rick warren, purpose driven life: section 39

Balancing your Life

Section 39Pages 305-311

Monday 22 November 2010

Eph 5:15 - So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate

times!

2 Pet 3:17 - Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on

your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the

lawless and fall from your secure position.


Blessed are the balanced: they shall outlast everyone


Your life is like a pentathlon - you are intended to succeed in all 5 events not just 1 or 2. These 5 purposes are summed up in the Great Commandment and Great Commission of Jesus.

1. Love God with all your heart: planned for God’s pleasure - worship2. Loving your neighbour as yourself: serving others in love - ministry


3. Go and make disciples: mission of sharing God’s message - evangelism

4. Baptise them into...: God’s family - fellowship

5. Teach them to do all things: becoming like Christ - discipleshipCombine the 2 great commandments and you become a great Christian


Such balance is not easy - we tend to overemphasise one or two, but we can do it!Try these 4 things:


1. Talk it through with a spiritual partner or small groupProv 27:17 -As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another

Form a PDL reading group to discuss chapters on a weekly basis. Ask questions, “so what?”, “what now?”, and do it

Php 4:9 -Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.

1Thess 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.


And do your own Bible study too - read the many Scriptures quoted in this book in context.Warrens own Book on Bible study methods is an excellent introduction to this subject.


2. Give yourself a regular spiritual check-up

Evaluate yourself periodically.Lam 3:40, 1Cor 11:28, 31, 13:5, Gal 6:4 - a;; encourage this.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?


3. Write down your progress in a journal

Not a diary but a record of life lessons you don’t want to forget

Heb 2:1 - We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.Dawson Trotman said, “Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through your fingertips


4. Pass on what you know to others

Passing on what you have learned is a good way to keep growing.

Prov 11:25 - A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.We need to pass on all the good things God has done in us and taught us - knowledge increases responsibility


It is all for God’s gloryWe pass things on for the glory of God and extension of his kingdom.

John 17:4 - I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.This is before the cross, so what was the work? Helping disciples know and love God, discipling them, sending them out and more of what Jesus had done for 3 years


It is all for God’s gloryWe pass things on for the glory of God and extension of his kingdom.

John 17:4 - I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.This is before the cross, so what was the work? Helping disciples know and love God, discipling them, sending them out and more of what Jesus had done for 3 years

God calls you to continue this same work - to introduce people to

Christ, bring them to fellowship, mature them, help them find a place of

service and send them outMonday 22 November 2010

Blessed are the balanced

Point to ponder


Eph 5:15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise

Verse to remember


Which of the four activities will I begin in order to stay in track and balance God’s five purposes for my life?

Question to consider


rick warren, purpose driven life: section 39

Spiritual

helping disciples

gods glory

love god

pass things

glory

pass

christ

life