"Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise.
Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days.
Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do."
- Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

  3 Basic Questions

1. What Does God Want? My Whole Life
    "Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life. And use your whole body as a tool to do what is right for the glory of God."    Romans 6:13 (NLT)

    "This is what the Lord your God wants you to do: Respect the Lord and do what he has told you to do. Love Him. Serve the Lord your God with your whole being."    Deut. 10:12 (NCV)

    "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."    Matt. 6:24 (NIV)

    "In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success."    Proverbs 3:6 (LB)

2. What Does It Take? Discipline
    "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness."    1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB)

    "Spend your time and energy in the exercise of keeping spiritually fit."    1 Timothy 4:7b (LB)

    "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress."    Heb. 12:1b (NLT)

    "Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to Him and asked, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me.' But the Lord answered her, Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but there is need of only one thing and Mary has chosen the better part..."    Luke 10:40-42 (NRSV)

    "God is always at work in you to make willing and able to obey his own promise."    Philippians 2:13 (TEV)

3. Why Should I Do It? The Cross
    "He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who dies for them and was raised again."    2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)

    "Through the blood of His Son, we are set free from our sins. God forgives our failures because of his overflowing kindness."    Ephesians 1:7 (GW)

    "Brothers and sisters, in view of all we have just shared about God's compassion, I encourage you to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, dedicated to God and pleasing to Him."    Romans 12:1 (GW)

    "We beg you, please don't squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us!"    2 Corinthians 6:1 (MSG)

    "Lord, I have heard the news about you; I am amazed at what you have done. Lord, do great tings once again in our time; make those things happen again in our own days."    Habakkuk 3:2 (NCV)

  LIFE'S 3 GREATEST QUESTIONS

1. Question Of Existence: WhWhy Am I Alive?
    "Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?"    Jeremiah 21:18 (TEV)

    "The Lord has made everything for His own purpose"    Proverbs 16:4a (GW)

    "Long before He laid down earth's foundations, He had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love."    Ephesians 1:4 (Msg)

       GOD: I Was Created To Be Loved By God.

2. Question Of Significance: Does My Life Matter?
    "My work all seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and for no purpose at all."    Isaiah 49:4a (NLT)

    "I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born."    Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

    "You... scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your book!"    Psalm 139:16 (LB)

    "His plans endure forever; His purposes last eternally."    Psalms 33:11 (GN)

       GOD: I Was Made To Last Forever.

    "When this tent we live in - our body here on earth - is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever."    2 Corinthians 5:1 (TEV)

    "Leave your impoverished confusion and live! Walk up the street to a life with meaning."    Proverbs 9:6 (NCV)

3. Question Of Intention: What Is My Purpose?
    "Why did you create us? For nothing?"    Psalm 89:47 (NCV)

    "Knowing God results in every other kind of understanding."    Proverbs (9:10b (Msg)

       GOD: I Find My Purpose By Getting To Know God.

    "For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible...everything got started in him and finds its purpose in Him."    Colossions 1:16 (Msg)

    "It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for... part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone."    Ephesians 1:11 (Msg)

    "It makes no difference who you are or where you're from - if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open."    Acts 10:35 (Msg)

  "You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." - Rev. 4:11b (NLT)

  “Love the Lord your God... This is the first and greatest commandment.” - Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV)

MY 1st PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO WORSHIP GOD.

“Because of God’s great mercy to us... Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” - Rom. 12:1 (TEV)

    1. Worship is my response to God's love.
    2. Worship is giving back to God.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.”   - Mark 12: 30 (NCV)

GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE HIM...
  THOUGHTFULLY “with my mind”
  PASSIONATELY “with my heart and soul”
  PRACTICALLY “with my strength”

1. Worship Is Focusing My Attention On God.

    “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working...You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.” - Ps. 139:1-3 (CEV)

    “Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.” - Rom. 8:7 (Msg)

    “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.” - Rom. 12:2a (Msg)

    “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.” - Matt 6:6 (Msg)

    “Worship Him continually.” - Ps. 105:4 (TEV)

    “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!” - Isa. 26:3 (NLT)

2. Worship Is Expressing My Affection To God.
    “We love Him, because He first loved us.” - 1 John 4:19 (KJV)

    “I don't want your sacrifices -- I want your love! I don't want your offerings --I want you to know Me!” - Hosea 6:6 (LB)

    “He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.” - Ex. 34:14b (NLT)

    “Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life.” - Rom. 6:13 (NLT)

3. Worship Is Using My Abilities For God.
    “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.” - Col. 3:23 (TEV)

    “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” - Rom. 12:1a (Msg)

    “So we make it our goal to please Him...” - 2 Cor. 5:9 (NIV)

  "God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory..." - Heb. 2:10a (NCV)

  "His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ." - Eph. 1:5 (NLT)

  "Love your spiritual family!" - 1 Pet. 2:17b (Msg)

MY 2nd PURPOSE IN LIFE IS FELLOWSHIP.

"The person who loves God must also love other believers." - 1 John 4:21 (GW)

FELLOWSHIP is Loving God’s Family.

  "I’m writing... so you’ll know how to live in the family of God.- 1 Tim. 3:14-15 (NCV)

  That family is the church..." - 1 Tim. 3:14-15 (NCV)

FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP

1. MEMBERSHIP: Choosing To Belong.

    "...You are members of God's very own family... and you belong in God's household with every other Christian." - Eph. 2:19 (LB)

    "In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others." - Rom. 12:5 (NIV)

    "This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrection Body." - 1 Cor. 12:13 (Msg)

    "That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus." - Rom. 6:3 (Msg)

2. FRIENDSHIP: Learning To Share

    "All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other." - Acts 2:44 (LB)

    OUR EXPERIENCES
        "People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron." - Prov. 27:17 (TEV)
    OUR HOMES
        "Open your homes to each other." - 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)
    OUR PROBLEMS
        "Share each other's troubles and problems." - Gal. 6:2 (NLT)

    "Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another..." - Heb. 10:25 (TEV)

3. PARTNERSHIP: Doing My Part

    "We are partners working together for God." - 1 Cor. 3:9a (TEV)

    "The whole Body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love." - Eph. 4:16 (NLT)

    "Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to Me." - Matt. 25:40 (NRSV)

4. KINSHIP: Loving Believers Like Family

    "...they were like family to each other." - Acts 2:42a (CEV)

    "Be devoted to each other like a loving family." - Rom. 12:10 (GW)

    "We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters." - 1 John 3:16 (NLT)

    "Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples." - John 13:35 (LB)

    "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus." - Gal. 3:26 (NLT)

  "From the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him - and He knew who would - should become like His Son..." - Rom 8:29 (LB)

  "God wants us to grow up ... like Christ in everything." - Eph. 4:15 (Msg)

MY 3rd PURPOSE IN LIFE IS TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST.

"In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." - Rom. 8:28 (NIV)

THREE UNEXPECTED TOOLS

1. God Uses Trouble To Teach Us To Trust Him.

    "...troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope." - Rom 5:3-4 (NCV)

    "They came to a garden called Gethsemane and Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ ... Distress and anguish came over Him, and He said, "The sorrow in My heart is so great that it almost crushes Me." - Mark 14:32-34 (TEV)

    "Father," He said, "everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from Me. Yet I want your will, not mine!" - Mark 14:36 (NLT)

     Keep a spiritual journal
    "At the Lord's direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress." - Num. 33:2 (NLT)

     Remember the reward
    "Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." - 2 Cor. 4:17 (NIV)

2. God Uses Temptation To Teach Us To Obey

    "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." - Matt. 4:1 (NIV)

    "’Get out of here, Satan’ Jesus told him. ‘The Scriptures say, Worship only the Lord God. Obey only Him.'" - Matt. 4:10 (LB)

     Keep focused on good thoughts
    "Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right." - Phil. 4:8a (LB)

     Get a spiritual partner
    "You’re better off to have a friend than to be all alone... If you fall, your friend can help you up." - Eccl. 4:9-10 (CEV)

3. God Uses Trespasses To Teach Us To Forgive.

    "People passing by shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus ... and the elders made fun of Him... Even the bandits who had been crucified with Him insulted Him in the same way." - Matt. 27:39-44 (TEV)

    "Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people, because they don't know what they are doing.’" - Luke 23:34 (NLT)

     Remember God has forgiven me
    "Forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ." - Eph. 4:32 (CEV)

     Remember God is in control
    "You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done." - Gen. 50:20 (NCV)

    "We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with Him." - Rom. 8:17 (Msg)

    "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." - Phil. 2:5 (NIV)

  “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” - Eph. 2:10 (NIV)

  “Your hands shaped me and made me.” - Job 10:8 (NIV)

  Spiritual Gifts  Heart  Abilities  Personality  Experiences

  “Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.” - 1 Pet. 4:10 (NIV)

MY 4th PURPOSE IN LIFE IS SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS.

Jesus: “Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...” - Matt. 20:28 (LB)

LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS

1. Serving Like Jesus Means Being Available.

    “Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.” - Matt. 20:30-32 (NIV)

    “Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.” - Prov. 3:28 (TEV)

    1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS
    “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” - Phil. 2:4 (MSG)

    2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM
    “If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.” - Eccl. 11:4 (NLT)

    3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM
    “No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money." - Luke 16:13 (NIV)

2. Serving Like Jesus Means Being Grateful

    “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here...’" - John 11:41-42 (NIV)

    “Serve the Lord with gladness.” - Ps. 100:2 (KJV)

    “It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was His plan...” - 2 Tim. 1:9 (LB)

    1st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING
    “Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful.” - Rom. 14:4 (GW)

    2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS
    “When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.” - Matt. 6:1 (CEV)

3. Serving Like Jesus Means Being Faithful.

    “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.” - John 17:4 (NIV)

    “The one thing required of servants is that they be faithful...” - 1 Cor. 4:2 (TEV)

    “Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” - 1 Cor. 15:58 (MSG)

    “He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians.” - Heb. 6:10 (NLT)

    “'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things so; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” - Matt. 25:21 (NIV)

  Jesus: “In the same way that you gave Me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” - John 17:18 (Mes)

  “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” - John 20:21 (NIV)

  Spiritual Gifts  Heart  Abilities  Personality  Experiences

  “The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me - to tell people the Good News about God's grace.” - Acts 20:24 (NCV)

MY 5th PURPOSE IN LIFE IS SHARE THE GOOD NEWS.

“You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8 (NIV)

    “Jerusalem” = the people closest to me
    “Judea/Samaria” = people near but different from me
    “Ends of the earth” = everybody else!

    “This was God's plan for all of history which He carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Eph. 3:11 (GW)

LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS

1. I Must Share With Those In My World.

    “‘Go back home and tell people how much God has done for you.’ So the man went all over town telling how much Jesus had done for him.” - Luke 8:39 (NCV)

    “Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you.” - 1 Peter 3:15 (TEV)

    “...God does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to change their hearts and lives!” - 2 Peter 3:9 (NCV)

2. I Must Dare To Reach Beyond My World

    “Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him.” - 1 Cor. 9:22b (LB)

    “Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law.” - Gal. 6:2 (Msg)

    “Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight...” - James 1:27 (Msg)

    “I was hungry, and you fed Me. I was thirsty, and you gave Me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited Me into your home. I was naked, and you gave Me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for Me. I was in prison, and you visited Me.” - Mt. 25:35-36 (NLT)

    Jesus replied, "Let me assure you that no one has ever given up anything... for love of Me and to tell others the Good News, who won't be given back, a hundred times over...” - Mark 10:29 (LB)

3. I Must Care About The Whole World.

    Jesus said to His followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” - Mark 16:15 (NCV)

    “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” - Mark 8:35 (LB)

    “David served God’s purposes in his own time...” - Acts 13:36a (TEV)

    “Send us around the world with the news of Your saving power and Your eternal plan for all mankind.” - Ps. 67:2 (LB)

  “Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with Him.”Deut. 11:2 (TEV)

ABOUT GOD?

1. That It’S All About God, Not Me

    “God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory...” - Heb. 2:10a (NCV)

    “Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.” - Col. 1:16 (Msg)

2. That God Still Does Miracles

    "You are the God of miracles and wonders! You still demonstrate Your awesome power." - Ps. 77:14 (LB)

ABOUT LIFE?

1. That Life Is Preparation For Eternity

    “God has planted eternity in the human heart.” - Eccl. 3:11 (NLT)

2. That We’Re Put On Earth For 5 Purposes

    "The Lord has made everything for His purpose." - Prov. 16:4 (NLT)

I WAS.... Planned for God’s pleasure Formed for God’s family Created to become like Christ Shaped to serve God Made for a mission

BIBLE WORD: Worship Fellowship Discipleship Ministy Evangelism

ABOUT SPIRITUAL GROWTH?

1. That We Grow Through Making Commitments

    "Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." - James 2:17 (NIV)

2. That We Grow Through Fellowship

    “As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.” - Prov. 27:17 (NCV)

    “Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard... and the God of peace will be with you.” - Phil. 4:9 (NRSV)

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY?

1. That People Are Hungry For Spiritual Truth

    “Look around you! Vast fields of human souls are ripening all around us, and are ready now for reaping.” - John 4:35 (LB)

NOW WHAT?

START LIVING WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED!

    “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” - John 13:17 (NIV)

    “Live life with a due sense of responsibility, not as those who do not know the meaning of life but as those who do.” - Eph. 5:15 (Ph)

    “Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it!” - Phil. 3:16 (Msg)

PASS IT ON!

    “Now I want you to tell these same things to followers who can be trusted to tell others.” - 2 Tim. 2:2b (CEV)

    “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for every one of you because the news of your faith is spreading throughout the whole world.” - Rom. 1:8 (GW)