Why?

In Dallas, the parents of 2-year-old Hagen Davis didn’t realize they were missing the coveted Toy Story action figure until they were already in a rental car and driving away from Dallas Love Field.

Hagen and his family had landed at Dallas Love Field and were already driving off in a rental car when they realized Hagen’s special buddy was left behind on the plane. By the time they noticed, the plane was already well on the way to its next destination. Eventually, the aircraft made it to Little Rock, where it was scheduled to terminate for the night. That’s where Jason, a Ramp Agent at LIT, noticed Hagen’s left-behind buddy.

Jason knew someone was missing their friend badly, so he began some investigating to discover who he belonged to. Soon, a name written on the bottom of the boot caught Jason’s eye: “Hagen.” With the help of Beth, his Coheart, Jason learned there was only one “Hagen” who had traveled on that aircraft that day. Instantly, Jason came up with a plan...

A few days later, Hagen and his family received a special surprise in the mail. Not only was his buddy returned, but he arrived in a hand-decorated box, complete with a letter describing his mission at Southwest Airlines, and pictures to boot.

“There’s definitely not enough good in this world, and for someone to take the time out of their day to do that for strangers means the world to us.” –Ashley, Hagen’s mom. #SouthwestHeart

Also included was a handwritten note from Lightyear himself:

“To Commander Hagen: I am very excited to return to you upon completing my mission,” the note said. “I was able to explore the airport and spaceport in Little Rock, Arkansas, while I was away and I have included photos of my adventure. My journey has taught me a lot, but I am so thankful to return to my buddy. To Infinity and Beyond, your buddy, Buzz Lightyear, Space Ranger.”

Followers are one.

Acts 2:42–47 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

Peter and John ordered to stop preaching.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go,

Stephen stoned to death.

English Standard Version Chapter 7

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

John 17 prayer of Jesus for the disciples and us.

Father, it’s time.

Display the bright splendor of your Son

So the Son in turn may show your bright splendor.

You put him in charge of everything human

So he might give real and eternal life to all in his charge.

And this is the real and eternal life:

That they know you,

The one and only true God,

And Jesus Christ, whom you sent.

I glorified you on earth

By completing down to the last detail

What you assigned me to do.

And now, Father, glorify me with your very own splendor,

The very splendor I had in your presence

Before there was a world.

6–12 I spelled out your character in detail

To the men and women you gave me.

They were yours in the first place;

Then you gave them to me,

And they have now done what you said.

They know now, beyond the shadow of a doubt,

That everything you gave me is firsthand from you,

For the message you gave me, I gave them;

And they took it, and were convinced

That I came from you.

They believed that you sent me.

I pray for them.

I’m not praying for the God-rejecting world

But for those you gave me,

For they are yours by right.

Everything mine is yours, and yours mine,

And my life is on display in them.

For I’m no longer going to be visible in the world;

They’ll continue in the world

While I return to you.

Holy Father, guard them as they pursue this life

That you conferred as a gift through me,

So they can be one heart and mind

As we are one heart and mind.

As long as I was with them, I guarded them

In the pursuit of the life you gave through me;

I even posted a night watch.

And not one of them got away,

Except for the rebel bent on destruction

(the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

13–19 Now I’m returning to you.

I’m saying these things in the world’s hearing

So my people can experience

My joy completed in them.

I gave them your word;

The godless world hated them because of it,

Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,

Just as I didn’t join the world’s ways.

I’m not asking that you take them out of the world

But that you guard them from the Evil One.

They are no more defined by the world

Than I am defined by the world.

Make them holy—consecrated—with the truth;

Your word is consecrating truth.

In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world,

I give them a mission in the world.

I’m consecrating myself for their sakes

So they’ll be truth-consecrated in their mission.

20–23 I’m praying not only for them

But also for those who will believe in me

Because of them and their witness about me.

The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—

Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you,

So they might be one heart and mind with us.

Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.

The same glory you gave me, I gave them,

So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—

I in them and you in me.

Then they’ll be mature in this one-ness,

And give the godless world evidence

That you’ve sent me and loved them

In the same way you’ve loved me.

24–26 Father, I want those you gave me

To be with me, right where I am,

So they can see my glory, the splendor you gave me,

Having loved me

Long before there ever was a world.

Righteous Father, the world has never known you,

But I have known you, and these disciples know

That you sent me on this mission.

I have made your very being known to them—

Who you are and what you do—

And continue to make it known,

So that your love for me

Might be in them

Exactly as I am in them.

I glorified you- vs.4

John 17:4 The Message

4 I glorified you on earth By completing down to the last detail What you assigned me to do.

What- glorified God… every time he said or healed.

I spelled out your character in detail- vs6

John 17:6 The Message

6 I spelled out your character in detail To the men and women you gave me. They were yours in the first place; Then you gave them to me, And they have now done what you said.

What-Spelled out your character in detail… Sermon on the Mount

I gave them your message- vs8

John 17:8 The Message

8 For the message you gave me, I gave them; And they took it, and were convinced That I came from you. They believed that you sent me.

what- preaching from a boat, a hillside, a street.

I protected them-vs12

John 17:12 The Message

12 As we are one heart and mind. As long as I was with them, I guarded them In the pursuit of the life you gave through me; I even posted a night watch. And not one of them got away, Except for the rebel bent on destruction (the exception that proved the rule of Scripture).

Get thee behind me Satan to Peter.

I gave them your word-vs14

John 17:14 The Message

14 I gave them your word; The godless world hated them because of it, Because they didn’t join the world’s ways,

Sermons, teaching.

I gave them your glory-vs.22

John 17:22 The Message

22 The same glory you gave me, I gave them, So they’ll be as unified and together as we are—

What

I prayed for them.-vs.20

John 17:20 The Message

20 I’m praying not only for them But also for those who will believe in me Because of them and their witness about me.

prayed, is praying… what.

WHY?

The Question is Why?

Simon Sinek- “Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Others to Action”

Why is the compelling reason that Jesus did all of the spectacular things He did to show us who God was.

We know what the early church did…but why? What compelled them to sell all they had and share it with other believers.... what compelled them to be stoned to death or be crucified upside down or beheaded when they only had to deny Christ to avoid it?

That’s the why question.

Westbrook Park Church, Here are 2 things you should have memorized… Memorized.

The church’s mission and vision statements.

Vision: To Be Christ for Canton and our surrounding Community.

Vision statement is a what.

Mission: To Go To The Community of Canton and Make Disciples By Serving And Sharing The Good News of Jesus Christ.

Mission Statement is a How...

Why?

But Why do we do this? Why?

This past week I had some time to myself… I liked it, I’m going to do it again sometime soon.

But I asked people I met, some I knew, some I did not. Do you go to church? Why do you go to church. I received sets of two answers...

To hear a good sermon

To worship the Lord.

And they didn’t answer the question… the question was why, and they answered what and how..... Why, Christian, do you do what you do.

The answer is important. Because if your answer is truly solely nothing more than what or how, you’ve missed Jesus. You’ve left him out of your dealings.

But you say, the message would talk about Jesus. Yes, hopefully, and that would be because the speaker has the why question properly answered...

The question is why do YOU go to church?

Remember Hagen and the Buzz Lightyear story?

“The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of Customer Service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and Company Spirit.”

So, WEstbrook Park. Why are you here?

So, Christian, why are you here?

Jesus, why did you pray for us like you did and what were your answers to those questions. We know what you did… but why did you do it?

English Standard Version Chapter 17

26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

John 17:26 The Message

26 I have made your very being known to them— Who you are and what you do— And continue to make it known, So that your love for me Might be in them Exactly as I am in them.

agape- the sense of this word: to have a strong non sexual affection and love for a person and their good as understood by God’s moral character; expecially characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or priveleges in another person’s behalf.

The Way I Live Should Declare How Jesus Died

Jesus gave his life.

The disciples had seen how he loved them. He died for them.

they didn’t just have John 3;16 in a verse, they had it in panavision color film.

He died for them.

So the love of Jesus is expressed not in how he lived but in how he died and Why he died.

Is it any wonder Stephen was willing to die to share the message?

Is it any wonder the disciples would sell all they had to take care of their neighbor. ?

The love of Jesus is not expressed in how we die, but in how we live. It is still love characterized by a willing forfeiture of rights or priveleges in another person’s behalf. Church, what are you willing to give up ?

Money is the usual answer.

Time is these days less likeley.

What do you need to give up?

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The Way I Live Should Declare How Jesus Died