SUPER BOWL OF PREACHING

SUPER BOWL OF PREACHING

I. Introduction

A. “A story is based on what people think is important, so when we live a story, we are telling people around us what we think is important. Based on that statement, I was embarrassed by what I was communicating as being most important in my life.” – Donald Miller

B. “I think this is when most people give up on their stories. They come out of college wanting to change the world, wanting to get married, wanting to have kids and change the way people buy office supplies. But they get into the middle and discover it was harder than they thought. They can’t see the distant shore anymore, and they wonder if their paddling is moving them forward. None of the trees behind them are getting smaller and none of the trees ahead are getting bigger …so they go looking for an easier story.” – Donald Miller

C. “If you aren’t telling a good story, nobody thinks you died too soon; they just think you died.” – Donald Miller

II. Every Life Tells a Story

A. Reasons our stories struggle:

1. We cast the main character.

a. Romans 1:1 (NAS) Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.

b. Matthew 5:16 (NAS) Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

c. John 3:30 (NAS) “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

2. We’re working off the script.

a. Temptation will what you feel you’re missing and what’s already yours.

b. Shame drives us to .

c. Genesis 3:7-9 (NLT) ⁷At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. ⁸When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. ⁹Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

d. Genesis 3:10 (NLT) He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

e. Genesis 3:11 (NLT) “Who told you that you were naked?”

f. Whose has become than mine?

g. Every time His Word says one thing, and you do another—you’re .

h. Genesis 3:21 (NIV) The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

i. The Gospel is the story of God covering our and .

3. We try to the scenes that matter.

a. James 1:12a (NAS) Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial.

b. James 1:2-3 (NAS) ²Consider it pure joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

i. Do you really believe that is in control?

ii. Do you believe that God is ?

iii. Are you willing to , by faith, until you experience His goodness again?

iv. What is ultimate in your life?

c. James 1:2-4 (NAS) ²Consider it pure joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

III. Conclusion