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Pastor's Anniversary! New Salem Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate Pastor Ray's birthday and anniversary on February 5, 2012. Please plan to join us in celebrating every Sunday during the month of January and night watch service at 7p and 10p (December 31). Please don't miss the big event on Sunday, February 5, 2012! Check the church website for more details and to donate.

Frank Ray Expository Conference 2011

Join us July 5-8 for the Frank Ray Expository Preaching and Teaching Conference at New Salem Missionary Baptist Church, 2237 South Parkway East, Memphis, TN 38114. Click here to register and get more details.

The Reason for Everything

Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren
Day 7
The Reason for Everything

Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. (Romans 11:36)
Ultimate goal of the universe is to show the glory of God
Without God’s glory, there would be nothing
The glory of God is who God is
His glory is in everything He created
His glory is best seen in Jesus Christ
Two of God’s creations fail to bring glory to him: Fallen angels (demons); Us (people)
Sin (or the root) fails to bring God glory
Romans 3:23
Our supreme goal should be to bring God glory
How can you bring Glory to God? John 17:4

We bring God glory by worshipping Him
•Worship is our first responsibility
•We worship by enjoying Him
•God wants our worship to be motivated by love, thanksgiving, and delight, not duty
•Worship is more than praising, singing, & praying to God; it is a lifestyle of enjoying God, loving, Him, and giving ourselves to be used for His purposes
•When you use your life for God’s glory, everything you do can be worship
We bring God glory by loving other believers
•Following God is not just a matter of believing; it includes belonging and learning to love the family of God
•We need to learn how to love as God does, because God is love
We bring God glory by becoming like Christ
•Once we are born into God’s family, he wants us to grow to spiritual maturity
•What does that look like?
oBecoming like Jesus in the way we think, feel, and act
oGod wants to continue the process of changing our character
We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts
•Each of us was designed by God with talents, gifts, skills, & abilities
•Not for our selfish gain, but for the benefit of others
We bring God glory by telling others about Him
•We can’t be quiet about God and His goodness
•We have to introduce others to Jesus
What will you live for?
•Living the rest of your life for the glory of God will require a change in your priorities, your schedule, your relationships, and everything else
•It will sometimes mean choosing a difficult path instead of an easy one
•John 12:27-28
•Will you live for your own goals, comfort, and pleasure, or will you live the rest of your life for God’s glory, knowing that he has promised eternal rewards?
•John 12:25
•Who are you going to live for—yourself or God?
•God will give you what you need if you will just make the choice to live for him


Thinking about my purpose
Point to Ponder: It’s all for Him.
Verse to Remember: For Everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory. (Romans 11:36)
Question to Consider: Where in my daily routine can I become more aware of God’s glory?

Day 6 - Life is a Temporary Assignment

I am here on earth for just a little while. (Ps. 119:19)

Two truths:

• Compared with eternity, life is extremely brief
• Earth is only a temporary residence

Points from the book:

“Spiritual green card”
Ambassador to an enemy nation
We are constantly entertained, amused, & catered to which makes it harder for us to realize this is not our home.

Remember:
~Life is a test, trust, & temporary assignment

~Prepare for something even better
Read John 16:33
Fish vs. land
Eagle vs. land
You vs. earth
Material prosperity or popular success according to the world
Faithfulness to God does not guarantee success in a career or even in ministry
Paul was faithful > prison
John the Baptist was faithful > beheaded
The end of life is not the end!


Point to Ponder:
This world is not my home.
Verse to Remember:
“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 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

Question to Consider:
How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assignment change the way I am living right now?

Day 5 - Seeing Through God's Eyes

How do you see your life?
How do you picture your life, what image comes to your mind?

Your metaphor for life influences your life more than you realize
It determines your expectations, values, relationships, goals, and priorities
If you think life is a party, your primary value in life will be having fun
If you see life as a race, you will value speed and will probably be in a hurry much of the time
If you view life as a marathon, you will value endurance
If you see life as a battle or a game, winning will be very important to you
Replace your metaphors with the biblical metaphors of life: (Read Romans 12:2)

The Bible’s three metaphors that teach us God’s view of life:
Life is a test
Life is a trust
Life is a temporary assignment

Life is a test
God tested several people in the Bible and He continues to test us today
Character is both developed and revealed by tests
How do you act when you can’t feel God’s presence in your life? (Read 2 Chronicles 32:31)
Everyday is an opportunity to deepen our character, demonstrate love, or depend on God
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
Read James 1:12

Life is a trust
We are stewards over everything God has given us and God is OWNER of everything (Read Psalm 24:1)
Read 1 Corinthians 4:7
God expects us to take care of the things He has given us
Read Matthew 25:21
Affirmation
Promotion
Celebration
Life is a test and a trust, and the more God gives you, the more responsible he expects you to be.
Read Luke 12:48
Point to Ponder: Life is a test and a trust.
Verse to remember: “Unless you are faithful in small matters, you won’t be faithful in large ones.” Luke 16:10a
Question to Consider: What has happened to me recently that I now realize was a test from God? What are the greatest matters God has entrusted to me?

Made to Last Forever

Day 4 Purpose Driven Life
Made to Last Forever
Take a moment and think about something that is made to last forever or something that has lasted forever.

This life is not all there is.
When you think about that statement, how does that make you feel or behave?

Earth is the stage for our tryouts for our life in eternity. It is where we practice.
Ecclesiastes 3:11. Our minds are set on eternity.
What is the difference between a tent and a house? 2 Corinthians 5:1
Life on earth offers many choices. Eternity offers only two choices: heaven or hell.
What decision(s) determines whether we go to heaven or hell?
Philippians 3:7 Certain things are of no importance
How often do you think about eternity?
Hebrews 13:14

Point to Ponder: There is more to life than just here and now.

Verse to Remember: “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” 1 John 2:17

Question to Consider: Since I was made to last forever, what is the one thing I should stop doing and the one thing I should start doing today?

What drives you?

What drives your life? from Purpose Driven Life

Take a moment to think about what motivated you to be who you are today or what is motivating you to become the person you want to be in the future?

Everyone’s life is driven by something.
Five most common drives are:
1.Many people are driven by guilt.
Have you ever done anything for which you felt so guilty that you were always trying to correct it? (Read Psalms 32:1-5)
2.Many people are driven by resentment and anger.
Why is it so hard to forgive?
Those who have hurt you in the past cannot continue to hurt you now unless you hold on to the pain through resentment.1 (Read Job 5:2)
3.Many people are driven by fear.(Read 2 Timothy 1:7) Is lack of faith a form of fear?
4.Many people are driven by materialism.
What is your true motive for wanting that new car, house, better job, more money, etc? (If God is not mentioned, then your motive may be wrong)
Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you – your relationship with God.2
5.Many people are driven by the need for approval.
You can’t please everyone.
Who should we try to please?

We should be driven by God’s purpose
How would you explain what the following phrases mean?
~Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life. Jeremiah 29:11
~Knowing your purpose simplifies your life.
~Knowing your purpose focuses your life. Ephesians 5:17 & Philippians 3:13
~Knowing your purpose motivates your life.
~Knowing your purpose prepares you for eternity. Romans 14:10-12

Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?