Seasons of Life – Living in the Season

Facts about the Seasons of Life

1) Seasons are beyond my control

2) Seasons are often confusing

3) Seasons are displaying God’s purpose

4) Seasons include both good and bad times

How to Live in the Season – 4 Questions to ask yourself

1) Ask - What can I learn in this season?

2) Ask - What can I enjoy in this season?

3) Ask - What is important in this season?

4) Ask – How can I help in this season?

The Christian life is not just a matter of believing, it also includes belonging

Believing - > Belonging - > Becoming

A Church family helps me… (in at least 5 ways)

1) Focus on God

Psalm 34:3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!

2) Face life’s challenges

1 Thessalonians 5:10-11 [Jesus] who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

3) Fortify my faith

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity…

4) Find my ministry

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

5) Fulfill my calling

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

In order to make sure we understand the question, let’s consider it’s inflection...

1) Jesus’ question is..Personal  Do YOU believe this?”

2) Jesus’ question is...Pointed  Do you BELIEVE this?”

3) Jesus’ question is... Precise  Do you believe THIS?”

Jesus makes 4 claims that He asks you to believe:

A) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Deity  “I am the resurrection and the life...”

B) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Death  Whoever believes in me, though he die

C) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Destiny  yet shall he live

D) Consider Jesus’ Claim about Deliverance  everyone who lives & believes in me

DO YOU BELIEVE THIS?

1 Corinthians 1:23

1) Reality

Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once”

2) Result - SIN

3) Remedy

This leaves us with only one of two responses to death

1) Reject God as Savior and Creator to live our own way, damaged by our rebellion, facing death and judgment on our own account

2) Receive God’s Salvation and become an Adopted Child of God - submit to Jesus as and believe in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. Be forgiven & receive eternal life!

* Invest in the lives of others for the gospel

* Inspire others by living the gospel by loving them toward the gospel

* Invite people through the gospel to a relationship with Jesus and His church

The wells that leave you thirsty

1) The well of relationships – many try to fill their emptiness with relationships

2) The well of appearance   – look right, big/small; short/tall;blond/brown/red/hair

3) The well of performance– not relationships (no date) but GPA, raise, trophy

4) The well of possessions– just gotta have it. Stuff mart

Inviting people to Jesus - Love * Forgiveness * Acceptance * Security * Significance

Following Jesus’ method of inviting

1) Natural realm - v7

2) Spiritual realm - v10

3) Conscience/law - v16

4) Invite to Jesus - v26

* Invest in the lives of others for the gospel

* Inspire others by living the gospel by loving them toward the gospel

* Invite people through the gospel to a relationship with Jesus and His church

3 Ways God Inspires (in this Passage)

1) God inspires by working for you (v13-14)

2) God inspires by working in you (v13b-15)

3) God inspires by working through you (v16)

* Invest in the lives of others for the gospel

* Inspire others by living the gospel by loving them toward the gospel 

* Invite people through the gospel to a relationship with Jesus and His church

Theme Verse Luke 14:23, "Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled."

We intentionally invest in the lives of others because of…

1) Who Jesus is: His Person/Position (2:10)

2) What Jesus says: His Preaching (2:2)

3) What Jesus does: His Power (2:5)

Attending University in the neighboring Republic of Congo, Rwanda Rise founder Emmanuel Sitaki, narrowly escaped the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis that eradicated his and so many other families across Rwanda.  Although he survived the genocide, he lived with the constant reminders of an unimaginable loss. Emmanuel returned to the neighborhoods where his loved ones once lived, finding the streets lined with orphans in desperate need and barely surviving. That sight clarified his mission. He recognized God's voice and was reminded of the scripture in the Bible (James 1:27) which calls people to care for orphans and widows.  Emmanuel knew that he had to do something when nine orphans ran up to him on the street and begged for help. His thought was to find homes for them with widows who had tragically lost their loved ones in the genocide. Emmanuel was able to provide shelter and love to numerous orphans in this way.

Sermon and Mission Testimonies

Lead as a servant by spreading the gospel around the world  

Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, & you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Testimonies: Dr. Russ Melton (Kenya) & Angela Ripley (Rwanda)

Spreading the gospel around the world requires being….

1) “All in” with your life

* Death (v1)

* Displaced (v1)

2) “All in” with your love

* Love for each other (v2)

* Love for the church (v3)

* Love for the word of God (v4)

3) “All in” with your Lord

* Christ was central to the preaching (He is TRUTH) (v5)

* Christ was central to getting attention (He is WORTHY) (v6)

* Christ was central to the healing of souls and bodies (He is POWER) (v7)

* Christ was central to the joy (He is JOY) (v8)

Lead as a Servant - Sharing - Luke 5:27-32

Lead as a Servant by sharing the gospel in the community

Sharing the gospel in our community requires…

1) A changed and committed life (v27-28)

2) A caring and connecting heart(v29)

J.C. Ryle, “No true Christian ever goes to Heaven alone!”

Charles H. Spurgeon, "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you’re not saved yourself, be sure of that!”

- Who in your life needs to know Jesus?

- Who at your workplace? Your neighborhood? Sports club or gym?

- Who do you not know personally, but know there is a need for Jesus?

- Red Truck – Parkview – Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center

3) A clear and compelling purpose (v30-32)

Jesus had a clear purpose