Sermon Tone Analysis

\\ Today we’re going to look at life’s three greatest questions:  1) The question of existence – why am I alive?

2)  the question of significance – does my life matter?

and 3) the question of intention – what is my purpose?

*1.

**/The Question of Existence./*

*/Now this first question, the “Question of Existence:/* Why am I alive?” is not a new question.

Jeremiah, the weeping prophet asked this question years ago:

 

 Jeremiah 20:18, it says this

 

“/Why was I born?

Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?”

/  

 

There have been times when most of us have asked ourselves this question.

Was I born just to have a bunch of problems?

Was I put on this planet just to have heartache, grief and stress?

Arthur Ashley Brilliant says “my life is a superb cast, but I can’t figure out the plot.”

Jack Hanley wrote, “I hope life isn’t a joke, because I don’t get it.”

Dr.

Hugh Moorhead, Chairman at the Department of Philosophy at the Northeastern University, once wrote to 250 well-known philosophers, scientists, writers and intellectuals of the world and asked them, “What is the purpose of Life.”

And then he published all of their responses in a book.

The end result was quite discouraging and depressing.

Some of these people offered their best guesses.

Some admitted they made up a purpose in life.

Some admitted they didn’t have any idea as to what the purpose of life was and if Dr. Moorhead knew, would be please let them know.

Carl Jung, the famous psychiatrist said, “I don’t know the meaning, the purpose of life, but it looks as if something were meant by it.”

Isaac Asimov wrote, “As far as I can see, there is no purpose.”

Joseph Taylor, the author of “I Have No Answers To The Meaning of Life And I No Longer Want to Search For Any.”

You know, those are tragic statements folks, because the life without purpose isn’t a life worth living.

It is no coincidence that the suicide rate in our society has gone up.

In America, suicide is now the No. 2 killer of teenage students.

You see, if you take God out of the equation, you don’t really have very many alternatives.

Ø      */You can try the Mystical approach/* – the mystical approach says “look within and find your purpose within.”

You know if that really worked, all of us would know our purpose.

I’m sure you’ve tried that.

I have and I bet everyone else has, too.

And I didn’t find it there.

It takes more than looking within.

Ø      */Then you can try the Philosophical approach/* – the survivalist says, “The purpose of life is just to stay alive.”

In other words, live as long as you can.

The Naturalist says, “The purpose of life is just to perpetuate itself.”

In other words, you’re just here for biological reasons.

Rap artist, Ice T, wrote, “The only reason we’re here is to reproduce.

Just chill out and reproduce.

Keep the species alive.”

Doesn’t that just motivate you to want to jump out of bed in the morning?

It may motivate you to jump in to bed, I don’t know.

The Hedonist writes, “The purpose of life is pleasure – have fun, party-hardy.”

Hedonism is personified in the pajama man, Hugh Hefner.

It is a sad thing when a man like this can live such a high and degraded lifestyle because so many people in this world are purposeless.

I remember the saying, “the man who believes in nothing will fall for anything.”

The Materialist says, “Life is all about the acquisition of things.”

Your life is measured by the things you own.

You know the problem with that is that he who dies with the most toys, still dies.

And so, these are not really satisfying answers.

Ø      The Mystical approach, the Philosophical approach or you can try the */Self-Help approach/*.

You can go into any bookstore and find hundreds of books, probably, that talk about discovering your life purpose.

They all are basically the same thing.

They say the same thing; “You’ve got to invent your purpose.”

You’ve got to create your own purpose in life.

And they all give the same basic approach – discover your dreams, go after your goals, have some ambitions, dream big dreams, aim high, believe you can achieve, have faith, figure out what you’re good at, never give up, involve other people.

Now those are all good advice and they will, if you do those things, make you a success in life.

But being a success and knowing your purpose in life are not the same thing.

You can be a raving success in life and still never know, “What on earth am I here for?”

What did God put me on this earth for?

You see, the purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment.

It’s far greater than your own happiness.

Even your own peace of mind.

You were made by God and you were made for God and you were put here for His purposes.

And until you understand that, life isn’t going to make sense.

So what is the reason that God wants us here?

Why are we alive?

Why are we on this planet?

Is there a reason?

Well, the Bible says this in Proverbs 16.4,

 

“/The Lord has made *everything* for His own purpose.”

/ 

 

It’s for His purpose.

Now God has never made anything without a purpose.

Every created being has a purpose that predates them.

And God’s purpose remains as long as there is breath in your body.

Young or old it is not diminished.

*/This morning though we want to see God’s motive/*.

Look at this next verse, Ephesians 1:4, read it with me…

 

”/Long before He laid down the earth’s foundation, He had us in His mind and settled on us as the focus of His love to be made whole and holy by His love.”  /

/ /

Circle the phrase /“the focus of His love”./

If you don’t get anything else as we start this 40 days, I want you to understand this, God says */He made you, to love you/*.

God made you to love you.

You might want to write that down.

You were created* to be loved by God.*  God is love and God wanted to create something to love and so He created you.

He didn’t need you.

He wasn’t lonely.

But He made you in order to love you.

He didn’t need you, He wanted you.

And before we can talk about anything else, you have to understand this is what on earth you’re here for – to be loved by God.

 

*2.

**/The Question of Significance/*

*/ /*

*/The second key question of life is the “Question of Significance:/* Does my life matter?*”*

Isaiah asked this question in Isaiah 49:4a.

He said,

 

“/My work all seems so useless.

I’ve spent my strength for nothing and for no purpose at all.” /  

 

You were made for meaning, and if you don’t have a meaning and purpose in your life and you don’t know why God put you on this planet, life doesn’t make sense.

During World War II, there were prisoners in a Nazi concentration camp in Hungary, that were processing human sewage in a factory.

The allies came along, bombed that factory and blew it apart.

So the prisoners had nothing to do.