Staying Focused on Our Calling Through Life's Journey
Summary
In this bittersweet moment of transition, as we record our last message in our current location, we embark on a new series titled "Rise: The Road to New Life." This series aims to equip us with the tools to stay focused on our calling, just as Jesus did through life's ups and downs. Our ultimate goal, both individually and as a church, is to make disciples and represent Jesus. This journey is filled with triumphs and trials, which can blur our focus and distract us from our purpose. However, our calling remains unchanged, and we must navigate these challenges by looking to Jesus as our example.
Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, culminating in the cross, serves as a powerful narrative for us. As He approached Jerusalem, He experienced both the triumph of being celebrated as a king and the trial of knowing the city's impending destruction. Despite these emotional highs and lows, Jesus remained focused on His mission because He remembered who He was and what He was called to do. His purpose was clear: to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.
In our own lives, we must remember Jesus in both our triumphs and trials. During moments of success, it's easy to push God aside and take control, but we must remember who Jesus is and the purpose He has given us. In times of pain and despair, when life feels out of control, we must still hold onto our calling and trust in God's plan. Jesus' empathy and kingdom vision remind us to stay focused on our mission, even when faced with challenges.
As we transition to a new location, we reflect on the journey we've had, filled with both joy and disappointment. Through it all, it's been the presence of Jesus that has kept us focused on our mission. We must continue to speak the name of Jesus over our circumstances, trusting that He hears us and provides clarity and focus. By investing in our relationship with Him through prayer and reading the Bible, we yield control to Him and stay aligned with our calling.
Key Takeaways:
- In life's triumphs, it's crucial to remember who Jesus is and the purpose He has given us. Success can tempt us to take control, but true clarity comes from acknowledging Jesus' role in our lives and moving forward with His guidance. [23:57]
- During trials, we must hold onto our calling and trust in God's plan. Jesus' empathy and kingdom vision remind us to stay focused on our mission, even when faced with challenges. Our purpose remains, regardless of life's messiness. [30:25]
- Jesus' journey to Jerusalem exemplifies staying focused amidst emotional highs and lows. By remembering His identity and mission, He navigated triumphs and trials without losing sight of His purpose. We must do the same in our lives. [15:55]
- Transitioning to a new location, we reflect on our journey filled with joy and disappointment. Through it all, the presence of Jesus has kept us focused on our mission. We must continue to speak His name over our circumstances, trusting in His guidance. [36:21]
- Investing in our relationship with Jesus through prayer and reading the Bible helps us yield control to Him and stay aligned with our calling. By speaking His name over our circumstances, we find clarity and focus in our mission. [40:54]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:00] - Introduction to the Series
[04:30] - The Importance of Our Calling
[07:15] - Navigating Life's Ups and Downs
[10:45] - Jesus' Journey to Jerusalem
[15:55] - The Triumph of Palm Sunday
[20:30] - Facing Trials and Challenges
[23:57] - Remembering Jesus in Triumphs
[27:45] - Jesus' Empathy and Kingdom Vision
[30:25] - Holding onto Our Calling in Trials
[33:00] - Reflecting on Our Journey
[36:21] - The Presence of Jesus in Our Mission
[39:00] - Speaking Jesus' Name Over Circumstances
[40:54] - Investing in Our Relationship with Jesus
[43:30] - Closing Prayer and Encouragement
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 19:28-44
2. Matthew 28:19-20
3. Acts 1:8
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 19:28-44, how did the crowd react to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and what does this reveal about their understanding of His identity? [15:55]
2. According to the sermon, what are the two primary callings that Jesus gives to His followers? [49:33]
3. How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees' request to rebuke His disciples during His triumphal entry? What does this tell us about His focus and mission? [23:57]
4. What was Jesus' emotional response as He approached Jerusalem, and what does this reveal about His empathy and understanding of His mission? [30:25]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' journey to Jerusalem serve as a model for staying focused on one's mission despite life's ups and downs? [15:55]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of remembering Jesus' identity and purpose during both triumphs and trials? [23:57]
3. How can Jesus' empathy for Jerusalem inform our understanding of His kingdom vision and our own calling to represent Him? [30:25]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that investing in our relationship with Jesus through prayer and Bible reading helps us stay aligned with our calling? [40:54]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent triumph in your life. How did you respond, and did you remember to acknowledge Jesus' role in that success? How can you ensure you do so in future triumphs? [23:57]
2. Think about a current trial you are facing. How can you hold onto your calling and trust in God's plan during this difficult time? What practical steps can you take to remember Jesus' presence? [30:25]
3. Identify a specific distraction in your life that prevents you from focusing on Jesus. What steps can you take this week to minimize that distraction and refocus on your mission? [40:54]
4. Consider someone in your life who may not recognize Jesus. How can you demonstrate empathy and share Jesus' kingdom vision with them this week? [30:25]
5. How can you invest more intentionally in your relationship with Jesus through prayer and Bible reading? What specific changes can you make to your daily routine to prioritize this investment? [40:54]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged or distracted from your purpose. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience to help you stay focused on your calling in the future? [36:21]
7. As you transition into new seasons of life, how can you continue to speak the name of Jesus over your circumstances and trust in His guidance? What specific actions can you take to maintain this focus? [36:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Remembering Jesus in Success
In moments of triumph, it is easy to become self-reliant and forget the source of our success. However, true clarity and purpose come from acknowledging Jesus' role in our lives and moving forward with His guidance. When we achieve success, we must remember who Jesus is and the purpose He has given us. This awareness helps us to stay grounded and focused on our calling, preventing us from being swayed by the allure of self-sufficiency. By keeping Jesus at the center, we ensure that our victories are aligned with His will and purpose. [23:57]
"Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'" (Jeremiah 9:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent success in your life. How can you intentionally acknowledge Jesus' role in that success today?
Day 2: Trusting God's Plan in Trials
During life's trials, it is crucial to hold onto our calling and trust in God's plan. Jesus' empathy and kingdom vision remind us to stay focused on our mission, even when faced with challenges. Our purpose remains unchanged, regardless of life's messiness. In times of pain and despair, when life feels out of control, we must still hold onto our calling and trust in God's plan. By doing so, we align ourselves with His greater purpose and find strength to persevere through difficulties. [30:25]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a current trial you are facing. How can you actively trust in God's plan and hold onto your calling during this time?
Day 3: Staying Focused Amidst Highs and Lows
Jesus' journey to Jerusalem exemplifies staying focused amidst emotional highs and lows. By remembering His identity and mission, He navigated triumphs and trials without losing sight of His purpose. We must do the same in our lives, keeping our eyes fixed on our calling and the example Jesus set for us. This focus allows us to navigate life's ups and downs with grace and determination, ensuring that we remain true to our mission and purpose. [15:55]
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent emotional high or low. How can you stay focused on your calling and follow Jesus' example during such times?
Day 4: The Presence of Jesus in Our Mission
As we transition to a new location, we reflect on our journey filled with joy and disappointment. Through it all, the presence of Jesus has kept us focused on our mission. We must continue to speak His name over our circumstances, trusting in His guidance. By doing so, we invite His presence into our lives and align ourselves with His will, ensuring that our mission remains clear and purposeful. [36:21]
"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b, ESV)
Reflection: Consider a current circumstance in your life. How can you intentionally invite Jesus' presence and guidance into this situation today?
Day 5: Investing in Our Relationship with Jesus
Investing in our relationship with Jesus through prayer and reading the Bible helps us yield control to Him and stay aligned with our calling. By speaking His name over our circumstances, we find clarity and focus in our mission. This investment in our spiritual growth ensures that we remain connected to Jesus, allowing His presence to guide us and keep us grounded in our purpose. [40:54]
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to invest in your relationship with Jesus through prayer and Bible study?
Quotes
"And why is this series so important? Like right now in this season, as we transition from one location to another, why is this series so important to us as a church? Well, then here it is. Because in each of our lives, we always have an end point that we're moving towards, right? We always have a destiny, a desire to reach an end goal for ourselves. We all have this. We have this for our personal lives. We have this for us as a church as well, right? And for us as a church, and really as individuals, there are two primary callings that Jesus gives us. Like when you follow Jesus and place your faith in him, there's two primary purposes and callings on our life. Matthew tells us that we're to go and make disciples, right? And Acts tells us that we're to represent Jesus." [00:08:56] (53 seconds)
"And that can threaten our resolve in the end, whether it's a good thing, a good moment in our lives, or a bad moment, a down moment. And these moments, right, these ups and downs, they can threaten our resolve to make it to the end, to reach our goal, yeah? We get distracted, right? We get distracted. We put out fires. Some of us, we just live our lives as firefighters. We're just always trying to put out the fires left and right. We get pulled in a million different directions by all the different tensions and things in our lives that are pulling at us, but that's all true. But the end point remains the same. Our calling doesn't go away. Our purpose doesn't go away, at least from an eternal context, right?" [00:09:51] (50 seconds)
"So how does Jesus stay focused on mission? How does he keep, you know, focus in the midst of all the ups and right, and even being challenged by the Pharisees, how does he keep focused? He remembers who he is and what he's called to do. Right? He remembers who he is, what his purpose is. He knows why he is here. He knows why the Father sent him, right? He says it like this in Matthew. He says, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to what? Give his life as a ransom for many." [00:21:20] (40 seconds)
" swayed. In the season of triumph, and I think we kind of know this, right? When we experience these like these mountaintop moments, if we're honest, it can be so easy to kind of brush God aside and take control because things are going according to the way that we want them to. We see the success. We see the goodness in it, right? We see the triumph. We're feeling it. Everything feels good. We're encouraged by it. So in those moments, guys, it can be so easy to just kind of brush God aside and assume control of the situation." [00:22:48] (38 seconds)
"But what about the bigger moments of pain and even like despair, like when we're hurting, what about those moments? Like how do we keep our focus on Christian calling when we receive the news that the cancer is back? When we know that the work isn't there, right? Like my friend, the electrician, or when we're losing money in the market, or when our marriage feels like it's just kind of starting to fall apart, right? And things just aren't going well. It's on shaky ground. Or maybe you're dating and your significant other breaks up with you and it's like destroying you." [00:24:27] (37 seconds)
"Now, mind you, this is not like a little tear that just kind of forms in the corners of his eyes and starts to slowly trickle down. The Greek word here is kleio, and it literally means to weep, cry, wail, and mourn, right? Like this is ugly cry stuff. This isn't little tears. This is ugly cry. He lost it. Why? Because he knows what's about to happen to the city." [00:27:28] (27 seconds)
"In that moment, as he gets to the top with all the people around him cheering and screaming and celebrating that he is there, he looks upon the city of Jerusalem, and his heart just breaks because he knows that there are so many people in that city who aren't recognizing who he is, and he knows what's about to happen. The city itself, the temple and all was about to be destroyed, and it was in A .D. 70. The city of Jerusalem was destroyed. The temple was destroyed." [00:27:54] (32 seconds)
"By the way, for some reason, like there's this narrative going around in Christian circles, right? A little aside here. There's this narrative going around in some Christian circles that like for some reason, empathy is a bad word. Like Christians shouldn't have empathy. And I don't know why that is. I don't know why we would think that because empathy? Guys, empathy defined Jesus' whole ministry. Jesus is literally weeping over the city of Jerusalem because he knows that they're about to be destroyed, right?" [00:28:28] (32 seconds)
"And I'll be honest with you, far too often in too many days of the week and too many times as I was writing sermons themselves, I got to admit to you that I was distracted from my own purpose, from my own calling, right? The thing that God placed me here to do, I got distracted from all too often. But here's the thing, and I'm sure, you know, as I look back on all these different moments in this past season of ministry, I am convinced that these are the moments, especially those lower moments, these are the moments that you just have to trust that God is God and we are not." [00:35:08] (43 seconds)
"And so what I need to do in those moments, when I'm discouraged, when I'm disappointed, those low moments, those are the times when I need to lean into His strength and trust His plan, no matter what I can see before me, I've got to trust that He has my back, that He is in it with me and that He will use all of it, right? For my good and for His glory." [00:35:49] (26 seconds)
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