Seven People You’ll Meet in Heaven:

And what they teach you about transforming your world for God

January 25: Nate Saint:  The Expendables

"During the last war we were taught to recognize that, in order to obtain our objective, we had to be willing to be expendable... Yet, when the Lord Jesus asks us to pay the price for world evangelization, we often answer without a word. We cannot go. We say it costs too much." 

John 15:13  Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

            Focus:  The life that most impacts the world is the life that is given away.                                                                                           

1.       The explored life

-- Become a student of your faith

2 Peter 3:17-18   

-- Put into practice what you learn

James 2: 14

James 2:18

2.       The committed life

-- Move past practice to commitment

1 Timothy 4:15 -- 16

-- Use how God has uniquely shaped you to serve Christ

2 Timothy 1:6 -7

3.       The expended life.

-- You need to live in expendable life.

John 15:13 

--Learn to value what is to be treasured

2 Corinthians 4:7 -10

4.       Consider this:

--Where are you in your Spiritual journey right now:  exploring, committed, or expendable?

--What do you need to do to move to the next level?

--Make a commitment to  learn something about your faith.  Ask Pastor Gary or Jeff for suggestions.

--Choose an activity that will begin to deepen your commitment to Christ:  Join a Bible Study, volunteer for a ministry, begin to pray for 5 friends to know Christ.

--Consider what you might give up in place of your life to be expendable for Christ.

Bible Study:

  1.        Name three things in life that you really love.
  2.        What would you be willing to do to have these things?
  3.        Read John 15:12-17.
  4.        How has Christ loved you?  Think of 3 ways. (v. 12)
  5.        Besides dying, how can someone lay down their life for others? (v. 13)
  6.        Looking at verses 12 and 14, what must one do to be Jesus’ friend?
  7.        What do verses 15 and 16 teach you about your relationship with Christ?
  8.        What does it look like on a daily basis to love one another?
  9.    Share how you are exploring your faith right now.

   Share and ask for prayer in how you can be more committed and expendable.

Dr. Gary VanDeWalker, Evangelical Free Church of Mount Shasta, Sunday, January 25, 2009, Seven People You’ll Meet In Heaven, 5 of 7.