MORE TO THIS LIFE: The existential question 6-18-23

MORE TO THIS LIFE: The existential question 6-18-23

 

INTRODUCTION

 

God is doing a new thing?

There is more to this life!  We are given life to the full.  Are you living a full life?

 

VIDEO - “More to this life” by Steven Curtis Chapman

 

This is series is going to look at our lives and ask some questions about what we are doing here in this life.

 

In this series, we will spend time looking at identity, integrity, and intentionality.  With each progressive step we will get closer to living the full life God intended for you and for me.

 

Identity is much more than our careers, preferences, families, and personal stories.

 

Recent research by researcher, Emergence, found the following three the most recognized brand identity tags: “You’re in good hands” (Allstate Insurance), “Like a good neighbor” (State Farm Insurance) and “Always low prices, Always” (Wal-Mart).

Incentive 12/04

 

When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As the Governor moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

 

“Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?”

 

“Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.”

 

“But I’m starved,” the governor said.

 

“Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.”

 

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the Governor of this state.”

 

“Do you know who I am?” the woman said.

 

“No I don’t know who you are,” he said.

 

“Well, I’m the lady in charge of the chicken and it’s one piece of chicken per customer. Now move on down the line.”

               Dr. Larry Petton

 

A famous preacher visited a Nursing home that had some patients with Alzheimer's in it. He went around and greeted the people who were very glad to see him. He walked up to one lady and asked, "Do you know who I am?" She said, "No, but if you go to the Front Desk, they can tell you."

 

I.  IDENTITY:WHAT IS IT?

 

Theorist Erik Erikson coined the term "identity crisis" and believed that it was one of the most important conflicts people face in development. According to Erikson, an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself. 

 

Psychology Today says, “Identity encompasses the memories, experiences, relationships, and values that create one’s sense of self. This amalgamation creates a steady sense of who one is over time, even as new facets are developed and incorporated into one's identity.

 

How is identity formed?  Identity formation involves three key tasks: Discovering and developing one’s potential, choosing one’s purpose in life, and finding opportunities to exercise that potential and purpose. Identity is also influenced by parents and peers during childhood and experimentation in adolescence.”

Psychologytoday.com, Psychology Today staff

 

     A.  Ontological question: What am I?

 

                              1.  The basic question of what exists.

                              2.  The inevitable question about God.

 

“In the beginning God”

               Genesis 1:1a NIV

 

       B.  Existential question: Who am I?

                              1.  The basic question of how to exist.

                              2.  The inevitable question about how should I then live.

 

“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

               Genesis 1:27 NIV

 

“As Christians, our identity in Christ far transcends our identity in our work. We are children of the living God, fearfully and wonderfully made and deeply loved by the Father.”

               Boa, Kenneth, and Gail Burnett. Wisdom at Work. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1997, 51.

 

Francis Schaeffer, How Should We Then Live?: The rise and decline of western thought and culture

 

           C.  Personal question: Who was I born to be, who am I, or who can I become?

 

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

              Ephesians 2:10 NIV

 

II.  IDENTITY: WHERE DOES IT COME FROM?

 

               A.  Fixed or fluid

                              1.  Birth

 

““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.””

              Jeremiah 1:5 NIV

 

                              2.  Life

              B.  Nature v. Nurture

                              1.  Birth

                              2.  Life

 

Christians often times buy into the simplistic categories of “nature vs. nurture.” But if we want to be more biblical, we should recognize that there are more distinctions than this, based on creation, sin, and grace.

 

In an article from several years ago David Powlison has a helpful footnote where he suggests four categories:

1.       creation nature (our nature as the result of being created in God’s image)

2.       sin nature (our nature as a result of falling into sin)

3.       sin nurture (ways in which rebellion is modeled and encouraged)

4.       grace nurture (ways in which godly behavior is modeled and encouraged).

               A Christian Approach to “Nature vs. Nurture” by Justin Taylor

 

               C.  Divine or human

                              1.  Birth 

                              2.  Life

 

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”

               Romans 8:29 NIV

 

"The more you reaffirm who you are in Christ, the more your behavior will begin to reflect your true identity!"

               Dr. Neil Anderson, Victory Over the Darkness

 

III.  IDENTITY: WHO AM I?

 

In a case of mistaken identity, a Caledonia college student believed to have survived a bus crash on April 26th actually died in the accident, and a Gaylord woman presumed to be dead is in a Grand Rapids hospital being treated for head wounds.

 

The Taylor University student, Whitney E. Cerak, 18, recently came out of a coma at Spectrum Health’s Butterworth Campus, where parents of Laura J. VanRyn of Caledonia maintained a vigil since from the April 26 crash until the May 31st realization that the girl who they believed was their daughter was actually Whitney, not Laura.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-29/1149106509284990.xml&coll=6

 

               A.  Who do you see in the mirror?

               B.  The question is not, “What do you see?”

                   1.  Appearance

                            2.  Actions

 

You probably know Ted Giannoulas even if you’ve never heard his name. He has been the San Diego Chicken for 30 years. He originated the character as a college student, but Ted is getting older. At age 50, being the Chicken has been his life and his whole identity. His face is never photographed unless he is in costume. No one knows the real Ted. He has no family. At first, he loved his alter ego. "I discovered an untapped personality in that suit," he said. "It was like, now I have freedom. Now I’m no longer Ted." But there is a price to pay. Dave Raymond, who for years wore the costume of the Philly Phanatic, said, "[Giannoulas] was the first and the funniest, and I have nothing but respect for him. But if you’re not careful, you can lose yourself in that suit." Ted himself says, "I have plenty of Chicken stories. I’m afraid I don’t have any Ted stories."

               David Ward

 

               C.  If you could see someone else, who would it be?

 

Bob Dylan is considered one of the greatest song writers of all time.

 

In 1965 he wrote "Like a Rolling Stone" - one of his most popular songs. It has been acclaimed as the greatest lyric ever written. "Like a Rolling Stone" is statistically the most acclaimed song of all time. Rolling Stone Magazine listed it at No. 1 on their 2004 and 2010 "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"

 

The chorus ...

How does it feel, how does it feel?

To be on your own, with no direction home

A complete unknown, like a rolling stone.

 

               D.  You are exactly who God wants you to be!  

 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

               2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Identity determines destiny!  Next week we will look more particularly about what the Bible says about our identity.

 

"A church that does not listen for God in the Bible and treat the Bible as the unique touchstone of truth about God and about us is losing its identity, it’s raison d’etre (reason for existence)."

               Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012

 

CONCLUSION

 

What is identity?  Where does it come from?  Who am I?  Can I be content with who God made me to be?  

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.