Senior Service - 3/13/23

Sermon:

Hello my friends, always glad to come spend time with you. Today I’d like to talk about “How to live in a way that pleases God.” Since you’re here, I’m assuming that’s a topic your interested in!

And to answer this question, I want to open up God’s word - the Bible - to see what it has to say about this topic. I believe that’s one of the purposes of God’s word. It instructs us on how to live in a way that pleases God...

The book of Hebrews says this in chapter 12...

Hebrews 12:1–2 NLT

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

I believe this passage gives us some practical steps to living a life that pleases God. In fact, I see 4 specific ways that can help us live this way. Let me share them with you...

Number 1, it says Jesus “endured the cross.” First off, anything Jesus does is worth copying. He always did the things that pleased the Father. And it says Jesus endured the cross. What does that mean to us?

It means that if we want to please God, we must be willing to do difficult things. Things we may not personally want to do, but are still part of God’s plan - for our lives and others. So, how do we practice “enduring the cross?”

We are humble. Jesus went to the cross in humility. If we want to endure the cross, we must be humble too. And let me clarify, being humble isn’t thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less. If you want to please God, start valuing the needs of others. How can you do that here in this community?

Be willing to do hard things. To endure is to continue even when the circumstances are difficult. The cross wasn’t easy for Jesus. There are things in your life that won’t be easy, but they are part of God’s plan. And if you endure… you will please Him.

Have faith. To endure the cross, you must trust God. You must trust His plan is good for you, even when it doesn’t feel that way.

Another way thing this passage says is Jesus “despised the shame.” The reason Jesus went to the cross is to pay for our sins. He took those sins upon Himself and died for us, so we could be forgiven and have eternal life. He didn’t take those sins upon Himself because He liked it - He despised the shame of those sins!

How do you feel about sin? Do you despise its? Or do you embrace it and try to justify wrong living in your life? Earlier, the passage said to lay aside (throw away) the sins in your life.

Maybe you’re asking, “What sins?” The Bible lists a lot of things (a lot of ways we choose to live that qualify as sins), which ones are we talking about? Answering this could take a long time, so I’ll sum it up the way Jesus did.

One time, someone asked Jesus, “What’s the most important commandment.” Jesus replied, “Love God and love others.” That’s helpful for us in this conversation. As we think about laying aside sins so we can live in a way that pleases God, anything that causes us to either...

Not love God...

Or, not love other people...

… we need to lay those things aside!

What sinful thing is God asking you to give up today? What things keep you from loving God? What things keep you from loving your neighbors?

Finally, our passage talks about Jesus going to the cross because of “the joy set before Him.” To please God doesn’t mean your life is gonna be miserable. God isn’t trying to take away your fun. God created fun!

God wants to bring joy into your life!

God wants to bring joy to your family!

God wants to bring joy to the place!

When we are willing to live the way Jesus did… in a way that pleases God… we will find joy. And that should motivate us all the more to keep living that way.

Do you want joy in your life? Then...

Be willing to endure the cross! Be humble. Be challenged to do hard things. Live by faith - trust God!

Despise the shame. Get rid of the sin in your life. Instead, choose to love God and love people!

And remember, God wants you to have joy. His plan has joy for us in the future. Especially when we consider the destination of those who have placed their faith in Jesus. Because this isn’t our home! Our home is heaven - the place of eternal, perfect joy! A joy we can’t even imagine! A place where we will be rewarded for living a life that pleased God.

And when we are there… we will look back and think, “All of the sacrifice was worth it! The joy I’m experiencing now and forever was worth it!”

So as we close, how can you live a life that pleases God? The answer is: Live like Jesus! Do what He did.

Before we take communion, let me say this important thing. Every thing we talked about… especially the promise of joy in heaven, even honoring God thru communion, doesn’t matter if Jesus isn’t our Lord and Savior. If you haven’t received Him as your Savior, then let’s take care of that today.

It’s freely available to you!

All you need to do is repent (turn) from your sins.

And put your faith in Jesus. Trust that His sacrifice on the cross was enough to fully forgiven you. And that He rose from the dead, which gives you the promise of new, eternal life.

Let’s pray...