Sermon Notes
I. Make Jesus, Lord of my past through forgiveness
Why? Because we have no reset button. We can’t change the past
II. Make Jesus Lord of my present through my choices
Why? Because we can make bad choices. Choices have consequences, bad choices have victims
III. Make Jesus Lord of my future through my investments Matthew 6:19-21
Why? Because I only have a window of opportunity.
IV. THE PERPETUITY OF INVESTING FOR ETERNITY
Matthew 5:12,46; 6:1,2,4,5; 10:42; 16:27
Jesus wants to reward us abundantly in heaven
V. THE IMPERMANENCE OF INVESTING IN THIS WORLD 1Timothy 6:6-7
Everything you gain in this life you will lose
VI. WHY INVEST IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD? Matthew 9:35-38
So much needs to be done, and so few are saying yes. Material things don’t get to heaven. People do. Invest in people.
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Ice breaker: If you had a huge personal problem, who is the person you would most likely approach for help and support? Why?
Digging Deeper:
1. Why is forgiveness an essential element in making Jesus Lord of your past?
2. Unpack the phrase, “Choices have consequences, bad choices have victims.” Share examples of how bad choices can affect other people in a destructive way.
3. How can making Jesus Lord of your life help you make good choices? Share examples from your personal life experience how following Jesus helped you make good choices or avoid bad ones.
4. The first line of the Serenity Prayer goes – “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” How can this prayer help us deal with the baggage of our past, and the challenges of our present, and future?
5. Read 1Timothy 6:6-7. Pastor Vince explained that life is a process of gaining and losing. Generally speaking, at what stage of life are you in right now? (Gaining stage or losing stage?). How does following Jesus help you in your current life stage?
6. Read Matthew 6:19-21. Compare the value of treasures on earth versus treasures in heaven. Based on the amount of time and resources spent, where do you think most Christians invest in? Why do you think that is so?
7. Sunday’s message challenged us to invest in people. How does sharing the Gospel to non-Christians accomplish this?
8. The influence of the church on society has diminished in recent times. Why do you think that is so? How can the church regain its relevance in modern day culture?
9. Passing on our Christian faith to the next generation requires mentoring them in the faith. What are creative ways by which we can attract the younger generation to follow Jesus?
Taking it Home:
Meditate and pray over Matthew 6:19-21. Reflect upon what storing up treasures in heaven personally means to you. Journal your thoughts. What can you do in order to maximize eternal investments in storing up treasures in heaven?