Living Intentionally: Embracing Our Mission for God

Summary

God's goodness and faithfulness are evident in our lives, and it's no accident that we find ourselves here today. As we embark on an important week, it's crucial to reflect on our life's mission statement. This statement defines who we are and who we strive to be. It's a guiding light that ensures our daily actions align with our core values. My mission is to help people encounter and understand the triune God and experience a piece of heaven on earth. This mission remains constant despite life's changes and challenges. It's about being intentional in every moment, ensuring that those who encounter us feel a touch of heaven, joy, peace, and healing.

Living intentionally means making choices that align with our mission. Our "yes" defines our "no," and boundaries are essential. Saying yes to God means saying no to the world. We must prioritize our commitments based on our mission, ensuring our choices reflect our dedication to God. In a world filled with diverse opinions and truths, we must anchor ourselves in the infallible truth of God's word. Truth is external, coming from God, not from within us. We must be Bible-immersed, allowing God's truth to guide our lives.

Daniel's life exemplifies living in the world but not of it. Despite being immersed in a culture contrary to his own, Daniel remained faithful to God. His commitment to God set him apart, allowing him to rise to prominence while maintaining his integrity. Like Daniel, we are called to engage with the world while holding fast to our allegiance to God. Our love for God should be evident in our actions, and we must be willing to stand for truth in challenging environments.

As we navigate this week, we must choose between light and darkness, God and the world. Our allegiance should be solely to God, and we must live out our mission with excellence. We are called to be salt and light, fully engaged in the world, yet distinct in our commitment to Christ. God desires exclusive rights to our hearts, and we must choose to live intentionally, embracing our mission to impact the world for His glory.

Key Takeaways:

- Intentional Living: Our life's mission statement is a guiding light that ensures our daily actions align with our core values. By being intentional, we can live a life that reflects our commitment to God and impacts those around us positively. [03:33]

- The Power of Choice: Our "yes" defines our "no," and setting boundaries is crucial. By prioritizing our commitments based on our mission, we ensure our choices reflect our dedication to God, allowing us to live a life of purpose and integrity. [06:24]

- Truth from God: In a world filled with diverse opinions, we must anchor ourselves in the infallible truth of God's word. Truth is external, coming from God, and we must be Bible-immersed, allowing His truth to guide our lives and decisions. [11:13]

- Engaging with the World: Like Daniel, we are called to live in the world but not of it. Our commitment to God should set us apart, allowing us to engage with the world while maintaining our integrity and allegiance to God. [22:37]

- Exclusive Allegiance to God: Our love for God should be evident in our actions, and we must be willing to stand for truth in challenging environments. God desires exclusive rights to our hearts, and we must choose to live intentionally, embracing our mission to impact the world for His glory. [35:01]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [03:33] - The Importance of a Life's Mission
- [05:02] - The Power of Yes and No
- [06:24] - Choices and Boundaries
- [07:07] - Embracing Diversity and Unity
- [08:13] - Navigating Tough Conversations
- [11:13] - The Source of Truth
- [12:06] - Two Options: God or the World
- [13:17] - Commitment to God
- [14:35] - Light and Darkness
- [16:31] - Litmus Test of Allegiance
- [20:30] - Daniel's Example
- [22:37] - Living in the World, Not of It
- [24:44] - Daniel's Faithfulness
- [27:53] - The Battle of Light and Darkness
- [31:20] - Exclusive Allegiance to God
- [33:01] - Choosing Life and Goodness
- [35:01] - Mission to the World

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 1:1-9 - The Word and the Light
2. Daniel 1:1-21 - Daniel's Faithfulness in Babylon
3. Deuteronomy 30:14-20 - Choose Life and Goodness

#### Observation Questions
1. What does John 1:1-9 reveal about the nature of Jesus as the Word and the Light? How does this passage describe the relationship between light and darkness?
2. In Daniel 1, how did Daniel and his friends maintain their faithfulness to God while living in a foreign culture? What specific actions did they take to remain distinct? [22:37]
3. According to Deuteronomy 30:14-20, what are the consequences of choosing life and goodness versus choosing death and evil? How does this passage emphasize the importance of obedience to God?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of Jesus as the Light in John 1 relate to the idea of living intentionally and being a guiding light in our own lives? [14:35]
2. In what ways does Daniel's example in Babylon illustrate the sermon’s message about living in the world but not being of it? How can this be applied to modern-day challenges? [22:37]
3. How does the choice between life and death in Deuteronomy 30 reflect the sermon’s emphasis on making intentional choices that align with our mission and values? [33:01]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life's mission statement. How does it guide your daily decisions and interactions with others? If you don't have one, what steps can you take to create one? [03:33]
2. Consider a recent decision where you had to say "no" to something in order to say "yes" to a higher priority. How did that decision align with your core values and mission? [06:24]
3. In what ways can you immerse yourself more deeply in God's Word to ensure that His truth guides your life, especially in a world filled with diverse opinions? [11:13]
4. How can you engage with the world around you while maintaining your integrity and allegiance to God, similar to Daniel's example? What specific actions can you take this week? [22:37]
5. Identify an area in your life where you feel torn between worldly desires and your commitment to God. What practical steps can you take to choose God more consistently? [13:17]
6. How can you be a source of light and joy to those around you, ensuring that your presence reflects a piece of heaven on earth? [03:33]
7. Reflect on a challenging environment you are currently facing. How can you stand for truth and demonstrate your exclusive allegiance to God in that situation? [35:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Living with Purposeful Intent

Living intentionally means aligning your daily actions with your core values and mission. This involves making conscious choices that reflect your commitment to God and positively impact those around you. By having a clear mission statement, you can navigate life's challenges with a sense of purpose and direction. This mission acts as a guiding light, helping you to prioritize your commitments and set boundaries that honor your dedication to God. In a world filled with distractions, intentional living requires a steadfast focus on what truly matters, ensuring that your life is a testament to God's goodness and faithfulness. [03:33]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific action you can take today to align your life more closely with your mission statement?

Day 2: The Power of Boundaries

Understanding the power of choice is crucial in living a life of purpose and integrity. Your "yes" defines your "no," and setting boundaries is essential to maintaining your focus on God's mission for your life. By prioritizing your commitments based on your mission, you ensure that your choices reflect your dedication to God. This means saying yes to God often requires saying no to worldly distractions and temptations. Establishing clear boundaries helps you to live intentionally, making decisions that honor God and align with your core values. [06:24]

"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life." (Proverbs 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you need to set a boundary to protect your commitment to God. What steps can you take today to establish this boundary?

Day 3: Anchored in God's Truth

In a world filled with diverse opinions and subjective truths, anchoring yourself in the infallible truth of God's word is vital. Truth is external, coming from God, and it is through immersing yourself in the Bible that you allow His truth to guide your life and decisions. By being Bible-immersed, you can discern the difference between worldly opinions and God's eternal truth. This foundation enables you to navigate life's complexities with wisdom and clarity, ensuring that your actions and beliefs are rooted in the unchanging truth of God's word. [11:13]

"Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." (John 17:17, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more time in God's word into your daily routine to ensure His truth guides your decisions?

Day 4: Engaging with Integrity

Like Daniel, you are called to live in the world but not of it. Your commitment to God should set you apart, allowing you to engage with the world while maintaining your integrity and allegiance to God. Daniel's life exemplifies how one can rise to prominence in a culture contrary to their own while remaining faithful to God. By holding fast to your allegiance to God, you can engage with the world in a way that reflects His love and truth. This means being willing to stand for truth in challenging environments and ensuring that your actions demonstrate your love for God. [22:37]

"But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king's food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself." (Daniel 1:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you engage with the world around you while maintaining your integrity and commitment to God?

Day 5: Exclusive Allegiance to God

God desires exclusive rights to your heart, and your love for Him should be evident in your actions. This means choosing to live intentionally, embracing your mission to impact the world for His glory. As you navigate the choices between light and darkness, God and the world, your allegiance should be solely to God. By living out your mission with excellence, you become salt and light in the world, fully engaged yet distinct in your commitment to Christ. This exclusive allegiance to God requires a daily decision to prioritize His will above all else. [35:01]

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to demonstrate your exclusive allegiance to God in your daily life?

Quotes

1. "But God is so good and so faithful for each and every one of us and it's no accident that you find yourself here on this day so welcome this is a beautiful house to be a part of and you know the title of my message on the out we're kind of on the outlook going into a really important week is what side are you on are we gonna go there I'm kidding I'm not going there but it's a really important place to start on a week like this one you know a number of years ago I went to a leadership conference because I kind of am a little bit obsessed about leadership development and I went and I was talking about having a life's mission statement and it's just a statement that you have about yourself which has is defining who you are and defining the person that you are trying to be in this life how many people have a life's mission statement oh come on Femme yes and let me encourage you it's a really great exercise to do to give you direction I'm sure Meghan has one all the way why didn't you put your hand up it's because you work in that so you're like I don't want to be boring it's amazing it's amazing to be able to take a minute because what happens is then every part of my day is intentional I start the year and I look at and I go okay this is what I say I want to be am I walking in line with that what does mine what does the every month look like on the macro scale and then at the top of every month I take the first day of every month and I fast and I recalibrate what does this month look like am I in line am I in check and then I take about two three minutes at the start of every day we look at that what does each day look like for me I can tell you very quickly that my life's mission statement is to help people encounter and understand the triune God Father Son and Holy Spirit and help them to encounter and experience a little piece of heaven here on earth and whatever that looks like you know I've had so many different phases of my life I did this over a decade ago and so lots of different things have happened even as a teenager I've had lots of different jobs I've gone through different seasons but that mission statement stays the same why it's not about what I want to do it's about who at be in every moment to the people that I'm walking? How are people leaving my presence? Do they taste a little bit of heaven when they walk away?" ([00:00:00] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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2. "It's not going to, they won't, I can't give them joy. They won't experience it in the same way. Why? Because they're changing, and I'm changing. Their minds are changing. Their personalities are changing. Their emotions are changing. Everything about them is changing, so if I want to be consistent in my life's mission, I must be able to move in the cadence that they're operating in, in the seasons that they're working through, so that I can still be the person, God's called me to be, and that stands for workplace, that stands for friendships, that stands for family members, all of it." ([00:03:33] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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3. "Choices matter. The things that we say yes to matter. Why? It defines our no. When you define your yes, your no defines itself. That's why boundaries are so important. How many know boundaries are important in life? Hello, all the psychologists said amen. All the counselors said yes. Boundaries for the win. But yet your yes is one of the most important things that you have in this life. It's a weapon. So that your no doesn't live you. So that the things that you don't want to control, you don't control you." ([00:04:44] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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4. "We always say that there's such beautiful diversity. I call it the kaleidoscope of heaven. It's beautiful, but it's not skin deep. The diversity runs deeper. We are different in opinions. We are different in mindsets. We're in different, we're different historical backgrounds. Therefore, there are probably people in this room that think completely opposite politically to you. Diversity is great when it looks good, but when it gets to the reality of it, it's actually quite messy. And we've got to be okay with that. And we can't run from those tensions. The God of the universe created unity, but not uniformity." ([00:06:52] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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5. "Truth is the same thing. We will never find truth inside of us because we're all inherently fallen beings. Like even if truth was in us, it has to be an external truth. It has to be an external being infused into the fallibility. Do you know what I mean by that? The fallibility of humanity. God is infallible and he wants to infuse his infallible nature into us. And so the only way we can get truth is this God from the outside coming into our lives and filling us with the truth of his word." ([00:09:47] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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6. "And so if you're trying to find truth. If you're trying to find truth today and you're ruminating in your own head or in the social media or on the news net. Like guys, it's never going to, truth is never ever going to come from man. Because man is inherently evil. We're fallen. We're sinful. And there's always selfish desire attached to everything we do. Always. So be careful when you're coming in hot with your truth. Because your truth is only your truth because you don't know anything else outside of it. The real truth. I believe this word over my own emotions. I believe this word over my own opinions. I believe this word over what I think is, I deem to be true with the culture of this day. This is the inherent word of God. And that's why we say we are Bible immersed as a church. Bible immersed." ([00:10:19] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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7. "And so when we say that we believe in God and we love God, like we have to know that we know what we're saying because we need to, as a nation, as a community, as a bride, step outside of what we see and look at the world as it is. There are so many lies in this world, but God is a God of truth. There is so much darkness in this world, but our God is a God of light. There's only two options. And don't believe the hype when people tell you there's a third, fourth, fifth option. You can. You can. You can have a great life if you do the... There's only two options. And the Bible is really clear. You say yes to God or you say yes to the world. And that's it. That's it." ([00:12:17] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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8. "And so today, I always say, am I, I ask myself a few questions every morning, am I doing the thing that God has called me to? I look at my calendar, how am I doing the thing? How is it reflected in my calendar today? Am I allowing myself to live a life that is completely aligned with my love for Christ? Because the battle really is raging. And there's only two sides. And guess what, it's not Republican and Democrat." ([00:28:21] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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9. "And so as a church, we are going to devote ourselves to three things. Living in excellence at the very best of our ability in the world, in our language, in our lifestyle, in our excellence in our workplaces, in our attitudes to the people different to us. We're going to commit to the way of Christ. And not to the way of the world. Why? Because we are salt and light. And God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, He wants exclusive rights to our hearts. Exclusive rights. He wants our allegiance. And he wants us, thirdly, to be on mission to the world." ([00:34:36] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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10. "No matter how lost, no matter how broken the world feels. Fully engaged." ([00:35:34] (8 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Chatbot

Transcript

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