Sermon Theme
They are questions as ‘as old as the hills’. Questions that have occupied the minds of not just academics, but just about anybody who cares to think about life and it’s purpose. Questions like: “Why am I here?… “Why do I exist?” ….“What is the purpose of my life?”
Philosophy is a whole branch of academic study given to such questions. Philosophy is mentioned in the Bible as to the ancient Greeks in Athens “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.” (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)” (Acts 17:18–21, NIV84). Ancient Greeks gave birth to philosophy…one of most important was Plato (470BC)
In today’s world with so much uncertainty and stress, people often seek ‘purpose’ for their lives. Often if something tragic happens, they say “it must have been for a reason”
In thise sermon we exp-lore what God has to tell us about living a purposeful life.
Sermon outline
- THE QUEST FOR A PURPOSEFUL LIFE
- DAVID’S GOD GIVEN PURPOSEFUL LIFE
- OUR GOD GIVEN PURPOSEFUL LIFE TODAY
Readings reproduced on this page:
The Holy Bible: New International Version. 1996, 1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan
Readings
Psalm 139:7–18 (NIV84)
7Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
8If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
11If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,”
12even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
17How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.
Text
Acts 13:13–39 (NIV84)
13From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.
14From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down.
15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
16Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!
17The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country,
18he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert,
19he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance.
20All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
21Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.
22After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’
23“From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised.
24Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.
25As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
26“Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.
27The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.
28Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed.
29When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
30But God raised him from the dead,
31and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people.
32“We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: “ ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’
34The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: “ ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’
35So it is stated elsewhere: “ ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’
36“For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed.
37But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.
38“Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.
39Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.