Sermon Study Guide


[PDF]Sermon Study Guide - Rackcdn.comb5d29352f4cbb4f36764-64716aaac85f98c90d1d9176c94b76d6.r70.cf2.rackcdn.co...

0 downloads 190 Views 591KB Size

‘Seek First the Kingdom of God’ Dr Henry Schorr September 7-8, 2013 THE MAIN THING: What you focus on each day will ultimately impact the outcome of your life. Moses realizes how few days (Psalm 90:12) there are in his life and he wants every day to count for the Kingdom of God. “Remind me how few days there are in my life and teach me to use them wisely.”

PURSUE RELATIONSHIP: Opportunities to connect and pray as a group

THE WORD (NIV)

1. Take time to catch up with one another from the summer weeks; how did you ‘spend your days’?

Psalm 90:10 90:1010-12 The length of our days is seventy years-or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

PURSUE GOD: Time that is devoted to the Word of God Observation and Reflection 1. Imagine your life is like a long, long rope; one short end represents your life here on earth while the rest of the rope is your eternity. How does this illustrate Psalm 90:10-12? 2. When was the first time you felt your mortality and that your ‘days were numbered’? How did that moment affect your life and your priorities? 3. What direction do the verses Mt 6:33 and Mt 28:19 – 20 give us for investing the days God gives us? Explore the meaning of ‘seek’ and ‘go.’ Give examples. Contrast the different focus of this world’s kingdom and the Kingdom of God. Application 1. Pastor Henry asked, ‘What are you pursuing in life? Who are you investing your life in? What is going to matter in the end when you stand before Jesus?’ Which of these questions is the Holy Spirit using to nudge you in the ‘days’ of your life? What step (big or small) will you take to respond to Him? 2. Ask someone to pray for you and to be your accountability partner.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 28:1928:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…

Seek First the Kingdom of God, Pastor Henry Schorr In our teens and 20's we think life goes on forever. When Pastor Henry and his wife Gwen first came to Centre Street Church, they were a family of 3. Now they number 16, with another on the way. This shows how quickly the years fly by as Psalm 90:10-12 says. As the Psalmist reflects on the brevity of life, he says “Lord, teach us to number our days.” This makes us face the fact of our mortality for our 'days' will run out. Death reminds us that we take two things to heaven—our friendship with Jesus and the people who've come to follow Jesus through our influence and testimony. When we truly believe this, it drastically changes how we live. If our timeline were a long rope with a very short piece at one end marking our earthly life, the rest of the rope marks our life forever after. Most people are totally consumed with that short time on earth which soon ends along with its accumulated trophies and treasures. So Jesus pleads with us to “Seek first the kingdom of God” because His kingdom is forever. (Mt 6:33) When we choose NOT to CONSUME all our time, talent and resources on ourselves and instead INVEST in OTHERS AND GOD'S KINGDOM WORK, then we experience life to the full here and those kingdom investments will live on forever. We know we're only passing through this life and only what is done for Christ will last. The question is “To what extent are our lives SEEKING FIRST KING JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM PURPOSES? This is not to heap on guilt or add another burden. To be honest and to face reality, ask yourself: 1. WHEN I STAND BEFORE JESUS, WHAT WILL MATTER TO ME MOST? If I believe in Jesus here and have a close friendship with Him, that is all that really matters in the end. Then I will take steps in that direction each day. So I will do all I can to pray for, encourage and challenge others to have that same close friendship too. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples.” (Mt 28:19-20) How do we MAKE DISCIPLES? Pray for others, spend time and get to know them, serve them, share the Good News of Jesus with them, study Scripture and shepherd them, support them, lead them in serving others, in living simply and in giving generously. Show them through your life, though imperfectly, what it means to be a fully devoted follower of Jesus. 2. IS WHATEVER IS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME THEN, MOST IMPORTANT TO ME NOW? Where does it show in my priorities, my daily life and my treatment of others? If it does not show there, then other things are more important. The Psalmist says “Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” This means every day counts; how we spend each day adds up to the sum total of what our lives become. Then I will take steps in that direction each day as the Holy Spirit draws me to someone in my sphere of influence. Steve May says if you examine your life, you will see that your life today is primarily the result of decisions you have made over the years, the result of DAILY CHOICES, not a ONE TIME GREAT EFFORT. I can SAY something is important. Do I walk the talk and ACT OUT IN FAITH what I believe is real and true?