Life FOR God | October 1, 2023

Journey Church Bozeman Sermons

Bob Schwahn | Lead Pastor

Question: Why do you do what you do?

Luke 15:25-32 (NIV):

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Matthew 4:19

Matthew 28:18-20

1) Approval Addiction

Matthew 6:1-4

“At issue here is the question: ‘To whom do I belong? To God or to the world?’ Many of my daily preoccupations suggest that I belong more to the world than to God. A little criticism makes me angry, and a little rejection makes me depressed. A little praise raises my spirits, and a little success excites me. . . . Often I am like a small boat on the ocean, completely at the mercy of its waves.”
— Henri Nouwen (from The Life I Always Wanted, John Ortberg)

Galatians 1:10

2) Burnout

Matthew 11:28-30

3) Entitlement Mentality

Philippians 3:7-9a

Matthew 7:21-23

Reflection Questions:

Why is it important to ask the question: “Why do I what I do?” with regard to our spiritual lives? What are the potential dangers of not asking that question?
Why do you do the things you do “for” God? What are your heart motivations? Do you have mixed motivations? Explain.
Read Luke 15:25-32 (Older Son) What are observations you make about the heart motivations (why?) of the older son? What observations do you make about the Father’s heart motivations?
In what ways are the motivations of the younger son and the older son similar? How are they different?
Have you ever felt like your worth was tied to your performance and service and impact for God? (Explain) Why can this be dangerous thinking? Which of the 4 aspects of the Pause is the most difficult for you?
Living life FOR God instead of life WITH God can have some negative side effects that God does not desire for us. Approval Addiction (Matthew 6:1-4, Galatians 1:10) Burnout (Matthew 11:28-30) Entitlement Mentality (Luke 15:28-30) Can you relate to any or all of these? Share your experience? How does Life WITH God address these issues? (Read Scripture references for each.)
Read Matthew 7:21-23 How is it possible to do things FOR God and not really be WITH him or even having a relationship with him? How could you recognize this in yourself or others?

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Notes Page: https://journeybozeman.com/sermons/notes/2023.10.01.pdf