University Objectives… (Reviewed)
_________ the Word!
___________ the Word!
_________ the Word!
Semper Vivus: __________________ ____________
“This __________ is ___________!”
“University” Defined:
“An institution of ________________ at the highest ____________.”
Principle Nine (of 12)
The _____________________ Principle
I can find ultimate purpose in life only by learning the essentials of total commitment in my Christian experience. I must serve as a good steward of everything God has given me, from my environmental surroundings to material possessions, including my life and health. All that I have must be controlled by my Lord and Savior. I hereby resolve to choose this course of action, and in God’s power I consider it done.
Primary Passage…
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” — Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV)
Foundational Premise…
“Premise” Defined:
“A proposition upon which an ___________________ is based or from which a ___________________ is drawn.”
Premise…
“Foundational to meaningful ______________________ as a Christ-follower is to willingly take up one’s cross of total ______________________ with a conscious ______________ to die out to self in all areas of Christian ______________________.
THE COMMITTED CHRIST-FOLLOWER (PART 1): “MODELS THAT MOTIVATE”
Scripture:
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. — Matthew 5:41 (NIV)
Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecies spoken to you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. — 1 Timothy 4:14-15 (NLT)
And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained. I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. — 2 Timothy 2:9-10 (NLT)
Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. — 2 John 1:8 (NLT)
…When the Philistines drew up for battle, Israel retreated. But Eleazar stood His ground and killed Philistines right and left until he was exhausted—but he never let go of his sword… — 2 Samuel 23:9-10 (MSG)
SEVEN MODELS THAT MOTIVATE
1. Motivation-Model One: The ____________________ model
A __________________ spirit!
Scripture:
Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was declared right with God because of what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see, he was trusting God so much that he was willing to do whatever God told him to do. His faith was made complete by what he did—by his actions. And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous.” He was even called “the friend of God.” — James 2:21-23 (NLT)
2. Motivation-Model Two: The _______________________ model
A _____________ spirit!
Scripture:
But Caleb tried to encourage the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!” But the other men who had explored the land with him answered, “We can’t go up against them! They are stronger than we are!” So they spread discouraging reports about the land among the Israelites: “The land we explored will swallow up any who go to live there. All the people we saw were huge.” — Numbers 13:30-32 (NLT)
Of all those I rescued from Egypt, no one who is twenty years old or older will ever see the land I solemnly promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, for they have not obeyed me completely. The only exceptions are Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they have wholeheartedly followed the Lord. — Numbers 32:11-12 (NLT)
3. Motivation-Model Three: The _______________ model
A _____________ spirit!
Scripture:
“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I am willing to die.” — Esther 4:16 (NLT)
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16 (NIV)
4. Motivation-Model Four: The _______________ model
An ___________________________ spirit!
Scripture:
But Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief official for permission to eat other things instead. — Daniel 1:8 (NLT)
But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God. — Daniel 6:10 (NLT)
5. Motivation-Model Five: The ___________ model
A ______________________ spirit!
Scripture:
Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. — 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NIV)
6. Motivation-Model Six: The _________ model
A ______________________ spirit!
Scripture:
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. — Luke 2:36-37 (NIV)
7. Motivation-Model Seven: The __________________ model
A _________________ spirit!
Scripture:
Now I want to tell you, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done for the churches in Macedonia. Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, their wonderful joy and deep poverty have overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the gracious privilege of sharing in the gift for the Christians in Jerusalem. Best of all, they went beyond our highest hopes, for their first action was to dedicate themselves to the Lord and to us for whatever directions God might give them. — 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 (NLT)
Talk Back Time: (Share what you’ve learned with your small group.)
Discuss what you feel are the “practical” essentials of living a life of commitment as a follower of Jesus. How can we be stewards of such diverse areas as our environmental surroundings and material possessions in regards to our life and health?
Pray Back Time: (Pray what you’ve learned in your small group.)
As you look over the several “models that motivate” in this teaching, pray for one or two of these qualities, asking that God would help you develop that quality (or qualities) in your walk with the Lord.
