Purpose FULL - It's Complicated, Part 1

Let me ask you a question. How you handle sudden change. I mean when a giant wrench is thrown into your plan. How you react your paralyzed buyer maybe distraught, frustrated today working to learn how to anchor ourselves and our life when life gets really stay with welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge Chip Ingram the mission of these daily programs is doing actually disciple Christians, the Bible, thanks for joining us as we continue in our series, purposeful talk by Chip son, Ryan.

We pastorate awakening church in San Jose last two messages focused on how we can connect with God's call.

This program will turn a corner and learn how we can live a purpose filled life. Even when her circumstances drastically change. It's easy to stay focused on are: life is good.

What happens when there's a job loss, expected diagnosis of failed relationship with them. That's what Ryan will focus on as he dives back in acts chapter 13 is a quick reminder before we get started.

If you have to miss any part of the series catch up anytime on the Chip Ingram over that. Let's join Ryan for his message titled complicated, how you discover God's calling on your life. Like how do you really understand his plan for who he's made and designed to be in one or thinking about purpose when you're thinking about calling were wrestling deeper, more along the lines here of how you live a purposeful life in a post-pandemic world is that even possible. All the chaos and heartache and injustices in the things that were constantly reeling from and were just trying to keep our heads above water and just get through. I want to give you three key thoughts for living a purpose filled life we left off Barnabas and Saul with their calling and their commissioning acts chapter 13 if you want to study the entire Scripture that were going to BNS acts 13 through 15. They're called to go and share the gospel with the nations, and then they are commissioned and sent out and so I want to give you a map of that what's known as their first missionary journey and so here they are in Antioch.

This is where they're called in commission and so then they go out, they go to the city or town of Solutia, grab a boat sailed to the island of Cyprus. They land here in Salamis, they preach the gospel there.

It's received, and many people come to know Christ and they travel through the interior of the island sharing the gospel and they brought along Barnabas brought along a relative named John Mark at the beginning of the journey with them and so there traveling the three of them to gather sharing the gospel in pathos. The experience of opposition.

The sorcerer who was opposing them fiercely.

It's a kinda wild story in the presence of the pro-counsel there. Paul actually declares in the name of Jesus. He's blinded for his season as he's tried to blind others. He goes blind.

The pro-counsel and everyone sees a serum haze and they give their life to Christ and so they spent some time there and then they catch a boat and they sell all the way up to purdah on purdah. They preach the gospel as well received and they travel up to the interior. This whole region is known as Galatia and they travel to Antioch a different Antioch than here. This is Antioch Syria. This is Antioch basidia Antioch. Here Paul preaches his longest sermon lots and lots of people specifically Gentile people come to know Jesus well this rub Jewish people very badly. And so, as they travel to I chromium some Jewish leaders come here and begin to insight and try to disrupt their teaching and people come to know Christ and Lysistrata. Paul actually gets stoned here because of the trouble that was a cause for them. He doesn't die he gets back up he travel comes back in the city, dust himself off than they travel to Derby preach the gospel and then they go back through all the cities they just went through and they appoint elders or leaders to guide the churches to list draconian Antioch purdah and from here they sell all the way back to Antioch and they spent time just sharing and celebrating all that God had done and how he's opened the doors now to the Gentile people, and here's where the plot thickens in such a way that leaves them all the way to Jerusalem and so I want to catch you up to what led them to Jerusalem is where it gets complicated is where it gets messy. It's where things actually forever change for the church and some of the most incredible ways possible and begins this way. If you have your Bibles. Acts chapter 15 verse one says that certain people came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the believers all what were they teaching unless you are circumcised according to the customs taught by Moses, you cannot saved and so what they're teaching is you is not just believing in Jesus, you have to become Jewish.

If you're a man you have to become circumcised. You need to live by the ceremonial law and all the food rights, and all these other areas. Unless you do this you can't be saved or part of the fellowship of believers. What you can imagine what happens. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute this is an intense debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas notice what happens next were appointed, along with some other believers to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question and so there's an argument in Antioch you have what would later be known as Judaizers. Those who wanted to make Christian Gentiles become Jewish in order to be saved. And this is the reason Paul wrote his letter to those churches in Galatia against other Judaizers of this same reason here or what their teaching and so the church in Antioch says hey you okay this is important. This is a big deal. These are places that we haven't, you know necessarily defined yet instead of the two of you arguing go to Jerusalem, go to the apostles go to the elders and let's figure out once and for all what is reality. How, what is it mean to be saved. What will when they get to Jerusalem. They gathered together and there's a large group of the church leaders all together and says this, that then some of the believers who belong to the party affairs. He stood up and said the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to keep the law of Moses you got imagine what's happening in the ancient world has never happened before.

Jews and Gentiles. Now becoming one family.

The family of God, and now they're trying to figure out what is that look like what does that mean I mean prior to this point, a strict Jew would not interact with the Gentile would not eat with the Gentile would not enter the house of a Gentile and afraid of being defiled and so they're trying to figure out okay. How do we now act as one family and their reasoning was make him Jewish well says the apostles and the elders met to consider this question.

Does someone have to become Jewish to be saved, none of the system. After much discussion, this wasn't flippant. This wasn't quick. This wasn't enough for some of us we fight all this is so clear cut.

After much discussion Peter got up and address them brothers.

You know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips that some time ago was 10 years ago when Cornelius first heard a hear from my lips. The message of the gospel and believe God knows the hearts showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he did to us. There was no restriction of the spirit of God based on circumcision or any outward behavior.

You cannot earn your way to God is what he saying now then why do you try to test God by putting on the next of the Gentiles. A yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear no.

We believe it is through grace our Lord Jesus, that we are saved just as they are, that there saved not by any outward acts or performance, but simply by their faith in Jesus. Well then Paul and Barnabas get up and they begin to share all that God had done that, you gotta think about the shift because as they began to spread the gospel and this was Jesus's vision all the way at the beginning that you be my witnesses in Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Now the church is less a Jewish movement still is, and now it is a worldwide movement and there's more Gentile believers than there are Jewish believers in their sharing how God was working in their midst and then James the brother of Jesus known as James the just known for his his his following the strict letter of the law of the Hebrew Scriptures. So when he spoke into this matter. He spoke authoritatively, and everybody listen up, and he said this is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for Gentiles who are turning to God. How do you make it difficult well if you're going to enter the family.

God first get circumcised.

Ouch. Follow the ceremonial laws and dietary restrictions, says let's not make it difficult if not amazing and that a word for us. Let's not make it difficult for people who are turning to God.

Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted to idols, from sexual immorality from meat strangled from animals and from blood for the law of Moses have been preached in every city in the earliest times in his point here is, instead of becoming Jewish. The moral law of God of the universe applies to all of humanity across all cultures.

This is incredible in this moment.

Instead of having every other cultures stepped into Jewish cultures is not enough in the is Jesus, and faith in him that transcends every cultures and meets every culture and and says that there are things that you have to say no to like the worshiping of your idols. That's what was the part of what he was saying no to an end. Living a life of integrity here and here we see, and they send out a letter to the churches with other you know people in authority with them to go out and share this news.

This brought incredible joy back to Antioch and to all the other Gentile believers, that all they had to do was believe in the Lord Jesus and they were say this transforms the entire church as we know it expanded the scope from a Jewish movement to a Jesus movement for the entire world is thinking okay what in the world. How do I live a purposeful life in a post-pandemic world.

Throughout the text that we just read. I want to just draw your attention to three observations three key observations and how we live a purpose filled life and we live in a world that's scarred and scared us recently in a world of defined by the religion of me would you anchor yourself in the house and family of Jesus in a world defined by the religion of me would you anchor yourself in the house and family of Jesus I want to knows first thing Paul and Barnabas is and they have the short dispute rights and the first thing is there discussing that wasn't like hey were doing our own thing for you know what we know are right. We know you're wrong you can go do whatever were doing our own thing whatever the first thing that they do is then they returned to the source. Go to the apostles go to the elders and sex hate were submitting under your authority in your leadership. You tell us you tell us as were part of the family altogether were part of this house and community. You know in a post-pandemic world. The predominant religion is the religion of me or what I mean by that. Mark Sayers in his book reappearing church great book by the way, I encourage you to pick it up.

The only authority is found with the individual.

He writes thus there is no possibility of sacred order.

See, it's easy to say I'm just going to do me but it comes at cost, rising anxiety rising depression since of instability sink in a world defined by the religion of me. You are rudderless you are anchor list you are age craft and assist anchor yourself in the house and family of Jesus. But what is it mean to be in the house. I was sick most of us feel like I am a part of the family of God. I'm a part of the family Guy but are you part of the house of God is a big difference between being a house like being part of the household or a guest right on your part of the house household like you are have a deep responsibility in that hot household like my kids hanging out together that you know there's chores that we have to do that in there.

You know whether it's cleaning or cooking or some of these were things there's responsibility but but there's a deep deep level of relationship isn't there. There's a family since that work together traveling there's different roles that each of us feel and that sense of autonomy struggles against that sense of wanting to be a part of the house and some of you experienced. I remember the first time that you came home from college.

After extended time away and your parents are like going.

You know, I know you had a lot of fun but but in our house. This is kinda how we need to do things here if you want to go off live on your own that's okay but but in our house because there's a way of going about things in our house in God's house and the house of Jesus and we can struggle with some of those things until we have the roommates that is so constantly MSC and disorganized that all son we become the one going like you know there's there's gotta be some rules to our house. See there's a difference of being a guest and I would say most of us most of us believe and feel like were in the family of God, but were more gas than the houses of Jesus or in the houses of worship we show up and we cut partaken is like a nice I got this mill but but some of the accessibility something some of the responsibility. Some of the just going like were Paul and Barnabas going like were not doing our own thing were part of a greater thing and so were going to bring this before you and whatever you say were going to do see it anchors us. It anchors us into community.

It anchors us into the ways of Jesus join the family and then get engage in the house of Jesus like I'm coming into this community. I am going to be responsible for certain things, become a participant on. I'm not just showing up and taking I'm I'm someone who's bringing to the table.

I'm coming recognizing okay on the learner as well.

The world defined by religion of me anchor yourself in the house and family of God may be part of the family, but are you a part of the house. Many of us have operated simply as guest listening to the first. Riley's message gets complicated from his series, purposeful kinship will join us here in the studio with some additional thoughts and application estimate. But what does it really mean to be full of purpose. Is it just being successful at your job making lots of money being a good parent or spouse you're completely lost when it comes to your purpose you're really struggling to find any kind of meaning to your life right now. No matter where you're out finding purpose is one of the toughest challenges we face in the series Ryan Ingram shares what it means to live a meaningful life and unpack God's true calling. Stay with us to learn how you can live out your God-given purpose. Even when difficulty hardship and conflict come you're not going to miss a single message.

For more information about the series purposeful discovering God's calling on your life. Just go to LivingontheEdge.org and if you happen to miss a message. Along the way, you can always catch up on the chipping roadmap chip at Living on the Edge we say all the time. We exist to help Christians live like Christians.

What's a great line and all, but let me ask you what is that look like in real life.

Will Dave I can tell you in a sentence it looks like in Romans 12 Christian if you study Romans 12 are what we call true spirituality. There's five relationships, five biblical expectations and it answers the five biggest questions in a person's life how to give God what he wants the most how to get the very best from God how to come to grips with the real you how to get connected and authentic community and how to overcome evil with good.

The new daily discipleship with chip true spirituality will walk people through becoming a Christian who lives like a Christian is not a Bible study is not a teaching time. It's me mentoring individuals who say I want to be an authentic follower of Christ.

I'm not sure how chip we you meet with me and my answer is yes. I will never talk more than 10 minutes. You can learn to study the Bible in Romans 12 you'll learn to hear God's voice will develop the habit of meeting with him regularly and you can learn for yourself from God what it means to be a Christian who actually lives like a Christian. Perfect. No authentic yes I hope you join me click strip what were so excited to share with you this new daily discipleship with chip true spirituality based in Romans chapter 12 our heart behind this video series is to really help you dive into God's word and discover how to more intentionally live out your faith for 17 days. You and Chip will walk through were true spirituality looks like and how you can put these truths into practice. If you're looking for the next step along your faith journey. Let me encourage you to be a part of daily discipleship with chip true spirituality preregister for the study today and will send you our friend Lance Witt's devotional based on Romans 12 called leave ordinary behind at no cost.

Sign-up now while this offer lasts by going to LivingontheEdge.org or by calling AAA 83336003 or go to LivingontheEdge.org app listeners just tap discipleship. Now let's hear today's application from Ryan and Chip Ryan as I was listening to how you wrapped up this message and I could feel a little bit of tension actually in the room because you beginning to call people to a challenge.

You beginning to say hey you know you can't be just a guest in God's house. If you're not committed. If you are not a part if you don't take this sense of responsibility.

If you just sort of take the advantages of being a part of the community of God's people and not really step in.

You really can't discover your purpose and right now I think people are struggling with that what you say to those people that feel like they're drifting or they want to find their purpose and yet in other certain things they may need to do in order to get anchored in that purpose. Just coach that person who's saying that's me. If you're drifting right now I want you just to stop in and maybe if you're driving if you can pull over, or if you're busy doing laundry. Just stop for a second and listen because what I'm about to say is incredibly important and yet it's going to sound difficult in this season and where you're at if you're drifting and if you're struggling right now and you're feeling isolated and alone. That feeling like okay I don't know if I can quite get there. Here's what I want to say the first thing you need to do is get your focus off of yourself and onto who you can serve them. He said again. Get your focus off of yourself and onto who you can conserve.

Hebrews 1024 says Anna.

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. One of the most powerful and profound things you will do if you are drifting is to shift your focus off of yourself and begin to go okay. Who can I spur on towards love and good deeds today and then Evers goes on to say this not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another all the more as you see the day approaching self first thing I'm going to do is I'm going to get my focus off myself and I'm going to look out to see who I can serve to be asking who can I encourage today and the second thing is that I'm going to make a commitment to a church home. So many of us are drifting and were church shopping but we don't have a church home where you say this is my church.

Not that church I go to but this is my church.

I am anchored and I'm rooted there.

You listen. There are no perfect churches there are good churches out there but there are no perfect churches there is a perfect Savior and you know I remember early on in ministry when we first started doing youth ministry that my wife and I you know, years and years and years ago I remember her saying this ministry was easy until we really got to know people and that's true ministries easy to and then also the year and we got to know people get to know their problems got to know what's going on and then it got messy and oh here's what we do is we go to a church and legal have it right at the beginning and then all of a sudden we get to know people or somebody hurt our feelings and and then we retreat and we pull out, so would you commit to a church home instead of church being an option in your life.

Something I'm going to do I'm going to opt into that. Would you make it a priority by like this is a time where I have the opportunity to gather with the people of God in the house of God and reorient my life towards my Savior.

But where I approach it differently from a consumer to a contributor from a spectator to a participant remembered not giving up meeting together, as some in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another. What if you said this is my church home and I'm going to engage fully in this season. How can I serve who can I encourage how can I be a part of what God is doing here.

Here's what I want to ask you to do if you're drifting your focus off yourself and onto who you conserve and then would you commit to a church home.

Maybe you set up in doing this online thing and I love listening to so-and-so and I love listening to Chip Ingram and that is wonderful and good and you needed in your life and and you need a church that you can call home. As we wrap up this program just a quick but important thought Living on the Edge depends on listeners like you to help us continue programming right here in your area. Would you consider partnering with us on a monthly basis so people around you can benefit from the Ministry of chip and Living on the Edge to set up a recurring donation, call us at Tripoli 333-6003. Tap the donate button or go to LivingontheEdge.org. Thanks in advance for doing whatever God leads you to do. Ryan continues his serious purposeful in our next program.

In the meantime, this is Dave releasing thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge