MORE TO THIS LIFE: Life 6-11-23

MORE TO THIS LIFE: Life 6-11-23

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Life can be funny sometimes

 

AT&T FIRED President John Walter after nine months, saying he lacked intellectual leadership.  He received a $26 million dollar severance package.

 

Police in Oakland, California spent two hours attempting to subdue a gunman who had barricaded himself inside his home. After firing ten tear gas canisters, officers discovered that the man was standing beside them in the police line, shouting "Please come out and give yourself up."

Police in Los Angeles, had good luck with a robbery suspect who just couldn't control himself during a lineup. When detectives asked each man in the lineup to repeat the words, "Give me all your money or I'll shoot," the man shouted, "That's not what I said!"

 

A man spoke frantically into the phone, "My wife is pregnant and her contractions are only two minutes apart!” "Is this her first child?" the doctor asked. "No!", the man shouted, "This is her husband!".

 

One summer, on Lake Isabella, located in the high desert, an hour east of Bakersfield, California, some folks new to boating, were having a problem. No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't get their brand new 22 ft. Bayliner to perform. It would drift, and it was very sluggish when trying to maneuver, no matter how much power was applied. After about an hour of trying to make it go, they putted in to a nearby marina, thinking someone there could tell them what was wrong. A thorough topside check revealed everything in perfect working condition. The engine ran fine, the prop was the correct size and pitch. So, one of the marina guys jumped in the water to check underneath. He came up choking on water, he was laughing so hard. *Under the boat, still strapped securely in place, was the trailer.

 

Steven Curtis Chapman “More to This Life”

 

Atheist philosopher Bertrand Russell: "Unless you assume a God, the question of life's purpose is meaningless."

               Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life, 17.

 

Welsh scholar Rheinallt Williams: "There is nothing which arises more spontaneously from man's nature than the question about life's meaning. But if to be shoveled underground, or scattered on its surface, is the end of the journey, then life in the last analysis is a mere passing show without meaning, which no amount of dedication or sacrifice can redeem." 

               John Blanchard, Does God Believe in Atheists?, 332-333.

 

Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy: "What is life for? To die? To kill myself at once? No, I am afraid. To wait for death till it comes? I fear that even more. Then I must live. But what for? And I could not escape from that circle." 

               John Blanchard, Does God Believe in Atheists?, 333.

 

Novelist Rebecca West: "I do not believe that any facts exist, or, rather, are accessible to me, which give any assurance that my life has served an eternal purpose."

               John Blanchard, Does God Believe in Atheists?, 333.

 

William Provine (The Scientist, 1988): "No moral or ethical laws exist, nor are there absolute guiding principles for human society. The universe cares nothing for us and we have no ultimate meaning in life." 

               John Blanchard, Does God Believe in Atheists?, 333.

 

Richard Dawkins (described by some as, "increasingly our most militant atheist"), when asked, "What is the purpose of life?", replied: "Well, there is no purpose, and to ask what it is, is a silly question. It has the same status as 'What is the color of jealousy?'"

               John Blanchard, Does God Believe in Atheists?, 333.

 

““Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

               John 10:1-10 NIV

 

I.  LIFE

 

               A.  What makes up life?

               B.  What are its essential qualities?

               C.  How do you determine the quality of your life?

               D.  Have you ever felt like there must be something more?

 

II.  MY LIFE

 

               A.  I am more than a collection of atoms and minerals.

               B.  I am more than the current apex predator on the planet Earth.

               C.  I am more than the sum of my experiences.

               D.  I am a child of the King!

 

“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

 

III.  MORE TO THIS LIFE

 

               A.  Than life itself

               B.  Than job and career

               C.  Than son, husband, father, and granddaughter

 

““Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

               Matthew 10:37-39 NIV

 

               D.  My life is caught up in glory!

 

Is the life that you live “full”?  

 

IV.  S.E.E.K. A FULL LIFE

                            

               A.  Serve

 

“Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles Lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

               Matthew 20:25-28 NIV

 

               B.  Enjoy

 

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

               John 16:24 NIV

 

           C.  Enhance

 

“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

               1 Timothy 4:8-12 NIV

 

               D.  Kindle

 

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

               Matthew 5:16 NIV

 

CONCLUSION

 

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

               John 10:10b NIV

 

Life is the fundamental reality for all of us who live.  My life is an illusion and part of a greater reality.  There is more to this life, much more.  

 

Augustus boasted that he found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble. 

               Robert C. Shannon, 1000 Windows, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Standard Publishing Company, 1997).

 

Perhaps you do not feel that you will leave the world much different than we found it, but by the power of God we can live a full life that will change our world in big or in small ways.  We don’t choose the change; we choose to live the life.

 

L = Living in light of eternity

I = Identifying the things that matter most for all eternity

F = Focusing on eternity, and what matters most in light of eternity, focusing on purpose as it relates to eternity?

E = Eternity is the goal of life – the purpose of life – the reason for life.

               Michael McCartney

 

This series will look at your life, my life, and our lives.  We will see what more is out there for what we call life.  

 

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.