Finding True Purpose Through Relationship with God
Summary
In the sermon, the pastor encourages the congregation to embrace the burden they feel for someone in their life, suggesting that obedience to God's pull could lead to significant changes. The pastor acknowledges that following Jesus may disrupt lives and require different decisions, but emphasizes that the longing for something more is real and that God wants individuals to discover a purpose that will last forever. The pastor also emphasizes the importance of inviting others to church and continuing to do so consistently. The sermon encourages both Christians and non-Christians to actively engage in the search for purpose and to invite others to join them on this journey.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of having a relationship with God as the purpose for our existence. He warns that a life built on a purpose without God will eventually collapse under the weight of expectations. The pastor uses the example of Solomon from the Old Testament, who had extreme wealth, status, and accomplishments, but described his life as a striving after wind. The pastor concludes by stating that the more we acquire without God, the more we will feel the need for it, as it will never be enough.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of finding purpose beyond material accomplishments. He uses the example of technology and achievements that may fade into the background over time. The sermon explores the idea that true purpose and freedom come from having a relationship with God. The pastor mentions how some individuals in Silicon Valley, despite their success, still grapple with the inevitability of death. However, the sermon offers hope by stating that there is a way to disrupt death and live forever through a relationship with God.
The pastor addresses the audience's feelings of dissatisfaction and the belief that there must be more to life. He shares a personal story about his brother, James, who grew up in an abusive home and turned to partying and drugs as a coping mechanism. Despite experiencing miraculous events and reconnecting with his family, James was unable to break free from his destructive patterns and addictions. The pastor challenges the audience to consider the potential devastating consequences of unbelief in eternity and encourages them to engage in conversations about this topic.
The pastor addresses the influence of advertisers on social media, cable news, and sports, highlighting the worldview they constantly try to sell to people. This worldview suggests that if individuals spend more time and money, they will finally attain what they are looking for. However, the pastor challenges this notion by pointing out that even when people acquire the things they thought would make them happy, the goal line keeps moving, leaving them unsatisfied.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing the burden for someone in one's life and being obedient to God's pull can lead to significant changes. This obedience may disrupt lives and require different decisions, but the longing for something more is real and God wants individuals to discover a purpose that will last forever. ([12:45])
- A life built on a purpose without God will eventually collapse under the weight of expectations. The more we acquire without God, the more we will feel the need for it, as it will never be enough. This is illustrated by the example of Solomon from the Old Testament, who had extreme wealth, status, and accomplishments, but described his life as a striving after wind. ([24:30])
- True purpose and freedom come from having a relationship with God. Despite success, some individuals still grapple with the inevitability of death. However, there is a way to disrupt death and live forever through a relationship with God. ([36:15])
- The potential devastating consequences of unbelief in eternity should be considered. This is illustrated by the personal story of the pastor's brother, James, who despite experiencing miraculous events and reconnecting with his family, was unable to break free from his destructive patterns and addictions. ([48:00])
- The worldview sold by advertisers on social media, cable news, and sports suggests that if individuals spend more time and money, they will finally attain what they are looking for. However, even when people acquire the things they thought would make them happy, the goal line keeps moving, leaving them unsatisfied. ([59:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
2. Ecclesiastes 1:16-18: "I said to myself, 'Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.' Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief."
3. Ecclesiastes 4:4-6: "And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind."
Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 11:28-30 suggest about the nature of burdens and the role of Jesus in alleviating them?
2. In Ecclesiastes 1:16-18, what does Solomon's reflection on his wisdom and knowledge reveal about the pursuit of these things?
3. How does Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 describe the outcome of toil and achievement driven by envy?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Matthew 11:28-30 relate to the idea of finding rest and purpose in a relationship with God rather than in worldly achievements?
2. How might Solomon's reflections in Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 and 4:4-6 be understood in the context of the emptiness of a life built on a purpose without God?
3. What does Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 suggest about the futility of seeking satisfaction in material accomplishments and the envy of others?
Application Questions:
1. Can you identify a burden in your life that you have been trying to carry alone? How can you invite Jesus to share this burden with you?
2. Reflect on your own pursuits of wisdom, knowledge, or achievements. Are there areas where you feel like you are "chasing after the wind"? How can you shift your focus towards finding purpose in God instead?
3. Think of a time when you felt envious of someone else's achievements. How did this affect your peace of mind? How can you apply the wisdom of Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 in such situations?
4. Can you think of someone in your life who might be feeling weary and burdened? How can you invite them to find rest in Jesus?
5. Reflect on your relationship with God. How can you deepen this relationship to find true purpose and freedom?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing God's Pull for Transformation
When one feels a burden for someone in their life, it is often a divine pull towards obedience. This obedience may disrupt lives and require different decisions, but the longing for something more is real and God wants individuals to discover a purpose that will last forever ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7wMdL02N8&t=750s)).
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Reflection: How can you embrace God's pull in your life and what changes might it require?
Day 2: The Futility of Life Without God
A life built on a purpose without God will eventually collapse under the weight of expectations. The more we acquire without God, the more we will feel the need for it, as it will never be enough ([24:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7wMdL02N8&t=1455s)).
Ecclesiastes 2:11 - "Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
Reflection: How can you ensure that your life's purpose is built on God and not on worldly acquisitions?
Day 3: Finding Purpose and Freedom in God
True purpose and freedom come from having a relationship with God. Despite success, some individuals still grapple with the inevitability of death. However, there is a way to disrupt death and live forever through a relationship with God ([36:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7wMdL02N8&t=2160s)).
John 8:36 - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with God to find true purpose and freedom?
Day 4: The Consequences of Unbelief
The potential devastating consequences of unbelief in eternity should be considered. This is illustrated by the personal story of James, who despite experiencing miraculous events and reconnecting with his family, was unable to break free from his destructive patterns and addictions ([48:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7wMdL02N8&t=2865s)).
Hebrews 3:12 - "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God."
Reflection: How can you guard your heart against unbelief and its potential consequences?
Day 5: The Illusion of Satisfaction in Worldly Things
The worldview sold by advertisers on social media, cable news, and sports suggests that if individuals spend more time and money, they will finally attain what they are looking for. However, even when people acquire the things they thought would make them happy, the goal line keeps moving, leaving them unsatisfied ([59:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L7wMdL02N8&t=3555s)).
1 Timothy 6:6 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
Reflection: How can you cultivate contentment in God rather than seeking satisfaction in worldly things?
Quotes
1. "Here's the worldview that you are constantly being spoon-fed every moment of every day: if you'll spend a little bit more time, a little bit more money, then you will finally have what you're looking for." [40:01]
2. "If you've ever paid attention to the things that you thought would make you happy five years ago and you got all of them and it didn't work, and the goal line moved just a little bit... that's what will keep happening if that's as big as our status and purpose ever get." [40:33]
3. "That aching feeling you have in your heart and life that you were made for more than you're settling for, it's true, it's real, and I think God wants you and me to discover a purpose that will last forever." [53:52]
4. "The more total freedom that we want for our lives, the more we want to be able to do everything under the illusion that it will never have any consequences for us, the more you want total freedom, the less purpose you will experience. And the more purpose you embrace with Jesus at the center, the more the way of Jesus, the pattern of Jesus, and the parameters of your life will come into place, not for you to experience total freedom, but for you to experience true freedom." [49:05]
5. "There is a way to disrupt death, there is a way to live forever. It's more costly than you can imagine, but it's already been paid for. There's a way for you to live forever and to live that way with the God who made you and loves you." [52:12]
6. "Without God, life has no purpose and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope." [37:01]
7. "Regardless of the cultural measuring stick of success, at our core, we know there's more that we were made for. There's more than the things that you have built in your resume, there's more than the house you've acquired or the car you drive. There's more that God made you for." [37:39]
8. "A life built on a purpose that doesn't have your creator in the middle of it will eventually collapse under the weight of your expectations and God will be waiting for you when it does." [32:05]
9. "I hope you'll explore that maybe there's something you were made for beyond what you're settling for." [44:46]
10. "When our purpose has its origin and its end in ourselves, we are chasing wind and even if you catch it like the dog that catches the car, we don't even know what we would do with it." [51:02]
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