Living in Abundance: Serving Others with Purpose

Devotional

Day 1: Recognizing God's Love in Everyday Blessings

Every blessing, whether grand or minute, is a reflection of God's love and care for us. These blessings serve as reminders of His constant presence in our lives. By acknowledging and cherishing these moments, we cultivate a heart of gratitude and awareness of His ongoing provision. This perspective encourages us to see beyond the mundane and recognize the divine in our daily experiences. As we open our eyes to these gifts, we deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our faith in His unwavering love. [09:02]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: What small blessing have you overlooked recently that you can thank God for today?

Day 2: The Unseen Power of Prayer

Prayer is a powerful act of obedience and an expression of our hearts, even when its impact is not immediately visible. God hears every word we utter, and our faith in His response is a testament to our trust in His plan. Through prayer, we align ourselves with God's will and open our hearts to His guidance. This practice not only strengthens our relationship with Him but also transforms our perspective, allowing us to see His hand at work in our lives. By trusting in the power of prayer, we become more attuned to the subtle ways God answers and guides us. [13:59]

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific prayer you have been hesitant to bring to God, and how can you trust Him with it today?

Day 3: Living Beyond Ourselves Through Service

Living beyond ourselves means understanding that our purpose is found in serving others. Our faith, while personal, is not meant to be private. Sharing our journey with Jesus is essential for spreading the Gospel and building the community of believers. By focusing on the needs of others, we reflect the teachings of Jesus, who exemplified a life of service and sacrifice. This outward focus not only fulfills our purpose but also brings joy and contentment as we align our lives with God's intentions. [40:06]

"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." (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can serve this week, and what specific action can you take to show them God's love?

Day 4: Embracing Our Role in God's Kingdom

As members of God's kingdom, family, and building, we have rights and responsibilities. We are called to make disciples, support one another, and reflect Jesus' love to the world. Our unity and cooperation strengthen the body of Christ, creating a strong and unified community. By embracing our role, we contribute to the growth and health of the church, fulfilling our purpose as citizens of God's kingdom. This commitment to our spiritual family fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, as we work together to advance God's mission. [47:33]

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." (Ephesians 2:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can actively participate in your church community to strengthen the body of Christ?

Day 5: The Church as a Community of Action

The church is designed to be a place of togetherness, where we work to meet the needs of those around us. By being others-focused, we fulfill our purpose and experience the joy and contentment that comes from living as God intended. This communal approach to faith encourages us to support one another and collaborate in service, creating a vibrant and dynamic community. As we engage in acts of love and service, we embody the teachings of Jesus and become a living testament to His transformative power. [54:35]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you contribute to making your church a more welcoming and supportive community for others this week?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we reflected on the abundance of blessings in our lives, both big and small, and how they are expressions of God's love. Every good thing we experience is a testament to His care and provision. We are encouraged to cherish these moments and recognize them as gifts from God. As we pray, we are reminded of the power and impact of our prayers, even when we may not see the immediate results. Our prayers are acts of obedience and expressions of our hearts, and God hears each one.

We also explored the concept of living beyond ourselves, inspired by Rick Warren's book, "The Purpose Driven Life," which begins with the profound statement, "It's not about you." Our purpose is found in our relationships with others and in serving them. This aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who exemplified a life of service and sacrifice for others. Our faith, while deeply personal, is not meant to be private. Sharing our journey with Jesus is essential for spreading the Gospel and building the community of believers.

We are created to be part of God's kingdom, family, and building. As citizens of God's kingdom, we have rights and responsibilities, including the call to make disciples and support one another. As members of God's family, we take on the characteristics of Jesus and reflect His love to the world. As part of the building, with Jesus as the chief cornerstone, we are shaped and molded to fit together, creating a strong and unified body.

The church is designed to be a place where we work together, support each other, and meet the needs of those around us. We are called to be others-focused, recognizing that our lives are meant to serve and uplift those around us. By doing so, we fulfill our purpose and experience the joy and contentment that comes from living as God intended.

Key Takeaways

1. Every blessing, no matter how small, is an expression of God's love and care for us. We are encouraged to recognize and cherish these moments as gifts from God, which remind us of His constant presence in our lives. [09:02]
2. Our prayers, though sometimes unseen in their impact, are powerful acts of obedience and expressions of our hearts. God hears every word, and our faith in His response is a testament to our trust in His plan. [13:59]
3. Living beyond ourselves means understanding that our purpose is found in serving others. Our faith, while personal, is not meant to be private. Sharing our journey with Jesus is essential for spreading the Gospel and building the community of believers. [40:06]
4. As members of God's kingdom, family, and building, we have rights and responsibilities. We are called to make disciples, support one another, and reflect Jesus' love to the world. Our unity and cooperation strengthen the body of Christ. [47:33]
5. The church is designed to be a place of togetherness, where we work to meet the needs of those around us. By being others-focused, we fulfill our purpose and experience the joy and contentment that comes from living as God intended. [54:35]
** [54:35]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:02] - Cherishing God's Blessings
[13:59] - The Power of Prayer
[18:41] - Children's Lesson: Working Together
[37:11] - Purpose Beyond Self
[40:06] - Sharing Our Faith
[42:16] - Personal Faith Stories
[44:43] - Created for God's Kingdom
[47:33] - Responsibilities of Kingdom Citizenship
[49:35] - Family Characteristics in Christ
[51:54] - Building on the Cornerstone
[54:35] - Dependence on Each Other
[57:01] - A Church of Action
[59:39] - Living with Purpose
[61:51] - Ephesians 2: Our Identity in Christ
[68:42] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Sermon Clips

"All these things. When Jeanette read that psalm, all these good things that God has done, expressions of his love. Every good and perfect thing is what scripture tells us. Comes from God's hand. Every good and perfect thing. Every blessing we receive, no matter how big, no matter how small, it's out of his hand and his love for us. And so these good things that happen, no matter how big or how small they are, they're good because they impact our life in a way that matters to us." [00:08:12]

"Yeah, and that's, you know, every week I ask you to pray whatever's on your heart. Because you never, you never know. You're the one that God is asking to pray that prayer. You never know the impact that prayer is going to have. And even the prayers that we talk about, you don't know the impacts. And that's all scripture ever asks of us. When we pray, just pray obediently." [00:13:29]

"God, we thank you for your love. We thank you for your faithfulness. We thank you for all the ways that you show yourself to us each and every day. From the smallest of blessings to the greatest of things. Thank you, God, for doing everything for us. God bless you." [00:14:19]

"God these answers to prayer and these blessings we receive are all testimony to that, and we know without question there are those times and those days that we go through life and you look at us as you smile and you smile at us completely pleased there are those times that you look at us you you smile but you shake your head just like any parent does with their children and say okay they'll get it the next time there's other times that we just simply disappoint you and you wish better for us and you look forward to us learning and growing but God no matter the response that we bring out of you your love never changes never fails it's always there." [00:15:39]

"And so how do we make sure all that takes place? Yes. We have to come to realize that we were created for three very specific things in his terms of otherness, living outside of ourself. The way we live outside of ourself is understand who we are in relation to each other. And so the first thing we have to understand is we were created to be a part of God's kingdom." [00:44:43]

"When we become a part of God's kingdom, we become a citizen of God's kingdom. We are joint heirs with Jesus, brothers and sisters in Christ. We are all of these things that fit these descriptions. As a member of God's kingdom, we have rights, responsibilities, and privileges that those outside of the kingdom don't. There's something to be said for citizenship. There's something to be said for membership." [00:45:09]

"You have the responsibility of being witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all around the world. You have the responsibility of making disciples of all nations. You have the responsibility of supporting and helping and encouraging and living out a life full of one another's. All because you're a member of the kingdom." [00:47:45]

"When you become a part of the family of God, you take on the characteristics of Jesus. And because you hang out with other family members who are becoming like Jesus, we become a little more like each other. When the world sees us, the world should see Jesus. Because that's our family." [00:49:40]

"Jesus holds that place as the chief cornerstone of the building. I know what a cornerstone is. I know what a cornerstone does. And so I know the significance of Jesus being a cornerstone. Not just a cornerstone. The chief cornerstone. That cornerstone is the first thing that gets laid when you're putting up a building. It's going to carry the weight. It's going to set the direction." [00:50:46]

"Imagine a church that knew what each other needed, that did everything they could to make sure that everybody had what they needed. Imagine a church that paid attention to what the community was crying for around them and did all that they could to take away the cry. Imagine a church that was so others-focused that everybody says, that's what it's about." [00:56:10]

"Jesus, when he came, came to be about his father's business. His ministry wasn't about him. It was about pointing others towards his father. As he walked the earth, it wasn't about him being served. It was about him serving others. As he looked towards the cross, it wasn't his life, it was the life of others. That's what it means to live beyond ourself. It's really that simple." [00:58:01]

"Jesus, you gave us the example of what it means to serve. Your life was that perfect example of purpose and intentionality. Your life was that perfect example of what it means to sacrifice and to give for the sake of others. God, many of us in the room have had that feeling. We've had that sensation. We've had that joy and that contentment that comes with serving and making a difference." [01:02:57]

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