Three Seasons Community
Church– 3-23-08
What does Easter remind you of?
What comes to your mind when you think of the
Cross?
If there is a Heaven, how do you get there?
John 14:1-6 [Page 763]
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in
God; trust also in me. [2] In my Father's house are many rooms; if it
were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place
for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. [4] You know
the way to the place where I am going." [5] Thomas said to him, "Lord,
we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" [6]
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me.
How do we get to heaven?
Belief in Jesus– not just knowledge or
acknowledgment of Jesus
John 3:16-17 [Page 752]
"For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Mark 1:15 (NIV) [Page 707]
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of
God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Repent = to think differently, reconsider.
...to exercise the mind, think, comprehend. To repent, change the mind,
relent. Theologically, it involves regret or sorrow, accompanied by a
true change of heart toward God.
Believe = To believe; to put trust in; to be
convinced; to have no doubt; to be certain of. Note this important
grammatical form of the word "believe" it is a continuous and repeated
action.
Romans 10:9-13 (NIV) [Page 802]
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is
Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you
will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are
justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
[11] As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put
to shame." [12] For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the
same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, [13]
for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
1 John 4:10 (NLT)
This is real love. It is not that we loved God,
but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our
sins.
God has left us on this earth for a purpose!
Otherwise we would be immediately raptured [taken into heaven] the
moment we believed!
What is your specific purpose?
Our general purpose is life is:
Prayer– Nurturing our relationship with God
Worship– Thanking God for who He is and what He
has done
Mission– Our ministry to non-believers
Ministry– Our ministry to believers
Discipleship– Studying God’s word and growing
in our faith
Fellowship– Loving and encouraging one another
The second greatest gift God has given us is
the ability to serve him and share his love with others!
Life Purpose Questions
Acts 13:36 (NIV) "For when David had served
God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with
his fathers and his body decayed.
Pay careful attention to where you sense you
are naturally bent or equipped to make a difference. Most of us can do
many things, but the greatest difference is made when we do fewer things
very well. I often see people frustrated because they feel they must
serve in areas that are deemed "more spiritual" even though it poorly
aligns with their personal design.
Perhaps you're fulfilled by working with
teenagers, feeding the hungry, working in the nursery, teaching a
foreign language, evangelizing, loving the outcast, or planting a new
business. Search your heart, read God's Word, pray, and spend time in
the area of service that you most care about. If you still lack clarity,
ask a few trusted friends for their input.
Few people are ever remembered for more than
two or three significant areas where they made a lasting difference. It
is so helpful to know what those areas are for you and to get laser
focused on them.
4. How does God's purpose for my life relate to others?
As you seek to determine God's purpose for your own life, consider how
that purpose relates to God, to family and friends, and to others.
God's purpose for your life never omits
bringing Him glory or caring for others.
Romans 15:15-16 (NIV)
I have written you quite boldly on some points,
as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me [16]
to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty
of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an
offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Ponder and answer these questions this week–
Where has God designed you to have an
influence?
What matters most to you?
What do you desire your life to count for?
How do I want to be remembered?
How does God's purpose for my life relate
to others?
