Prioritizing Christ: The Key to True Fulfillment

Every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection, a reminder that we serve a living, powerful Savior. Life is filled with demands and distractions, but the true challenge is not how much we can fit into our schedules, but whether we are putting the most important things first. Just as the illustration of the jar with rocks, gravel, sand, and water shows, if we don’t put the “big rocks” in first, we’ll never fit them in at all. The greatest “big rock” is Jesus Himself—knowing Him, loving Him, and making Him known.

Scripture makes it clear that there is only one true priority: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This is not about balancing God among many priorities, but about giving Him preeminence in every area of life. David, Mary, and Paul each exemplified this “one thing” focus—David longed to dwell in God’s presence, Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet, and Paul counted everything as loss compared to knowing Christ.

Knowing God is not simply knowing about Him, but entering into a living relationship with Him through His Word, prayer, and obedience. In a world filled with false ideas about God, it is vital to know the God of the Bible—the Triune God who created, sustains, and redeems. Loving God means seeking Him, obeying His commands, and letting our love for Him overflow into love for others. True love for people means caring for their eternal souls, not just their physical needs, and sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Jesus must not only be a priority, but must have preeminence in our lives. When we fix our eyes on Him, the things of earth grow dim, and our lives find their true order and purpose. The call is to take time to be holy, to slow down and seek God above all else, and to let our relationship with Him shape everything we do. The mission is simple but profound: to know and love God, and to make Him known so that others become lovers of God as well.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The true challenge of life is not time management, but priority management. If Jesus is not the “big rock” in our lives, everything else will crowd Him out. When Christ is given preeminence, all other aspects of life fall into their proper place, and we experience the order and peace that only He can bring. [31:46]
• 2. Knowing God is not the same as knowing about God. True knowledge of God comes through relationship—spending time in His Word, in prayer, and in obedience. This relationship is dynamic and ever-deepening, and it is the foundation for genuine worship and love. [43:32]
• 3. Loving God is inseparable from obeying Him. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Obedience is not a burdensome duty, but the natural outflow of a heart that treasures God above all else. There is a special intimacy and love reserved for those who walk in obedience. [52:48]
• 4. Loving others means caring about what God cares about most—their eternal souls. While meeting physical needs is important, the greatest act of love is to share the gospel, pointing people to the salvation found in Christ alone. Our love for God should overflow into a contagious love for people, seeking their ultimate good. [56:06]
• 5. Jesus must not only be a priority, but must have preeminence in our lives. When we fix our eyes on Him, everything else finds its place, and we are transformed. Taking time to be holy, to slow down and seek Him, is essential in a world that rushes on. Our mission is to know and love God, and to make Him known so others become lovers of God. [61:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [28:21] - Opening and Dismissal
• [28:39] - Resurrection Sunday and Why We Gather
• [29:17] - The Jar Illustration: Big Rocks First
• [32:10] - What Comes First? Introducing the Mission
• [33:16] - The Greatest Commandment: Mark 12
• [36:21] - Time, Priorities, and the Myth of Balance
• [38:16] - The One Priority: Jesus
• [39:39] - David, Mary, and Paul: The “One Thing”
• [43:32] - Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
• [47:27] - Who Is the God We Know?
• [52:09] - Loving God: Seeking, Knowing, Obeying
• [54:15] - Making God Known: Loving Others
• [56:06] - The True Gospel and Eternal Souls
• [59:13] - First Things First: Song Reflection
• [61:49] - The Preeminence of Christ
• [64:07] - Take Time to Be Holy: Hymn Reflection
• [66:27] - Does Jesus Know You?
• [68:28] - The Good News: Titus 3
• [70:39] - The Mission Restated and Closing Prayer

1. According to Mark 12:28-31, what does Jesus say is the greatest commandment, and what is the second?
2. In Psalm 27:4, what is the “one thing” David desires from the Lord?
3. In Philippians 3:7-10, what does Paul say he counts as loss, and what does he consider most valuable?
4. The sermon used the illustration of a jar with rocks, gravel, sand, and water. What was the main point of this illustration? [[31:26]]

1. The sermon says the real challenge of life is not time management, but priority management. How does the “big rocks first” illustration help us understand what should come first in our lives? [[31:46]]
2. Why is it important to distinguish between “knowing about God” and “knowing God” personally, according to the sermon and Philippians 3? [[43:32]]
3. The sermon mentions that loving God is inseparable from obeying Him. Why do you think obedience is described as a natural outflow of love, rather than a burdensome duty? [[52:48]]
4. The sermon says that loving others means caring about their eternal souls, not just their physical needs. How does this shape the way we think about helping others? [[56:06]]

1. The “big rocks” illustration challenges us to put the most important things in our lives first. What are some “big rocks” in your life right now? Is Jesus truly the biggest one, or is something else taking that place? What would it look like to put Him first this week? [[31:46]]
2. The sermon says knowing God is not the same as knowing about Him. How much of your relationship with God is based on information versus real, personal connection? What is one step you could take this week to deepen your relationship with Him—through prayer, reading, or obedience? [[43:32]]
3. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Is there an area of your life where you know what God wants, but you’re struggling to obey? What’s holding you back, and how can you take a step of obedience this week? [[52:48]]
4. The sermon says loving others means caring about their eternal souls. Is there someone in your life whose spiritual needs you’ve been ignoring? What is one way you could share the love and truth of Jesus with them this month? [[56:06]]
5. The message encourages us to “take time to be holy” and slow down to seek God. What is one practical way you can create space in your schedule this week to spend unhurried time with God? [[01:04:40]]
6. The sermon says that when Jesus has preeminence, everything else finds its place. Are there areas of your life that feel out of order or chaotic? How might giving Jesus first place bring peace or clarity to those areas? [[01:01:49]]
7. The mission is to know and love God, and to make Him known. Who is one person you could intentionally point toward Jesus this week, and how might you do that? [[32:30]]