Mark 9:30-37

Mark 9:30-37

Live To Serve

March 25, 2007

Part 5 of Lent 2007 Hopewell series on The Purpose Driven Life

 

Is there a purpose to life?

            Does life have purpose and meaning?

            If so – what is it?

What is the purpose of life?

Why are we here?

 

More specifically – what is the purpose of my life? 

            Why am I here?

            Is there something that can give meaning to my life?

            Am I here for a purpose?

            Did God have a purpose in putting me here?

 

            Questions of purpose and meaning have haunted people since the beginning of time.

            As Christians, we can say

            “Yes –life has a purpose –

            Yes –life has meaning.”

 

            We can say:

            “Yes – my life has a purpose –

            Yes – my life has meaning.”

            “Yes – God has put me here for a purpose.”

 

            Lent – the 6 weeks before Holy Week and Easter — has historically been a time Christians have devoted themselves to reflection upon Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross – and our response to Christ and His claim upon our lives.  We are using Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life – studying the book itself on Wednesday nights and looking at themes from the book on Sundays – to help us  look at what God’s purpose for us might be —

what God might have us to have as a purpose in our lives –

and how we can live in God’s purpose for our lives.

 

            So – what is the purpose for our lives?

4 weeks ago we looked at how we can not find true purpose for our lives in

money

possessions

power

fame

or anything else people might use to find purpose or meaning for their lives when they focus on themselves. 

 

We will never find meaning and purpose for our lives by looking for it within ourselves – what we want – what we might think is good or meaningful.

 

We will only discover the real meaning and purpose for life when we look to God for His meaning and His purpose for our lives.

 

            Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life  – outlines 5 purposes for life that God has created us for:

 

1.      Pleasing God

2.      Loving others who believe in God

3.      Becoming like Christ

4.      Serving others with the gifts God has given us

5.      Telling others about God

 

            3 weeks ago we looked at the first of these — pleasing God – - and saw how we were created to live lives that are pleasing to God – living lives that are pleasing to God has to be a purpose for our lives. 

 

            One of the purposes for our lives is to live to please God.

 

            2 weeks ago we looked at the second of these purposes – loving others who believe in God focusing on the family of believers we know as the Church – and the love God calls us to have for each other.

 

            Another of the purposes for our lives is to love others who believe in God – especially loving members of the Church.

 

            Last week we looked at a third purpose of these purposes – becoming like Christ – and learned how God wants us to be rooted in Him so we can be like Him. 

 

Pleasing God

Loving others who believe in God

Becoming like Christ

 

3 purposes God has for our lives. 

 

Today I want to look at the 4^th of the purposes God has for your life – serving others with the gifts God has given you.  If you are going to live out God’s purpose for your life, you need to serve others. 

 

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

 

            Listen to how Jesus called the disciples to live their lives in service as we look at Mark 9:30-37.

 

Read Scripture

 

The 1^st purpose God has for your life is for you to live to please God.

The 2^nd purpose God has for your life is for you to live together with others in the Church in a relationship of love and support. 

The 3^rd purpose God has for your life is for you to live like Christ.

The 4^th purpose God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

 

Live to serve. 

 

What makes people great?

 

I enjoy reading about people who are considered great – people who made a difference in the world.  I read biographies and autobiographies – and sometimes I read magazine articles about people who others consider great – people who have made difference in the world. 

One of the articles I read some time ago was about a study The University of Chicago did of leading artists, athletes, and scholars. The research was conducted by Dr. Benjamin Bloom, and was based on anonymous interviews with the top twenty performers in various fields. These people included concert pianists, Olympic athletes, tennis players, sculptors, mathematicians, physicians, and a number of others who have achieved great things. Bloom and his team of researchers from the University of Chicago probed for clues as to how these people developed their skills—even interviewing their families and teachers to see if they could discover any clues to what made these people great.

They found that it was not great talent that made these people achieve what they did — but drive and determination that led to the extraordinary success of these individuals.

Dr. Bloom noted, “We expected to find tales of great natural gifts. We didn’t find that at all. Their mothers often said it was another sibling who had the greater talent.”

What they found were extraordinary accounts of hard work and dedication.

Babe Zeharias was a great female golfer.  She was once asked by a reporter how she could hit a golf ball like she did, and she answered:

 “Simple, first you hit a thousand golf balls. You hit them until your hands bleed and you can’t hit any more. The next day you start over again and the next day and the next and maybe a year later you might be able to go eighteen holes and after that you play every day until the time finally arrives that you know what you are doing when you hit the ball.”

Discipline. 

Determination.

Rocky Blier was a great running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  A lot of people don’t know that Rocky Blier served in Vietnam several months before he joined the Steelers. While there, one of his feet was crippled by an exploding grenade. One of Rocky Blier’s shoes was half the size of the other because of this injury. He was told he would never play professional football again, but Blier refused to accept that gloomy prediction. Every day he put himself through excruciating pain in order to get his body back into shape. Finally, he became a great football hero with one of the finest professional teams of all time.

Discipline. 

Determination.

Such discipline and determination is necessary in every great endeavor. Good pianists practice eight hours a day. Figure skaters are on their skates six hours a day.

Even a self-centered generation knows that self-denial is the path to success.

In another study, when top achievers were asked to rate the factors they consider most important in contributing to their own success, it was hard work that emerged as the highest-rated factor. Not talent or luck—but hard work.

Psychologists followed the careers of violinists studying at the Music Academy of West Berlin. By the time they were 18, the academy’s best students, on average, had already spent about 2,000 more hours in practice than their fellow students. The number of hours spent practicing was the only thing that separated potential music superstars from others who were good, but not top caliber.

Discipline

Determination.

Discipline and determination are 2 key ingredients to worldly success.

            But what about success in God’s eyes?

            Are discipline and determination all it takes?

            While discipline and determination are important, God has one more thing to add – a commitment to use your abilities to serve others.

            Be disciplined and determined to develop the gifts God has given you to the best of your ability.

            But – also have a commitment to use those gifts to serve others.

            Discipline

Determination

 

Service

 

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

True success comes by working hard – by being disciplined and determined – but it also means serving – working at the right things for the sake of others.

Many people have found that material success is not really all that satisfying.  Upward mobility is not necessarily the formula for a peaceful heart or a loving home. So we need to re-examine for a moment Christ’s words when He said:

“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all”

He’s not talking about Rolex watches at all, is he?

He’s talking about forgetting ourselves for the sake of others.

That is what he did.

 That’s what the cross really is all about.

He’s not talking about becoming real go-getters, but real go-givers.

He’s not talking about winning the rat race, but serving the human race.

That’s the kind of self-denial and service He is concerned with.

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

Grandma Moses achieved worldly success very late in life. But her name became a household word. And yet when Grandma Moses was asked, at ninety-three, what made her the most proud, she replied:

 “The fact that I’ve helped some people.”

The gentle actress, Audrey Hepburn, was a star for many years. In the television homage that followed her death, the focus was not so much on her films, but on her work for the United Nations. It showed her traveling throughout the world as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. That work was what she said was her most significant. 

God want you to be disciplined and determined in developing your gifts and abilities.

God also wants you use your gifts and abilities to serve others.

Discipline

Determination

Service

 

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

Do you remember the children’s game “king of the hill?”

            The object was to get to the top of a hill in any way you could — pushing and shoving others out of your way — pushing others down the hill — and when you reached the top you would proclaim —

           

            “I’m king of the hill!”

 

            Of course — you’d be king until someone pulled or pushed you off the top — then they would be king — until someone pushed them down — and so on until everybody got tired of playing.

 

            King of the hill!

 

In the so called sport – I believe they call it sports entertainment now – but it really is not really that much of a sport and not really that entertaining – of professional wrestling they have a yearly match called the “king of the ring” match where a number of the wrestlers would be in the ring at the same time and would try to push everyone else over the top rope – while staying in the ring.  The “winner” would be “king of the ring”.

 

King of the hill!

King of the ring!

 

Jesus caught the disciples arguing about who was king of their group – who was number one – king of their hill – king of their ring.

 

And – what does Jesus tell them they must be willing to do if they truly want to be great?

 

Serve.

 

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

 

Jesus seems to be telling the disciples that — instead of being so concerned over who was number one in the group – who was king of their hill – who was king of their ring — they could make Him number one in their lives — and begin serving others as He did!

 

They could develop the gifts and abilities God had given them – but use them to serve others.

 

They could live to serve.

 

Jesus wanted to change the priorities in the lives of the disciples.

He wanted the disciples to be changed by His love and His salvation – and then He wanted to completely change what was important in their lives.

 

Jesus wants to change your life with His love.  He wants to show you His love and salvation — then completely change you — change what’s important to you — and what’s the most important thing in your life.

 

He wants you to live to serve.

 

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

 

If you make Jesus the one you will follow, you won’t be so concerned with being the most important – being king of the hill – being king of the ring.

 

          Instead of looking out for yourself — you can be looking to Jesus — and reach out to others. 

            Instead of pushing yourself past others, you can push yourself to find new ways to help those in need.

            Instead of turning your back on Jesus and those in need, you can follow Jesus and reach out to those in need.

 

            Instead of having discipline and determination to develop your gifts and abilities so everyone can see how great you are, you can have discipline and determination to develop your gifts so you can show others how great Christ is.

 

            Instead of living to be served and noticed by others, you can live to serve.

 

           

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live to serve.

Live to serve.

            Let Jesus lead you to the life where being number one – king of the hill – king of the ring – is not the most important thing – but serving others is.

           

            Let Jesus lead you to a life where He and His will is important — where living in His ways is important to you — where using your gifts and abilities in the best way you can to serve God and others is the number one priority in your life.  

 

            Let Jesus lead you to a life where you can live to serve.

 

Pleasing God

Loving others who believe in God

            Becoming like Christ.

            Using the gifts God has given you to serve others.

            4 purposes God has for your life.

           

Develop a relationship with God that will help you live a life pleasing to God.

Develop a relationship with God that will help you love those who believe in God – particularly members of the Church.

Develop a relationship with God that will help you become like Christ.

Develop a relationship with God that will help you use your gifts and abilities to serve God and others.

 

Live to serve.

 

Amen.

Colossians 3:1-11, John 15:1-8

Colossians 3:1-11

John 15:1-8

Live Like Christ

March 18, 2007

Part 4 of Hopewell series on Purpose Driven Life

Is there a purpose to life?

Does life have purpose and meaning?

If so – what is it?

What is the purpose of life?

Why are we here?

More specifically – what is the purpose of my life?

Why am I here?

Is there something that can give meaning to my life?

Am I here for a purpose?

Did God have a purpose in putting me here?

Questions of purpose and meaning have haunted people since the beginning of time.

As Christians, we can say

“Yes –life has a purpose –

Yes –life has meaning.”

We can say:

“Yes – my life has a purpose –

Yes – my life has meaning.”

“Yes – God has put me here for a purpose.”

Lent – the 6 weeks before Holy Week and Easter — has historically been a time Christians have devoted themselves to reflection upon Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross – and our response to Christ and His claim upon our lives. We are using Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life – studying the book itself on Wednesday nights and looking at themes from the book on Sundays – to help us look at what God’s purpose for us might be —

what God might have us to have as a purpose in our lives –

and how we can live in God’s purpose for our lives.

So – what is the purpose for our lives?

3 weeks ago we looked at how we can not find true purpose for our lives in

money

possessions

power

fame

or anything else people might use to find purpose or meaning for their lives when they focus on themselves.

We will never find meaning and purpose for our lives by looking for it within ourselves – what we want – what we might think is good or meaningful.

We will only discover the real meaning and purpose for life when we look to God for His meaning and His purpose for our lives.

Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life – outlines 5 purposes for life that God has created us for:

1. Pleasing God

2. Loving others who believe in God

3. Becoming like Christ

4. Serving others with the gifts God has given us

5. Telling others about God

2 weeks ago we looked at the first of these — pleasing God – - and saw how we were created to live lives that are pleasing to God – living lives that are pleasing to God has to be a purpose for our lives.

One of the purposes for our lives is to live to please God.

Last week we looked at the second of these purposes – loving others who believe in God — focusing on the family of believers we know as the Church – and the love God calls us to have for each other.

One of the purposes for our lives is to love others who believe in God – especially loving members of the Church.

Pleasing God

Loving others who believe in God

2 purposes to have for our lives as Christians.

Today I want us to focus on the third purpose Warren gives for us – becoming like Christ. We’re going to look at 2 passages – Colossians 3:1-11 and John 15:1-8 – and I believe we will discover how we can grow in our relationship with Christ – and even live like Christ.

Listen to God’s word.

Read passages.

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

Not so you would become a god or become God – that was the original temptation to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden — but so you would become like Him – having His thoughts – His love for the world – His priorities about what is important and what is not.

God created you so you would become like Him – so people could see Him in you – in what you say – in how you act.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

You’ve heard the expression: “like father like son”

It usually refers to the ability to recognize physical traits – and maybe other traits – of parents in their children. If you had known my Dad you would know that when you look at me – you see a striking physical resemblance. Dad and I had the same hairline. He gave the charge to me at my Ordination service in 1984 – and made the comment that he taught me how to part my hair. I also have “the Hayes chin” – both of them!

Like father, like son.

When someone tells a parent that they can see them in their children – it usually makes the parent feel good. In the same God feels good when others can see Him in you.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

One of the truths in life is that we become like the things that are important to us – the things we spend time around – the things we think about and the things we spend time doing. These are the things that shape us – that determine who we are – that determine what we do. If you spend time around people who drink too much or indulge in activities that are not healthy – odds are you will become that way, also. If you spend time around people who exercise and have good healthy habits – odds are you will become that way.

By the same token – if you spend time with God – with Christ – and let Him shape you and your life – odds are you will become like Him.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

One person who let herself become like Christ – who lived like Jesus — was Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Mother Teresa was a nun who — until her death several years ago — spent most of her life ministering to the needs of the poor — the sick — and the dying in Calcutta, India. She began each day with an hour of prayer before going into the hospitals she and her Order — the Sisters of Charity — operated. She insisted that what she was doing was not social work — but stated:

“I’m simply trying to bring people closer to God.

If I really love God — and if I really love others —

I cannot say: ‘I love you’ and do nothing.

I have to conduct my life in actions of love.”

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

Mother Teresa indeed became like Christ.

Mother Teresa indeed lived like Christ.

People could see Christ in her.

The scripture passages I read from Colossians 2 and John 15 speak of becoming like Christ – living like Christ — living a life so people can see Christ in you.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

In the passage from John, Jesus is speaking to His disciples the night before His crucifixion — giving them some final instructions on how to truly follow Him.

And what does He say?

1 — Abide in Him

2 — Bear fruit.

He uses the familiar illustration of the vine and the branches to show the special relationship that should exist between Himself and His disciples.

Of course, the disciples had seen farmers prune branches and burn dead branches. They were familiar with that process. But what — they must have asked themselves — does that have to do with them? What did Jesus mean when He said He is the vine — and they are the branches — and abide in Him — or be gathered and burned?

It must have been very confusing for them.

I’m sure it didn’t make a lot of sense.

Abide in Christ.

What does that mean?

I believe that Jesus is talking about having your life rooted in Christ – so you can become more like Christ.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

I believe that what Jesus is talking about here is no less than our purpose as Christians — the purpose for our prayers — and the purpose for our lives.

Plants have to have good soil into which to sink their roots if they are going to grow. If you are going to grow into becoming like Christ, you have to sink your roots – as it were – into God’s soil.

The purpose of our spirituality — our connection with God — our prayers — our reading and meditating on Scripture — is to let God provide the soil we need for our roots to grow deep and for us to grow to be like Christ.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

The spiritual life — the life of prayer — the life of abiding in Him – is the soil in which – if we plant ourselves and allow our roots to grow – will produce growth into Christ.

If your roots are deep into the spiritual life with Christ – - the life of prayer — the life of abiding in Him — you will grow to be more like Him.

If they are not, you won’t.

That’s what Mother Teresa understood — and lived — every day. That’s why she grew into being like Christ.

That’s why people recognized Christ in her.

You can have your roots in Christ – grow to become more like Christ – and live in ways people can recognize Christ in you.

To fulfill your purpose God created you for, you must have your roots in Christ – grow to become more like Christ – and live in ways people can recognize Christ in you.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

This means your life has to truly rooted in Christ —

This means your life has to truly strengthened by Christ —

This means your life has to truly be changed by Christ –

This means you have to take the time for a deeply rooted relationship with Christ.

These things need to be your priorities.

The Apostle Paul understood this.

Writing to the Christians in Colossae he urges them to set their minds on spiritual things – not worldly things. He also urges them to put aside things that go against God’s will for them – and put on the things that are God’s will for them.

you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips

he writes in Colossians 3:8.

Put aside the things that go against Christ – the things that keep you from living like Christ.

Put on a new self — he urges in verse 10 –

which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator

Put aside the old self – put on a new self.

Quit living in ways that are opposed to Christ – start living like Christ.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

This takes rooting yourself in God’s word – rooting yourself in prayer – rooting yourself in God – so you can put off your self and your ways that go against Christ and put on a new, more Christ – like self. This means to quit living in ways that go against Jesus – and live like Jesus.

This brings us to a question you have to consider.

If I have to be rooted in Christ before I can live like Christ – then I need to ask myself – every day –

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

What is my relationship with Christ like – right now?

Am I spending the time I need to spend in prayer and study of God’s word so that I can be rooted and grounded in Christ?

How are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

Unless you have a relationship with Jesus that is strong, you will not live like Jesus – and will not be fulfilling one of the purposes God has for you.

Unless you have a strong relationship with Christ, you will not live like Jesus.

Unless you spend time with God in prayer and study of His word – and spend time around His people – you will not live like Jesus.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

Create a strong relationship with Jesus so that you can live like Jesus.

Create a strong relationship with Jesus so that others can see Jesus in you.

Create a strong relationship with Jesus so that you can put aside the things that go against Christ – the things that keep you from living like Christ.

Ask yourself – daily — – how are Jesus and I getting along – right now?

The things that are inside you will come out when life hits you.

Lightning bugs produce a chemical translucence that produces light. When a bug smashes into your windshield, you see a glowing streak of light on your windshield. What’s inside is revealed. The lightning bug can’t help giving off the light, because even in death that is what is inside it.

Now, when your car hits a skunk, something else is released.

What is inside comes out—either good or bad! It’s the same way with us. Circumstances will reveal what is inside, whether good or bad.

You have to have Christ inside you for people to see Christ in you.

One of the purposes God has for you is for you to become more like Him.

One of the reasons God created you is so you would become like Him.

God created you so you would live like Jesus.

Live like Jesus.

So – we now have before us 3 purposes for our lives – 3 purposes God has for our lives:

Pleasing God

Loving others who believe in God

Becoming like Christ.

Develop a relationship with God that will help you live a life pleasing to God.

Develop a relationship with God that will help you love those who believe in God – particularly members of the Church.

Develop a relationship with God that will help you become like Christ.

Live like Christ.

Amen.

1 Corinthians 12, John 13:1-20, 31-35

1 Corinthians 12

John 13:1-20, 31-35

Live Together

(Part 3 of 2007 Hopewell Lent 6 part series on Purpose Driven Life)

March 11, 2007

Is there a purpose to life?

Does life have purpose and meaning?

If so – what is it?

What is the purpose of life?

Why are we here?

More specifically – what is the purpose of my life?

Why am I here?

Is there something that can give meaning to my life?

Am I here for a purpose?

Did God have a purpose in putting me here?

Questions of purpose and meaning have haunted people since the beginning of time.

As Christians, we can say

“Yes –life has a purpose –

Yes –life has meaning.”

We can say:

“Yes – my life has a purpose –

Yes – my life has meaning.”

“Yes – God has put me here for a purpose.”

Lent – the 6 weeks before Holy Week and Easter — has historically been a time Christians have devoted themselves to reflection upon Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross – and our response to Christ and His claim upon our lives. We are using Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life – studying the book itself on Wednesday nights and looking at themes from the book on Sundays – to help us look at what God’s purpose for us might be —

what God might have us to have as a purpose in our lives –

and how we can live in God’s purpose for our lives.

So – what is the purpose for our lives?

Two weeks ago we looked at how we can not find true purpose for our lives in

money

possessions

power

fame

or anything else people might use to find purpose or meaning for their lives when they focus on themselves.

We will never find meaning and purpose for our lives by looking for it within ourselves – what we want – what we might think is good or meaningful.

Only when we look to God for meaning and purpose for life – only when we look to God for His meaning and His purpose for our lives – can we discover the true meaning and true purpose for our lives.

Rick Warren — in his book The Purpose Driven Life – outlines 5 purposes for life that God has created us for:

1. Pleasing God

2. Loving others who believe in God

3. Becoming like Christ

4. Serving others with the gifts God has given us

5. Telling others about God

Last week we looked at the first of these — pleasing God – - and saw how we were created to live lives that are pleasing to God – living lives that are pleasing to God has to be a purpose for our lives.

One of the purposes for our lives is to live to please God.

Today I want us to look at the second of these purposes – loving others who believe in God. More specifically – I want us to focus on the family of believers we know as the Church – and the love God calls us to have for each other.

We’re going to look at 2 passages – the first one Paul’s beautiful illustration of what it means to be “the body of Christ” in 1 Corinthians 12 – and the second being the beautiful illustration Jesus gave of what it means to be “family” in John 13. As we look at these 2 passages, I believe we will discover that one of our purposes in life needs to be to live together.

Read Passages

As Christians, I believe we are created for relationships with God and with each other. Now — this “each other” of course includes our families and those we come into contact with every day – but I believe it means – in a particular way – the Church. And I don’t mean here Church with a little c – the church universal – or all Christians – although the relationships we have with other Christians and other Churches is indeed important – but what I want to focus on today is the Church with a capitol C – the members of a particular Church – the members of this particular Church – in this case the members of Hopewell Presbyterian Church.

You see – I believe that we were created for relationships with God and each other – and one important aspect of this is relationships we have within the Church — within this Church. God has called us into a special relationship with each other – a special relationship that makes us a family – a Church family – the Hopewell Presbyterian Church family.

The first purpose God created you for is to live a life pleasing to God.

The second purpose God created you for is to live together with other Christians in a Church family.

Live together.

Live together.

Part of living out God’s purposes for your life is living together with other Christians in a Church family.

Live together.

Live together.

God created you to love Him and others. God created you to live in a special relationship with Him and with those He has called you to join together with to be His Church – this Church – Hopewell Presbyterian Church.

Jesus commanded this love.

As He sat with His disciples at the Last Supper — just after Judas had left to betray Him — Jesus said to His disciples —

“A new command I give you: Love one another.

As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

The Church is to be the expression of God’s love in the world.

This Church is to be the expression of God’s love in the world.

Hopewell Presbyterian Church is to be the expression of God’s love in the world.

Yes – one of your purposes in life is to love God and the Church. One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to learn how to

Live together.

Live together.

Jesus did not just talk about love and how He wanted His followers to treat each other in the Church. John 13 gives a beautiful picture of what it means to love each other – and how we as the Church should live together. Jesus illustrates the love He would have for us to have for each other – and the kind of life He would have us have together in the Church – by taking a towel and washing the disciples feet.

I believe this act of washing the disciples’ feet gives us a great truth about how Jesus would have us live together as a Church. Jesus’ taking the towel and washing the disciple’s feet actually dramatizes the whole of Jesus’ life on earth. Washing his disciples’ feet is no isolated event. What He did that night in the upper room vividly portrays the whole journey He made from the Father into the world and back to the Father. In the Upper Room that night, the eternal Son of God, the king of all creation, stripped off his garments and got on his knees to wash the dirt from the feet of men who should have been serving him.

One thing Jesus would have you do as you live together with others as the Church – one thing Jesus would have you do as you live together as Hopewell Presbyterian Church — is to serve. Part of what being the community God calls us to be as the Church means is:

Live together.

Live together.

You know — when you think of the Son of God on His knees before His followers it can humble you. If Jesus served in this humble way, then you can serve others in the Church in humility also.

Live together.

Live together.

If I were to ask you what the purpose of our Church should be — what would you say?

To preach repentance and salvation?

To grow in membership?

To show outward signs of a dynamic ministry?

To be a “popular” church — attracting lots of attention and never doing anything that may in the least bit offend others?

H. Richard Niebuhr was a Theologian who — like most Theologians – and — for that matter — most people — had a lot to say about what he believed to be the purpose of the church. I believe that one of the more important things Niebuhr wrote was:

“The purpose of the church and its ministry

is to work for the increase among humankind

of the love of God and neighbor.”

The purpose of the church is to work for the increase of a love of God and neighbor.

Love of God and neighbor.

“I give you a new commandment,

that you love one another.

Just as I have loved you,

you also should love one another.”

Jesus says.

Sitting with his disciples for what will be his last supper with them before He dies on the cross — Jesus has a message for His disciples.

Love

As I have loved you.

Love.

What is our purpose as individual Christians – and as a Church?

Love

By this everyone will know you are my disciples.

Love.

One of the purposes of our lives as Christians .

Love

Love for God.

Love for others.

Love for members of the Church – this Church.

One of your purposes in life is to love God and the Church.

This living in love is what it means to live together as the Church God would have us be. Serving each other – humbly working together – living together as the Church in humble service and love – working together for God’s glory in the world – is part of what it means to be the Christians God calls us to be. It is to be one of the purposes for our lives. It is to be one of the purposes for your life.

Live together.

Live together.

One of the purposes of your life is to be to live to please God.

Another purpose is to be to live together.

But — it is not easy to have living together in love and humbly working together as a purpose for our lives or our Church.

Love is not easy.

It can lead to your giving of yourself.

It can lead to sacrifice.

Look at where it lead Christ — to death on a cross.

But – death on the cross is the greatest act of love – and is not defeat – but victory.

For Jesus – the victory was in loving –

even giving of Himself —

even dying on the cross —

even rising again.

“I give you a new commandment,

that you love one another.

Just as I have loved you,

you also should love one another.”

“The purpose of the church and its ministry

is to work for the increase among humankind

of the love of God and neighbor.”

To work for the increase of the love of God and neighbor.

One of our purposes in life is to love God and the Church. It is to learn how to live together.

One of your purposes in life is to love God and the Church. It is to learn how to live together.

Live together.

Live together.

Living together in love is to be your goal.

But — how can you — as an individual Christians – as an individual church member — achieve this purpose in your life?

Only by being truly loving people.

Only by being a truly loving member.

Only by building a truly loving Church.

In our lesson from 1 Corinthians Paul gives some very specific advice and a beautiful illustration of what it means to be a Church – “the body of Christ”

In families we all have our jobs and responsibilities.

The same holds true for the Church.

To fulfill our purpose as God’s people –

To fulfill our purpose as a Church –

we all have to do our job – and fulfill our responsibility

To fulfill your purpose as am individual Christian and an individual member of this Church – you have to do your job. You have to fulfill your responsibility.

When we do our part – humbly serving God and others – we begin learning how to live together.

When you do your part – humbly serving God and others – you begin learning how to live together.

We all have particular gifts and particular things God has given us abilities to do.

We all have to use the particular gifts God gives us –

our particular abilities –

to fulfill our purpose as a Church as individual Christians.

You have particular gifts and particular things God has given you abilities to do.

You have to use the particular gifts God gives you –

your particular abilities –

to fulfill your purpose as a Church member and as an individual Christian.

Live together.

Serve each other – serve others.

Use your particular gifts to accomplish God’s will in the Church.

That’s what it means to have living together as a purpose for your life.

Live together.

Live together.

A minister wrote of an experience he had while flying over the Grand Canyon with a friend.

“Do you see that bright spot on the ground that follows the plane in its flight?”

The friend asked.

Looking down, the minister noticed that it did appear that a bright spot was following the plane.

“Pilots call that the planes doxa — it’s glory.”

The friend advised.

“It’s really a reflection caused by the sun as it bounces off the plane.”

The minister thought about how our purpose as individual Christians and as a Church — is to reflect the love of God to the world.

Our purpose is to act on the love that Christ has for us and for the world.

Your purpose is to act on the love that Christ has for you and for the world.

Using your gifts is your individual reflection of the love of God – and your fulfillment of your purpose to love other Christians – particularly in the Church. When you use your gifts you show your love in the specific way God has called you to do.

Each of us have different gifts and abilities – just as Paul points out that each part of the body has a different function.

But we need each part of our bodies – and miss it if we lose a part.

In the same way we need each member of the Church doing their part – and we miss them if they do not.

We need you doing their part – and we miss you if you do not.

Live together.

Live together.

Whatever your role is – play it.

Whatever your part is – do it.

Whatever your gift is – give it.

Whatever your ability is – use it.

In that way you are fulfilling your purpose of loving God and the Church.

In doing this you are on your way to discovering and fulfilling your God given purpose in life.

One of the purposes God has for your life is for you to live a life pleasing to God.

A second purpose God has for your life is for you to learn to live together in the Church.

Live to please God.

Live together.

Live out these purposes God has for your life. Amen.

Genesis 12:1-9, Luke 13:31-35

Genesis 12:1-9

Luke 13:31-35

Live To Please God

March 4, 2007

Part 2 of 2007 Hopewell Lent 6 part series on Purpose Driven Life

Is there a purpose to life?

Does life have purpose and meaning?

If so – what is it?

What is the purpose of life?

Why are we here?

More specifically – what is the purpose of my life?

Why am I here?

Is there something that can give meaning to my life?

Am I here for a purpose?

Did God have a purpose in putting me here?

Questions of purpose and meaning have haunted people since the beginning of time.

As Christians, we can say

“Yes –life has a purpose –

Yes –life has meaning.”

We can say:

“Yes – my life has a purpose –

Yes – my life has meaning.”

We can say:

“Yes – God has put me here for a purpose.”

Lent – the 6 weeks before Holy Week and Easter — has historically been a time Christians have devoted themselves to reflection upon Christ’s sacrifice for us on the cross – and our response to Christ and His claim upon our lives.

We are using the Season of Lent this year to look at what God’s purpose for us might be —

what God might have us to have as a purpose in our lives –

and how we can live in God’s purpose for our lives.

So – what is the purpose for our lives?

Last week we looked at how we can not find true purpose for our lives in money

possessions

power

fame

or anything else people might use to find purpose or meaning for their lives when they focus on themselves.

Do you remember the illustration from Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Life I gave several times when we were looking at who we are as a Church – who we are as individual Christians – and what we are to be doing as a Church – and as individual Christians?

Warren writes about getting lost in the mountains and going into a store to ask directions. When he explained where he was trying to go, the people in the store replied “O – you can’t get there from here – you have to go back to the bottom of the mountain – go around the mountain – then get on the road that will take you there.”

We will never find – Warren writes — meaning and purpose for our lives by looking for it within ourselves – what we want – what we might think is good or meaningful.

I have another illustration similar to this that helps us understand the same point.

When I was serving a two Church field in North Carolina, the community in which we lived had many members of the Rakestraw family living throughout the community. Many people in that community were either Rakestraw’s – married to a Rakestraw – or kin to the Rakestraw’s. The Rakestraw name in that area was much like the Gregg name is in this area. Well, there was a small country store in the community where many of the people would gather to chat – catch up on the news – and just spend the time. Apparently those types of stores are in every community!

I happened to be in the store one day when a man walked in – looked around – and then raised his voice so everyone in the store could hear him and asked:

“Can anyone tell me where the Rakestraw house is?”

Can you imagine someone walking in to Gregg’s Store and asking:

“Can anyone tell me where the Gregg house is?”

Well, almost in unison – everyone in the store looked at the man and asked:

“Which one?”

After further explanation it turned out the man was a Real Estate appraiser who was needing the appraise the home of one of the Rakestraw’s who was moving. Once the folks in the store knew that, they knew which house to direct him to.

We will never find the meaning and purpose for our lives by just asking general questions or looking for it anywhere else or in anything else than looking for it in God.

Only when we look to God for meaning and purpose for life – only when we look to God for His meaning and His purpose for our lives – can we discover the true meaning and true purpose for our lives.

In his book The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren outlines 5 purposes for life that God has created us for:

1. Pleasing God

2. Loving others who believe in God

3. Becoming like Christ

4. Serving others with the gifts God has given us

5. Telling others about God

Today I want us to look at the first of these – we were created to please God.

Pleasing God is one of the purposes God created us for – pleasing God must be a purpose for our lives.

We’re going to look at 2 passages of scripture – one from the Old Testament – Genesis 12:1-9 – where Abram is called to follow God — and the other from the Gospel of Luke – Luke 13:31-35 – where Jesus laments that some people refuse to follow God. As we look at both of these passages we’ll see a contrast between how to live a life pleasing to God and living a life that is not pleasing to God – and we’ll see that one of our purposes in life is to:

Live to please God

Live to please God

Read passages

When I was in my late teens and early 20’s I did things I am not proud of now. I went to some wrong places – I hung around with a wrong crowd – I did some wrong things. Looking back on the places I went – the people I hung around with – and the things I did I’m not pleased at all at with how I was living at that time in my life.

My parents were not pleased with how I lived at that time in my life, either.

At that time my Dad was on the Sate Highway Commission. He had a special license plate on his car – one that identified him as a Highway Commissioner – much as Senators and Congessmen or Judges might have on their cars. This license plate made him and his car instantly identified to most of the town. People saw the car with the license plate and knew it was Billy Hayes’ car.

Well — I was in college – so I did not live at home – but came home some weekends and breaks from school.

I drove a Chevy Nova Hatchback through college that got me to where I needed to go – but not in the style I wanted. When I was home I would want to drive Dad’s Oldsmobile 98. I thought that the 98 would be much cooler to pick up my date in or to arrive in at the local hangout than my Nova. I always asked Dad to let me borrow his car. He always refused.

“No – I don’t want my car seen at some of place you may be going!” he would say.

He reasoned – and rightly – that I would be going places he did not want to be identified with – - and if his car with his license plate were seen there he would be identified with that place. So I would leave in my Nova Hatchback – wishing I were in the Oldsmobile 98 – and not realizing until years later the point Dad was trying to get across.

My lifestyle at that time in my life was not pleasing to Dad – or to Mom for that matter – or – to God. I finally came around and realized that – and came back to living as God – and my parents – wanted to be live — but it took awhile.

As Christians, one of the purposes of our lives is to

Live to please God

Live to please God

My lifestyle at that time in my life was not pleasing to Dad – or to Mom for that matter – or – to God. I finally came around and realized that – and came back to living as God – and my parents – wanted to be live — but it took awhile.

On the other hand, Abram lived a life that was pleasing to God.

Abram lived a life that pleased God.

In our Old Testament passage for today we have God calling Abram to leave the place where he and his family had settled – and to go.

Go.

Ok – Abram may have thought – go where?

Go – God said –

To the land that I will show you.

Go – to the land that I will show you – and you will be blessed with offspring and will be a great nation.

So – we have Abram – old — childless – with seemingly no immediate hope for having children – told to go – to move – not told where to go to — just told to go – and being promised children.

Believing – and obeying – this promise of God must have been difficult for Abram.

I don’t know about you – but when I get ready to go somewhere – I like to know where I am going. I like to have a map – I like to know the route I will take. I’ll look up the route on MapQuest on the internet – knowing I may not get the most direct route but that it will get me there – and will talk to others who may know the way.

On March 10 of last year Sally and I got in our car in Wentworth, NC to make a trip to Florence – the first trip to interview with Hopewell’s PNC. We had a file full of papers – a Church Information Form with a lot of check marks by things that looked good to us and question marks by things that we wanted to ask about – and we had several maps – one of which had been downloaded off Map Quest.

Abram didn’t have a map.

He couldn’t go to Map Quest and type in where he was going –

He didn’t know where he was going!

God seems to be making what seems to be a ridiculous request of Abram –

Don’t worry about where you are going

Don’t worry about the fact that the promise of children seems ridiculous

Leave all the details up to me – just go.

And what does Abram do?

He goes.

He obeys.

Scripture does not tell us Sarai’s immediate response to all this – it may have been less than positive – or – like Abram – she may have trusted God also.

God calls

Abram obeys

What an example of faith for us.

What an example of what it means to live a life that is pleasing to God.

Hearing God’s call.

Obeying God.

Pleasing God.

One of the questions of the Shorter Catechism is:

“What is the chief end of man?”

Do you remember the response?

“The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”

This is so true.

But – what about God enjoying us?

What about God getting pleasure from us – His people – His creation?

The first purpose for our lives is to bring pleasure to God.

We were created for God’s benefit.

We were created for God’s glory.

We were created for God’s purpose.

We were created for God’s delight.

We were created to bring pleasure to God.

We were created to:

Live to please God

Live to please God

Abram lived a life that pleased God.

This does not mean he was perfect or that his faith was always strong – but what it means is that his life was built around trying to please God and obey God.

His life was built around God’s will – God’s purpose for his life – and bringing God pleasure.

Yes – he made mistakes – but he always came back to living a life of trying to follow God’s purpose – a life of pleasing and obeying God.

And I believe God smiled.

Which was not the reacting Jesus had to the many people who refused to believe in Him.

The words Jesus uses when He talks about Jerusalem and it’s people are not words of pleasure – but sorrow:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Not words of pleasure – but words of sorrow that the people of Jerusalem refused to believe in Him. Sorrow that the people of Jerusalem were not concerned about God’s will – or God’s purpose for them – or bringing God pleasure.

Friends — the first purpose for our lives is to bring pleasure to God.

We were created to bring pleasure to God.

We were created to live lives that would be pleasing to God.

Live to please God

Live to please God

So – how do we do this?

How can we live lives that are pleasing to God?

In his book The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren suggests 5 ways that we can live lives that are pleasing to God. These are:

1. A life of worshipping God

2. A life of fellowship with God

3. A life of obedience to God

4. A life of surrender to God

5. A life of being best friends with God.

Doing these things will help you live a life that is pleasing to God.

First – live a life of worship to God.

What does living a life of worship to God mean?

It means living a life where everything we do – every day – is an act of worshipping God. Worship is much more than what we do on Sunday morning here in this building – true worship is a way we live – every day – seeing what God has blessed us with and praising God for His blessing in our lives. The secret to the life of worship is doing everything as if you were doing it for God.

This life of worship pleases God.

Second – there’s the life of fellowship with God.

What does living a life of fellowship with God mean?

It means taking the time to talk to God and listen to God in personal prayers and study of His word – then being willing to trust and obey God. It means using the gifts God has given us for God’s glory.

This life of fellowship pleases God.

Thirdly – there’s the life of obedience to God – being committed to doing God’s will – no matter what.

When you worship God and have fellowship with God, you will come to know God’s will for you. Once you know it, obey it – live in it.

The life of obedience means doing God’s will – and it makes God smile – it is pleasing to God.

Fourth – there’s the life of surrender to God. This means offering ourselves to God for God’s will to be done in our lives. I’m sure it was not easy for Abram to accept God’s will for his life. He could have probably offered many reasons and excuses for not doing what God had asked him to do. But instead he followed – he obeyed – he surrendered his will and plans for his life to God’s will and plan for his life — and it pleased God .

The life of surrender to God means giving up all for our plans and excuses we can make for not doing God’s will – and surrendering to God’s will for our lives – and this pleases God.

Fifth – there’s the life of being best friends with God. The life of being “best friends” with God means having a truly special relationship with God – a relationship that is real and feels like a best friend you would share your life with. It involves wanting to spend time with God – just as you want to spend time with your best friend. It involves looking for ways to please God – ways to do things that will make God happy – just as you might look for ways to please your best friend or make your best friend happy. This life of being “best friends” with God pleases God.

Live to please God

Live to please God

The first purpose of our lives is pleasing God.

We were created for God’s benefit.

W were created for God’s glory.

We were created for God’s purpose.

We were created for God’s delight.

We were created to bring pleasure to God.

We were created to live lives that would be pleasing to God.

Live to please God

Live to please God

Like Abram – we need to develop a life that is pleasing to God – where we yearn to have fellowship with God – obey God – surrender to God’s will – and be best friends with God.

So – the question for today is – does the way you live your life please God?

Does the way you live your life please God?

I am not asking “Are you living a perfect life”? That is not possible. What is possible is living a life that is pleasing to God.

Abram was not perfect — his faith was always strong – but he built his life around trying to please God and obey God.

He built his life around God’s will – God’s purpose for his life – and bringing God pleasure.

Yes – he made mistakes – but he always came back to living a life of trying to follow God’s purpose – a life of pleasing and obeying God.

The people Jesus spoke of in our passage from Luke, however, were not concerned about pleasing God – they were only concerned bout pleasing themselves – and this did not please God.

Are you living your life in a way that pleases God?

My Dad did not want to be associated with some of the places I went – some of the things I did – some of the people I hung around with – when I was in my late teens and early 20’s.

Do the places you go – the things you do – the people you associate with – every day – give glory to God? Are they the places God wants you to be going — – the things God wants you to be doing – and people God wants you to be around?

Are you living your life in a way that pleases God?

It does not mean you have top be perfect – it does not mean your faith is always strong — but it does mean you try to build your life around trying to please God and obey God.

It means you build your life around God’s will – God’s purpose for his life – and bringing God pleasure.

It will more than likely mean you will make mistakes – but it means you always come back to living a life of trying to follow God’s purpose – a life of pleasing and obeying God.

It means you try to make worshipping God, having fellowship with God, being in obedience to God, surrendering to God, and being best friends with God the important things in your life.

It means you try to live like Abram – and bring pleasure to God – instead of like the people Jesus referred to in Luke 13 – who did not please God.

Rick Warren gives 5 purposes for our lives in his book The Purpose Driven Life. These are:

1. Pleasing God

2. Loving others who believe in God

3. Becoming like Christ

4. Serving others with the gifts God has given us

5. Telling others about God

The first purpose for our lives pleasing God.

Live to please God

Live to please God

Amen.