Untitled Sermon (8)

Northside Christian Church 9/27/2020

Made for More #1 Jamey Mills

Northside… so good to be with you all, my name is Jamey Mills and I’m the lead pastor here at Northside Church…

We’re starting a brand new sermon series today called “Made for More”. My hope is that it will help us look beyond the surface of what life is really about and that it will help us ask some healthy questions about where we really are when it comes to our faith.

Have you guys realized September is almost over? Life moves incredibly fast.

Last Sunday, Kylee, my daughter reminded me that it’s just 8 weeks until she turns 15… and can get her permit… you’ve been warned… but in all seriousness… my first thought was holy cow… slow down. This is a picture of the day she officially moved in… she waddled across the floor and into my arms… it was the first thing she did… and now… she's ready to start driving… really?

It moves so fast… and when God allows me to see that… it makes me want to stop and savor and make the most of every single moment… enjoy every smile… value every conversation… catch every tear… remind her of how much she is loved. Sometimes i get frustrated… there are so many things I allow to take my time and attention…

Life moves so fast and it’s so full… it's easy to take our eyes and minds off the things that really matter… It’s far too easy to allow the urgency of our day to hijack our time and attention… developing patterns and mindsets sort of distract us from what life is really about… we find ourselves rationalizing important things… and many times some of the first things to go … is our involvement with His family, the Church… and even our relationship with Jesus… we find ourselves trying to squeeze Jesus into our lives.

The pace of life and the priorities we often default too… sort of turns us into emotional and spiritual zombies… sort of wandering and sucking the life out of people… and I have talked to so many… that come to this point of honestly asking… is this it? Is this really all there is to life?

I have found there is great value in being honest with yourself within this question… Are you really where you want to be in your relationship with Jesus or are you just sort of squeezing Him in? Is your life centered on Jesus, is He getting the priority He deserves? I want you to know that the most freeing answer to that question is the truth no matter what it is. THE VAST majority if not all of us aren’t where we want to be… so the questions is more about what we’ll do about it,

If you only get ONE thing out of this series… let it be this… You were made for more. You were designed for more… Jesus has more in mind for you than we often settle for…

It is an incredible theme in scripture… and if you needed that reminder today you're not alone. So many of the people God used in profound ways needed this reminder too.

When God called Isaiah… his reaction was… I am ruined… God wants to use me but I am a sinful man with unclean lips.

Paul… Identified himself as the worst of all sinners…

God used Moses as His own mouthpiece both for the people of Israel and to the Egyptians that enslaved them… but Moses said… God are you sure… I can’t speak well… I speak slowly and get tongue tied…

And it’s a reminder that so many of us need in our day too… no matter the excuse you make or lie you may believe… God’s affirmation is… you were made for more than you realize.

And today I want to dig into that by looking at three areas…

Our past, our present and our future…

Here is a question… How did you get here today?

What has happened in your life that has sort of directed your path to be here this evening?

Who are the people that God has used in your life to encourage you, shape you, invite you in such away that has led you here this evening?

I made a list this week and I was blown away. The countless people I know that have prayed for me, encouraged me, mentored me… I think of my parents and their example to not give up when it would have been easier to. I think of people like Lisa Reynolds, the mom of one of my best friends growing up… she authentically welcomed me and cared for me, I think about Lloyd and Danny who encouraged me to consider BIble college when I was far from God. I think of Neil Johnston, Kyle French, and Steve Lee… who invested in me as a man and as a pastor… and there are so many more.

People who care… who sacrifice and prayed for me probably more than I even realize. I have said this before by everything I love about my life stems from the day I began to take God seriously… and it is directly connected to these people.

God used people in my life before I was ever open to the idea of His love and grace.

Who is that for you? There is room in your notes for you to make your own list…

There is real value in it… so please do. Dig in… think about it… who are these people for you?

It reminds me of what we read in

Psalm 78:2–8 (NLT)

2 for I will speak to you in a parable.

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—

3 stories we have heard and known,

stories our ancestors handed down to us.

4 We will not hide these truths from our children;

we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the LORD,

about his power and his mighty wonders.

5 For he issued his laws to Jacob;

He gave his instructions to Israel.

He commanded our ancestors

to teach them to their children,

6 so the next generation might know them—

even the children not yet born—

and they in turn will teach their own children.

7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,

not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands.

8 Then they will not be like their ancestors—

stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful,

refusing to give their hearts to God.

Such an amazing picture of God’s truths being handed down through the generations… and as each generation receives it, placing their own hope in Him, picking up where their ancestors left off.

There is real value in looking at the past. In looking at the fingerprints of God in the lives of those who have invested in you… what difference did God make in their lives? What was their journey like? What did they value and why? What caused them to pass it on to me?

I love the way the author of Hebrews helps us see this in Hebrews 11 and 12.

Hebrews 11… is like the Hall of faith… people from the past that God used in profound ways… living out great faith.

We read about Abel… and his desire to honor God and how it changed his life.

We read Enoch who was known as a person who pleased God.

Noah… who built the arch, warned people, and obeyed at the expense of his own reputation… In Gen. 6 it says Noah was the only righteous person on the face of the earth and that he walked in close fellowship with God.

Abraham left his country on faith… and followed God when he had no idea where he was going.

Sarah… who put up with Abraham and who had a child at old age… believing God would keep His promise even when believing was hard…

It goes on to talk about Moses and others… including a prostitute named Rahab who found faith in God… reminding us no matter where you are… it's never too late to realize you were made for more than we often settle for.

Vs. 33 says it was by faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, received what God had promised, shut the mouth of lions, quenched the flames of fire, escaped death by sword… by faith their weaknesses turned into strengths…. And some were even tortured and killed… refusing to give up their faith in the living God that they experienced… and saw move in and through their own lives.

All of these amazing people of the faith… these amazing examples... and then the author walks us from the past to the present in Ch. 12 when he says this…

Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

The author says… look at the heroes of the past… why? Because there is value in it… right… there are lessons in it… in the good and the bad… we see God work… we see faith shine… we see sins impact on lives and culture…

He paints this picture of all those godly people that came before us… who had their time and made their choices… and it's like they are handing off this baton… to you and I here in our time…

And in my head it's like we are walking into this stadium that’s filled with those who have passed that baton through history… as we walk out onto the field, they’re losing it… cheering us on… having now seen with their own eyes what they held as faith when the baton was in their hands… they know what's at stake…

What a cool picture… helps me to realize I am not alone. That many intelligent men and women have come before me… It reminds me that I am made for more than just sort of floating through life.

That we pick up where people like Peter and Paul… and James and John… and Mary and Martha… and Timothy and Deborah… left off… learning from them…

And it makes me ask… what will my time… my leg of the race look like?

Check out what it says at the very end of ch. 11..

Hebrews 11:39–40 (NLT)

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised. 40 For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

God has something better in mind for you… Will you live, accept and invest in this truth that you are made for more than just floating through life? All of these greats of the faith…. men and women of faith… didn’t see every promise answered in their time… they invested in it... hoping that one day… you and I would look at their example… see the value in God they have found… realize we were made for more… realizing what really matters in life… and understanding our role in God’s Kingdom work.

It helps me put it in perspective. I want to live for what matters… I want to be a part of God’s ongoing story or redemption… of fullness and freedom… I don’t want to wander in mediocrity… I don’t want to sit out the time when the baton is in our hands. I want to learn what Paul means in 1 Corinthians 9 about running with purpose in EVERY step.

Knowing the next generation will pick up… what we hand off…

It reminds me of what Jesus said to the very first ones he called to follow him in Matthew 4:19… They were regular everyday fishermen… Peter and Andrew… and Jesus said… you were made for more… follow me… and I will make you fishers of men… Jesus said… follow me… center your lives on me… and I will show you what life is really about.

It helps me look at this space between these two chairs… the present and the future…

Looking at those who invested in you… who spoke truth into you… who invited you… that led you to the point of being here this evening… knowing that the baton is in your hand, WHO are you investing in with that kind of purpose? I realize writing their names or initials down can be a little intense… but that sort of intentionality matters. It would be a mistake to ignore it…

The truth is I want to care for and be open to everybody, but I also think it's incredibly important to be intentionally praying for… making room in our lives for those God has placed in our path… inviting them into your life and home with no strings attached, caring for them the way God cares for you, praying for them honestly and often, hoping they see the reality of Christ in you… and hoping that God will at some point open the for me to share with them what someone has shared with me… God’s amazing love and unexplainable grace… and… that you were made for more.

In 1963 a group of about 10 people decided to plant a Church in the Corvallis area… all of them investing heavily… with money, time, and prayer. And through the years that sacrifice has continued… I know of at least one family that put their entire farm up for collateral at a critical stage in Suburban’s history. These are pictures of the fingerprints that are there to this day… of those who gave their blood, sweat, tears, prayers, time, money… building a church

I wonder if those 10 people then… had any idea of the thousands of people that would be encouraged through the ministry of Suburban. I wonder if they even considered they’d have a daughter church… that Northside would ever exist in North Albany?

That is our legacy… and I love it. Our time, energy, investment, prayer, intentionality… I wonder if in 60 years… people will think about this brave group of people that sacrificed….

What an amazing truth… knowing we were made for more than floating through life.

But how do we engage?

Continue to grow in the area of centering your life on Jesus. Allowing Him to be the motivation of our days. It really is the loudest sermon you’ll ever preach.

Listen… watch… and pray…

Ephesians 5:15–17 (NLT)

15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

Step out… in faith. Carve out some time… Consider inviting a neighbor over for dinner. Consider working with the youth or kids ministry. Consider leading a small group or Bible study. Keep your eyes open for the opportunity God provides.

What an amazing truth… knowing… we were made for more! Knowing God uses us in his Kingdom work… and that God’s affirmation to what we see as inability and weakness… maybe even to our excuses is… you were made for more.

COMMUNION…

We want to invite you to participate in communion… Something Jesus himself instituted and that those who have come before us have passed on to us…

Just like there is value in looking back at those who came before us… Jesus knew that remembering would be important for us… having this tangible symbolic reminder of Jesus… and what He did on the cross for us… the bread and juice symbolizes His death on the cross that brings forgiveness and redemption where sin once stood. It’s like setting our faith anew in Him every week…

So over the next two songs, feel free to get up and take communion whenever your ready. Remember SD