Making the Leap of Your Life

“Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don’t have great schools because we have good schools. We don’t have great government, principally because we have good government. Few people attain great lives, in large part because it is just so easy to settle for a good life.” – Jim Collins, Good to Great, p. 1

o to God for my definition of greatness o to God for my definition of greatness G To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9

o to God for my definition of greatness o to God for my definition of greatness OBEDIENCE G To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to: God’s first criterion for Greatness:

“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19

o to God for my definition of greatness o to God for my definition of greatness God’s second criterion for Greatness: SERVICE G To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to:

So Jesus called them all together and said, “You know that the rulers of the heathen have power over them, and the leaders have complete authority. This however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest; and if one of you wants to be first, he must be your slave – like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life to redeem many people.” Matthew 20:25-28

Unexpected Finding #1: God’s definition of GREAT turns my life upside down.

eturn to a deep dependence on God’s grace. eturn to a deep dependence on God’s grace. R To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to:

But God’s mercy is so abundant, and His love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to life with Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved. Ephesians 2:4-5

For God has revealed His grace for the salvation of all mankind. That grace instructs us to give up the ungodly living and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this world, as we wait for the blessed Day we hope for, when the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ will appear. He gave Himself for us, to rescue us from all wickedness and to make us a pure people who belong to Him alone and are eager to do good. Titus 2:11-14

Unexpected Finding #2: God’s demonstration of GRACE turns my life inside out.

xpect my church to help me stay turned inside out. xpect my church to help me stay turned inside out. E To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to:

In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. Acts 13:1-3

Unexpected Finding #3: A great church gives itself away, and helps me to do the same.

dopt God’s worldwide perspective and mission. dopt God’s worldwide perspective and mission. A To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to:

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 The “last words” of Jesus:

Our church’s Jerusalem: The community beyond our church’s grasp Our church’s Judea: The Northwest Our church’s Samaria: North America Our church’s Ends of the Earth: Other countries and people groups of the world Other countries and people groups of the world

In North America… 2/3 of the population do not know Christ 60% live in the 50 largest cities 1 in 10 were born in another country 40% of those under 18 are non-anglo There are fewer Christians in Canada than in China

In North America… 5,154 SBC missionaries are serving 395,930 baptisms last year Over 1,700 new churches Over 280,000 missions volunteers

Unexpected Finding #4: My life and my church can have a “ripple effect” on the world and on eternity!

ransform my own life perspective and mission. ransform my own life perspective and mission. T To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to:

“But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the Good News about the Grace of God.” Acts 20:24

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” Philemon 6

Unexpected Finding #5: My life never has more purpose than when I join God in His purpose.

ransform my own life perspective and mission G To make the leap of my life from Good to G-R-E-A-T, I need to: R E A T o to God for my definition of greatness eturn to a deep dependence on God’s grace xpect my church to help me stay turned inside out dopt God’s worldwide perspective and mission

Making the Leap of Your Life