The Foundation Of Our Existence

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The Foundation of our Existence

Pastor Jerry C. Vargo

Opening

A nun once confessed to her priest that Christ had revealed himself to her in person. The priest was surprised, but he knew this nun and the deep walk she had with the Lord. So he said to her, "Look, the next time he reveals himself to you in person, ask him about my sins. Because he was her priest, the nun said that she would act in obedience and do exactly that. A number of weeks later she came back. The priest nervously asked, "Well, did he reveal himself to you?" She said, "Yes." The priest said, "What did he say?"

The nun replied, “He said, ’I don’t remember.”

-- Adapted by a message from Pastor Steve Brown

I. Introduction.

A. I know if someone had the ability to find out about all my past sins and mistakes in prayer…I’d be pretty nervous.

B. But, because of the forgiveness of Jesus Christ, I am sure that He chooses NOT to remember my past failures.

C. The Bible states that “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us.”

D. The reason he can and does forgive…? Because that was His mission on earth. And…Jesus always, always, fulfills His purposes on earth and in us.

E. Today, I want to begin to cast vision for the purposes of God’s church.

G. Today, I want to share with you THE FOUNDATION OF OUR EXISTENCE.

H. So many churches have complicated mission statements and even more complicated vision statements. I intend to keep it simple…and understandable.

I. I intend to do this because I want us all unified in the purposes and the vision of our church. If anyone asks you…I want you to be able to CLEARLY explain it.

II. Body.

A. So, if you will turn to John 18:35-37 NKJV…

“Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

B. Listen closely: THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR EXISTENCE should be EXACTLY THE SAME AS THAT OF JESUS CHRIST.

C. His “cause” was to bear witness to the truth. His “cause” was to redeem mankind. His “cause” was to provide a refuge in the storm. His “cause” was that “not any should perish.

D. As a pastor, I tremble at the thought of us being a consumer church. Always asking the question, "what can you do for me pastor?" Not, "what can I do for God," But, "what can others do for me?"

E. As a pastor, I tremble at the thought of being an “inwardly” focused church. God wants us to minister to those who are lost and hurting.

F. His mission…must be our mission. He has called us to make an eternal difference.

G. I want you to ask yourself three questions this morning…

1. What gives my life meaning?

2. Why am I alive?

3. Why did God choose me?

H. If we can answer these three fundamental questions, we will be well on our way to understanding God’s plan for our lives here at Calvary Christian Chapel.

I. You see, when I wake up in the morning, I don’t have to wonder about the meaning of my life. I don’t have to think about why I am alive. I’m alive because I’m committed to the “cause of Christ.”

J. You know, some people look at their lives with hopelessness and despair. They seem to echo the writer of Ecclesiastes when he cries: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

K. And that’s the way it will be if you don’t live for the cause of Christ.

1. What Gives My Life Meaning?

A. How many of you know that life lasts only for a minute compared to eternity?

"You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away."