Trading your passion for glory

"Trading Your Passion For Glory"

Ice Breaker: Short Karaoke competition singing the lyrics to "The Eye of The Tiger"

Risin' up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance
Now I'm back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You trade your passion for glory
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

Opening Questions:

• In the movie Rocky III, how did Rocky trade his passion for glory?

1. He forgot where he came from
2. He stopped training.
3. He started focusing on all the fame, money and glory.

• Spiritually speaking, how can we trade our passion for glory?

1. Stop trying to please God
2. Trying to please men
3. Not keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus
4. Obeying Gods word with the wrong motives

• What happens to us spiritually when we loose our passion for God?

1. We stop reading and praying.
2. Things become a burden rather than a joy.
3. We fall out of love with God

*Lets look at a group of Christians in the bible that traded their passion for glory:

Revelations 2:2-5

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

• What words did Jesus use to describe this church in Ephesus?

1. Hard workers
2. Perseverers
3. Can't tolerate wickedness
4. They've studied the scriptures in order to test false apostles.
5. They've endured hardship for Jesus name
6. Not grown weary or giving up.

• What did Jesus hold against them?

1. They had forsaken their first love!
2. They had forgot to what extent God had saved them.

• What was at stake?... their salvation!

*In Jeremiah 17:10 the bible says that the Lord examines the hearts and minds of man. We need to examine our lives daily to make sure that we are not trading our passion for glory.

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

• Where should our passion and desire to obey Gods word come from?

• What is Gods grace and the offer of Salvation teaching you to say no to?

Closing Question: Are you willing to seek after God with complete passion. With all your heart and in every aspect of your life? Any other closing comments?