The Sum of the (Biblical) Christian Life

The Secret to Life

We have been looking at THE BIG QUESTIONS

Tonight we are closing out the series

Tonight I will give you the secret to a meaningful life.

Actually, it’s not really a secret at all. It is clearly defined in the Bible.

Here’s the formula.

Great Commandant + Great Commission = God Honoring Life

Which in turn = a fulfilling life.

What is the Great Commandment?

Matthew 22:34–40 KJV 1900

34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. 35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:

The most important things to Jesus are to love God and love people.

The order of this is incredibly important.

I believe it is truly impossible to have a godly love for people without His help.

Sure you can love your friends and family, but God is calling for us to love our enemies.

Matthew 5:43–48 KJV 1900

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

What is The Great Commission

Because if feels good, deep down we like helping people.

This is a God given desire

God gave us all a passion to t

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Jesus tells us to go in His power and make disciples.

This is crucial for us to understand.

In todays day and age the church has done a really good job at getting the great commandment down. However, we are falling short when it comes to the great commission.

We now call disaster relief a mission trip.

It is not a mission trip unless we are carrying out the mission Jesus gave us.

Jesus did not tell us to go and build a clean well so that the locals would have clean water to drink.

They will still go to hell even with clean water.

These are fantastic opportunities to carry out the mission of God, to go and make disciples.

If you are building clean wells in Africa you can package that by sharing the gospel with those you are building for.

Essentially, doing good for others without sharing the gospel is not accomplishing the great commission.

The two are interchangeable and you cannot effectively accomplish one without the other.

On one side of the coin, you cannot effectively reach the world for Christ if you do not love God or the people you are trying to reach.

Service in food bank definition

On the other side of the coin, you will never get on mission if you do not have a love for God and the world.

Let’s face if, if you aren’t in love with God you aren’t going to love people.

If you don’t love people then you don’t really care about reaching them for Christ.

Wise Words from our Forefathers

Lets look at Paul’s words on his life.

2 Timothy 4:6-

2 Timothy 4:6–8 KJV 1900

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Paul was a man busy loving God and loving people.

He without a doubt furthered the kingdom by accomplishing the great commission.

Solomon’s conclusion about life

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV 1900

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Solomon on the other hand walked away from God’s plan for his life.

He says, the whole point of life is to fear God and keep His commandments.

Do not overlook these words

Explain the great commandment. Why is it important for Christians to live this out?

Explain the great commission. Why is it important for Christians to live this out?

What are come obstacles you face with living the great commission and the great commandment out?