Glorifying God with your Time - Part 3

February 5, 2015 | by: Lars Haglund | 0 Comments

Posted in: Sermon Questions

PARTICIPANT'S GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP GATHERINGS
Sermon: Glorifying God with Your Time - Part 3, February 1st, 2015
Series: Busy: Finding Your Way In A Hectic World

Primary Passages:

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 1 Thessalonians 5:15

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Launching Discussion: Before Pastor Anthony really dove into his sermon; he re-examined the 3-step faith and reason process we have been looking at throughout this series. Take a few moments to discuss with your group where you’re at with the first 2 steps.

  • Have you started; 1) pruning areas of your life, 2) according to the wisdom of Jesus as opposed to the shifting preferences of your heart, or the tyranny of the urgent? If so, how has this affected your busyness? If not, what ways can you begin to press into the first steps of this process?

Sermon Questions:

1. The first point in Pastor Anthony’s message was, “one of the marks that you’re living for the glory of God in all you do--is when you recognize God has given you time in order to do good works for him.” This truth can be seen in the book of James where we read that every good gift (including our time) is a gift from God:

  • Have ever thought of your time this way, or have you seen it as your own?
  • Do you struggle with making this gift/time connection?
  • How has the grace of Jesus helped you to make that connection and focus your time on Him with laser beam intensity?

2. While examining the good works God has prepared for us to do with the time He has given us, Pastor Anthony referenced a teaching from Deuteronomy 6:4, called the Shema, “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” The point of the Shema is to remind us of this truth, “ if you want to fully know and experience God’s grace in every area of life--you must fully pursue Him with all you are". With that said:

  • Do you feel like you are currently pursuing Jesus with all you are? What areas of life do you find hardest to pursue Him in?

3. The teaching in Deuteronomy 6:4 is so central to our Faith that Jesus reissued it to us in Matthew 22, in the New Testament to remind us that the key to the Christian life--is seeking your ultimate fulfillment in God.

  • Is there a time in your life, or even now, that you found fulfillment in life-in the things or people around you?
  • How is finding fulfillment in God by putting Him first in your life above all else supposed to shape what you do with the rest of your life?

4. In the message, Pastor Anthony’s second point was, “living for the glory of God is not about compartmentalizing your time---it’s about integrating Jesus into everything you do.” He explained that Kingdom integration looks a lot like representing Jesus well in your 1) work, 2) mission and church, 3) family, 4) and resting. He called these areas Life’s Glory Rhythms.

For the next questions, use the charts below.

Chart #1

Chart 2

Chart #2

Chart 1

**Charts taken from Tim Chester's "The Busy Christian's Guide to Busyness"

  • Which chart do you feel best represents your life right now? Chart #1 where you are inundated with busyness because you see life as a series of linear tasks that need to be repeated, or does your life look like Chart #2 where there is a great deal of overlap in these Glory Rhythms?
  • Discuss with the group how you can be more focused and intentional for Jesus in the things God already has you doing. Where is there overlap and opportunity for Jesus’ mission in your workplace, family, church family and social circles that you might be missing?

5. Since your understanding and practice of these Glory Rhythms shape the way you live your life for Jesus, please take a moment to answer these questions in your group.

A. Are you living for the Glory of God when it comes to your job or school?

B. Are you living for the Glory of God when it comes to Jesus Mission and His Church?

C. Are you living for the Glory of God when it comes to your family?

D. Are you living for the Glory of God when it comes to how you rest?

  • What area do you feel needs the most attention?
  • How can you along with the help of Jesus and your community at RCPO truly commit to growing and Glorifying God with your Time in this area?

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