Francis Chan: Priorities (Part 3)

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a call to remember what truly brings us joy and excitement in our walk with God. It's not about the blessings we receive or the circumstances of our lives, but about the fact that our names are written in heaven because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This church and its members must focus on serving God and building His kingdom, rather than getting caught up in earthly concerns and distractions.

Key Scripture References

• Luke 10:20 - In this passage, Jesus reminds his disciples that their joy should not be based on the demons submitting to them, but on the fact that their names are written in heaven. This is a crucial reminder for us as well, that our joy and excitement should come from knowing we have eternal life through Christ.
• Matthew 18:3 - Jesus says, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." This verse reminds us that true faith and humility are essential for living a life pleasing to God. We must be willing to surrender our pride and selfishness and become more like little children in our faith.
• Haggai 1:13 - In this passage, God tells the people who have been working on rebuilding the temple that they should focus on doing what is right in His eyes, even if it doesn't seem to be working out immediately. He promises that every time we do what's right, it will work out better for us, even if it's not according to our timing.
• Haggai 2:1-9 - This passage is a reminder that God's blessings are often delayed, but they are always worth waiting for. The people who were rebuilding the temple had been working on it for four weeks, and things still hadn't improved. But God promised them that every time they did what was right in His eyes, it would work out better for them.
• Ezra 3:10-13 - This passage shows how the older people who had seen the old temple were discouraged because it seemed smaller and less impressive than the one Solomon built. But God's promise is that He will take care of us, even if things don't seem to be working out according to our plans.
• Haggai 2:10-14 - In this passage, God reminds the people who are rebuilding the temple that they should not focus on their own accomplishments or achievements, but on serving Him and building His kingdom. He promises that every time we do what's right in His eyes, it will work out better for us.

Main Message Continued

This message is a call to remember what truly brings us joy and excitement in our walk with God. It's not about the blessings we receive or the circumstances of our lives, but about the fact that our names are written in heaven because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. This church and its members must focus on serving God and building His kingdom, rather than getting caught up in earthly concerns and distractions.

We must be willing to surrender our pride and selfishness and become more like little children in our faith. We must trust that God's blessings are often delayed, but they are always worth waiting for. And we must remember that every time we do what's right in His eyes, it will work out better for us, even if it's not according to our timing.

As we focus on serving God and building His kingdom, we will experience a deeper joy and excitement in our walk with Him. We will be reminded that our names are written in heaven because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, and that we have eternal life through Him.