8A LIVING WITH PURPOSE

Last week, we began looking at a deliberate approach to our Christian faith in: value, purpose, result.

What did you value at church this morning enough to get out of bed and come?

How would a church propose to meet the values you’re looking for.

What results would you like to see from this class you’re now attending?

If I were to offer a working definition of Christianity it would be this: ‘Christianity is living on purpose.’

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

26 Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

God’s whole plan according to Scripture- is not to improve you or modify you, it is to ‘transform’ you. The dictionary defines transform as this: To change markedly the appearance or form.

18 And we, … are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

It’s only logical- if God truly works in our lives- the result is bound to be God-sized change… transformation that shows… transformation in the very form of our lives.

2. Friendship- friendship with the God who loves us, and the people He loves-

20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

We have a term for people who connect at the deepest level. We call them ‘soul mates.’ Can you imagine the possibilities… the privilege of being ‘soul mates’ with the God of the universe? Well- That is the kind of friendship He’s talking about!

Matt 10:39. "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Sounds pretty confusing at first, doesn’t it? How can you lose life and find it at the same time? In the original Greek, the word for LIFE is psuche [psoo-khay]. It means, the “heart, mind, soul,"

For each person here- your heart values something. Your mind takes some approach to life. Your soul is being molded by the direction you’ve chosen, even if that direction is refusing to choose a direction. Each of us will spend our lives in some way. It might be for status or security. It may be for acceptance, or the next good time. In life we will value something, we will chase some purpose, and we will send ourselves to some ultimate result.

It is natural for us to value the things we can see and touch. If we can wrap our hands around it, as well as our minds- it seems more real. But here’s the problem- everything we can see and touch in this world will pass away at some point. And so will the result. Life is full of ruined wealth, and evaporated fame. Even the most loyal friends and family must pass on and leave us behind.

But, God says, ‘There is a treasure that never rusts, or decays, or abandons you.’ That treasure is a relationship with Him. What a tragedy… what a heartbreaking tragedy, that so many of us -through aimlessness, or distraction- spend our hearts, minds, and souls on what we cannot keep, while God is offering, what we cannot loose.

The man who seeks first ease and comfort and security and the fulfillment of personal ambition may well get all these things… A man can hoard life, if he wishes to do so. But that way he will lose all that makes life valuable to others and worth living for himself. The way to serve others, the way to fulfill God's purpose for us, the way to true happiness is to spend life selflessly, for only thus will we find life, here and hereafter.

To someone who has never heard of Christianity; how would you describe:

God’s prize

Transformation

Friendship with God

What brings the most real value to a person’s life?

How does Christ bring real value?

First- Those who say they value Christ- does your life revolve around His purpose? Is everything about your church designed to foster friendship with God- to grow relationships with His people- and to invite those seeking? Or in all honesty, do you value going through religious motions more than living the relationship? Remember; value sets our purpose, and purpose determines the result. What are the results of your life, and your church?

Second- For you who have not given the spiritual much thought. -You have placed Christ on your ‘someday list’ or ‘nice but not real list’, ask yourself- “What results am I heading for?”

Considering the importance of the spirit- isn’t it worth some serious reflection? Considering the magnificence of God’s offer- should it really be something you simply be shrugged off?

It is human to value, it is life to realize purpose, and it is the greatest fortune to find God as the result. Don’t let the opportunity slip by… don’t take a chance on your result. We invite you to stick around. There are a number of people here who would be happy to talk with you after we finish our worship celebration.

Discuss the closing questions of the message.