Living Purposefully: Investing in Community and Spiritual Growth

 

Summary

In my sermon, I emphasized the importance of living a life of purpose, investing in others, and the transformative power of the church community. I stressed that the growth of the church, both at a local and global level, requires a shift from passive participation to active investment in the community. I highlighted the importance of understanding and helping each other, and the need to balance our focus between the lost and the found. I also emphasized the importance of pouring out blessings, grace, acceptance, mercy, and teachings of Jesus, rather than trying to correct others ourselves.

In the second part of my sermon, I discussed the importance of living a life attached to the King, rather than to our flesh. I explained how the Holy Spirit equips us with unique talents and abilities, and how salvation and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit can transform our lives. I also touched on the dangers of allowing worldly distractions to pull us away from our spiritual purpose. I concluded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining our spiritual spark and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.

Key Takeaways:
1. The growth of the church requires active investment and participation from its members. We need to understand and help each other, and balance our focus between the lost and the found ([57:27 ]).
2. We are called to pour out blessings, grace, acceptance, mercy, and teachings of Jesus, rather than trying to correct others ourselves ([59:38 ]).
3. Living a life attached to the King, rather than to our flesh, brings true life. The Holy Spirit equips us with unique talents and abilities, and transforms our lives ([26:41 ]).
4. We must guard against allowing worldly distractions to pull us away from our spiritual purpose ([27:19 ]).
5. It's crucial to maintain our spiritual spark and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives ([01:44 ]).

Study Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Jeremiah 29:11 - [34:28 ]
2. 1 Samuel 17 (David and Goliath) - [33:54 ]
3. Ephesians 5:25 (Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her) - [32:11 ]

Observation Questions:
1. In Jeremiah 29:11, what are the plans that God has for us?
2. In the story of David and Goliath, what was David's attitude towards the giant?
3. In Ephesians 5:25, what does it mean for husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church?

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jeremiah 29:11 relate to the concept of God's purpose for our lives?
2. What can we learn from David's faith and courage in facing Goliath?
3. How does Ephesians 5:25 instruct husbands in their role within marriage?

Application Questions:
1. How can you seek to understand God's plans for your life this week, as mentioned in Jeremiah 29:11?
2. Can you identify a "Goliath" in your life right now? How can you confront it with faith like David?
3. If you are married, how can you love your spouse sacrificially this week, as Christ loved the church? If you are not married, how can you demonstrate this kind of sacrificial love in your relationships?

Devotional

Day 1: Accepting the Invitation Daily

We are invited daily to walk in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This invitation is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires daily discipleship and repentance. The moment we stop accepting this daily invitation, our inspiration dwindles. We are invaluable in the eyes of God, and this value is not tied to our age or worldly achievements, but to our eternal purpose in Him ([49:04]).

1 Corinthians 12:22 - "On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable."

Reflection: How can you actively accept God's invitation in your daily life?

Day 2: Surrendering to Jesus Christ Daily

To fully exercise our Holy Spirit-inspired purpose, we must surrender to Jesus Christ daily. This surrender involves letting go of worldly distractions and seeking wisdom and guidance from Jesus in every situation. Our purpose is to live out the promises of Jesus under the direction of the Holy Spirit for the benefit of others ([29:03]).

Matthew 16:24 - "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'"

Reflection: What worldly distractions do you need to surrender to Jesus today?

Day 3: Embracing the Sacrifice of Covenant

Walking out our purpose involves embracing the sacrifice that comes with being in covenant with Jesus. This sacrifice is not about personal gain, but about selflessness and fellowship. The greater the covenant, the greater the sacrifice, and vice versa ([32:11]).

Hebrews 9:15 - "For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant."

Reflection: What sacrifices are you willing to make to uphold your covenant with Jesus?

Day 4: Being a Daily Disciple

Being a disciple of Jesus involves daily commitment and action. It's not enough to know the Word of God; we must also apply it in our lives to take down the Goliaths we face. Our purpose is to live under the direction of the Holy Spirit, being daily discipled by Jesus Christ ([33:18]).

Luke 9:23 - "Then he said to them all: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.'"

Reflection: How can you apply the Word of God in your daily life to overcome your personal Goliaths?

Day 5: Embracing the Holy Spirit's Equipping

The Holy Spirit equips us with exactly what we need to fulfill our unique purpose. He enhances our abilities, talents, and giftings, transforming us from ordinary to extraordinary. However, we must be careful not to let worldly distractions steal away this divine equipping ([26:41]).

Ephesians 4:11-12 - "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

Reflection: How can you better embrace the Holy Spirit's equipping in your life?

Quotes

1. "The Holy Spirit equips your frame, he gives you exactly what you need, not the armory of somebody else, not the big shoes of somebody else, not the faith of somebody else. He equips your abilities, your unique talents, your unique giftings and he says they're good. But check this out, and he hits you with salvation and he hits you with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and all of a sudden you go from gray to living in 7D color and light and wind and smells and the whole world lights up." - 26:06

2. "You have no idea how much one conversation, one word of encouragement, one expression of love might just change someone else's life. And finally, if we're walking out on purpose, we're walking out a life of investing in others. The church needs to change. We need people that are invested completely in the fact that when these people come together, we're invaluable, we're inspired, we've been invited to be together as the body of Christ." - 57:06

3. "If you've been rejected, you are standing in line with a king who will never reject you. If you're lowly, he will never reject you. If you're humble, he will never reject you. If you're vulnerable, he will never reject you. But when you start attaching your success to your own flesh, your invitation gets a bit dim, not because it's not there, but because you can't see it." - 42:58

4. "David wasn't scared of his size because he knew the size of his God. The anointing of his salvation had not worn off in the mundanity of looking after the sheep. He was still just as on fire for God as he was when he was called up and said you're the next king. He was still on fire many years later despite his mistakes." - 19:58

5. "The Holy Spirit is our divine source of inspiration and he guides us through life by giving us incredible gifts that we can use right then in the moment to achieve great things. The Holy Spirit is not just operating in your church life, he's operating in your life. Know that he will give you incredible things. You are inspired." - 42:58

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Transcript
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