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February 22-23,
2003 XTREME LIVING – 40
DAYS OF PURPOSE!
Selected WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED! *** Deut. 11:2 “Remember today what you have learned about the
Lord through your experiences with him. It was you…who had these experiences.
You saw the Lord's greatness, his power, his might….” [Today’s English Version] 1.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT GOD! A. THAT IT’S ALL ABOUT GOD,
AND NOT ME! *** Hebrews 2:10 “God is the One who made all things, and all
things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his
glory….” [New Century Version] ! WE WERE MADE BY GOD AND FOR GOD AND UNTIL WE UNDERSTAND THIS TRUTH - LIFE
WON’T MAKE SENSE! *** Col. 1:16 “For everything, absolutely everything… got started
in him and finds its purpose in him.”
[Msg] *** Ephes. 1:11 “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and
what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ…, he had his eye
on us, and had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose
he is working out in everything and everyone.” [Message] 2.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT LIFE! A. THAT LIFE IS PREPERATION
FOR ETERNITY! *** Eccles. 3:11 “God has made everything beautiful for its own
time. He has planted eternity in the human heart….” [New Living Translation] B. THAT LIFE IS TO BUILD CHARACTER
NOT COMFORT! *** Romans 5:3-4 “We also have joy with our troubles, because we
know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and
character produces hope.” [NCV] ! EVERY PROBLEM HAS A PURPOSE AND THE
PURPOSE IS TO MAKE US MORE LIKE
JESUS! *** 2 Cor. 4:17 “For our present troubles are quite small and
won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that
will last forever!” [NLT] C. THAT LIFE IS ABOUT LIVING OUT
THE FIVE PURPOSES! *** Proverbs 16:4 “The Lord has made everything for his own
purposes….” [NLT] Ý WE WERE PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE SO OUR FIRST
PURPOSE IN LIFE IS
TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD – WORSHIP! Ý WE WERE FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY SO OUR SECOND
PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO
LOVE GOD’S FAMILY – FELLOWSHIP! Ý WE WERE CREATED TO BE LIKE CHRIST SO OUR THIRD
PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO
BECOME LIKE CHRIST – DISCIPLESHIP! Ý WE WERE SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD SO OUR FOURTH
PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO
SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS! – MINISTRY! Ý WE WERE MADE FOR A MISSION SO OUR FIFTH PURPOSE
IN LIFE IS TO SHARE
THE GOOD NEWS – EVANGELISM! 3.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH! A. WE GROW SPIRITUALLY THROUGH COMMITMENTS! ! IT’S WHAT I TAKE IN AND THEN ACT OUT
THAT MAKES ME GROW! *** James 2:17 “Isn't it obvious that God-talk without God-acts
is outrageous nonsense!” [Msg] B. WE GROW SPIRITUALLY THROUGH FELLOWSHIP! *** Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to each other like a loving family.
Excel in showing respect for each other.”
[God’s Word to the Nations] ! THE
CHRISTIAN LIFE IS ABOUT BELIEVING AND BELONGING! *** Pr. 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each
other.” [NCV] *** Philip. 4:9 “Keep on doing the things that you have learned
and received and heard…and the God of peace will be with you.” [NRSV] THREE OPTIONS: u STAY IN THE GROUP YOU ARE IN! v JOIN A NEW GROUP! w START A NEW GROUP! *** Heb. 10:25 “We should not stop gathering together with other
believers, as some of you are doing…we must continue to encourage each other
even more….” 4.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED ABOUT OUR WORLD! A. PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR SPIRITUAL TRUTH! *** John 4:35 “Look around you! Vast fields of human souls are
ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping.” [Living Bible] NOW WHAT? A. LIVE WHAT YOU KNOW! ***Jn 13:17 “You know these things--now do them! That is the path
of blessing.” [LB] *** Eph. 5:15 “Live life, then, with a due sense of
responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but
as those who do.” [JB Phillips Translation] Ý
Re-read the Purpose Driven Life book! Ý Move around the
C.L.A.S.S. bases! Ý Stay
or Get in a Small Group! Ý Get
“plugged into a Ministry! Ý Do a “PURPOSE
DRIVEN LIFE HEALTH PLAN!” *** Philip. 3:16 “Now that we're on the right track, let's stay
on it.” [Msg] B. BE A CONDUIT NOT A CONTAINER! *** Luke 6:38 “Give away your life; you'll
find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and
blessing.” [Msg] ! THE LAW OF INDIRECTION – THE MORE YOU GIVE
THE MORE YOU RECEIVE! *** 2 Tim. 2:2 “You should teach people whom
you can trust the things you and many others have heard me say. Then they will
be able to teach others.” [NCV] “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of
you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world.” Romans 1:8
[GW] |