Principle #5: Victory Beyond Competiton

Principle #5: Victory Beyond Competition

Does it matter how I live today?

Matthew 25:14-30

 

So you accepted Christ as your savior...what now? Is it okay to keep living the same way? Why or why not?

Life Debt: If someone saves your life, your indebted to the. Would there be anything more important than saving someone’s life? Or better yet, saving you from eternal death? Jesus saves us from an eternal death, so wouldn’t we want to live a way that is honoring to God. There is nothing more fulfilling than living for God.

Additional notes before reading further:

*This goal of this study is not to guilt, but to empower

* Actions indicate true belief or indicate what is more important to a person

 

Our culture tells us to live for the moment and get all we can today without worrying about tomorrow but scripture tells us in Matt. 16:26 “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his soul.”

            What does Matt. 16:26 mean?

Worldly things = don’t last

Soul = eternal

In reality, if you have things that don’t last then you don’t really have anything at all.

 

            How do we try to “gain the world” in our lives?

           

            Championships, money, sex, etc.

            

The question we all need to answer is, “What will we live for?” or “How can we live with an eternal perspective?”

In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells his disciples what they should be living for as He prepares to die for them.

Master = God

Servants = Us

Talents (worth more than 15 yrs of wages of labor) = God’s gifts to us

I.  God has entrusted much to His servants. He has uniquely gifted you.                           (Matthew 25:14-15)

                        (S)piritual Gifts- What are some of the spiritual gifts God has given you?

                        (H)eart- What are you passionate about?

                        (A)bilities- What abilities has God gifted you with?

                        (P)ersonality- the way you think, act, show emotion. What makes you laugh/cry?

                        (E)xperiences- How has God used different experiences (good or bad) to shape your gifts?

            What will you do with the treasures you are being entrusted with?

II.  His servants have a choice: Invest or Waste it. (Matthew 25:16-18)

            Contrast the actions displayed by the 3 servants. How were they different? Which                         one(s) did the right thing?

            Two servants invested (right), the other didn’t (wrong)

            A. Invest your talents completely.

                        - You were given talents for a purpose. What is that purpose?

Serve and honor God.

            B. Invest your talents immediately.

                 - You don’t know how long you have. Have you invested today well? Which one of the       servants in the story failed to use his talents? Who does this servant represent?

*Don’t feel guilty for not doing it in the past, tomorrow is a new morning. We tend to live that tomorrow is promised, but it is not*

III. God evaluates your investments. (Matthew 25:19-30)

            A. There are rewards to be gained

                 - What does the master say to the first two servants? Who do they represent?

“Well done good and faithful servant.” This represents people who believe in and follow

Jesus (Christians).

            B. There are consequences to be suffered.

                - What does the master say to the man who hid his talents? What did he do wrong? What  prevents us from investing?

           

            There is punishment for being giving something and not using it.

            C. Invest Faithfully: It will take courage.

          - What does faithfulness involve? Is any of what we have even ours to begin with?

            When you really think about it what could be safer then following God’s plans?

Disciples are defined, not by how they start, but by how they finish.

What will define you?

 

- Sarah

 

Principle #4: Hurtin' for Certain

Principle #4: Hurtin’ for Certain

How do I deal with pain?

Genesis 37-50

The Story of Joseph

Genesis 37

Genesis 39:1-15

Genesis 41:39-43

Genesis 45:1-7

 

 A very short summary (this leaves out many details):

Joseph was the second youngest son of Jacob and his favorite. Joseph's brothers were jealous of Jacob's love and offended by Joseph's prophetic dreams (which told of them all bowing down to Joseph) so they plotted together and sold him into slavery.
He was bought by an Egyptian of high rank, Potiphar, and through his good character eventually gained a high position in that household. One day Potiphar's wife decided to try to seduce Joseph and came on to him very strongly. He resisted her, and ran away. She was insulted by his lack of interest in her and so made a big fuss and said he'd been the one pushing himself on her.
Joseph is thrown in jail for this.
While there he meets two men who worked in the Pharaoh's household, his chief butler and chief baker, and accurately interprets dreams they'd been having.
They eventually leave the jail (the baker to be hanged, the butler to return to work - this is the fulfillment of their dreams) and Joseph is forgotten about.
Some time later the Pharaoh is plagued by dreams which he cannot remember upon waking but which disturb him. His wise men cannot help him since they don't know what the dreams were of, and eventually the butler remembers about Joseph's skill with dreams and recommends him to pharaoh.
Joseph is called from the jail and through prayer is able to tell pharaoh what his dreams were *and* the interpretation.
The dreams were a warning of 7 years of bountiful crops and then 7 years of famine.
Pharaoh is pleased that Joseph interpreted the dreams and puts him in charge of storing away crops for the first 7 years so that there will be enough to last Egypt through the 7 years of famine. Joseph becomes very important and is 2nd most important person after Pharaoh.

During the 7 years of famine his brothers come to Egypt to purchase grain for their family. Joseph recognizes them but doesn't reveal his identity. (this of course is the fulfillment of Joseph's dreams years ago, where he dreamed that his brothers would bow to him) He invites them to dine with him while they're there and secretly has something valuable stowed away in the bags of grain they bought.
As they leave he has guards chase after them and accuse them of stealing. When their bags of grain are searched the stolen object is found. Joseph accuses them of being spies, not innocent brothers coming for grain. They protest and Joseph says he'll believe them if they return home and bring their youngest brother (Benjamin, who was only a baby when Joseph last saw him) as proof that they are who they say they are. This of course is all Joseph's plot just so that he can see his youngest brother (and possibly because he wants to give them a little grief over what they did to him so long ago). He keeps one of his brothers hostage until the others return with Benjamin.
They do, and he repeats the same thing as last time, with hiding something in their bags. This time he demands to keep Benjamin as a slave as payment. Judah, the oldest brother intercedes and offers his own life as slave instead of Benjamin.
Joseph sees the love his brothers have for Benjamin and for their father (who loves Benjamin very dearly) and he confesses to them who he is.
They ask forgiveness for what they did to Joseph so long ago, and he tells them it's ok because God has worked it all for good.
The brothers return home and then bring their families and their father back to Egypt.

I. The game of life will inevitably involve __trials__.

A. Trials take many shapes and forms.

-What types of trials did Joseph go through? What types of trials do we experience today?

B. No  one is immune from trials.

 - James 1:2, What does it mean to consider trials a joy? Why is this important?

vs. 3-4 “because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.”

 

There is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is based on circumstantial events, but joy is knowing that Christ is consistent and is always with us.

 

C. Trials are usually a mystery.

- Why do you think God doesn’t always reveal why things happen the way they do?

 

Have to learn to trust Him.

How do we see others respond to trials? How should we respond to trials? (What’s different?)

Others respond to trials with a poor attitude, excuses and blame shifting. We, as Christians, should respond to trials by knowing that we are going through them for a reason. God’s never going to give us more than what He can handle, which is seen through the cross because God always carries us and He will never forsake us (reminds us of God’s character).

II. Response: Trusting God’s sovereignty is the best response to trials

Sovereignity means: to reign/rule over all.

A. Your call: BITTER or BETTER?

- Is there a time in your life that you felt bitter towards God because of something you were going through?

(God is always in control, Romans 8:28. This does not mean that we aren’t going to through trials, just that God’s hand is in everything.)

B. Tough circumstances can really test our faithfulness.

- We need to cultivate our trust in God and set our roots deep in Him, so that when the storms of life blow, we are not tossed by the wind. What does this mean?

We need roots, “build house upon the rocks” = a firm foundation.

 

C. REVENGE or RETALLIATION will not reverse the trial.

- How could have Joseph responded? How and why did he respond the way he did?

Joseph had lots of options at his disposal, but he chose to be better. We see what Jesus did for us, and God’s grace. Forgiveness means we are not easily offended.

- 1 Peter 2:21-23

 

Follow in Christ’s steps and entrust ourselves to God.

 

III. Result: Trials can result in our good and God’s _glory_.

 A. Trials are a refining process that bring about our good.

 - 1 Peter 1:6-7

1. They reveal character.

- What is character?

2. They can bring about Christ-likeness and maturity.

- What does it mean to be mature in your faith?

 

Grow more like Jesus, the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). Perseverance, knowing where you are rooted and to continue to grow those roots. I may not know everything, but we know where we are rooted. Never outgrow Jesus or the Gospel. Always going back to the foundation.

 

 B. God’s Greatness is reflected.

- What was Joseph able to accomplish because of his trust in God?

- God turns evil into good as only He can. (Gen. 50:20)

How have you seen Him do this in your life?

Trials point us to God.

 

What in your life seems evil or challenging, that you need to trust God to work out for good?

 

- Sarah

 

Principle #3: Holy Sweat/Wholly Surrender

Principle #3: Holy Sweat/Wholly Surrender

How do I grow?

Luke 4:1-13

1.    Who was your favorite athlete/hero as a child? Did you want to be like them? Why?

2.    How did you go about trying to be like that person?

“Our goal in life is not happiness but holiness. Jesus called us to be like Him: to think like Him, to feel like Him, to act like Him...all the time. If we are to become like Him, we must enter into the same type of training program He did. Just as there are no shortcuts to greatness in sport, there are no shortcuts to godliness in life”

Holiness is our calling. Sweat & Surrender are what it takes to get there.

 

Luke 4:1-13 Jesus Tempted in the Desert

 

What prepared Jesus to face these temptations?

Jesus kept responding with “It is written,” so clearly He knows scripture. Jesus was also full of the Holy Spirit.

What can you and I do to become more like Jesus?

 

1.    Submit to the SPIRIT of God (The Player-Coach)

 

Player- Coah refers to someone who has played the game, so they can relate to what we are going through.

*There are 3 separate persons, but all are fully God. The Holy Spirit lives in Christians*

A.    The role of the Holy Spirit

-       Luke 4:1 = leads, empowers

-       John 14:26 = teacher, counsels

-       How does God communicate with us?

o   Through his word

o   Through others

o   Through the changing of your heart

 

B.    The role of Solitude

-       John 10:4 = we have to be able to recognize His voice

-       How is self control beneficial in sports?

o   Nutrition

o   Attitude

o   Training

C.   The role of Prayer

-       1 Thessalonians 5:17 = “pray without ceasing”

-       Why pray?

o   Prayer is a sign of submission

o   The creator of the universe lets us talk to Him whenever we want. Jesus even prayed.

o   Our opportunity to have a conversation with God

2.    Submit to the WORD of God (The Play Book)

A.    Marinating on Scripture

-       What does it mean to marinate?

o   Soak up the qualities of something

B.    Memorize the Scripture

-       Psalm 119:11

-       When Jesus was tempted He responded with scripture

3.    Submit to the PLAN of God (Run the play)

A.    A total athlete runs the play every time!

-       What keeps us from submitting to God’s plan?

o   Pride

o   Selfishness

-       John 14:6

B.    What is God’s plan for us?

-       Romans 12:1-2

 

Opposite of selfishness = selflessness

TO GROW IN YOUR FAITH IT WILL COST YOU. ARE YOU READY TO SWEAT AND SURRENDER?

(Sweat = Things we have to do to grow closer to God)

- Sarah