Start Here (2)

He values not Christ at all who does not value Christ above all.

Saint Augustine of Hippo

Last week we started a new series - START HERE

Talking all things GREAT - What is God’s GOAT?

Have you ever had something in your life that one momemnt is the best thing ever, the greatest

Then in a flash of time, its not?

Overplayed songs

Over eaten food

Are pop-its still a thing?

What is value? Everything has a value to it

Monetary

Physical value

Emotional value

The value of something—how much it’s worth to us—changes really quickly.

We do the same thing to ourselves.

You do something well + people notice = you’re great.

Maybe you feel great when you . . .

• Had a good hair day.

• Got noticed by your crush.

• Had no homework.

• Had a great game.

• Posted a hilarious video.

• Won an award.

• Got a whole lot of attention for something.

The opposite is also true…

Maybe you feel like your value drops when . . .

• Someone makes a joke about you.

• Someone embarrasses you on purpose.

• Your crush asks someone else out.

• You find out someone was talking bad about you, even though they smile to your face.

• You find out you were left out of the group chat.

• Someone else got picked for the team, the role, etc.

• You get injured and have to sit on the sidelines.

Then the formula is flipped

You don’t do something well + people don’t like or don’t notice you = you’re not that great.

Our ability to feel great or not is so fragile (China/Crystal ex.)

Its so dependent on what other people think whether we like it or not.

Your value can roller coaster throughout the day if you let it.

Constantly worried about messing up - Causes great anxiety

Then the what if’s come into play…

• What if I don’t get into the college I want?

• What if my GPA drops?

• What if I actually start trying and my grades don’t get better?

• What if I can’t keep up with my schedule?

• What if I’m not funny enough?

• What if my injury keeps me from playing and I don’t get a scholarship?

• What if I disappoint people?

If we arent careful, we can make those our identity - WHO WE ARE

So do we just continue living life that way, or is there something better?

So today we talk about a time, Jesus is talking to a Pharisee

Pharisee - Bible Lawyer + Hall Monitor

Luke 15:1–2 “Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.””

Who is there - Tax Collectors and Sinners

Tax Collectors - Worse than the IRS - People your mom didnt want you hanging around.

A reason luke recorderd - BC its so crazy.

So Jesus brings up sheep - Something everyone understood

Luke 15:3–6 “Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’”

Jesus spoke in parables constantly - To show people what God is like, not humans - people take them out of context constantly.

Sheep needed shepherds, they are

Dumb

they wander off

They mess up

they get in trouble

If a sheep gets in trouble, a GOOD shepherd will go after it.

However…thats not true

If a shepherd left 99 of his flock to go find a single sheep, hes leaving the 99 in danger

They could get stolen, eaten, etc. without proper supervision.

So this caught everyone off guard…But he goes on

Luke 15:7 “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

The story isnt about sheep, its about GOD and PEOPLE

The Pharisees were the “Good sheep” and the sinners were the “Sheep that wandered off”

So the story is about a sheperd who cares for both types of sheep, good and bad.

The shepherd wasnt satisfied simply staying comfortable with the good sheep. he went after the wandering sheep too.

The value of the sheep isnt in being good or bad. The value is in the fact that they BELONG to the shepherd.

Your performance, what you do, how you behave, how other people see you . . . all the stuff that you think gives you high or low value—it doesn’t.

Your value doesn’t change because your value doesn’t come from what you do.

Not to say the things we do dont matter, they do (work hard, study, love family, eat well, worout)

THey just dont add spiritual VALUE to you in your life.

It boils down to this:

• Love God.

• Love your neighbor as you love yourself.

You cant love others, if you dont love yourself

Think about it: When you . . .

• Treat others the worst

• Talk trash about other people

• Hurt your siblings

• Yell or go off on someone

• Try to make someone else look bad

. . . Don’t you do a lot of those things because you feel bad about you?

Because someone or something has made you feel like your value has dropped?

The opposite is true though too, when we love God and ourselves

That’s when you can . . .

• Treat other people like they matter more.

• Say good things about people.

• Encourage your siblings.

• Give someone a break when they hurt you.

• Try to make someone else look good.

When you feel good enough about you to start looking out for other people, your life gets better, and you begin to love your life more.

Loving your life comes from knowing your worth.

Swing

Know you are valuable.

APPLY

World tells us one thing, Jesus says another

2 things to ask yourself this week before you start your day:

1. “Am I performing for love or living from it?”

We try to perform, but Jesus already values us greatly.

2. “What would change if I believed I was already enough?”

• Maybe you'd stop tearing other people down to feel better about yourself.

• Maybe you'd stop obsessing over your image and start focusing on what actually brings you peace.

• Maybe you'd give yourself a break when you mess up.

• Maybe you'd be quicker to forgive—others and yourself.

Loving your life comes from knowing your worth.

When you head out today, I want you to imagine what it would feel like if you really knew your value didn’t

change whether you . . .

• Made the team.

• Quit the team.

• Failed the quiz.

• Aced the quiz.

• Got the attention.

• Got ignored.

• Got the date.

• Got dumped.

Loving your life really does come from knowing your worth.

And it all starts with changing the way you see yourself.