Eternity Should Shape Your Goals

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

Eternity Should Shape Your Goals By Rick Warren — Sep 29, 2015 “I run with purpose in every step.” (1 Corinthians 9:26a NLT) God’s purposes for your life aren’t just for here and now; they are forever and ever and ever. If you think this life is all there is, then you will set goals as if this life is all there is. On the other hand, if you realize one day you are going to stand before God — when he’s going to ask, “What did you do while you were on Earth? Did you learn the things I put you there to learn? Did you trust my Son?” — then it will shape how you look at your goals. Do your goals help you know God, grow in God, serve God, share God, love God, and tell others about God? What I’m asking you is, for instance, how do you pray? When you pray, do you pray to get God to help you with your own purpose or do you pray to align yourself with God’s purpose? If you say, “God, I just want to do what you put me on Earth to do,” I guarantee you, God will bless everything you touch, because he is looking for people he can use to fulfill his purposes. Godly goals have eternity in mind. Paul gives an example of this when he says, “I run with purpose in every step” (1 Corinthians 9:26a). Paul was a Purpose Driven runner! He refused to be distracted. The Bible often compares life to a race, so I want you to think about this: In a race, the finish line is predetermined, and you make progress one step at a time. The same is true with goals. You work on them one step at a time, and you work with purpose in every step. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What is your goal? How does it reflect an eternal perspective? How does your goal help you in each of these areas: knowing God, growing in God, serving God, sharing God, loving God, and telling others about God? What step can you take today to move closer to your goal? Today’s Scripture “...it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32, KJV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS The Kingdom Our God is an extravagant God! He loves to do exceedingly beyond anything we can hope for or imagine. It gives Him pleasure to pour out His abundance and goodness in your life. It gives Him pleasure to give you His kingdom. What is the kingdom of God? It’s simply God’s operating system, or His way of doing things. Throughout scripture, God reveals His principles for living the abundant life. When you do things God’s way, you get God’s results; you get His success and blessing and that’s what He wants for you! Romans 14 tells us that the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Do you need more joy and peace in your life? Follow the Word and open your heart to His kingdom. As you do things God’s way, you will get His results and live in the blessing of His kingdom all the days of your life! A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for Your hand of blessing in my life. Thank You for giving me Your kingdom. I receive it by faith today and choose to follow Your Word in everything I do in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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What Will You Do with What You’ve Been Given?

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?   What Will You Do with What You’ve Been Given? By Rick Warren — Sep 28, 2015 “Each of us, as a good manager of God’s different gifts, must use for the good of others the special gift he has received from God.” (1 Peter 4:10 TEV) Do you know what God created you for? Do you know what your destiny is? In order to fulfill your destiny, you must recognize the gifts God has given you to use. These are the cards you are dealt in life. They include the things you can’t control: your parents, your nationality, your race, your native language. They also include your SHAPE: your spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, and experiences. These are the things that make you uniquelyyou. Now, you are not responsible for the gifts God didn’t give you. In other words, if you are not artistically gifted, you are not expected to paint pictures like Rembrandt. But you are responsible for the ones he did give you. When you get to Heaven, God isn’t going to compare you with anyone else, but he will compare you with yourself. What did you do with what you were given? What could you have done if you had trusted God a little bit more? Romans 14:12 says, “Each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (NIV). Esther had three assets that God gave her to use to fulfill her destiny. She was intelligent, beautiful, and she had an attractive personality. Because of these qualities, “Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her …. She won [the king’s] favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen” (Esther 2:15b, 17). God gave Esther these gifts for a purpose. God has given you gifts for a purpose. And just like Esther, you have a responsibility to be a good steward of those gifts — not for selfish uses but for the good of others. Your gifts are not for your benefit. God gave you gifts for the benefit of other people. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over In order to know your destiny, you have to know your talents and decide how to use them. Make a list of the gifts God has given you (don’t forget to include your SHAPE and the things you can’t control). Ask yourself, “What has God given me for good to use for good?” How can you help others discover their SHAPE and purpose? What are some practical ways you can get out of the rut of comparing yourself to others? Today’s Scripture “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19, NKJV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS He Delivers You from All An affliction is defined as the cause of persistent pain or distress. Afflictions can take on many forms—a sickness or hardship, a temptation, a coworker or family member. There are so many things that can come against us, but God promises in His Word that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. You might feel afflicted today, but God is working to bring you out of that difficult situation. It may not be in the way you thought, but you have to trust that God has your best interest at heart. Remember, afflictions are only temporary. Stand in faith believing that God is on your side. It doesn’t matter what your circumstances look like, get up every morning and say, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. My Deliverer is coming!” A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for being my Deliverer. I trust that You have a good plan for me, and You will deliver me out of all affliction in Jesus’ name! Amen.”

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Your Life has Eternal Importance

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?   Your Life has Eternal Importance By Rick Warren — Sep 27, 2015 “Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body.” (Romans 12:5 MSG) You are going to give your life for something. What will it be — a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these will have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives. The Bible says, “Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body” (Romans 12:5 MSG). As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance. Paul said, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less … because of what you are a part of” (1 Corinthians 12:14, 19). God wants to use you to make a difference in the world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived. If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using? Abraham was old. Jacob was insecure. Leah was unattractive. Joseph was abused. Moses stuttered. Gideon was poor. Samson was codependent. Rahab was immoral. David had an affair and all kinds of family problems. Elijah was suicidal. Jeremiah was depressed. Jonah was reluctant. Naomi was a widow. John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least. Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered. Martha worried a lot. The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages. Zacchaeus was unpopular. Thomas had doubts. Paul had poor health. Timothy was timid. That is quite a variety of misfits! But God used each of them in his service. He’s ready to use you, too! Let’s stop making excuses. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What are some excuses that keep you from serving? How has God shaped you for ministry? What are the things you get excited about? Do you believe that God can use you just as you are to make a difference for his Kingdom? Take time right now to pray and tell him. Share your doubts and concerns, and ask for courage.

Today’s Scripture “Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom...” (Proverbs 4:7, HCSB) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Get Wisdom God wants us to know what to do in every situation. He wants us to know Him and have His wisdom so that we can live the abundant life He has prepared for us. Wisdom is simply knowing the mind of God about a particular thing. Wisdom is found in the Word of God. Proverbs says that when we reverence and honor the Lord, it opens the door to wisdom in our life. God’s wisdom is not like earthly wisdom. God’s wisdom won’t always make sense to your natural mind. For instance, the world’s wisdom says in order to increase, keep what you have. God’s wisdom says in order to increase, give what you have and it shall come back to you in greater measure. Today, ask for wisdom. Then, open your heart and obey His commands. As you are diligent to seek wisdom, you will find it and receive His favor, wisdom, and blessing all the days of your life. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the privilege to boldly come before Your throne of grace. I humbly ask You for wisdom, for understanding, for Your direction. I receive it now in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

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The Clues to Where You Should Be Serving

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CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?   The Clues to Where You Should Be Serving By Rick Warren — Sep 26, 2015 “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” (Proverbs 27:19 NIV) The Bible uses the term “heart” to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections that you have. Your heart represents the source of all your motivations — what you love to do and what you care about most. Even today, we still use the word in this way when we say, “I love you with all my heart.” The Bible says what is in your heart is what you really are: “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart” (Proverbs 27:19 NIV). You are not what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be. Your heart is the real you. It determines why you say the things you do, why you feel the way you do, and why you act the way you do. Physically, each of us has a unique heartbeat. Just as we each have unique thumbprints, eye prints, and voiceprints, our hearts beat in slightly different patterns. It’s amazing that out of all the billions of people who’ve ever lived, no one has ever had a heartbeat exactly like yours. In the same way, God has given each of us a unique emotional heartbeat that races when we think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that interest us. We instinctively care about some things and not about others. These are clues to where you should be serving. Another word for heart is passion. There are certain subjects that you feel deeply passionate about and others that you couldn’t care less about. Some experiences turn you on and capture your attention, while others turn you off or bore you to tears. These reveal the nature of your heart, so listen for inner promptings that point to the ministry God intends for you to have. When you were growing up, you may have discovered that you were intensely interested in some subjects that no one else in your family cared about. Where did those interests come from? They came from God! God had a purpose in giving you these inborn interests. Your emotional heartbeat is a key to understanding your shape for service. Don’t ignore your interests; consider how they might be used for God’s glory. There is a reason that you love to do those things. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick>> Talk It Over What subjects, activities, or causes are you passionate about? How are you making an investment in those things for God’s glory? Consider the things you give most of your time to. How do they align with your emotional heartbeat? Why do you think God wants you to be passionate about the ways you are serving him? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh-YrDflpyQ

Today’s Scripture “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” (Galatians 3:6, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Faith Counts! So many people today are looking for ways to be righteous or be in “right standing” with God. People try to do things to get God’s attention. But the Bible says that when we simply believe God, that’s credited to us as righteousness. Faith is what counts in God eyes! The proof, or evidence, of our faith is found in our actions. The Bible says that faith without works is dead. That means, when we really believe something, our actions will support what we believe. Because Abraham believed God, he obeyed God and left his father’s land even when he didn’t even know where he was going. In the same way, when we believe God, we have to leave some things behind in order to embrace the new life He has in store. As you let go of the old and, by faith, embrace God’s promises, know that He is leading you down paths of righteousness for His name’s sake! Step out in faith because faith is credited to you as righteousness! A Prayer for Today “Father, today I choose to accept and believe Your Word by faith. Thank You for making me righteous and help me to follow You all the days of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

How to Prepare to Share Your Life Lessons

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES What On Earth Am I Here For?

How to Prepare to Share Your Life Lessons By Rick Warren — Sep 25, 2015 “Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word …. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore — you’re the message!” (1 Thessalonians 1:8 MSG) God has put a life message within you. When you became a believer, you also became God’s messenger. God wants to speak to the world through you. You may think you don’t have anything to share, but that’s the Devil trying to keep you silent. You have a storehouse of experiences that God wants to use to bring others into his family. The Bible says, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in them” (1 John 5:10a GW). Here’s one thing that will help you prepare to share: Write down the major life lessons you’ve learned. We should be grateful Solomon did this, because it gave us the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, which are filled with practical lessons on living. Imagine how much needless frustration could be avoided if we learned from each other’s life lessons. Here are a few questions to jog your memory and get you started: What has God taught you from failure? (Psalm 51) What has God taught you from a lack of money? (Philippians 4:11-13) What has God taught you from pain or sorrow or depression? (2 Corinthians 1:4-10) What has God taught you through waiting? (Psalm 40) What has God taught you through illness? (Psalm 119:71) What has God taught you from disappointment? (Genesis 50:20) What have you learned from your family, your church, your relationships, your small group, and your critics? PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over Once you identify your life lessons, who does God want you to share them with? Why are we often hesitant to share with others our life lessons, especially lessons from failure? How does your perspective change when you learn life lessons from the difficult times in your life? Today’s Scripture “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV) SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Be a People Builder God designed us to live in relationship with others. He wants us to help each other grow. None of us will reach our highest potential by ourselves. We need people in our lives to encourage us, and we need to encourage the people in our lives and help them reach their potential. The word “encourage” means to “urge forward.” Many times, you can see things in other people that they don’t see themselves. You can see their strengths and talents. You can see that God has a special plan for them even though they may be going through a difficult time. Don’t assume that people see what you see in them. Take a moment and encourage them either with a kind word or a simple note. There might be a special gift you can give that will remind them of their goal or dream. In whatever way you can, urge the people in your life to keep moving forward. If you’ll be a people builder and help others fulfill their dreams, God will help you fulfill your dreams also, and you’ll live in blessing all the days of your life. A Prayer for Today “Father, thank You for the people You have placed in my life. Help me build them up and find creative ways to urge them forward to Your glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.”