January 20, 2008 Sermon Notes

Pastor Marty Grubbs -- January 20, 2008
“I Have a Dream”
You Were Made for This – Discovering God’s Dream for Your Life, Part 3

God’s dream for each of us is to be like His Son.

“God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him.” -Romans 8:29 (The Message)

The elements of seeing a dream become reality:

1. Passion

2. Experience

3. Confirmation

4. Goals

5. Patience

6. Wins

Four hours to reach God’s dream:

1.  Worship

“So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:22-25 (The Message)

2.  Bible Study

“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” - Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

3.  Friendship

“All the believers were together and had everything in common.” -Acts 2:44 (NIV)

4.  Compassion

“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other.” -Colossians 3:12-13 (NIV)

 

 

 

A morning thought...

The vision God has for us to be and to do is often foreign to what the world values and considers to be success. There are moments when the two may intersect, and God’s success may involve financial, personal, and social rewards. However, there are just as many times when who we are dictates actions, courtesies, and gifts of time and investment that no one knows about except God Himself. These are truly the people who know what it is to serve others without fanfare, to give of their time and resources without strings attached, and to not call attention to themselves, unlike the Pharisees Christ talked about.

To live in transformation means to live conformed to Christ, and we know what happened to Him. . . death on a cross. This does not mean that we will all die on crosses. However, we may know in part what it is to live beyond our desires and general comfort so that we may know the joy of God’s will in our lives that calls us beyond our own expectations. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” ( 2 Cor. 3:16 & 18).

-George Skramstad, 2008