [05:38]
2. The Romans Road to Salvation: Understanding the path to salvation is crucial. The Romans Road outlines that we are all sinners, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. These verses provide a clear guide to lead someone to Christ. [09:34]
3. Getting Serious About Your Faith: Romans 13:11-12 calls us to wake up and get serious about our faith. We must cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. This means moving away from sinful behaviors and growing closer to God. [14:20]
4. The Importance of Serving Others: Jesus came to serve, not to be served. When we serve others, we reflect the love of Jesus and draw people to Him. Each of us has received gifts from God, and we are called to use these gifts to serve one another as good stewards of God's grace. [20:39]
5. The Value of Time: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that there is a time for everything under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die, and what we do with the time in between is crucial. Use your time wisely to focus on your relationship with God and your service to others. [03:00]
### Youtube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [00:42] - The Gift of Time
3. [05:38] - The Urgency of Salvation
4. [08:22] - The Romans Road to Salvation
5. [14:20] - Getting Serious About Your Faith
6. [20:39] - The Importance of Serving Others
7. [03:00] - The Value of Time
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace."
2. Romans 13:11-12: "Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light."
3. 1 Peter 4:10: "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 say about the nature of time and its different seasons?
2. According to Romans 13:11-12, what are believers called to do as the day of salvation approaches?
3. How does 1 Peter 4:10 describe the use of spiritual gifts among believers?
4. In the sermon, what personal story did the pastor share to illustrate the importance of getting serious about faith? ([15:29])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might the different "times" mentioned in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 symbolize in a believer's life?
2. How does the urgency expressed in Romans 13:11-12 challenge believers to change their behavior?
3. What does it mean to be a "good steward of God's varied grace" as mentioned in 1 Peter 4:10?
4. How can difficult circumstances, like the pastor's sports injury, serve as wake-up calls for our faith? ([15:29])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your past week. How have you used your time? Are there areas where you feel you have wasted time on things that don't matter? ([01:21])
2. Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? If not, what is holding you back from making this decision today? ([05:38])
3. What steps can you take to "cast off the works of darkness" and "put on the armor of light" in your daily life? ([14:20])
4. Identify a spiritual gift you believe you have received. How can you use this gift to serve others in your community or church? ([20:06])
5. Think of a time when you served someone else. How did this act of service reflect the love of Jesus and impact the person you served? ([20:39])
6. How can you make better use of your time to focus on your relationship with God and your service to others? ([03:00])
7. What practical steps can you take this week to get serious about your faith and grow closer to God? ([14:20])
Devotional
Day 1: The Urgency of Salvation
Time is fleeting, and we are not promised another minute. The most important decision you can make is to accept Jesus as your Savior. Salvation is a gift that brings forgiveness, eternal life, and a relationship with God. Don't wait another day to get saved. [05:38]
Romans 10:9-10 (ESV): "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."
Reflection: Is there anything holding you back from accepting Jesus as your Savior today? What steps can you take right now to make this life-changing decision?
Day 2: The Romans Road to Salvation
Understanding the path to salvation is crucial. The Romans Road outlines that we are all sinners, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. These verses provide a clear guide to lead someone to Christ. [09:34]
Romans 3:23-24 (ESV): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Have you ever shared the Romans Road with someone? Think of a person in your life who needs to hear this message. How can you share these verses with them this week?
Day 3: Getting Serious About Your Faith
Romans 13:11-12 calls us to wake up and get serious about our faith. We must cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. This means moving away from sinful behaviors and growing closer to God. [14:20]
Ephesians 5:14-16 (ESV): "For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, 'Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.' Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."
Reflection: What are some specific "works of darkness" in your life that you need to cast off? How can you actively put on the "armor of light" in your daily walk with God?
Day 4: The Importance of Serving Others
Jesus came to serve, not to be served. When we serve others, we reflect the love of Jesus and draw people to Him. Each of us has received gifts from God, and we are called to use these gifts to serve one another as good stewards of God's grace. [20:39]
1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What gifts has God given you? How can you use these gifts to serve others in your community this week?
Day 5: The Value of Time
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 reminds us that there is a time for everything under heaven. There is a time to be born and a time to die, and what we do with the time in between is crucial. Use your time wisely to focus on your relationship with God and your service to others. [03:00]
Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Reflection: How are you currently spending your time? What changes can you make to ensure that you are using your time wisely to grow in your relationship with God and serve others?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Time is a gift, all right? Every time. Every minute. Every minute you have of time in life is a gift from God. And we're not promised another minute. So what if I just said we're going to stop and be silent for 60 seconds? You think we could do that? We probably could. It would be really awkward and really weird and really hard not to cough or to be. But a whole minute would go by, and we're not promised two minutes." [01:21]
2. "It's time to get serious about the things of God. For salvation. Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. Now, that word salvation there is not our salvation here. It's more of the eternal salvation. Like when we are with Jesus. Okay? That salvation, because Jesus is closer now than he's ever been. Whether you like it or not or believe it or not, it's true. And we're closer and nearer to meeting Jesus face to face than we've ever been before. Nearer now than ever." [16:19]
3. "When you say yes to Jesus, put your faith in him, you're restored back to that perfect relationship with Almighty God that was established in the garden. That's God's plan for all of humanity, to get saved, to get serious, and to serve him." [07:40]
4. "Jesus set the example of serving others and the impact that when we serve others that it can have on the society and other people in the hospitals. And when we get to serving, others are drawn to Jesus, and that's what it's all about." [23:52]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Romans 13, 11 and 12 says this. Besides this, you know the time that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone. The day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Real quickly, it's time to get serious. You know, it's time." [14:20]
2. "It's time to get serious about the things of God. Don't waste another day of your life chasing things that truly don't matter because they don't matter. But they don't matter." [14:55]
3. "God's divine power has granted us all things. That pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. Listen, he's given us all things you need for life and godliness. As a child of God, a saved child of God, he has given us everything and all things we need to get serious about him." [19:22]
4. "God gives Christians gifts, Christians gifts to serve others with and to show the world the love of Jesus. And we put to practice these gifts he's given us to serve others. God uses us. We've said this a thousand times. And to draw other people, lost people to salvation, which is God's plan for humanity." [20:39]
5. "The time between your birth and your death is what's so important that you do and you live out for the kingdom of God and for him. So that's what we're going to talk about tonight. So grab your handouts and everybody say, what time is it? What time is it? It is time to get saved." [05:00]
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