Here’s the 3rd week in our “Curious about Christ” outreach, that our church in Naperville (Cross of Christ Fellowship) is hosting.
Curious about Christ Week 3: How Does Christ Bring MEANING to our Lives?
Introductory Thoughts:
1. Why do we value having meaning or purpose to our lives?
2. Is there is a right or wrong way to live? It is possible to WASTE our lives or find meaning in the wrong places?
3. Why do so many struggle to find meaning in life? Where do many go to find meaning to their lives?
BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW
- There is a right and wrong way to live our lives.
Matt 22:35-40: “35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.
“”
W.S.C.
Q. 1. What is the chief end of man? A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. - Biblical recognition about the FUTILITY of finding meaning for our lives in the things of this world (Ecclesiastes)
- CHRIST is the solution. CHRIST brings meaning to our lives.
a. Jesus frees us from the lies that teach us we can find meaning apart from God
John 8:31-36: “So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
b. Jesus died for our sin and reconciles us to God
Matt 20:28: “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
c. Knowing Christ brings meaning and purpose to our lives that is not delusional or immoral
John 10:10-11 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
d. Christ shows us that our meaning in not found in what the world defines as success or failure
Col 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
LUTHER’S THEOLOGY of Sacred/Secular Divide (Priesthood of all believers)
1 Peter 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
e. Christ gives us good works to do (Eph 2:10; Matthew 28:18-20).
Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Matt 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
f. We can trust God with all things and He works all things for our good and His purpose
Romans 8:28 “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
