Message: “Why Do We Do What We Do” from Pastor Joe
Joe Summers - August 21, 2022
Why Do We Do What We Do
Why Do We Do What We Do? Lesson Objective: To look at examples of actions that occurred in the bible and try to explain why so we can learn Scriptures: Colossians 3:23-24, 23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving Introduction: What questions should normally be answered when explaining a story or an event: Who Me What I did something either good or bad When Yesterday Where At work/at home/at school/on the bus Why Do Not Know ?????????? ( difficult question to answer) Let’s look at some stories in the Bible using this approach Story one Galatians 2: 11-13 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. Who: Peter What: Refused to eat with the Gentiles When: After preaching to the Gentiles and accepting them as believers Where: Antioch Why: He was afraid of what others would say Life Application: We must be careful not to do things just to please others. Also know that our actions can and will influence others Story 2 Esther 4: 13-14, 13“Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther: think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.” 14“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Who Esther What Went before the king to save the people When While the children of Israel were in captivity Where In capital city of Persia Why Because it was the right thing to do Life Application: We never know what situation we will be in where we must choose to do the right thing. (If not me then who and if not now then when) Story three John 12: 4-6 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it WhoJudas What Complained about Mary using perfume When Christ had come to visit Mary and Martha and Lazarus Where: In their house Why: For the love of money Life Application: The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all evil. How many times do we make decisions based on money? Story four Acts: 7: 54-60 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Who Stephen What Preached was killed When After the resurrection of Christ and before the change in Saul Where: Before the Sanhedrin (public trial) Why: Because he loved Christ and was willing to witness for him Life Application: We must be willing to suffer adversity as a witness for Christ Summary We must think about why we are doing something before we do it People on the outside may not be able to answer the why but we can I think we can safely say that Stephen did what he did because he loved Christ and had developed a relationship with him