I Will Show Us The Good Life

I Will Show Us The Good Life | Summit Camp 2024 (Day 2) | 6/26/2024 | Matthew 11:28-30

Intro

On August 7th, 2005, i turned 21 years old.

My sister gave me this book: Don’t Waste Your Life.

I know it was then, because she wrote in it. (SHOW IMAGE)

Little did she know how much I was struggling in life… (talk about the struggle)

When I finally cracked open the book, here is one of the most powerful things i read:

You don't have to know a lot of things for your life to make a lasting difference in the world. But you have to know the few great things that matter, perhaps just one, and then be willing to live for them and die for them. The people who make a durable difference in the world are not the people who have mastered many things, but who have been mastered by one great thing. If you want your life to count, if you want the ripple effect of the pebbles you drop to become waves that reach the ends of the earth and roll on into eternity, you don't need to have a high IQ. You don't need to have good looks or riches or come from a fine family or a fine school. Instead, you have to know a few great, majestic, unchanging, obvious, simple, glorious things—or one great all-embracing thing—and be set on fire by them. –John Piper (page 44)

And that one great thing is to be with Jesus! This captured me! And I pray it captures you also!

Pray

Father, what we know not, teach us. What we are not, make us. What we have not, give us.

1. I Will Show Us The Good Life: An Extended Invitation (The Presence of God)

[[**SD**]] Read Psalm 1:2–3

Psalm 1:2–3 CSB

Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

That’s a picture of the good life:

Grounded and rooted! This is stability!

Thirst quenched! By streams of living water!

Bearing fruit! Making an impact in the world around you!

A leaf that doesn’t wither! Not just an impact today… but for eternity!

Everything prospers! Your life will count for something! It will not be wasted!

I beg you today! To hear this as a sweet invitation to The Good Life!

[[**SD**]] Read Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus says, do you want the good life?! Walk with me! Learn my ways! Take my yoke!

On the wall at my house:

Only one life, ‘Twill soon be past; Only what’s done for Christ will last. –C.T. Studd

I would edit the quote to say: only what’s done WITH Christ will last.

As Pete Scazzero might say: we miss the point when we prioritize DOING FOR Jesus over BEING WITH Jesus.

Question: How does prioritizing being with Jesus before doing for Jesus change the way we think about obedience, service, ministry, etc? Personally, what does it look like for you to prioritize being with Jesus?

TRANSITION: Jesus is inviting you to walk with Him! And this is the good life! The Good Life (with Jesus) is an extended invitation (into His presence)… it is also and experienced reality (of the permanence of God)

2. I Will Show Us The Good Life: An Experienced Reality (The Permanence of God)

[[**SD**]] Read Psalm 131:1-3

Psalm 131:1–3 CSB

Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I do not get involved with things too great or too wondrous for me. Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like a weaned child. Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forever.

The weaned child knows where the next meal is coming from.

But my friend’s son, Noah, is a four year old boy. He’s weaned when it comes to milk… but not when it comes to Thomas the Train!

But here is the thing… when my friend was talking about how Noah breaks down my the broken tracks… His Father was with him the whole time!

Question: Do you ever feel like God the Father pulls away from you (not actually forsaking you, but being cold towards you) when you sin or live apathetically towards the ways of Jesus?

Following Jesus is a life of sacrifice! I promise you it is! But it isn’t unrewarded! You get to walk with Jesus and be held by your Heavenly Father! And that is the good life!

TRANSITION: Might God give you eyes to see and hearts to believe today: The life with Jesus is the good life! And that it is an extended invitation to you (into the presence of God)! And it can be an experienced reality for you (of the permanence of God)! And lastly… might we be fully aware that is it an eternal decision! Hear the pleading of God)

3. I Will Show Us The Good Life: An Eternal Decision (The Pleading of God)

[[**SD**]] Read Deuteronomy 30:19-20

Deuteronomy 30:19–20 CSB

I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, love the Lord your God, obey him, and remain faithful to him. For he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you live in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

This isn’t like choosing what shirt you’re going to where today. Or what you’re going to order when you’re out to eat.

It’s more serious than choosing which girl your going to date one day. Or which young man you’re going to marry! It more important than choosing where you go to college!

There are lots of important choices in this life, but only a few are life and death and only one is eternal!

Transition: This is THAT ONE! Eternal decision! Will you choose to waste your life… and waste your eternity!

Or Will you choose The Good Life With Jesus?! Today and forever! You’re invited! This can be your experienced reality!

JESUS!

He purchases our undeserved and everlasting pleasure, and He becomes for us our all-deserving, everlasting Treasure. –John Piper (page 40)

What is your decision today? Not a Christian? Will you walk with Jesus?

PREACH THE GOSPEL! Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.

And Saints

Christian? Will you walk with Jesus? Choose life!

Question: As Christians we often make choices rooted in temporary things instead of eternal things. Why do you think we choose lesser things over eternal things?

Let’s Pray

Reflection Questions:

> How does prioritizing being with Jesus before doing for Jesus change the way we think about obedience, service, ministry, etc? Personally, what does it look like for you to prioritize being with Jesus?

> Do you ever feel like God the Father pulls away from you (not actually forsaking you, but being cold towards you) when you sin or live apathetically towards the ways of Jesus?

> As Christians we often make choices rooted in temporary things instead of eternal things. Why do you think we choose lesser things over eternal things?