Maximizing Time: Strategies for Spiritual Growth
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the topic of time management, a challenge that resonates with all of us. We often find ourselves saying, "I don't have enough time," whether it's for personal commitments, spiritual growth, or even simple daily tasks. We began by acknowledging the universal struggle of balancing our schedules and the tension between our desires and our available time. Drawing from Psalm 90, we reflected on the brevity and preciousness of life, emphasizing that our days are limited and often filled with challenges. This realization should prompt us to make the most of our time, especially in ways that honor God and foster spiritual growth.
We explored three key strategies for better time management: leaving margin in our schedules, learning to say no, and prioritizing activities that grow our faith. Margin, as defined by Richard Swenson, is the gap between our load and our limit. It's crucial to leave some breathing room in our schedules to avoid burnout and to be available for unexpected opportunities. Learning to say no is equally important; it allows us to focus on what truly matters rather than being overwhelmed by endless commitments. Lastly, we discussed the importance of prioritizing gatherings and activities that nurture our faith, such as studying God's Word, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer.
We also touched on the concept of Sabbath, a day of rest that God instituted to ensure we have time to recharge and focus on what matters most. This principle, though not bound to a specific day, remains vital for our well-being and productivity. By incorporating these practices into our lives, we can better manage our time and grow in our faith, making intentional decisions that align with our spiritual goals.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Brevity of Life: Psalm 90 reminds us that our time on Earth is limited and often filled with challenges. This should prompt us to make the most of our days, focusing on what truly matters and aligning our actions with God's will. Reflecting on the brevity of life can help us prioritize our time more effectively. [26:38]
2. Leaving Margin: Richard Swenson's concept of margin is crucial for effective time management. Margin is the gap between our load and our limit, allowing us to have some reserve in our schedules. This breathing room helps us avoid burnout and be available for unexpected opportunities, making our lives more manageable and fulfilling. [35:17]
3. Learning to Say No: It's essential to learn to say no to commitments that don't align with our priorities. This practice helps us focus on what truly matters and prevents us from being overwhelmed by endless tasks. Saying no is not about being lazy but about being intentional with our time and energy. [40:05]
4. Prioritizing Spiritual Activities: We must prioritize gatherings and activities that grow our faith, such as studying God's Word, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. These activities should not be seen as just another task but as essential components of our spiritual growth. Making time for these practices requires intentional planning and commitment. [41:31]
5. The Principle of Sabbath: The Sabbath principle, though not bound to a specific day, remains vital for our well-being. It's about letting all the air out of the balloon, giving ourselves time to rest and recharge. This rest makes us more productive and helps us focus on what matters most, both spiritually and practically. [38:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[25:09] - The Struggle of Time Management
[26:38] - The Brevity of Life
[28:10] - The Truth About Time
[29:08] - Common Expressions About Time
[29:37] - Musical Illustrations
[30:27] - The Reality of Time
[31:05] - Making a Long Story Short
[32:32] - The Value of Time
[33:45] - Making the Best Use of Time
[35:17] - Leaving Margin
[36:45] - Balloon Illustration
[38:43] - The Principle of Sabbath
[40:05] - Learning to Say No
[41:31] - Prioritizing Spiritual Activities
[44:21] - Golf Analogy
[48:11] - Marriage and Time
[50:28] - Faith-Growing Questions
[52:04] - Alaska Jet Ski Trip
[54:43] - Dom's Story
[57:29] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 90:10 - "Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away."
2. Ephesians 5:15-16 - "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
3. Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
### Observation Questions
1. According to Psalm 90:10, what does Moses say about the typical lifespan and the nature of our days? How does this perspective influence our view on time management? [26:38]
2. In Ephesians 5:15-16, what does Paul instruct believers to do with their time? Why is this important? [33:45]
3. What four activities did the early church devote themselves to according to Acts 2:42? How do these activities contribute to spiritual growth? [41:31]
4. What is the concept of "margin" as explained in the sermon, and why is it important for effective time management? [35:17]
### Interpretation Questions
1. Reflecting on Psalm 90:10, how does the brevity and difficulty of life shape our priorities and decisions? How can this understanding help us make the most of our time? [26:38]
2. How does Paul's advice in Ephesians 5:15-16 about living wisely and making the most of every opportunity apply to our daily lives? What are some practical ways to implement this? [33:45]
3. Considering Acts 2:42, why is it important for believers to devote themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer? How do these practices help in managing our time effectively? [41:31]
4. The sermon mentions the importance of saying "no" to certain commitments. How can learning to say "no" help us focus on what truly matters? What are some challenges you might face in doing this? [40:05]
### Application Questions
1. Psalm 90:10 reminds us of the brevity of life. How can you use this perspective to prioritize your daily activities? What is one thing you can do this week to make better use of your time? [26:38]
2. Ephesians 5:15-16 encourages us to make the most of every opportunity. Identify one area in your life where you feel you are not using your time wisely. What steps can you take to change this? [33:45]
3. Acts 2:42 highlights the importance of spiritual activities. How can you incorporate more time for studying God's Word, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer into your weekly schedule? [41:31]
4. The sermon discussed the concept of "margin" in our schedules. What is one practical way you can create more margin in your life to avoid burnout and be available for unexpected opportunities? [35:17]
5. Reflect on the principle of Sabbath as a day of rest. How can you implement a regular time of rest in your week to recharge and focus on what matters most? What might you need to change in your current routine to make this happen? [38:43]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of saying "no" to commitments that don't align with our priorities. Think of a recent situation where you felt overwhelmed by commitments. How could saying "no" have helped you manage your time better? [40:05]
7. How can you prioritize gatherings and activities that grow your faith without feeling like they are just another task on your to-do list? What specific changes can you make to ensure these activities are a central part of your life? [41:31]
Devotional
### Day 1: The Brevity of Life
Reflecting on the brevity of life, Psalm 90 reminds us that our time on Earth is limited and often filled with challenges. This realization should prompt us to make the most of our days, focusing on what truly matters and aligning our actions with God's will. Reflecting on the brevity of life can help us prioritize our time more effectively. By understanding that our days are numbered, we can be more intentional about how we spend our time, ensuring that our actions and decisions honor God and contribute to our spiritual growth. [26:38]
Bible Passage: "So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12, ESV)
Reflection: Think about one area of your life where you feel you are not making the most of your time. How can you realign this area to better honor God and reflect the brevity of life?
### Day 2: Leaving Margin
Richard Swenson's concept of margin is crucial for effective time management. Margin is the gap between our load and our limit, allowing us to have some reserve in our schedules. This breathing room helps us avoid burnout and be available for unexpected opportunities, making our lives more manageable and fulfilling. By intentionally leaving margin in our schedules, we can create space for rest, reflection, and spontaneous acts of kindness or service. This practice not only enhances our well-being but also enables us to be more present and responsive to God's leading in our daily lives. [35:17]
Bible Passage: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one activity or commitment you can reduce or eliminate this week to create more margin in your schedule. How will you use this extra time to rest and be more available for God's purposes?
### Day 3: Learning to Say No
It's essential to learn to say no to commitments that don't align with our priorities. This practice helps us focus on what truly matters and prevents us from being overwhelmed by endless tasks. Saying no is not about being lazy but about being intentional with our time and energy. By discerning which commitments align with our spiritual goals and which do not, we can better manage our time and resources, ensuring that we are investing in activities that foster our growth and well-being. [40:05]
Bible Passage: "Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil." (Matthew 5:37, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent commitment you made that did not align with your priorities. How can you practice saying no to similar commitments in the future to better focus on what truly matters?
### Day 4: Prioritizing Spiritual Activities
We must prioritize gatherings and activities that grow our faith, such as studying God's Word, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer. These activities should not be seen as just another task but as essential components of our spiritual growth. Making time for these practices requires intentional planning and commitment. By prioritizing spiritual activities, we can deepen our relationship with God and strengthen our faith, ensuring that our spiritual life remains vibrant and central to our daily routine. [41:31]
Bible Passage: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your current schedule. How can you intentionally incorporate more time for spiritual activities such as Bible study, prayer, and fellowship this week?
### Day 5: The Principle of Sabbath
The Sabbath principle, though not bound to a specific day, remains vital for our well-being. It's about letting all the air out of the balloon, giving ourselves time to rest and recharge. This rest makes us more productive and helps us focus on what matters most, both spiritually and practically. By observing a regular time of rest, we can rejuvenate our bodies and minds, allowing us to approach our responsibilities with renewed energy and clarity. This practice also helps us to trust in God's provision and sovereignty, recognizing that our worth is not solely based on our productivity. [38:43]
Bible Passage: "Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male servant or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates." (Exodus 20:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Plan a specific time this week to observe a Sabbath rest. How will you use this time to recharge and focus on what matters most in your spiritual and practical life?
Quotes
1. "We've all been there where we say, you know, I want to read my bible more in the morning before I get to work or school I want to I want to pray but Ted when my feet hit the floor it's a hundred miles an hour just to get out the door just to get the kids out the door I know being in a group would be great for fellowship and connecting at a deeper level with my church but when I get home and I look at my calendar there's like there's no day how in the world am I going to find another night to be a part of a group." [25:09] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Your time on Earth is limited your time on Earth can be very difficult and your time on Earth will go by like that here's one more truth a fourth truth before we jump in to talking about managing and redeeming our time today do not boast about tomorrow in other words it's not guaranteed you have today I have today when you do not know what a day may bring." [28:10] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Time is a resource that is non-renewable and non-transferable. You can't store it up, slow it up, hold it up, divide it up, or give it up. You can't hoard it up or save it for a rainy day. When it's lost, it is unrecoverable. When you kill time, remember, it has no resurrection." [33:45] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You will never win at life. You'll never win at marriage, family. You'll never grow in your faith if you just let life happen to you. You have to be intentional. I have to be intentional and think about how I'm walking. Think about what my time looks like. And am I making the most and making the best use of the time?" [35:17] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Margin gives your schedule room to breathe. It gives your schedule room to breathe. It's a reserve. And we've all been there when we're on fumes and we're at the point of popping. In Exodus chapter 20, I love this because God wanted for his children, he wanted them to have a different rhythm. He wanted And work and rest go hand in hand. And if you want to be productive at work, you have to have margin. You have to have rest because it works in a cycle. It makes you more productive." [36:45] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "We need to leave margin. We learn to say no and be comfortable with the word nothing. Then today, this is where we really want to spend our time. We want to prioritize gatherings and activities that grow our faith. We would call these habits, spiritual disciplines, but prioritizing, leaving margin for what matters most." [41:31] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Gathering with your church family on the weekend is a decision you make during the week. It's leaving a little margin. And we know that anything we want to get serious about is going to take some time." [43:02] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Many of you are here wanting a closer walk with Jesus. And I'm just telling you, a real here and there or the shortcuts that we sometimes get online. No, it's devoting ourselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread together and to prayer." [46:48] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "The Institute of Family Studies reports that 78% of couples who regularly attend church report that they are either very happy or extremely happy in their marriage. You add what we're talking about today, devoting yourself to the apostles' teaching, to digging into the word of God, to prayer together as a couple, to gathering regularly, to breaking bread with other believers. You now are what we call a couple on mission." [49:21] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Making the best use of time can make an eternal difference in the life of another person. So let's make the best use of time this week and in the year to come." [57:29] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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