Let’s Wake Up To Our Purpose! Series

SERMON OUTLINE:

Question: What do we exist as a Church and as individuals?

Answer: For the glory of God.

Question: How can we glorify God?

Answer: Twofold:

• (1st). You glorify God by who and what you are.

• (2nd). You glorify God by what you do, Your conduct:

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

Some questions to think about this New year:

• Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?

• Why is a boxing ring square?

• Why is it considered necessary to nail down the lid of a coffin?

• Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?

• Why is it that rain drops but snow falls?

• Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?

• Why is the word dictionary in the dictionary?

• Why isn't there a special name for the tops of your feet?

• Why are they called apartments, when they’re all stuck together?

• What was the best thing BEFORE sliced bread?

• Why isn't there mouse-flavoured cat food?

• Can fat people go skinny-dipping?

• Why is that - If quitters never win, and winners never quit,

• What fool came up with, "Quit while you’re ahead"?

Quote:

"It is said that the classical Greek philosopher Socrates was wise,

Not because he knew the right answers,

But because he knew how to ask the right questions".

• And there is nothing like a well phrased question:

• To reveal a motive.

• Or to bring to the surface something that has been hidden.

• TRANSITION: Of all questions we ask:

• None goes to the heart of an issue faster than ‘WHY’.

• That word "Why" has a way of tearing through the superficial husk of the matter,

• And getting right down to the seed.

• And we see this illustrated for us throughout the Bible:

• i.e. God asked Cain: "Why are you angry?"

• i.e. The Lord asked Abraham: "Why did Sarah laugh?"

• i.e. Moses asked himself: "Why does the bush not burn up?"

• i.e. Nathan asked David: "Why have you despised the word of the Lord?"

• i.e. Job asked God: "Why did I not die at birth?"

And when you turn to the New Testament, the ‘WHY’ question seems to be Jesus' favourite:

• i.e. "Why are you anxious?"

• i.e. "Why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye and not the log in your own eye?"

• i.e. "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not ......say?"

• i.e. "Why do you not believe me?"

• i.e. "Why have you forsaken me?"

• TRANSITION: Of all questions we ask:

• ‘WHY’ has a way of tearing through the superficial husk of a matter,

• And getting right down to the cob.

As we start a brand new year we are going to ask the question ‘WHY’?

Question:

• “Why has the Church been called into existence?”

• "Why are we here?"

• "Why do we meet week by week?"

• “Why do we do the things that we do?”

Ill:

• If you had been stopped at the door and asked the question on your way in;

• “Why does Duncan Road Church exist?”

• What would your answer be?

I think we might get a variety of responses:

• i.e. To share the good news of Jesus with the lost.

• i.e. To support the work of mission both locally and around the world.

• i.e. To bring hope to the hurting.

• i.e. To be a lighthouse in the community.

• i.e. To collectively worship God.

• i.e. To equip God’s people for daily living and service.

• i.e. To pray together.

• i.e. To hear from God though the public preaching of his word

• TRANSITION: All those are valid;

• And worthwhile reasons that the Church should and must be involved in!

• But let me suggest to you that not one of those reasons is absolutely primary!

• None of those reasons state the foundational purpose for the Churches existence.

• And at the start of a brand new year;

• It is good to remind ourselves of our number one objective!

Ill:

• Think of it as a an alarm that wakes us up to our purpose.

• Some folks are good at getting up in the morning and some of us are not!

• Quote: “If people were meant to pop out of bed, we’d all sleep in toasters.”

• Quote: “I’d like mornings better if they started later. “

• Quote: “Sometimes I wake up grumpy and other times she is woken up by the alarm!”

Ill:

• Now if you have trouble waking up let me recommend a good alarm clock.

• Fun photos from creative alarm clocks: