Untitled Sermon (4)

The Father used my story to show me the importance of passion for Jesus alone. Wherever our deepest passion lies, the direction of our life will lie.

Main Point 1 - What is my story?

I went to Puerto Rico this summer with my church on a missions trip

My intention was for 1) my wife and I to grow closer to our church family, 2) to serve the body of Christ in a culture other than our own.

1) We helped build the the church up. 2) The passion of the church we served. 3) Made me question my own joy.

1) We grew closer as a team. 2) Shared responsibilities. 3) Included nightly devotionals

My intention behind my devotionals. —> a) A pattern since freshman year. b) Motivated my religious life

1) God caught my attention —-> I needed to change. 2) He taught me passion, and service.

I learned this during summer 1) friends internships 2) Chicory, pastoral identity.

Summary Point: To what degree would I be faithful? Is Jesus my passion?

Main Point 2 - What is passion?

1. What you are passionate about determines the direction in which your heart goes. ‌-

Example: Parable of the buried treasure - (Matt 13:44 - 46). 1)The man finds a treasure and directs all of his lively hood to the treasure in the field. 2)He knew the worth of the treasure far outweighed all that he had. It was worth the cost. 3) It directed where his resources went. Matt 6:21

Brennan Manning quote: “ The paltriness of our lives is largely due to our fascination with the trinkets and trophies of the unreal world that is passing away. Sex, drugs, booze…the pursuit of money, pleasure, and power…even a little religion - all suppress the awareness of present riseness.

What is he saying? - Our passion for power, pleasure, affirmation, and entertainment all distract us from what is really real. Eventually we get tired of the chase and life becomes bland, it becomes small, undesirable.

Summary Point: Passion for worldly things snuffs our eternal life

Main Point 3 - Passion directs the life.

1. Jesus is to be our ultimate passion

1) we are to be so intimately connected to him that we are like branches to a vine (Jn 15). 2) Christians are called to give their whole life in worship to Jesus (Romans 12:1-3).

As long as Jesus was a means to an end in my story it was easy to compartmentalize him. He would call me to do something and I would say “no Lord” which is a contradictory in terms anyway.

b. How might we fail to serve Jesus?

1) By pouring the resources due to the ministry and loving other people into our own dreams and passions. 2) Prestige, pleasure, power, and control. This in the end leads to death. Matt 16:24-26.) 3) Notice the exchange, passion for Jesus leads to life.

Does this mean I cannot pursue what I am passionate about? A: No! It just means that in whatever we do, we glorify Jesus in it. Wherever we are put, we serve others in that space.