Strengthen Your Core Series

Offering My Time to God

January 5, 2020

Pastor John Lloyd

Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles. If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly. God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices, and be like Jesus, CORE virtues. We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus. Today, we will consider the spiritual practice of offering our time to God. Offering the gift of time brings glory to God.

Psalm 39:4 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am! 5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

Memory Verse: Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.

Key Question: How do I best use my time to serve God and others?

Jesus’ new life in us should change our priorities in how we view the gift of time. Simply put, our calendars should be redeemed not long after our souls are redeemed. It’s not our time but God’s. His great love now motivates us to devote our schedule to serving his priorities. Randy Frazee. Think, Act, and Be Like Jesus.

Key Idea: I offer my time to fulfill God’s purposes.

I. The gift of time, when offered, is a __________ back to God.

Ecclesiastes 3:1. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

Psalm 89:47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!

We master our minutes or we become slaves to them, we use time or time uses us. William Ward

At birth we are given two teachers. One is called Life and the other is called time. Life teaches us the value of time, while time teaches us the productive purpose of life. Paul Adefarasin

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Time is a gift given to me by God.

I want to offer my time for God’s purposes.

II. Look for small blocks of time to ______________.

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose. David Brainerd.

We must recognize how the evil one is working in this world and take a firm stance against him. It means we take careful thought concerning what we put in our minds- what we listen to, what we watch, and how we use our time. Chip Ingram

Ephesians 5:16 Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Does my schedule reflect how God wants me to use my time?

What adjustments should I make?

Where am I allowing room for temptation or sin?

Is there an activity God is calling me to stop or delay?

Is there an activity God is calling me to add to my schedule?

Where can I make more room for the use of my spiritual gift?

Colossians 4:5. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

· Plan lunch hour to serve others.

· Use travel/commute time to contact those in need.

· Ask God to multiply your time.

· Carve out time for reading the Scriptures.

· Make prayer a habit in undefined spaces.

Prayer: Father, my time is yours. Show me, lead me, speak to me about what you want me to do, about how to use this precious gift wisely. And then you listened, trusted and obeyed.

Proverbs 9:11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.

Time surrendered to Jesus is made to count for all eternity.

III. Remember the _________________ of offering our time.

Haggai 1:5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.

Time spent in prayer is never wasted. Francois Fenelon

Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Those who lose their lives will find them. And, at the end, we have the remarkable chain reaction of those who serve their fellow human beings out of love for Jesus. Give a cup of cold water to one of Jesus’ least significant followers, and you’re giving it to Jesus himself; whatever you do for Jesus, you do, not just for Jesus, but for God (‘the one who sent me’). NT Wright

Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He used what God gave him for His Master’s intentions.

Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.

Consider the key practice of offering my time to God.

In 2020, in addition to prayer and Scripture reading, endeavor to implement some ways to volunteer and serve others as a gift to God.

Believe is an action verb. Whatever we believe in our hearts will be expressed in the way we live. Beliefs such as the church, compassion and stewardship naturally lead to the practice of offering our time to God to accomplish his purposes. Every time we act on this key spiritual practice, even if our hearts are not totally committed, it helps to drive these beliefs from our heads to our hearts. So we act out our beliefs in faith. Randy Frazee

Spiritual Growth Questions for January 5, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how strongly you are living out the statements below (1= not living out at all, 6 living out completely)

___ I invest my time in others by praying for them.

___ I spend a great deal of time helping others with physical, emotional and

other kind of needs.

___ I give my time to serve and help others in my community.

___ I regularly volunteer at my church.

Read Memory Verse two times: Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.

1. Make a diverse list of how time could be used for God’s purposes.

2. Read Psalm 39:4-7, Psalm 90:12 two times. What lesson/s about time can we learn from the psalmist?

3. Read Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:16-17, I Corinthians 6:19. What applications could be made about time from these verses?

4. Read Matthew 25:31-46. Based on what you read, what activities seem to be the most important to Jesus? What do you think Jesus’ main point is in this passage?

5. Read Colossians 3:17 and 3:23-24. What stands out to you from these verses? How could you apply them to your daily life?

6. What challenges make it hard for you to invest your time in God’s purposes? As a group, or with a friend, discuss ways to overcome them.

7. In most churches a small group of people do a majority of the work. Discuss different needs and opportunities in our congregation where you or your group could volunteer and help.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Consider the key practice of offering my time to God.

In 2020, in addition to prayer and Scripture reading, endeavor to implement some ways to volunteer and serve others as a gift to God.

Sermon Podcast

John Lloyd - Offering My Time to God

Dolores Park Church