In the Bible Christian Ministry
Sunday 8-31-25 (The Simple Life, Part 3)
  • Recap Simple Life 1
    Simplify Your Life: Life can be complicated, but removing distractions and focusing on what brings you peace is essential.
    Avoid Unnecessary Additions: Stop adding people and things that don't benefit you. Focus on doing something meaningful rather than nothing.
    Live a Quiet Life: Aim for a calm and simple existence. Avoid drama and focus on your ambitions 4 5.
    Throw Off Distractions: Just like in Hebrews 12:1-2, throw off everything that hinders you and focus on your goals 6 7.
    Faith and Endurance: Follow the examples of faith from Hebrews 11 and live faithfully with endurance
    We live complicated lives. Seems things get the more complicated as time passes
    We spoke about getting rid of things. Taking control of your life by removing distractions and things that can entrap.
    Recap Simple Life 2
    Thoughts being Powerful
    Hebrews 12:1–2 NIV
    1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

    Life is like a movie

    You got Complex movie vs. a simple movie
    A good love story: Simple (Hallmark movie— you already know)
    Theme of the movie: Love
    A complicated Story:
    Bunch of characters you don’t know who to follow.
    What is the story even about
    Too much going on
    Who is this story about.
    What is the theme of your story; is it simple or complex
    Notice if it is a story about love.
    All these other things can happen. She has a older dog, parents are there, friendship, everything but the core of the movie never changes—LOVE But in our other movie. we are all over the place and nothing has a front seat it’s just all THERE
    We live our life and we have these questions:
    “Who are you?”
    “What is your destiny?”
    Do I have a purpose?
    Can I do it?
    “Why were you put on Earth?” “Is there something that you, and only you, are equipped to do? What is that—and why aren’t you doing it?”
    DESTINY
    Many people who we say I have it “figured” out mainly follow their work.
    If you are an artist (singer, painter, writer) you do you work (paint) and then afterwards you step back and say what is it? and you do it again and again , Singer again and again.… And we say they got it together
    Rest of us are just living life and we feel we have NO purpose
    Theme: the core story or central driving force that shapes your experiences, decisions, and purpose, revealing underlying patterns, passions, and character traits
    Theme of your Life:
    Simplifying the Theme of our life
    Not so much about removing everything but how you think about it.
    How you process it.
    Funny how BIG you can make things.
    Your theme drives your: Why, How, and your Who
    Why you do what you do
    How you do it
    Who you are
    When you are all over the place you don’t know.
    God is your Why, how and makes up your Who
    your identity is reflected in Him and Him through you
    Your purpose, destiny, Theme comes down to ONE thing—-What do you LOVE???
    God is always involved:

    1. God as the Central Purpose: The "Why"

    God is seen not just as a part of life, but as the ultimate reason for it.
    This perspective suggests that everything a person does—from their work to their relationships to their personal growth—should be in service of a greater purpose: to glorify God.
    This reframes all of life as a form of worship.
    1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
    31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
    He is my Why.
    My source of purpose
    Living out this purpose in accordance to His will

    2. God as the Moral Compass: The "How"

    When God is the theme of your life, His Will becomes the guiding light for all decisions.
    This means your life is not based on personal feelings or societal trends, but on what is believed to be God's will.
    Theological Concept: This ties into the idea of a life lived in accordance with God's law or a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit that guides you
    You make decisions not just based on what is easiest or most profitable, but on what is considered to be right and just in the eyes of God.
    Psalm 27:1 NIV
    1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

    3. God as the Source of Identity: The "Who"

    In this perspective, a person's identity is not primarily defined by their job, their social status, or their achievements, but by their relationship with God.
    The description of who I am is tied to Him: Being a "child of God," a "follower of Christ," or simply "beloved." is how I am known
    Galatians 2:20 NIV
    20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
    Ephesians 2:10 NIV
    10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
    When setbacks or failures occur, a person's sense of self-worth is not destroyed because it is rooted in a divine love that is not conditional on success.
    This provides a deep sense of security and purpose that transcends worldly circumstances.
    So if He is all these things then give him credit.
    And when someone gets credit for a story then they must be the Author.
    And God is not writing a tragedy
    It may have some trying parts.

    4. God as the Narrative : The "Story" of Your Life

    God is the author and main character.
    God is the author and finisher of my faith
    In essence, having God as orchestrator, I’m giving Him total control to write my Story.
    Hebrews 12:2 NIV
    2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
    Hebrews 10:38 NIV
    38 And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”
    So if I live by what He is the author of sounds like I’m living for and through Him

    Who is writing your story

    We like to be in control so much that we feel we can close out the world and write our own story.
    Then we get frustrated and we hand the pen to someone else
    Some people get so frustrated they ask strangers to help pen their story — look to self help books (not that they are bad, but we put a lot on it), meet with people and expect them to transform our lives, even go to psychics,
    The thing is everything you do MAY turn out for your benefit or it may turn out for your detriment...You never KNOW
    But God
    Isaiah 26:3 NIV
    3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
    The beauty about God’s writing style:
    He is clear about the results
    We say just say yes to God you don’t even know what you are saying yes to
    People do this to us - Not God
    People want us to blindly trust but God is abundantly clear.
    We try to make God out to be so secretive. His word is in fact mysterious because it is revealed to us as we get closure to it
    But God our God is so up front in His story writing. He is not a Mystery twist and turn writer. He tells you up front.
    We like to say I’m just going to say Yes even when I don’t know. Just YES GOD!!!
    But God say I’ll tell you:
    Look he told Noah to build an Ark— and He told Him why
    Jonah go to Ninevah and talk to the people
    Moses go to Pharoah and get my people
    Disciples follow me so I can prepare you
    You come to me so I can help you, save you, love you, pour into you, Here is a book full of me if you want to know the truth.
    So God can tell everything to Noah to build a boat in the desert but he got to keep a secret from you so you. You just don’t want to do it.
    We have a close relationship and we know the story
    John 15:5–17 NIV
    5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
    Sounds to me like the veil is off. He loves us so He has revealed to us the truth. Time for us to quit using the excuse of I don’t know and trust in the TRUTH
    Snail
    The great snail said go across the street they would find all they need.
    25 Snails wanted to cross the street because they heard it was so GREAT
    They prepared their way
    Dog
    Cat
    Bird
    There is nothing over there
    10 dropped out
    Dangerous
    5 more dropped out
    Its just stupid—I been over there and it’s not all that Trust me
    4 dropped
    Get over there and it was full of lettuce and greens and moisture.
    Cats, Dog, Bird had not interest in that stuff.
    Ruth:
    The article "Finding Her Purpose" from Guideposts is about a young woman who, at 28, is feeling like a failure and suffering from depression. Her life takes a turn when her mother suggests she help an elderly, visually-impaired neighbor named Ruth Thornton. Initially, the narrator feels she has nothing to offer, but as she assists Ruth with tasks like finding a notebook and reading letters, she becomes inspired by Ruth's active and fulfilling life. The narrator's role expands to become a paid companion and housekeeper after Ruth has a fall. Through this experience, the narrator realizes her purpose is to help others. The relationship with Ruth revitalizes the narrator's own life, leading her to pick up old hobbies and reconnect with friends. The article concludes with the narrator understanding that her true purpose was found not in grand achievements, but in the simple act of connecting with and helping someone in need.

      • Hebrews 12:1–2NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 10:31NIV2011

      • Luke 3:22NIV2011

      • Psalm 149:4NIV2011

      • Psalm 27:1NIV2011

      • Galatians 2:20NIV2011

      • Ephesians 2:10NIV2011

      • Hebrews 12:2NIV2011

      • Hebrews 10:38NIV2011

      • Isaiah 26:3NIV2011

      • John 15:5–17NIV2011

      • John 14:17NIV2011

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