Keeping Perspective (Acting Out Part 4)
Written by Ed Allen
Sunday, 13 July 2008 09:00
Sermon Notes
How do we keep the right perspective regardless of the circumstances? Join us today as we look at four practical ways to help us keep the right perspective.
Last week: If God’s people are nourished and empowered, the church grows in all circumstances.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
- God is able to make everything work for our good.
4 Practical Ways to help keep the right perspective
1. Focus on eternity
- Acts 7:54-58 – Stephen sees the heaven open and Jesus standing at the right hand of God as the people begin to stone him.
- Saul (who would later become Paul) stood there and watched Stephen die with dignity.
- We need to keep our eyes on a fixed point to maintain perspective.
- We need to understand that God works on His own time.
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 – “...light and momentary troubles...fix our eyes on Jesus...”
2. Continue to act faithfully
- Acts 8:1-8
- They continue to preach even as they were scattered to Samaria and beyond.
- At every point along the way, God has asked us to participate with Him.
- Quote from Thomas Merton...
- Our basic responsibility as a human being is to always choose to do the next right thing.
3. Always agree with what God is doing
- Sometimes it is hard to know what God is doing. Agree with the part you know and be open to how God might be using it.
4. Don’t take yourself too seriously
- Acts 8:18-25
- Peter resists becoming a hero and allowing himself to become puffed up when Simon tries to pay him to give him the power...