Life's Purpose: Glorifying God Above All Else

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth that life is not about us; it is about God. This foundational concept is crucial for understanding our place in the grand narrative of creation. We often live as if we are the main characters in the story of life, expecting everything to revolve around us. However, the Bible from beginning to end is a story about God, His power, His justice, His love, and His glory. From the creation of the world to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, every event in the Bible points to God's greatness and His plan for humanity.

We are like extras in a movie, with a brief moment to point to the main character, God. Our lives are meant to glorify Him, not ourselves. This realization should transform how we view our daily lives, our relationships, and our struggles. When we understand that everything is for God's glory, we can find peace and purpose, even in difficult times. Our role is to reflect God's glory in everything we do, whether eating, drinking, or simply living our lives.

The sun, which rises and sets every day, serves as a perfect example of this. It consistently points to the Creator, declaring His glory. Similarly, we are called to live in a way that constantly points to God, acknowledging His greatness in all aspects of life. John the Baptist understood this when he said, "He must increase, I must decrease." Our goal should be to make God known, to lift Him up, and to become more obscure ourselves.

In conclusion, life is not about us. It is about God. Until we grasp this truth, we will remain frustrated and unfulfilled. But when we embrace our role in God's story, we find true life and joy in making much of Him.

Key Takeaways:

1. Life's True Purpose: Our existence is not about us but about glorifying God. We are like extras in a movie, with a brief moment to point to the main character, God. Understanding this shifts our focus from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, bringing peace and purpose to our lives. [12:59]

2. God's Story: The Bible is a narrative about God's power, justice, love, and glory. From creation to the resurrection, every event points to His greatness. Recognizing this helps us see our lives as part of a larger story, where God is the main character. [05:07]

3. Reflecting God's Glory: Like the sun that rises and sets, we are called to consistently point to God in everything we do. Whether eating, drinking, or living, our actions should declare His glory, following the example of creation itself. [17:27]

4. John the Baptist's Insight: John the Baptist's statement, "He must increase, I must decrease," encapsulates our role in life. Our goal is to make God known, to lift Him up, and to become more obscure ourselves, allowing His greatness to shine through. [23:03]

5. Finding True Life: Jesus teaches that when we lose our life for His sake, we find it. Embracing our role in God's story brings true life and joy, as we make much of Him and experience His love and care in return. [25:17]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to the Message
- [00:44] - Prayer for Understanding
- [01:11] - Rocky Movie Analogy
- [04:41] - The Delusion of Self-Centeredness
- [05:07] - The Story of God
- [09:18] - God's Love and Sacrifice
- [12:21] - Our Role in God's Story
- [17:27] - Reflecting God's Glory
- [22:38] - John the Baptist's Insight
- [25:17] - Finding True Life
- [28:03] - Glorifying God in All We Do
- [31:21] - The Purpose of Our Lives
- [33:30] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:1 - "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
2. John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease."
3. 1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

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Observation Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what is the main purpose of the Bible from beginning to end? [05:07]
2. How does the pastor use the analogy of the movie "Rocky" to explain our role in God's story? [04:41]
3. What example from nature does the pastor use to illustrate how we should live our lives for God's glory? [17:27]
4. What was John the Baptist's perspective on his role in relation to Jesus, and how is it relevant to us today? [23:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does understanding that life is about God and not us change the way we view our daily struggles and relationships? [12:59]
2. In what ways does the pastor suggest that the sun serves as a role model for us in glorifying God? [17:27]
3. How does the statement "He must increase, I must decrease" challenge our natural tendencies towards self-promotion? [23:03]
4. What does it mean to find true life by losing it for Jesus' sake, according to the sermon? [25:17]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent situation where you acted as if life was about you. How might you approach it differently with a God-centered perspective? [12:59]
2. Identify one area of your life where you struggle to give God glory. What practical steps can you take to change this? [17:41]
3. How can you apply John the Baptist's insight of "He must increase, I must decrease" in your personal and professional life? [23:03]
4. Think of a time when you felt frustrated or unfulfilled. How might embracing your role in God's story bring peace and purpose? [12:59]
5. What specific actions can you take this week to reflect God's glory in your everyday activities, such as eating or working? [17:41]
6. Consider a relationship where you tend to seek recognition. How can you shift the focus to glorifying God instead? [23:03]
7. How can you remind yourself daily that life is not about you, but about making much of God? What habits or practices could support this mindset? [25:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Life's True Purpose: Glorifying God, Not Ourselves
Our existence is not about us but about glorifying God. We often live as if we are the main characters in the story of life, expecting everything to revolve around us. However, the Bible from beginning to end is a story about God, His power, His justice, His love, and His glory. Understanding this shifts our focus from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, bringing peace and purpose to our lives. We are like extras in a movie, with a brief moment to point to the main character, God. This realization should transform how we view our daily lives, our relationships, and our struggles. When we understand that everything is for God's glory, we can find peace and purpose, even in difficult times. [12:59]

"For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:36, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been living as if you are the main character in your life story? How can you begin to shift your focus to glorifying God in your daily actions today?


Day 2: God's Story: Recognizing Our Place in His Narrative
The Bible is a narrative about God's power, justice, love, and glory. From creation to the resurrection, every event points to His greatness. Recognizing this helps us see our lives as part of a larger story, where God is the main character. We are called to understand our place in this grand narrative, acknowledging that our lives are meant to glorify Him, not ourselves. This understanding brings a sense of peace and purpose, as we align our lives with God's story and His ultimate plan for humanity. [05:07]

"Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.'" (Isaiah 46:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: How does recognizing your life as part of God's larger story change your perspective on your current circumstances? What steps can you take to align your life more closely with His narrative?


Day 3: Reflecting God's Glory: Living as a Testament to His Greatness
Like the sun that rises and sets, we are called to consistently point to God in everything we do. Whether eating, drinking, or living, our actions should declare His glory, following the example of creation itself. This means living in a way that constantly acknowledges God's greatness in all aspects of life. By doing so, we reflect His glory and serve as a testament to His power and love. Our lives should be a reflection of His light, shining brightly for all to see. [17:27]

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge." (Psalm 19:1-2, ESV)

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to reflect God's glory in your daily life? How can you ensure that your life consistently points to Him?


Day 4: John the Baptist's Insight: Embracing Humility to Elevate God
John the Baptist's statement, "He must increase, I must decrease," encapsulates our role in life. Our goal is to make God known, to lift Him up, and to become more obscure ourselves, allowing His greatness to shine through. This requires a posture of humility, recognizing that our lives are not about us but about elevating God. By embracing this mindset, we allow God's glory to be the focus, and we find true fulfillment in making much of Him. [23:03]

"He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to decrease so that God can increase? How can you practice humility today to elevate God's presence in your life?


Day 5: Finding True Life: Embracing Our Role in God's Story
Jesus teaches that when we lose our life for His sake, we find it. Embracing our role in God's story brings true life and joy, as we make much of Him and experience His love and care in return. This means surrendering our desires and ambitions to align with His will, trusting that His plan is greater than our own. By doing so, we discover the true purpose and fulfillment that comes from living a life centered on God. [25:17]

"For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Quotes


you see this movie from cover to cover it's not about you it's about god everything in this book is about god in the beginning who what did he do create the heavens and the earth what were you doing during that time no seriously what were you doing during that part of the movie when he created the heavens and the earth [05:11]

and then the story the movie goes on the movie goes on about this god after he makes all of this then the the people those people the man woman i was talking about they start trying to rebel against god and doing the things that he hates and you know what god does in the that scene he floods the whole place [06:21]

and then the movie goes on and you know the world starts getting populated he says you know what i'll do i'll take this old man here abram and his wife sarah and i'm going to make a huge nation out of them and i'm just going to take those two and and create this own little nation and i'm gonna bless them so much [07:00]

and yet these people will rebel against me and then you know at the climax of the story what i'm gonna do is i'm gonna show off my love because the people have seen my power they've seen what i can do they've seen my justice they've seen my ability to create they've seen my ability to punish but let me show my love like never before [09:37]

and this god shows off his love in this movie where all these people are rebelling against him and he still loved them and he loved them so much that he says watch i'll send my son i'll have him take the form of a man and i'll watch him suffer i'll go through all the pain of watching him suffer on a cross [10:02]

and then after he dies for the sins of the world i'm going to have him rise from the grave and that's when people are going to start believing him they're going to go no way there really is life after death and all these people are going to start following following following and then you keep reading on [10:52]

see the sun every time it rises every time it sets it gives glory to god it points to the creator the son is such a great role model for us because every time it rises every time it sets it points to god and it's always rising it's always setting somewhere it's always giving glory to god [17:12]

john the baptist understood that remember that scene in john chapter 3 when john's john the baptist has some followers and they come running to him and saying hey john something's going wrong everyone's starting to follow jesus instead of you important scene because john says one of the most profound things that's ever been said he says he must increase i must decrease [22:38]

he looks at his disciples and saying this is the plan don't you understand this was all i was supposed to do was to tell people about him and then he's supposed to increase and increase and increase in their eyes and i'm supposed to just kind of sink and hide i must i must i have to it's imperative that i decrease [22:58]

jesus says when you lose your life that's when you're going to find it when you lose your life for my sake that's when you're going to find it but you're going to try to hold on and soak this all up for yourself because you're going to lose your life but if you willingly give it up and and those of us who have done it we know [25:17]

you start making much of god and suddenly everything starts turning around in your life and you realize he makes much of you and and you just get humbled that a god so great would even care about you it's it's it's an amazing scene you know when i was in college i uh i had one of my professors [25:57]

you ever stop and wonder why your life is where it's at i'll tell you why so you can brag about god who's the star of your life you ever wonder why your your marriage is is kind of shaky right now you know why things are tough right now so you can you can both just totally give your life to god totally surrender to him and see what happens [31:21]

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Transcript
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