http://bible.com/events/612603

More Than Me: More Purpose

“He must become greater; I must become less.””

John 3:30 NIV

Acts 26:12-18NIV

Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV)

The Purpose of ME is often defined by…. 

-ACTIONS

-REPUTATION 

-SOCIAL STANDING

-EFFORT

-PASSION 

Phil 3:9

If we aren’t careful, building my life on my own purpose leads to a righteousness of my own.  

Some attributes of the ‘RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ME’ 

…attends Church fairly regularly because it is expected.

…chooses what is popular over what is right. It desires to fit in both at church and outside church.

…does not want to be saved from sin, just the penalty of sin.

….does not really believe that the new life Jesus offers is better than the old life of sin.

…will serve God and others but there are limitations.

… does whatever is necessary to stay in its comfort zone.

… does not live by faith. Life is so structured that faith isn’t necessary 

…does not love Jesus as much as it loves self. It loves Him some but loves self more.

HIS PURPOSE FOR ME

Philippians 3:10-11 

My purpose begins with ME 

His Purpose for me begins at the cross 

Luke 9:23-24

MY purpose is about MY POWER 

HIS Purpose for me begins with HIS POWER IN ME 

The power of God’s purpose changes us….

Instead of “What can I do?” 

It becomes “What can you do in me?”

Instead of “What can I accomplish?”

It becomes “What can you accomplish through me?”  

Instead of “My spotlight” 

It becomes “His glory” 

Instead of “I want to be famous” 

It becomes “I want to be faithful” 

The best purpose we find is not in our purpose but in God’s purpose for us. It is more than dreaming, more than your work, more than a collection of tasks, more than me.

http://bible.com/events/608342
April 28
More Than Me: More Hope

John 10:10 (The Message)  
We are living in between two tensions:
The wonder of ME….
-I am a miracle of God
-I am created with gifts, talents & abilities
-I am created in the image of God
The problem of ME…
-Sin separates me from God
-Sin prevents me from experiencing God’s best for my life today

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Augustine

Romans 5:1-5 (NIV)
Peace with God….
-The opposite of justification is condemnation
-Condemnation is what we deserved because of sin
-Justification means we are made righteous

Access to God…
-We used to depend on what we can do for ourselves
-Now we depend on what God can do for us

Hope of the glory of God….
-Things I place my hope in…
Who I Am (My abilities)
What I Do (My accomplishments)
My People (My relationships)
My Stuff (My finances, possessions, etc)
-The reality: ME has no real capacity to hope
Our hope is not founded in me
Our hope is founded in God’s Glory

Peace with God – takes care of the past
Access to God – addresses the present
Hope of the glory of God – speaks to the future

Romans 5:3-4

Suffering
-Suffering seems contradictory to hope, but suffering is actually a gateway to HOPE
-“Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” -Charles Spurgeon

Perseverance
-When you are willing to endure, resistance builds strength

Character
-Through suffering something beautiful is produced
-“Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted” Matthew 5:4

Hope
-Hope is the product of something else – it doesn’t appear out of nowhere.
Suffering
Perseverance
Character
Hope

Romans 5:5 
The Hope of ME can fail
The Hope of God cannot fail