Empowering Service: Living Wisely with Time, Talents, and Treasures
Summary
In today's gathering, we celebrated Dream Team Sunday, a day dedicated to honoring the spirit of volunteerism within our church community. Volunteers are the backbone of Life.Church, and their dedication is what makes our church a vibrant and welcoming place. Today, we not only express our gratitude to these volunteers but also explore the opportunities available for others to join in serving. We encourage everyone to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit about how they can contribute, whether through time, talent, or treasure.
Reflecting on Ephesians 5:15-17, we are reminded to live wisely by making the most of every opportunity to do good. Wise living is not just about being good but actively doing good. This involves making intentional choices in our daily lives, particularly in how we manage our time, talents, and treasures. These three areas, often referred to as the "three Ts," are crucial in determining the quality of our lives and our impact on others.
Time is a precious resource, and we must learn to treasure, invest, manage, and enjoy it. By prioritizing our time effectively, we can lead more purposeful lives. Similarly, our talents are gifts from God meant to serve others. When we use our talents to bless others, we contribute to the health and growth of our church community. Lastly, how we handle our treasures reflects the condition of our hearts. By giving faithfully and cheerfully, we align our priorities with God's purposes.
Today, I also shared an exciting opportunity for our church to purchase a house next door, which will be used to support Millie's Home, a ministry for young women facing unplanned pregnancies. This initiative aligns with our pro-life values and our commitment to supporting families in need. We aim to raise $425,000 by March 31st to purchase this house and partner with Millie's Home to provide a safe haven for these women and their children.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living Wisely Through Intentional Choices: Ephesians 5:15-17 calls us to live wisely by making the most of every opportunity to do good. Wise living involves intentional choices in how we manage our time, talents, and treasures, impacting our lives and those around us. [03:05]
2. The Value of Time: Time is a non-renewable resource that must be treasured, invested, managed, and enjoyed. By prioritizing our time effectively, we can lead more purposeful and fulfilling lives, making every moment count. [07:40]
3. Using Talents to Serve Others: Our talents are gifts from God meant to serve others. When we use our talents to bless others, we contribute to the health and growth of our church community, fulfilling our role in the body of Christ. [20:39]
4. Aligning Treasures with God's Purposes: How we handle our treasures reflects the condition of our hearts. By giving faithfully and cheerfully, we align our priorities with God's purposes, supporting the church and community. [27:14]
5. Partnering for a Greater Cause: Our church's initiative to purchase a house for Millie's Home exemplifies our commitment to supporting young women facing unplanned pregnancies. This partnership reflects our pro-life values and our dedication to making a lasting impact on families in need. [38:52]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:16] - Seeking the Holy Spirit's Guidance
[03:05] - Living Wisely
[05:50] - Choices and Their Impact
[07:40] - The Value of Time
[09:52] - Managing Time Effectively
[11:40] - Jesus' Example of Time Management
[13:08] - Treasuring Time
[14:22] - Investing Time Wisely
[15:56] - Managing and Enjoying Time
[19:58] - Using Talents to Serve
[22:25] - The Importance of Serving
[25:53] - Making Choices with Treasures
[27:14] - Aligning Treasures with God's Purposes
[30:50] - Exciting Opportunity: Millie's Home
[38:52] - Partnering for a Greater Cause
[47:26] - Baptism and Generational Impact
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:15-17
- Deuteronomy 30:19
- 1 Peter 4:10
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 5:15-17, what are the characteristics of wise living, and how does it relate to making the most of every opportunity? [03:05]
2. In the sermon, what are the "three Ts" mentioned, and how do they impact our lives and the church community? [05:50]
3. How does the pastor describe the importance of managing time effectively, and what examples from Jesus' life are given to illustrate this? [11:40]
4. What is the significance of the church's initiative to purchase a house for Millie's Home, and how does it align with the church's values? [38:52]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the passage in Deuteronomy 30:19 emphasize the importance of choices in our daily lives, and what implications does this have for our spiritual journey?
2. What does it mean to "use every chance you have for doing good" as stated in Ephesians 5:16, and how can this be applied in practical terms within the church community? [25:53]
3. In what ways does 1 Peter 4:10 challenge believers to use their talents, and how does this relate to the concept of serving others in the church? [20:39]
4. How does the sermon illustrate the connection between how we handle our treasures and the condition of our hearts, as mentioned in Matthew 6:19-21? [27:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current use of time. Are there areas where you feel you could be more intentional in making every minute count? What changes can you make this week to better manage your time? [07:40]
2. Consider the talents God has given you. How are you currently using them to serve others in your church or community? Is there a new way you feel called to serve? [19:58]
3. The sermon emphasized the importance of aligning our treasures with God's purposes. How do you currently prioritize your finances, and what steps can you take to ensure they reflect your spiritual values? [27:14]
4. The church is raising funds for Millie's Home. How can you contribute to this initiative, whether through financial support, prayer, or volunteering? What does this opportunity mean to you personally? [38:52]
5. Think about a recent decision you made. How did you seek guidance from the Holy Spirit in that decision, and how can you be more intentional in seeking His guidance in future choices? [02:16]
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of having margin in our lives. What is one area where you feel overloaded, and how can you create more space for rest and reflection? [19:08]
7. Reflect on the idea of living wisely by making intentional choices. What is one specific area in your life where you feel called to make a more intentional choice, and what steps will you take to act on it this week? [05:50]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
Day 1: Intentional Living for God's Glory
Living wisely involves making intentional choices that reflect God's will. Ephesians 5:15-17 encourages believers to make the most of every opportunity to do good, emphasizing that wise living is not just about being good but actively doing good. This means being deliberate in how we manage our time, talents, and treasures, ensuring that our actions align with God's purposes. By living intentionally, we can have a profound impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. [03:05]
Ephesians 5:15-17 (ESV): "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."
Reflection: What is one intentional choice you can make today to align your actions with God's will?
Day 2: Valuing Time as a Divine Gift
Time is a precious, non-renewable resource that must be treasured, invested, managed, and enjoyed. By prioritizing our time effectively, we can lead more purposeful and fulfilling lives, making every moment count. This involves recognizing the value of time and using it wisely to serve God and others. When we manage our time well, we can experience a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment in our daily lives. [07:40]
Psalm 90:12 (ESV): "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Reflection: How can you better prioritize your time today to ensure you are living purposefully and making every moment count?
Day 3: Serving Others with God-Given Talents
Our talents are gifts from God meant to serve others. When we use our talents to bless others, we contribute to the health and growth of our church community, fulfilling our role in the body of Christ. This involves recognizing our unique gifts and finding ways to use them for the benefit of others, thereby glorifying God and strengthening the community. [20:39]
1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."
Reflection: What is one talent you have that you can use to serve someone in your community today?
Day 4: Aligning Our Treasures with God's Purposes
How we handle our treasures reflects the condition of our hearts. By giving faithfully and cheerfully, we align our priorities with God's purposes, supporting the church and community. This involves being mindful of how we use our financial resources and ensuring that our spending and giving reflect our commitment to God's work. When we align our treasures with God's purposes, we demonstrate our trust in Him and our desire to contribute to His kingdom. [27:14]
Matthew 6:21 (ESV): "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Reflection: In what ways can you adjust your financial priorities to better align with God's purposes today?
Day 5: Partnering for a Greater Cause
Our church's initiative to purchase a house for Millie's Home exemplifies our commitment to supporting young women facing unplanned pregnancies. This partnership reflects our pro-life values and our dedication to making a lasting impact on families in need. By coming together as a community, we can achieve great things and provide support to those who need it most. This initiative is a tangible expression of our faith and our desire to make a positive difference in the world. [38:52]
James 1:27 (ESV): "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
Reflection: How can you contribute to a cause that aligns with your values and makes a positive impact on those in need today?
Quotes
And Dream Team Sunday is a special day. It's a day we celebrate the spirit of volunteerism, and every volunteer who serves on a ministry here at Life .Church, they are the ones who make this church the great church it is. So why don't we show some love to every volunteer, every volunteer, every person that serves, every person that serves in the kingdom of God, amen. Praise God, praise God. And today, though, is not just about saying thank you to our teams. It's also about sharing with you all the opportunities that are available for serving and to give you also a chance to speak to some of our team leaders about these opportunities. [00:00:35] (41 seconds)
Bible says to live wisely, we got to do what? Use every chance you have for doing good. See, wise living is directly connected to doing good. Not just being good. Not just thinking good. Not just desiring good. Do. Doing good. [00:04:07] (18 seconds)
Wise living simply means I make the best choices and decisions that allow me to live a life that is more focused, more on purpose, and more targeted than just reactionary, right? Now, today I want to talk about three areas that we all walk in and live in. They're really totally determined if we are living like the wise. You may have heard of them before, this alliteration of words. It's not original with me. I heard it when I was a kid. It's called the three Ts, time, talent, and treasure. [00:06:05] (34 seconds)
And it's important to understand, folks, you might think, well, how you use your time, that's not really a spiritual issue. I beg to differ. Talk to people who are stressed out. Or who would do anything to get one more hour of sleep. Or would do anything to get one more hour a day to spend time with their kids. They'll tell you it's a significant spiritual issue. [00:08:11] (22 seconds)
Jesus made the most of his days, and his pace never seemed to be reckless or hectic. Psalm chapter 90 verse 12 says this, Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Amen. It's important to know how to manage our time. So, let's look at four letters real quick on the subject of time. I read this somewhere, and it's good. It's not original with me, and I want to use this to maybe help you a little bit know how to use your time. You ready? We're going to use the letters of the word time. First of all, T, treasure it. Treasure time. [00:12:44] (34 seconds)
God has given each of you a gift from the veracity of your life. Use them well to serve one another. Look at that last sentence. Use them well to build your own kingdom. Anybody paying attention in the house? Use them well to stockpile your finances. Use them well to make the fortune 500 list. No, he said use what I give you from this great variety of gifts. Use what I give you to serve one another. Amen. Serve. [00:20:02] (34 seconds)
God has created within us natural abilities and he's given us special gifts for a reason. He wants us to use those gifts to serve other people, both in the church and out of the church. That is what every person who serves on a dream team has chosen to do. They have made the decision to say, I am going to give some of my time and some of my talent to serve other people. It might be leading a life group. It might be working in the nursery or greeting at the door, whatever it might be. When people use their gifts to bless other people, it's a blessing to the body, isn't it? [00:20:52] (35 seconds)
Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 says, do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and vermin destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. Look at verse 21, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Say, pastor, why is it so important to measure our treasure? Jesus just said why, because how you spend your money or where you put your treasure reflects the condition of your heart. [00:26:32] (36 seconds)
Eventually they always come together. Jesus said that our things, our finances, our possessions, how we handle them, how we manage, our heart is inevitably going to be drawn in that direction. How you prioritize your treasure or your finances, it reflects our priorities as it pertains to God and family and church and the community. We need to make good choices when it comes to our treasure. By the way, this next semester we're going to be offering some financial classes, life groups. If you're struggling in this area, we want to help you. We want to give you some practical tools. We'll help you with budgeting, whatever it is. We want to help you learn to manage your treasure, amen. [00:27:24] (36 seconds)
One of the keys to prioritizing your treasure is to learn the blessing of biblical giving. And you know what it is? It's not complicated. Give cheerfully. Give in a way that will make you feel like you're giving. Give in a way that will make and give faithfully that's it give cheerfully and give faithfully there's a word in the Bible the word tithe it's used in the Bible it literally means a tenth or ten percent to and we get the opportunity to return or to give that ten percent back to God I personally like the word return better because it reminds me that I'm returning something that doesn't belong to me I'm returning it back to the Lord I'm giving him back and so how do you tithe you take the first ten percent of your income you're returning to God's work in the local church that you're a part of not your favorite charity, not your favorite internet preacher. The Bible says bring it to your storehouse. Amen. [00:28:55] (51 seconds)
God gave us a dream that one day we would have a home that we could use to minister to young ladies who had unplanned pregnancies but did not have a support system to help them keep their babies and get them through their journey. Amen. Girls who needed a place to live, food to eat, help with doctors, counseling, people who would love them and help them when they needed it the most. See, here's what I want to remind you. We understand, Life .Church, that being pro-life is more than just being anti-abortion. Amen? Come on. It also means being pro-foster care, supporting pregnancy centers, being pro-family in every way that we are able to be. We try to do that here at Life .Church. We are one of the biggest supporters of the East End Pregnancy Center, and I'm thankful that we can do that. Aren't you glad? [00:32:23] (54 seconds)
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