purpose

Motivated for Mission

October 15, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

Lesslie Newbigin once said, “The deepest motive for mission is simply the desire to be with Jesus where he is, on the frontier between the reign of God and the usurped dominion of the devil.” What drives you to live for Jesus? In a world growing ever more hostile to His name, what keeps you going? Many who profess to be Christians approach life in a laissez-faire manner. They believe in God, maybe Jesus too, but their lives do not reflect their so-called beliefs.

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I know it’s taboo to question the sincerity of one’s claim to be a Christian, and I readily admit only God knows the heart of anyone. It just seems to me if the mission of Christ does not consume you, and if the thought of billions of people going to hell does not devastate you, then you have to wonder what was the point of your conversion? Jesus is your Lord, or He is not; there is no other option or middle ground in this.

Doubt

October 12, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

Never let the devil convince you that you are less than who God says you are. You are created in the image of God, designed to be holy and in perfect union with your Father in Heaven (John 17:21). Never doubt that fact. In the beginning, God created men and women in His image (Genesis 1:27). Yet we constantly see ourselves as lacking what we need to succeed or enjoy life.

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Satan plants thoughts in our minds like we aren’t attractive enough, smart enough, skinny enough, talented enough, wealthy enough, and on it goes. Before believing any of those lies, recognize that as an image-bearer of God, you are more than enough. You have all the talent and resources needed to become the person God created you to be.

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Choosing Sides

October 5, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

Choosing sides is something we do from cradle to grave. Whether it’s picking teams on a playground or deciding for whom we will vote in a Presidential election, our culture is always pushing us toward choosing sides. Choosing sides reveals something about us. On the playground, it may speak of your popularity. The side you choose in an election shows your political philosophy. As disciples of Jesus, we also choose sides.

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We reject the lies of Satan and align ourselves with the truth and love of Christ. We believe Jesus is the Son of God, died on a cross, and rose to life again. His death provides the way to life for us. No matter what other sides in life we might choose, choosing Jesus is the only side that matters and is the decision that should direct the way we live each day of our lives.

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Redeem the Time

September 17, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

Getting older proves to be a diligent reminder of how little time we have on this earth. Despite youthful delusions, we are finite and will all die. For followers of Jesus, this is not a morbid thought but a cause for celebration. At the same time, it is a sobering realization that there is much work for us to do and little time in which to do it. It is also a call to action.

Test

Our time has never been our own, but we live as if it were. Every breath has been given to us by our masterful Creator, and it is our responsibility to steward it well. Time is short and growing shorter. The mission is urgent. If we do not redeem the time for God’s purposes, we risk dying with our work unfulfilled, our service wasted. This need not be the way it goes.

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What to do With Your Life

September 10, 2020 by Tim Sherfy

In my years as a mentor and coach, I often talk with people who are trying to determine what they should do with their lives. We’ve all asked that questioned many times as we endeavor to follow Jesus. The problem is we try to figure out what to do for Jesus before we get to know Him with any depth. It’s backward. We must first cultivate a deep abiding relationship with Christ.

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As we do that, He will give us opportunities to serve and obey Him. Then, as those opportunities chain together, a picture begins to form of how God will use our lives to further His mission on earth. We get ourselves in trouble when we try to take the lead. Only Jesus knows where this world is going, so it makes far more sense to let Him lead the way.