RESET YOUR PURPOSE

RESET YOUR PURPOSE

LIFE WITHOUT PURPOSE IS…. POINTLESS

ROMANS 12:1-8

“Therefore I urge you brothers(and sisters), in view of God’s mercies, offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

ROMANS 1-11 : Emphasis is Theological- What We BELIEVE!

ROMANS 12-16:  Emphasis is Transformational- What We BECOME!

THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT KNOWING YOUR PURPOSE

1. LIFE LOSES PASSION

“Everything leads to weariness…” ECCLESIASTES 1:5-8 Ralph Barton, one of the top cartoonists of the nations, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: “I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day.”

2. LIFE LOSES PURPOSE

“Life is useless, all useless. You spend your life working…but what do you have to show for it? …The world just stays the same.” ECCLESIASTES 1:2-4

“A myriad of men are born; they labor and sweat and struggle…they squabble and scold and fight; they scramble for little mean advantages over each other; age creeps upon them; infirmities follow; …those they love are taken from them, and the joy of life is turned to aching grief. It (the release) comes at last — the only unpoisoned gift earth ever had for them— and they vanish from a world where they were of no consequence, a world which will lament them a day and forget them forever.” – Mark Twain (shortly before his death)

LIFE LOSES SIGNIFICANCE

(Paul) “I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do…” ACTS 20:24 (GN) “This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.” – George Bernard Shaw

Becoming a Romans 12 Christian

LIFE’S 4 MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS!!!!

2:1 What will be the CENTER?

Who/What am I going to live for?

12:2 What will shape my CHARACTER?

What will determine what I become?

12:3-5, 9-21

Who will be my COMPANIONS?

How will I develop supportive relationships?

12:6-8

What will be my

CONTRIBUTION?

What will I give my life to make happen?

1. DEDICATION: I surrender my life

“Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercies, to offer your bodies as a living

sacrifice holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1

You can’t be an authentic Christ follower on your own terms for 2 reasons:

1. BECAUSE

2. BECAUSE

2. ELIMINATION: I Eliminate

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the

renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is,

His good and pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

1. LASTING

2. CULTURE IS A

3. TRANSFORMATION: I Change my

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good and pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

1. God’s Will Is

Discovering the will of God by

2. God’s Will

DEDICATION: I Surrender my LIFE

SEPARATION: I Eliminate COMPETING DISTRACTIONS

TRANSFORMATION: I Change my THINKING

ILLUMINATION: I see Life From GOD’S POINT OF VIEW