Living Out Our Purpose: Agents of Shalom
Summary
In my sermon, I began by sharing a bit about my background, highlighting my 27 years of pastoral experience and my current work helping people connect with their stories and see how God is writing a story through them. I emphasized the joy that God has wired us to experience and the importance of living into the purpose He has for us each day. I reminded the congregation of the foundational truth that we are chosen and adopted into God's family, saved by grace through faith, and created for good works, as outlined in Ephesians 1 and 2.
I then invited those who might not yet be followers of Christ to consider the possibility of a loving God who desires to pour love, light, and life into them. This led into a prayer for openness to God's presence and a readiness to delve into Jeremiah 29.
I recounted my time serving a church in Newport Beach, overseeing a significant missions budget, and how a conversation with Tim Keller inspired my wife and me to leave that comfortable position to serve in downtown Los Angeles. This experience gave rise to the "7-11 principle," which I explained as the connection between seeking the welfare of the city (Jeremiah 29:7) and the blessings promised in Jeremiah 29:11.
I discussed the importance of hermeneutics, the art and science of biblical interpretation, and the dangers of both over-contextualizing and under-contextualizing Scripture. I stressed that while Jeremiah 29 was written to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, its principles apply to us today, encouraging us to seek the peace and prosperity of the city where God has placed us.
I shared the concept of shalom, a Hebrew word meaning peace that encompasses a holistic improvement in all areas of life. I urged the congregation to be agents of shalom, weaving together what is torn in our world, and to be appetizers of the goodness of God, whetting people's appetite for the fullness of Christ's return.
I concluded with a call to prayer for those who do not yet know Christ and for Christians to be reminded of their identity in Him, to rest in His grace, and to be empowered to serve and bless others.
Key Takeaways:
1. God has wired us for joy, and our chief purpose is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever. This joy is not just an abstract concept but a tangible experience that we are meant to live out daily as we fulfill the purposes He has for us. ([25:50])
2. Our identity as chosen and adopted children of God is foundational before we consider our call to serve. We must remember that we are saved by grace, not by our works, and this unearned love empowers us to do good works joyfully. ([26:49])
3. The "7-11 principle" teaches us that the blessings of Jeremiah 29:11 are connected to our obedience in seeking the welfare of the city as outlined in Jeremiah 29:7. We are blessed to be a blessing, and in doing so, we find our own peace and prosperity. ([45:41])
4. Shalom, or God's peace, is about the restoration and weaving together of all that is broken. As believers, we are called to be agents of shalom in our cities, workplaces, and relationships, offering glimpses of God's ultimate restoration. ([55:36])
5. Prayer is essential as we seek to live out our calling. It is not by our power but by God's power in Jesus Christ that we can be secure and live courageously, sharing our gifts and experiencing the blessings of serving others. ([01:00:46])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Jeremiah 29:1-11 (ESV)
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions does God give to the exiles in Babylon in Jeremiah 29:5-7?
2. How does the sermon describe the "7-11 principle" and its connection to Jeremiah 29:7 and 29:11? ([45:41])
3. What does the term "shalom" mean according to the sermon, and how is it described in Jeremiah 29:7? ([55:36])
4. What foundational truths about our identity in Christ are highlighted from Ephesians 1 and 2 in the sermon? ([25:50])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon emphasize the importance of understanding our identity as chosen and adopted children of God before considering our call to serve? ([26:49])
2. How does the "7-11 principle" challenge the common interpretation of Jeremiah 29:11 as a promise of personal prosperity? ([45:41])
3. In what ways does the concept of shalom extend beyond personal peace to include the welfare of the community? ([55:36])
4. How does the sermon suggest that prayer plays a role in seeking the welfare of the city and experiencing God's blessings? ([01:00:46])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily life. How can you intentionally seek the welfare of your city or community this week? ([42:02])
2. The sermon mentions that we are wired for joy and that serving others can bring us joy. Can you recall a time when serving others brought you joy? How can you seek similar opportunities? ([47:35])
3. Considering the "7-11 principle," what are some practical ways you can be a blessing to others before expecting blessings for yourself? ([45:41])
4. The sermon talks about being agents of shalom. Identify one area in your life or community that is "torn" and needs restoration. How can you contribute to weaving it back together? ([55:36])
5. How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to seek God's guidance and blessings for your community? ([01:00:46])
6. The sermon emphasizes remembering our identity in Christ. What steps can you take to remind yourself daily of your identity as a chosen and adopted child of God? ([26:49])
7. Think about a specific gift or talent you have. How can you use this gift to serve and bless others in your community this week? ([53:58])
Devotional
Day 1: Joy in Divine Purpose
God has intricately designed each individual for a life filled with joy that emanates from living out His divine purpose. This joy is not a fleeting emotion but a profound state of being that arises from glorifying God and enjoying Him in every aspect of life. It is a joy that is meant to be experienced daily, not just in moments of spiritual highs but in the mundane and ordinary, as one steps into the roles and opportunities God has laid out. This joy is a testament to the Creator's intention for humanity to thrive in a relationship with Him, where one's purpose aligns with divine will, leading to a fulfilling and abundant life.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." (Romans 15:13)
Reflection: How can you intentionally seek joy in your daily activities as an expression of living out God's purpose for you?
Day 2: Identity Rooted in Grace
Understanding one's identity as a chosen and adopted child of God is the cornerstone of a life of service. This identity is not earned by deeds but is a gift of grace, a love so profound that it empowers individuals to engage in good works with a joyful heart. Remembering this foundational truth provides the strength and motivation to serve others, not out of obligation but out of gratitude for the unmerited favor received. It is in this understanding that one can truly embrace their calling and serve with the joy and freedom that comes from being secure in God's love.
"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)
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of your identity in Christ to fuel your service to others with joy and not obligation?
Day 3: Blessed to Bless
The "7-11 principle" highlights the profound connection between seeking the welfare of the city and the personal blessings promised by God. This principle teaches that one's own peace and prosperity are intertwined with the well-being of the community. By being a blessing to others, individuals open themselves up to receive God's blessings in return. It is a call to active engagement in the world, to contribute to the common good, and to trust that in doing so, God's promises of hope and a future will unfold.
"But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:7)
Reflection: What is one practical way you can seek the welfare of your community this week, trusting that God will bless your efforts?
Day 4: Agents of Shalom
Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, encompasses much more than the absence of conflict; it represents the presence of wholeness and the restoration of all that is broken. As believers, the call to be agents of shalom is a call to actively participate in God's work of healing and reconciliation in the world. It is about bringing together the fragmented pieces of our societies, relationships, and selves, to reflect the holistic peace that will be fully realized when Christ returns.
"Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:14)
Reflection: Where do you see brokenness in your immediate environment, and how can you be an agent of shalom there today?
Day 5: Empowered by Prayer
Prayer is the vital lifeline that empowers believers to live out their calling. It is through prayer that individuals find the strength to share their gifts, serve others, and experience the fullness of God's blessings. Prayer is an acknowledgment of dependence on God's power rather than one's own, and it is the means by which believers can rest in His grace and be emboldened to act courageously in the world.
"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14)
Reflection: How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to seek God's empowerment for serving and blessing others?
Quotes
1) "We listen to God's word. You have your Bibles open. It's fantastic. But I want to remind us, us spending time in God's word and in worship should never be forgotten. It should naturally lead us to blessing others. Because as we remember who we are in Christ, we are compelled to live our lives as a big thank you." [01:03:25]
2) "See, it's not that God loves us because of what we do. We're saved by grace. The overflow comes as we receive and then say, Lord, use me. Every week. See, God wants you to remember who you are before he tells you what to do. Who are you in Christ? Then he says, go and serve." [01:04:14]
3) "So that 7-11 principle reminds us that we are blessed to be a blessing. That's how God has made you. That's how he's planned for you. Lastly, we pray. Some of us are hurting. Receive prayer. You have an opportunity today to get prayed for." [01:04:50]
4) "The Westminster Catechism, you've never heard it before, has been something that has guided my life. And it says this in the opening lines, says the chief end of mankind. Is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. It's that enjoy him piece that I think some of us who's grown up in the church, we miss that part that God has made you and wired you for joy." [25:50]
5) "For by grace you've been saved through faith, and this is not from your own doing. It is the gift of God, not as a result of work, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before him that we should walk in them." [26:49]
6) "The 7-11 principle says this, that God promises blessing to those who seek the blessing of the city, of others, of their neighbors. Don't expect 11 unless you're doing 7. Seek the peace and prosperity of the city in which I have sent you. And I have a plan for you, says the Lord." [45:41]
7) "God wants to bless you. He wants to bless you immensely so that you will be sharing your gifts with others. So perhaps God brought you here not to just improve your life but to bless others. See, God does not tell us in Jeremiah to seek the prosperity of ourselves, really." [47:35]
8) "You are blessed to be a blessing, people of God. God wants to pour into you and pour through you. And in that pouring through you, you will experience joy and fulfillment and purpose and meaning as you share the gifts that God has given you." [51:31]
9) "Pray to the Lord for it, for in its shalom you will find your shalom. Verse 11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for shalom and not harm, plans that give you a hope and a future. Now, in the Hebrew mind, shalom means a weaving back together." [55:36]
10) "God's shalom isn't meant to just simply be a privatized experience. Imagine God's shalom coming onto planet Earth in full, no more pollution. That's shalom, right? No one's sleeping on the streets. That's shalom. Rich and poor sitting together to eat. That's shalom, right?" [58:12]
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