Living Purposefully Through Jesus: Transforming Lives and Generations
Summary
In my sermon, I discussed the importance of living a life of purpose through Jesus's sacrifice. I emphasized that through Jesus, we can save generations from sin, create real communities built around faith, hope, and love, and make anything possible. I highlighted that our purpose is not just about our future but also about the present moment. I also stressed that through Jesus, we can overcome shame, sins, struggles, and uncertainties about our future. I concluded by encouraging everyone to live a purpose-driven life, reminding them that through Jesus, they can change the trajectory of their family's life forever.
Key Takeaways:
- Living a life of purpose through Jesus's sacrifice can save generations from sin [ 19:55]
- Through Jesus, we can create real communities built around faith, hope, and love [ 22:19]
- Jesus makes anything possible, including overcoming shame, sins, struggles, and uncertainties about our future [ 23:01]
- We can change the trajectory of our family's life forever by living a purpose-driven life [ 21:06]
- Our purpose is not just about our future but also about the present moment [ 21:43]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Mark 15:33-41 #!!09:36!!#
2. Mark 16:1-6, 15 #!!16:05!!#
Observation Questions:
1. What are the key events that take place in Mark 15:33-41 and Mark 16:1-6, 15?
2. How do the women react when they find the tomb empty in Mark 16:1-6?
3. What is the significance of Jesus' command in Mark 16:15?
Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' cry of abandonment in Mark 15:34 reveal about his experience on the cross?
2. How does the resurrection of Jesus in Mark 16:1-6 affirm the truth of his divinity?
3. What does Jesus' command in Mark 16:15 reveal about the mission of his followers?
Application Questions:
1. How does the reality of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection impact your understanding of God's love for you?
2. In what ways can you live out Jesus' command in Mark 16:15 in your daily life?
3. How can you demonstrate the reality of Jesus' resurrection to those around you?
4. Can you think of a situation where you felt abandoned like Jesus did on the cross? How did you respond and what can you learn from Jesus' response?
5. How can you contribute to creating a community built around faith, hope, and love in your own context?
Devotional
Day 1: Changing the Trajectory of Your Family's Life
By choosing to follow God and instilling these values in your children, you are altering the course of your family's future. This decision to live a life of faith has a ripple effect that extends beyond your immediate circumstances and into the generations to come. It's not just about the present moment, but about the lasting legacy you're creating ([21:08]).
Bible Passage: Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."
Reflection: How are you actively shaping the spiritual trajectory of your family?
Day 2: Building Real Communities
Living through Jesus's sacrifice allows us to create genuine communities centered around faith, hope, and love. These communities stand in stark contrast to those built on mistrust, hurt, and fear. Through Kingdom living, we find authentic connection and fellowship ([22:19]).
Bible Passage: Romans 12:10 - "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Reflection: How can you contribute to building a community of faith, hope, and love?
Day 3: Making the Impossible Possible
Through Jesus's sacrifice, we are empowered to overcome our struggles and limitations. Shame, sin, and uncertainty no longer have the final say in our lives. With God, all things are possible, and we can step into the identity He has for us ([23:01]).
Bible Passage: Matthew 19:26 - "Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
Reflection: What seemingly impossible situation are you trusting God to transform in your life?
Day 4: The Purpose of the Church
The purpose of the church, and of us as believers, is to live out the sacrifice of Jesus. Through this, we can save generations from sin and bring them into the knowledge of God's love. Our lives should be a reflection of Jesus, drawing others to Him ([19:55]).
Bible Passage: 1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Reflection: How are you living out the purpose of Jesus's sacrifice in your daily life?
Day 5: The Power of Jesus's Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. It signifies the victory over sin and death, and the promise of eternal life. This event is not just a historical fact, but a transformative reality that changes our lives today ([17:17]).
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Reflection: How does the reality of Jesus's resurrection impact your daily life?
Quotes
1. "By you sitting in here right now and taking your kids to church, you are changing the trajectory of your family's life forever. When we make decisions to follow God over time, our trajectory goes way higher than if you're trying to do it on your own." - 21:06
2. "When you live your life, you live Kingdom living through me, you'll find real communities that are built around faith, hope, and love. God can make anything possible for you to switch that perspective to walk into the identity that God has for you." - 15:31
3. "It's usually the moment where I let it go and I say oh my gosh I can't do it, I've been trying to do this for months on end, God swoops in and helps me. I think about the pandemic 2020, man I didn't want to work in my job anymore and I remember through the pandemic when there's no jobs available, I'm frantically applying for jobs every single day, stressing myself out, being frustrated about where I am in life and after a year and a half years finally the moment I say I'm literally sitting where y'all are sitting right now crying my eyes out saying God foreign take this from me." - 23:47
4. "Jesus was just betrayed by Judas which is one of his disciples, one of the people that literally spent every single day with him following him through his his ministry. Once he was arrested he was brought to pilate this is the Roman governor who was ruling over the Israelites at this time and this was all happening during the Passover season which is a very important time of the year." - 07:22
5. "We could be in a season of greatness in one second and then just in a span of One day things can shift and we're feeling like we're carrying the whole weight of the world on our shoulders. You don't need to raise your hand but who has ever felt that I mean I felt that this month to be honest." - 07:22