Pastor Bob's Sermons Pt 1
What Are We Here For?
Jer 29:4-14
Introduction: A butcher is working, and really busy. He notices a dog in his shop and shoos him away. Later, he notices the dog is back again. He walks over to the dog, and notices the dog has a note in his mouth. The butcher takes the note, and it reads, "Can I have 12 sausages and a leg of lamb, please." The butcher looks, and lo and behold, in the dog's mouth there is a ten dollar bill. So the butcher takes the money, puts the sausages and lamb in a bag, and places it in the dog's mouth. The butcher is very impressed, and since it's closing time, he decides to close up shop and follow the dog. So, off he goes. The dog is walking down the street and comes to a crossing. The dog puts down the bag, jumps up and presses the crossing button. Then he waits patiently, bag in mouth, for the lights to change. It does, and he walks across the road, with the butcher following. The dog then comes to a bus stop, and starts looking at the timetable. The butcher is in awe at this stage. The dog checks out the times, and sits on one of the seats to wait for the bus. Along comes a bus. The dog goes and looks at the number, notices it's the right bus, and climbs on. The butcher, by now open‑mouthed, follows him onto the bus. The bus travels through town and out to the suburbs. Eventually the dog gets up, moves to the front of the bus, and standing on his hind legs, pushes the button to stop the bus. The dog gets off, groceries still in his mouth, and the butcher still following. They walk down the road, and the dog approaches a house. He walks up the path, and drops the groceries on the step. Then he walks back down the path, takes a big run, and throws himself ‑whap!‑ against the door. He goes back down the path, takes another run, and throws himself ‑whap!‑ against the door again! There's no answer at the door, so the dog goes back down the path, jumps up on a narrow wall, and walks along the perimeter of the garden. He gets to a window, and bangs his head against it several times. He walks back, jumps off the wall, and waits at the door. The butcher watches as a big guy opens the door, and starts laying into the dog, really yelling at him. The butcher runs up and stops the guy. "What the heck are you doing? This dog is a genius. He could be on TV, for God's sake!" To which the guy responds, "Clever, my eye. This is the second time this week he's forgotten his key!"
Drive: To guide, direct, control (nail, car, golf ball) Everyone is driven by something: guilt, worry, insecurity, resentment, past, possessions, parents, anger
“The Lord has made everything for his own purpose..” Pr 16:4 LB
3 Levels of living:
Survival - Just existing - getting by - living for weekend
Success - comfortable - achieved certain level of success
Successful but unfulfilled because success does not satisfy
Significance - meaning - many people spend hours making a business plan but not one minute making a life plan.
Great theologian, Alice in Wonderland said, “If you don’t know where you’re heading, all roads will get you there.”
What is your purpose in life? What is the purpose of our church? Have you forgotten your key? What is it that gets you up in the morning?
There are benefits of living a purpose driven life.
I. IT REDUCES FRUSTRATION
James 1:8 The double minded man can never keep a steady course (neb).
“I’ve labored to no purpose I’ve spent my strength in vain and for nothing.” Isaiah 49:4
"He learned later in life, “God will grant him perfect peace to those whose hearts are stayed on Him” Isa 26:3
Illustration: It is not that people are overworked but that they are doing meaningless work.*
II. IT WILL INCREASE MOTIVATION
“My life drags by - day after hopeless day...I’m tired of living...my life makes no sense.” Job 7: 6, 17 (LB/GN)
"The Plans I have for you, says the Lord, are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11
A. How to motivate: Discover your purpose in life
1. Good morning Lord, Good Lord, morning
2. Enthusiasm = EV - in Theos = God
3. Hope is confident expectation
Illustration: How are you doing? Pretty good under the circumstances. What are you doing under the circumstances? You need to get on top of the circumstances. Like being on a feather bed. If you get under it you will suffocate, if you get on top of it you will rest easy.
III. IT ALLOWS CONCENTRATION
A. You don’t have time to do everything - you can’t have it all. You have to choose.
B. Peter Drucker:
1. What’s my business?
2. How’s business?
C. FOCUS
D. Most people don’t intend to waste their life
E. “Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for you rfeet; then stick to the path...Don’t get sidetracked.” Proverbs 4:25-27 (NLT)
F. Philippians 3:13 “... I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,
IV. IT ATTRACTS COOPERATION
A. “We will all stand before God’s judgment... then each of us will give account of himself to God...Ro 4:10, 12
B. Purpose and Passion run the world
C. “If your goals are good, you will be respected” Pro 11:27 (GN)
D. “Tell us how to proceed ... and we will fully cooperate” Ezra 10:4 LB
Conclusion: How to get started:
• Identify what’s been driving your life so far “Pay close attention to how you live.” Eph 5:15
• Believe God has a purpose for your life. “We are created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Eph 2:10
• Receive God’s Son into your life. Ephesians 1:4-5 “4 Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; ... His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!
• Commit to the 40 Days of Purpose Campaign by attending every week, doing the devotionals, memorizing the verses, attending a small group, invite someone to come with you.