Luke 14:25-27 (ESV)25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

LIVING IN LIGHT OF ETERNITY

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Upcoming Sermons1/11 Living in Light of Eternity – Intro

1/18God’s Sovereignty – God is in charge

Living with Kingdom

Values

1/25Heaven is our Home - God is our treasure

2/1Finding Pleasure in Him - God is our Joy

2/8Turning Weakness to Strength – God is our Strength

2/15Too Busy for God

Living Avoiding Earthly

Distractions

2/22Too Worried to be who God intends for you to be

3/15Too Focused on Relationships

AVOIDING EARTHLY DISTRACTIONS

“TOO FOCUSED ON RELATIONSHIPS”

Luke 14:25-27

Main Idea

Living in light of eternity means living not too focused on relationships with others that hinders focus on God

Outline

I. Being a family that worships God  II. Beware of worshipping family

I. Being a family that worships God

Luke 14:26 (ESV)If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

I. Being a family that worships God

In NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Luke

The meaning of “hate” carries a comparative force here. The idea is not that we should hate our family or lives, but that in comparison to Jesus, if we are forced to choose, the winner in that choice must be Jesus.

I. Being a family that worships God

Genesis 18:19 (ESV)For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.

I. Being a family that worships God

Ephesians 6:1-4 (ESV)Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

I. Being a family that worships God

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (ESV)4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

I. Being a family that worships God

We will all find time for things we find important

We schedule and prioritize important things in our lives

I. Being a family that worships God

The What/ When/ How of Family WorshipWHAT WHEN/WHERE HOW

•Find the Best Time

•Meet the Same Time

•Meet in the same

place

•Be Flexible

•Make it a Priority

•Know your family

•Start slow

•Seek Resources

•Make it brief but

meaningful

I. Being a family that worships God

Being a church family that helps people worship God

II. Beware of worshipping family

Idolatry - according to Webster, is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.” An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God.

II. Beware of worshipping family

Possible signs that we have begun worshipping family rather than our family to be worshippers (from 7 signs you are worshipping your family by Jason Helopoulos)

1) We seldom host others

2) We seldom reach out to others

3) We seldom serve in the church

II. Beware of worshipping family

4) We seldom have time

5) We seldom sacrifice

6) We seldom have flexibility

7) We seldom speak well about others

II. Beware of worshipping family

Ultimately, do we make family and

what we do for family more important

than how that shapes us to be God

worshippers?

II. Beware of worshipping family

Celebrating Singleness (1 Corinthians 7:25-40)

1 Corinthians 7:32 (ESV)32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.