Being a Christian (5)

24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.

Being a Christian week 5 (The Gospel and your Time)

Opening Question: According to a study in 2020, American men spend over 5 hours on leisure activity (TV, books, exercising and socializing) while women spend just under 5 hours a day in these same activities. Even though you might be a little different, we spend lots of time with leisure activities as well! What are some ways that you like spending your time?

I spend time reading, watching TV/movies/sports, playing games and talking on the phone.

Question: Have you ever had an afternoon with nothing to do and you spent more time thinking about what you would do with your free time than actually doing something?

Certainly I have done this! It’s very frustrating and a waste of time.

Question: How is using your free time a Gospel issue?

As Christians, we know that the Gospel transforms everything, including how we spend our times/resources.

Question: What are some ways that our church spends time and resources?

VBS, Bible study, events, Worship, Kidz Choir, outreach events, camp, mission trips, Love Thy Neighbor, giving to support missionaries.

Are these dollars and hours well spent?

YES!

Main Video:

Jonathan Edwards and George Whitfield – 2 of the greatest preachers since the Reformation. At Dr. Allen’s MBTS President’s office he has 3 portraits of preachers, Spurgeon, Edwards and Whitfield. These men had an incredible impact on their respective churches and the entire world with the Great Awakening of the 1730s and 1740s. Granted the world was different 250 years ago, but what are some of the differences in how Jonathan Edwards spent his free time versus how we spend free time in 2020?

Edwards read nonstop and was fascinated by philosophy, theology and other academic studies whereas many people think that those things are outdated and boring today. Edwards spent his free time in books whereas many people rarely read deep theological and philosophical books today. It’s a different world, but we see several principles from the life of Jonathan Edwards that we would benefit from if we implemented to our lives today.

Various resolutions from Edwards: 5, 7, 17, 41, 50, 52

We should live with a sense of intentionality with how we use and spend our time!

1. Reflect about the length of eternity and the brevity of life

We have 70-80 years on this planet on average… Life flies by! “Yesterday this happened”

Since having Gabriel, life has flown by!

This is but a dot… But it is a consequential one! These years position us for eternity. James 4:14

James 4:14 CSB

14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.

2. Realize the uncertainty of tomorrow

Don’t boast about tomorrow… “If the Lord wills”

Thy Kingdom Come - Thy Will be Done - not mine!

Plans have been disrupted due to COVID

What are some of your plans that have been disrupted due to COVID or other issues?

We should be humble about our plans! God determines the course

How many of you are planners and if things don’t go according to plan, you can get a little stressed out?

Write your plan in pencil – not sharpie!

Remember that even good plans are subject to God's perfect plan

God isn't opposed to planning – we see good Scriptural examples that speak to the benefits of planning… But we have to submit ourselves to His plan

Remember Proverbs 16:9

Proverbs 16:9 CSB

9 A person’s heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps.

3. Remember that time is our most valuable possession

Many people view money as the most valuable but time is seen as something to be thrown away very casually

4. Learn to say “no”

In order to live our lives according to God’s plan and Scripture, we must learn to say no

We must not overcommit ourselves in order to be more focused on God’s Word

We must be intentional about our time and focus it on the things of eternity rather than merely on the here and now – Philippians 3 – fix our eyes on the things above!

Question: Dr. Allen talked at the end about how time is so valuable. What makes time more valuable than everything else?

We cannot get time back. People can continue to earn money as they age, but we cannot get back lost and wasted time. Whenever people get older they likely will not wish for more money, cars, tools and vacations. Rather they often wish for more time.

Please read James 4:13-17. As Christians, what does James compare our life to?

A vapor! Meaning that it is here one moment and gone the next.

Question: If you’re like me, this chapter has convicted you in some ways. What are some ways that we can better use our time going forward?

Live with a kingdom-focus rather than a self-centered focus

Evaluate what truly matters

Doesn’t mean that free/leisure time is bad, it certainly is not! But we have to realize when leisure becomes slothfulness/wasted time/opportunities

Question: Do all Christians have a responsibility to use time wisely, or is that just a thing for pastors like Jonathan Edwards to worry about?

All of us as followers of Christ have a responsibility to use our time wisely and to focus on the Gospel first and foremost!

Please read Ephesians 5:12-21. What actions does Paul focus on in these verses regarding time?

Ephesians 5:12–21 CSB

12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise— 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit: 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.

We are to pay attention (15)

We are to make the best use of time (16)

We are to strive to understand God’s will (17) – this requires prayer/Scripture reading

We are to be filled with the Spirit (18)

We are to sing and worship (19)

We are to give thanks (20)

We are to encourage one another (21)

Question: Have you ever been in a situation where you said “yes” to something that you really should have said “no” to?

YES!

Question: How can we guard against that and make better use of our time/energy?

Be realistic with our energy and our schedules. It’s much better to be honest and say no than to say yes and do something 50% or be unable to make things work out later on and have to quit

Question: As COVID-19 has taught us, we are not guaranteed tomorrow and plans can change quickly. How can we better prioritize spending time in God’s Word?

Practical steps. Make this a part of your routine! If you get up at 7am, get up at 6:45 and spend 15 minutes in God’s Word. If that’s not doable then find time in the afternoon/evening. Even though we think 70-80 years is a long time, we see in Scripture that there is so much more waiting for us. We must live with that mindset and reorient our priorities and focus as a result!

We often think of being a good steward in regard to our finances and giving… Page 64 makes a helpful point that our allotment of time is also a gift from God that we are called to steward wisely! If God has numbered our days (Job 14:5) and if God has saved us so that we can serve, it follows that He expects us to maximize the time we have left to make much of Jesus!

Each day is a gift

Each breathe is a gift

Each worship service is a gift

Each conversation with others is a gift

Each meal is a gift

Whenever we approach every moment of life with this mentality, we are able to have valuable perspective! It doesn’t mean that things are necessarily easier, but it does mean that we keep our eyes focused on eternity.

Many people on their death bed say that they wish they had spent more time with family or at church or doing what they love… Not less!