Living with Purpose: Embracing God's Mission and Love
Summary
In our journey of faith, it's crucial to remember that we are on a mission, much like the group of believers who moved to Ohio with a clear purpose. They didn't relocate for leisure but to be a testimony, to stand up for the things of God, and to love people. This sense of mission can sometimes be lost in the routine of life, where we forget the passion and purpose that should drive us. When we look at the life of Christ, we see a man filled with passion and emotion, not going through the motions but deeply invested in his mission. Jesus' heart was in everything he did, and this is evident in the passage from Luke 19, where he weeps over Jerusalem. His tears were not of anger or frustration but of deep love and sorrow for a people who did not recognize the peace he offered.
Jesus' lament over Jerusalem is a powerful reminder of God's love for His people, a love that is evident throughout the Bible. Despite their rebellion, God continually reached out to the Jewish people, offering them protection, provision, and ultimately, salvation through His Son. This love story is not just for the Jews but for all of us. God desires to gather us under His protection, to teach us a way of life that leads to peace and fulfillment. Yet, like the people of Jerusalem, we often turn away, choosing our own path over His.
The destruction of Jerusalem, as prophesied by Jesus, serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's offer of forgiveness and salvation. It's a call to examine our own lives, to recognize our need for God's grace, and to accept the forgiveness offered through Christ's sacrifice. God is not a distant judge but a loving Father who desires a relationship with us, who weeps over our rebellion and longs to bless us beyond our imagination.
In our church, we must strive to create a space where people can truly interact with God, a place of prayer and transformation. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we must allow God to cleanse our hearts, driving out anything impure and replacing it with His love and truth. This is not a harsh act but a loving one, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him and a life of purpose and peace.
Key Takeaways:
- Mission and Purpose: We are called to live with a sense of mission, much like the believers who moved to Ohio. Our lives should be a testimony to God's love and truth, not just a routine of going through the motions. This requires a conscious effort to remember why we are here and to live with passion and purpose. [01:44]
- Jesus' Passion and Love: Jesus' life was marked by deep passion and love, as seen in his weeping over Jerusalem. His tears were not of anger but of sorrow for a people who did not recognize the peace he offered. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and to care deeply for those who do not yet know Christ. [05:56]
- God's Love Story: The Bible is a love story of God's relentless pursuit of His people, despite their rebellion. He desires to gather us under His protection and to teach us a way of life that leads to peace and fulfillment. This love is not just for the Jews but for all of us, and it calls us to respond with faith and obedience. [07:42]
- Consequences of Rejection: The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's offer of forgiveness and salvation. It's a call to examine our own lives, to recognize our need for God's grace, and to accept the forgiveness offered through Christ's sacrifice. [17:44]
- Creating a House of Prayer: Our church should be a place where people can truly interact with God, a place of prayer and transformation. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we must allow God to cleanse our hearts, driving out anything impure and replacing it with His love and truth. This is not a harsh act but a loving one, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him. [25:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Ohio Mission
- [01:08] - Purposeful Living
- [02:23] - Passion of Christ
- [03:51] - Jesus Weeps for Jerusalem
- [05:25] - God's Love for His People
- [07:25] - Rebellion and Redemption
- [09:08] - Ultimate Act of Love
- [10:27] - Questions and Belief
- [12:31] - True Submission
- [14:10] - Prophecy Fulfilled
- [17:29] - Consequences of Rejection
- [19:08] - Accepting Forgiveness
- [21:00] - God's Heart for Us
- [22:18] - Cleansing the Temple
- [25:01] - Creating a House of Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 19:41-44
- Psalm 81:13-14
- Isaiah 48:18
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 19:41-44, what was Jesus' emotional response as he approached Jerusalem, and what did he express about the city? [03:51]
2. According to the sermon, what was the mission of the group of believers who moved to Ohio, and how did they embody their purpose? [01:28]
3. How does the sermon describe Jesus' actions and emotions during his ministry, particularly in relation to his mission? [02:36]
4. What were the consequences mentioned in the sermon for Jerusalem's rejection of Jesus, and how were these consequences historically fulfilled? [14:47]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does Jesus' weeping over Jerusalem reveal about his character and his relationship with the people of Jerusalem? [05:39]
2. How does the sermon illustrate the concept of living with a sense of mission and purpose, and why is this important for believers today? [01:44]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's love story with humanity is evident throughout the Bible, and how does this relate to our personal faith journey? [07:42]
4. How does the sermon interpret the cleansing of the temple by Jesus, and what does this act symbolize for believers in terms of personal transformation? [22:18]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you feel you are just going through the motions rather than living with passion and purpose? How can you reignite your sense of mission? [02:11]
2. Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they did not recognize the peace he offered. Is there someone in your life who does not know Christ? How can you show them the love and peace of Jesus this week? [05:56]
3. The sermon mentions the consequences of rejecting God's offer of forgiveness. How do you respond to God's grace in your daily life, and are there areas where you need to seek His forgiveness? [17:44]
4. Consider the idea of creating a "house of prayer" in your own life. What steps can you take to ensure your heart is a place where you truly interact with God? [25:01]
5. The sermon highlights the importance of allowing God to cleanse our hearts. Are there specific impurities or distractions in your life that you need to address? How can you invite God to transform these areas? [28:13]
6. Reflect on the love story of God pursuing His people despite their rebellion. How does this narrative impact your understanding of God's love for you personally? [07:42]
7. The believers who moved to Ohio intentionally sought jobs to interact with others and share their faith. How can you incorporate intentionality in your daily interactions to be a testimony of God's love? [01:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Living with Intentional Mission
In our journey of faith, we are called to live with a sense of mission and purpose, much like the believers who moved to Ohio with a clear goal. They were not seeking comfort or leisure but were driven by a desire to be a testimony to God's love and truth. This requires a conscious effort to remember why we are here and to live with passion and purpose. It is easy to fall into the routine of life and forget the mission that should drive us. We must continually remind ourselves of our calling and strive to live intentionally, allowing our lives to reflect God's love and truth to those around us. [01:44]
"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 specific steps can you take today to live more intentionally in your mission for God? How can you ensure that your daily actions reflect your purpose in Christ?
Day 2: Embracing Jesus' Passion and Love
Jesus' life was marked by deep passion and love, as seen in his weeping over Jerusalem. His tears were not of anger but of sorrow for a people who did not recognize the peace he offered. This challenges us to examine our own hearts and to care deeply for those who do not yet know Christ. Jesus' heart was in everything he did, and he was deeply invested in his mission. We are called to follow his example, to be moved with compassion for others, and to let our hearts be filled with love and passion for God's work. [05:56]
"And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, 'Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.'" (Luke 19:41-42, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience the love and peace of Christ? How can you show them Jesus' passion and love today?
Day 3: Understanding God's Relentless Love Story
The Bible is a love story of God's relentless pursuit of His people, despite their rebellion. He desires to gather us under His protection and to teach us a way of life that leads to peace and fulfillment. This love is not just for the Jews but for all of us, and it calls us to respond with faith and obedience. God's love is evident throughout the Bible, and He continually reaches out to us, offering protection, provision, and salvation through His Son. We are invited to embrace this love and allow it to transform our lives. [07:42]
"How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you experienced God's relentless love in your life? How can you respond to His love with faith and obedience today?
Day 4: Heeding the Consequences of Rejection
The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's offer of forgiveness and salvation. It's a call to examine our own lives, to recognize our need for God's grace, and to accept the forgiveness offered through Christ's sacrifice. God is not a distant judge but a loving Father who desires a relationship with us. He weeps over our rebellion and longs to bless us beyond our imagination. We must be mindful of the choices we make and the paths we choose, ensuring that we do not turn away from God's offer of grace. [17:44]
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it." (Deuteronomy 30:15-16, ESV)
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are rejecting God's grace? What steps can you take to accept His forgiveness and walk in His ways today?
Day 5: Creating a House of Prayer
Our church should be a place where people can truly interact with God, a place of prayer and transformation. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we must allow God to cleanse our hearts, driving out anything impure and replacing it with His love and truth. This is not a harsh act but a loving one, leading us to a deeper relationship with Him and a life of purpose and peace. We are called to create spaces, both in our churches and in our hearts, where God's presence can dwell and where transformation can occur. [25:01]
"Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple." (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, ESV)
Reflection: What impurities or distractions are hindering your relationship with God? How can you create a space in your life for prayer and transformation today?
Quotes
We are called to live with a sense of mission, much like the believers who moved to Ohio. Our lives should be a testimony to God's love and truth, not just a routine of going through the motions. This requires a conscious effort to remember why we are here and to live with passion and purpose. [00:01:44]
Jesus did not go through the motions; his heart, his passion was in so much of what he did. This passage we're looking at today just shows how Jesus had so much emotion behind what he did. He had such a heart for people; he was consumed with that. [00:02:36]
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it. That verb there, when it says that he wept, it literally means that he just kind of burst into tears. It was like a wailing. You ever noticed that then after everyone's screaming hosana, the next thing this gospel records is Jesus then looking at the city of Jerusalem and then just balling his eyes out, bursting into tears, just weeping over this place. [00:03:47]
If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace, but now it's hidden from your eyes. See, Jesus comes and he sees the Jewish people, he sees Jerusalem, and you got to understand something: God loves Jerusalem. I don't know how you can read the Bible and not get that God absolutely loves, loves, loves the Jewish people. [00:04:30]
If you only knew why I was here, if you guys could only get it, understand why I'm here for the city, it's for you. If you knew, I just want to bring you to peace with God, but you don't get it, you just don't get it, and he just starts crying. Have you ever pictured that scene in your mind? [00:05:18]
If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quick would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. He says, man, if you guys would just listen to me, man, I would turn all your enemies away, I would just subdue them all, but you're not listening. [00:06:22]
God's ultimate act of love for the Jews, he says, you know what, even though you rebel against me again, I'm gonna have my son come down. He's going to take the form of a baby, and as he grows up, becomes a man, he is going to be nailed on a cross, and he is going to pay for all of your crimes. [00:09:01]
The destruction of Jerusalem serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of rejecting God's offer of forgiveness and salvation. It's a call to examine our own lives, to recognize our need for God's grace, and to accept the forgiveness offered through Christ's sacrifice. [00:17:44]
The best thing we could do as a church here is to drive out anything that is false, anything that's impure, anything that's not of God, because Jesus says that this was supposed to be a House of Prayer. Now, what is prayer? Prayer is when you talk to God, you interact with the Living God. [00:25:01]
This Temple is supposed to be a place where you interact with the Living God, and the best thing we can do is drive out anything that would make this seem like a show or something for you to sit back and watch or whatever else and make this a place where you interact with the Living God, an actual House of Prayer. [00:25:28]
This is supposed to be a room where you interact with God and you come before God and say, okay God, drive out anything in me that's not right because I'm passionate about that. That's one of the things that I'm passionate about, just like you. Just like Jesus cleansed out the temple. [00:27:46]
God's desire, his Holy Spirit's desire, is to come into us and say, let me just drive out those things that are impure and replace them with something so much better. That's all he wants because it's not a bad thing. It's painful at times, it's difficult at times, but only if we want to hold on to that sin. [00:28:17]
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