Living for God's Glory: Obedience, Faithfulness, and Service
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of living for God's glory. Many people, including athletes, musicians, and business professionals, often say "to God be the glory" after achieving something significant. However, their lifestyles sometimes contradict this statement, raising the question: what does it truly mean to live for God's glory? We delved into 1 Peter 4:1-11 to uncover three biblical principles that guide us in genuinely glorifying God.
First, living for God's glory means obediently following His will. This involves making daily choices that align with God's commands, even when it means facing ridicule or mockery from the world. Peter emphasizes that our ultimate purpose is to live for God's will, not for our own desires or the approval of others.
Second, we must live faithfully in the small things, recognizing God's sovereign authority. This principle reminds us that our character and integrity are tested in everyday actions, whether it's being honest about a child's age for a discount or resisting the temptation to cheat. Our faithfulness in these small matters reflects God's glory and prepares us for greater responsibilities.
Third, living for God's glory involves serving others. Peter highlights that our prayers, acts of love, hospitality, and use of spiritual gifts should all be directed towards serving others. This service should be done without grumbling and with a genuine heart, reflecting the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In essence, glorifying God is not about our personal achievements but about how we live our lives in obedience, faithfulness, and service to others. It's about reflecting God's character in our daily actions and choices, ensuring that our lives point back to Him.
### Key Takeaways
1. Obedience to God's Will: Living for God's glory means making daily choices that align with His will, even when it leads to ridicule or mockery from the world. Our ultimate purpose is to live for God's will, not for our own desires or the approval of others. This obedience highlights God's glory in our lives. [05:38]
2. Faithfulness in Small Things: Our character and integrity are tested in everyday actions. Being faithful in small matters, like honesty and integrity, reflects God's glory and prepares us for greater responsibilities. This faithfulness is crucial in living a life that truly glorifies God. [17:46]
3. Serving Others: To live for God's glory, we must serve others through our prayers, acts of love, hospitality, and use of spiritual gifts. This service should be done without grumbling and with a genuine heart, reflecting the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. [30:10]
4. Reflecting God's Character: Glorifying God is not about our personal achievements but about how we live our lives in obedience, faithfulness, and service to others. Our daily actions and choices should reflect God's character, ensuring that our lives point back to Him. [38:02]
5. True Meaning of "To God Be the Glory": Before saying "to God be the glory," we should evaluate if our actions align with God's will, if we have been faithful in small things, and if we have served others genuinely. Only then can we confidently proclaim this phrase, knowing it truly reflects our lives. [41:34]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:43] - Questioning "To God Be the Glory"
[03:17] - Living from God's Glory
[04:42] - Obedience to God's Will
[06:19] - Daily Purpose in Obedience
[07:02] - Specific Sins to Avoid
[08:18] - Mockery from the World
[09:25] - The Choice to Obey
[10:11] - Avoiding Sin
[11:28] - Story of a Missionary Mother
[13:18] - True Glory in Obedience
[14:43] - Living in Holiness
[16:17] - Faithfulness in Small Things
[19:06] - Ethical Dilemmas
[22:27] - Integrity in Small Actions
[24:09] - Encouragement to Live Faithfully
[25:27] - Reflecting God's Glory in Small Things
[27:00] - Story of Bob and Joni
[30:10] - Serving Others in Prayer
[31:49] - Praying for Others
[33:16] - Serving Others in Love
[34:43] - Story of Forgiveness
[36:25] - Hospitality Without Grumbling
[38:02] - Using Spiritual Gifts
[39:43] - True Meaning of "To God Be the Glory"
[41:34] - Final Reflections
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Peter 4:1-11
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, 7
3. Philippians 2:5-8
#### Observation Questions
1. According to 1 Peter 4:1-2, what mindset should believers adopt, and why? [04:42]
2. What specific behaviors does Peter list in 1 Peter 4:3-4 that believers should avoid? [07:02]
3. How does 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4 define God's will for believers? [13:18]
4. In Philippians 2:5-8, how did Jesus exemplify humility and obedience?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to live obediently to God's will, even if it leads to ridicule or mockery from the world? [08:18]
2. How does being faithful in small things reflect God's glory, and why is this significant? [17:46]
3. What does it mean to serve others without grumbling, and how does this reflect God's character? [36:25]
4. How can the story of the missionary mother in Sudan inspire us to prioritize God's will over personal comfort? [13:18]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did it align with God's will, or were you seeking approval from others? How can you ensure your future decisions glorify God? [05:38]
2. Think of a small, everyday action where you can demonstrate faithfulness and integrity. How can you commit to this action this week? [17:46]
3. Identify a specific way you can serve someone in your community this week without expecting anything in return. How can you do this with a genuine heart? [36:25]
4. How can you incorporate more prayers for others into your daily routine? Make a list of people you will pray for this week. [30:10]
5. Consider a time when you were tempted to compromise your integrity for convenience or gain. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from that experience? [22:27]
6. Reflect on a recent interaction where you could have shown more love and forgiveness. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future? [33:16]
7. What spiritual gift do you believe God has given you, and how can you use it to serve your church or community more effectively? [38:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Obedience to God's Will
Description: Living for God's glory means making daily choices that align with His will, even when it leads to ridicule or mockery from the world. Our ultimate purpose is to live for God's will, not for our own desires or the approval of others. This obedience highlights God's glory in our lives. [05:38]
1 Peter 4:1-2 (ESV): "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God."
Reflection: Think of a recent decision where you chose your own desires over God's will. How can you make a different choice today that aligns with His will, even if it means facing ridicule?
Day 2: Faithfulness in Small Things
Description: Our character and integrity are tested in everyday actions. Being faithful in small matters, like honesty and integrity, reflects God's glory and prepares us for greater responsibilities. This faithfulness is crucial in living a life that truly glorifies God. [17:46]
Luke 16:10 (ESV): "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
Reflection: Identify a small area in your life where you have been less than faithful. What steps can you take today to demonstrate integrity and faithfulness in that area?
Day 3: Serving Others
Description: To live for God's glory, we must serve others through our prayers, acts of love, hospitality, and use of spiritual gifts. This service should be done without grumbling and with a genuine heart, reflecting the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. [30:10]
Galatians 5:13 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."
Reflection: Think of someone in your community who could use a helping hand. How can you serve them today in a way that reflects Christ's love and sacrifice?
Day 4: Reflecting God's Character
Description: Glorifying God is not about our personal achievements but about how we live our lives in obedience, faithfulness, and service to others. Our daily actions and choices should reflect God's character, ensuring that our lives point back to Him. [38:02]
Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: Reflect on your actions and words from the past week. In what ways did they reflect God's character? How can you improve in areas where you fell short?
Day 5: True Meaning of "To God Be the Glory"
Description: Before saying "to God be the glory," we should evaluate if our actions align with God's will, if we have been faithful in small things, and if we have served others genuinely. Only then can we confidently proclaim this phrase, knowing it truly reflects our lives. [41:34]
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV): "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Reflection: Before you say "to God be the glory" today, evaluate your recent actions. Do they align with God's will, demonstrate faithfulness, and serve others genuinely? What changes can you make to ensure they do?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We are highlighting God's glory in the way that we live. That's why we can glorify God when we eat, when we play sports, when we study, when we're with our children, when we work, when we rest, when we play video or mobile app games. It is in this practical theological context that we tackle this issue of living responsibly for the glory of God." [03:17] (24 seconds)
2. "How many of us wake up every morning thinking, I'm going to obey God today in every aspect of my life with His help for His glory. Therefore, I'm going to be an amazing spouse today. I'm going to treat my spouse with kindness and gentleness. I'm going to model Christ-likeness to my children in love and patience. I'm going to control, I'm going to control my anger and temper. I'm going to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit to everyone I encounter." [06:19] (33 seconds)
3. "My friends, it is ironic and even hypocritical to say, to God be the glory, while we do not live faithfully in obedience to God in the small things. Look with me now to verse 6. For this reason, the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the Spirit." [24:09] (27 seconds)
4. "My friends, glory to God is not simply paying lip service and then ascribing glory to God. It is the very way we live our lives faithfully in His service. When we tell people about the better plan in life through Jesus, they didn't ask us, but we love them so much, we want to tell them about the better life they can have in Jesus, or to tell them about the way that leads to life, found only in Christ. That brings glory to God, because it is faithfully doing what He has commanded." [28:29] (38 seconds)
5. "My friends, God's glory is not often highlighted in your individual accomplishments. It is seen in the small things, obedience, faithfulness, service, service, which is what Jesus Christ did for us as an example on the cross. And for that, He glorified the Heavenly Father. So the next time you say, to God be the glory, run it through these filter questions. Am I living in accordance with His will in obedience when I did it?" [41:34] (33 seconds)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Peter is quite clear in these verses that to live for the glory of God is this. Number one, to obediently follow God's will in your life. To live for God's glory is to obediently follow His will. If you can't follow how God wants you to live, listen carefully, then you and I are not living for His glory, plain and simple, whatever you accomplish. If you are not living in obedience to His will, then you are not living for His glory, whatever you may say." [05:38] (34 seconds)
2. "God is most glorified in our obedience to His will. In other words, God's glory is highlighted when we obey Him. And the world is amazed that we do what is right in obedience to God. Now, they may laugh at us. They may not agree. They may mock us. But our actions will show them God's glory." [10:49] (21 seconds)
3. "To live for God's glory is to obediently follow His will by living holy and righteous lives. Look at verse 5 of 1 Peter chapter 4. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. The apostle Peter here reminds us in verse 5 that all people of the world will be judged by Christ who has the right and the authority to judge everyone." [16:17] (28 seconds)
4. "How you serve others in prayer in your prayer life reflects God's glory. Because in your prayer life, we can also reflect God's glory. Remember in the Gospel of John, when Jesus was about to walk the path towards own death, what does He do? He prays in a magnificent prayer. It's called the High Priestly Prayer. It's recorded in the Gospel of John. And what does He pray for? He prays for His disciples. He prays for us. He prays for others." [31:49] (30 seconds)
5. "How you serve others in love reflects God's glory. Jesus, the very reflection of God as God Himself, did just that when He forgave all of our sins when He died on the cross for us. How do we serve others in love? How do we serve others in love? How do we serve others in love and forgiveness?" [33:16] (19 seconds)
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