Final Sermon

WE EXIST TO HELP PEOPLE KNOW JESUS AND FIND HIS PURPOSE FOR THEIR LIVES

WHAT IS PURPOSE

IT’S A TRENDY WORD — BUT WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?

“Purpose is living a life that is full because of what Jesus has done for me and wants to do through me”

So how do you find that purpose? It seems vague right?

WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT PURPOSE BY TALKING ABOUT A VERY IMPORTANT GUY IN THE BIBLE

JOHN THE BAPTIST

So baptist that he had it in his name

His purpose was to prepare the way for the messiah

IMAGINE JTB GROWING UP

Because an angel appeared to his father long before he was born to let him know what his sons purpose was going to be.

— He’s gonna prepare the way — Think about one day his parents telling him that one day. All his life he’s grown up with that pressure.

He was a jewish boy so he knew about the messiah.

Luke 1:17 (NLT)

17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord...

LET’S LOOK AT JTBS LIFE

Lived in the woods (I hate camping)

preached about Jesus — had disciples — baptizing people

Then it all came to the big moment when he Baptizes Jesus.

Think about what he’s thinking afterwards. I accomplished my purpose time to retire to the beach and have virgin margaritas (cause he’s baptist)

Then he ends up in jail

HOW DOES DOING WHAT GOD CALLED YOU TO DO GET YOU IN JAIL?

He did what he was supposed to do. How does that lead to this?

John has some questions.

I WONDER IF YOU HAVE EVER FELT THIS WAY?

Did the thing that God called you to do only to end up somewhere… that doesn’t make sense.

YOU DID THE RIGHT THING SO HOW DID IT END UP HERE?

WE HAVE UNDERSTANDABLE EXPECTATIONS THAT IF WE CAN JUST ACHIEVE THIS CERTAIN THING EVERYTHING WILL BE PERFECT

RELATIONSHIPS

CAREER

KIDS / FAMILY

MONEY

EMOTIONS

2020

JESUS NEVER ONCE PROMISED IN THE BIBLE THAT THINGS WOULD GO PERFECT

John 16:33 NLT

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

SO JTB IS SITTING IN JAIN AFTER PREPARING THE WAY FOR JESUS

John 10:10 NLT

10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

JTB SENDS WORD TO JESUS. CAUSE HE’S GOT QUESTIONS

And he sends word for people to ask Jesus “is he really the one that was to come or are we supposed to be looking for someone else.

Matthew 11:2–6 NLT

2 John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, 3 “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” 4 Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen—5 the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” 6 And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”

HOW DO YOU TURN AWAY BECAUSE OF JESUS?

JOHN WAS DOUBTING BECAUSE OF HIS IDEA OF WHAT JESUS WOULD BE NOT WHO HE ACTUALLY WAS

SO WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF JESUS?

Is he like a genie? I do the right things and he does what i want?

Is he just your ticket into heaven?

WHO IS JESUS?

HE IS SAVIOR, HE IS REDEEMER, HE IS FORGIVER, HE IS PURPOSE BRINGER

He’s the only one who can bring purpose in the middle of a jail cell

Imagine you are JTB. In jail. Wondering what to do.

AFTER JTB’s disciples leave

Matthew 11:7–11 NLT

7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? 8 Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. 9 Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. 10 John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’ 11 “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is!

JESUS HERE SAYS THAT THE LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS GREATER THAN JTB

What does that mean?

John did amazing things — He was steady, he was disciplined, he was steadfast, he accomplished a great purpose.

But he didn’t live under the new covenant. He wasn’t alive after Jesus completed his work.

JESUS IS SAYING THAT YOU. ME AND YOU. HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER JTB.

We live under grace now. We now have access to the holy spirit. Jesus living in our hearts. And with that we can do so much more that JTB ever did.

JOHN PREPARED THE WAY FOR JESUS PHYSICALLY BUT NOW YOU AND I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A PART OF PREPARING THE WAY FOR JESUS IN PEOPLES HEARTS

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

WE LIVE OUR LIVES ON PURPOSE