As a child of God, you know that God has an amazing plan for your life—but have you discovered what it is? Dr. Stanley explores why God has invested so many skills, abilities, and talents in you to influence the world for His kingdom. Learn how to live your life with direction and purpose.
Sermon Outline
Do you think having influence requires a big platform? Here’s some good news: That’s not the case in God’s kingdom. Today Dr. Stanley explains that small acts of faithfulness can have a tremendous impact in the world.
Key Passage: Matthew 5:13-16
How would you describe the purpose of your life? Plenty of us have goals for the day or the year yet no real sense of what we’re living for.
As believers, we …
Know life is about fulfilling God’s purpose and will for us personally.
Can discover His purpose and pursue it.
Have potential to make a lasting impact on the world.
“God wants us to live in a way that makes an impact on those around us.”
Christians are called to be like salt:
Salt flavors, preserves, and penetrates.
It makes a difference everywhere it’s placed.
Just as impurities make salt bland, sin diminishes our effective witness.
Christians are called to be like light:
Light reveals, drives out darkness, and warns of danger.
God calls us to be visible so we can influence the lives of others, but sin reduces the light in us.
“We are like the moon—we reflect the light of the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s living on the inside of us.”
Ask yourself …
Whose life are you influencing? Is it for good?
Which lives are influencing you? Do they create a longing in you to know God better?
How can we widen the circle of our impact?
Pray—Through prayer, we can influence a life anywhere in the world.
Speak encouraging words—A small act of kindness can carry someone through a difficult moment.
Give to the work of God’s kingdom—Providing help extends our witness beyond the scope of our individual life.
Use our skills and abilities—When we dedicate our talents to God’s glory, He works through us in unique ways.
Understand our responsibility—Greater gifts and opportunities carry greater responsibility.
Value our privilege—Allowing Christ’s life to shine through us is a priceless gift we’ve been granted.
After Watching
The next time you have a meal, pour a little salt into your hand. It doesn’t look like much, but just a pinch is enough to change the taste of a whole dish. Let it remind you that God works the same way through one ordinary life.
Look back over Dr. Stanley’s list of ways to widen your circle of impact. Which one do you keep coming back to? Do that one thing for a single person this week. Even something small, like a prayer said quietly on someone’s behalf, travels further than you’d guess.
