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Ambition: A Guide to Action
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“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”
—1 Peter 4:10
On Sunday, after Dave Harvey’s Message on godly ambition, we handed out “action guides,” listing areas of service in our church into which Covenant Life members can be channeling our ambitions and gifts, stewarding them well in the church and community.
The brochure explains: “Here, you’ll find dozens of ways you are needed in the church and community. The opportunities are color-coded according to various types of gifts and skills to help you quickly identify the ones that are most likely to suit you.” So, if you didn’t get one on Sunday, you can download the below PDF and get to work.
For more information on a given ministry, or to get involved in serving, email the LINK team: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Download the Ambition Action Guide (PDF).
August 11 2008 at 5:00 am
Applying “Don’t Waste Your Ambition”
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The art for this latest message of our series was created by Becca Hollandsworth.
J. Oswald Chambers said, “Ambition that centers on the glory of God and welfare of the church is a mighty force for good.” Yesterday, Dave Harvey taught us about godly ambition and seeking “the glory that comes from God” in a sermon called “Don’t Waste Your Ambition.” As one means of application, we handed out an “action guide” for channeling our ambition to serve God in our local church. If you didn’t get one, we will be posting it tomorrow.
You can download the message, or listen online here.
And, as you seek to apply the message, here are some questions, prepared by pastor Brian Chesemore, to consider either on your own or in a small group setting:
1. In Dave’s introduction, he describes ambition as “a fundamental drive we all have. We chase what we love. We are hunters who go after the things we value.” Prior to hearing this message, what came into your mind when you heard the word ambition? Was it largely negative? Did you associate it with a Godward orientation?
2. Like the Pharisees, I can so easily, “love the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” Where do you see the tendency to crave honor, to promote and protect your reputation?
3. If loving the glory that comes from God connects the person of God’s glory: Jesus, with the summit of his glory: the Cross (v.28, 33), then a consistent and passionate pursuit of Christ is crucial. To have rightly aimed ambitions, how can you give yourself to a deeper understanding of Calvary?
4. The glory that comes from God demands a real pursuit. One way to pursue God’s glory is to take our passion for the glory of our name and re-direct it to him alone. What regular opportunities do you have for self-promotion? How can you turn them into “glory moments” with God at the center?
5. Since our ambitions should follow Christ’s ambition to build his Church, where would you like to put your godly ambition to work for the sake of your local church?
August 5 2008 at 1:08 pm
Two Quotes on God and Work
0 CommentsHere are two quotes from Mark Mitchell’s sermon “Don’t Waste Your Job.” Both books that the quotes are drawn from are available in the bookstore. If you’d like to study a biblical perspective of work and vocation, both books are recommended.
This is the reason man should work today—not merely to make a living, not to gain luxuries, not to ‘succeed’ in the eyes of the world—but because it is God’s plan for man to subjugate the earth…. Such an interpretation of daily work enables us to realize that our contribution, however small it may appear, fits into God’s pattern for developing the world… All honorable work, no matter how insignificant before men, offers some opportunity to subdue this earth to God’s will.
—Wade Boggs, quoted in Redeeming the Time by Leland Ryken, page 175.
The Reformation notion of ‘the priesthood of all believers’ by no means denigrated the pastoral office, as is often assumed… Rather, it taught that the pastoral office is a vocation, a calling from God with its own responsibilities, authority, and blessings. But it also taught that laypeople as well have vocations, callings of their own that entail holy responsibilities, authorities, and blessings of their own.
All believers, like the priests of the Old Testament, can come into the presence of God through the blood of the Lamb. All believers can handle holy things (such as the Bible, earlier denied to the laity). All can proclaim the Gospel to those who need its saving message. ‘The priesthood of all believers’ means that all Christians enjoy the same access to Christ and are spiritually equal before Him. ‘The priesthood of all believers’ did not make everyone into church workers; rather, it turned every kind of work into a sacred calling… Every kind of work, including what had heretofore been looked down upon—the work of peasants and craftsmen—is an occasion for priesthood, for exercising a holy service to God and to one’s neighbor.”
—Gene Edward Veith, God At Work, page 18-19.
August 4 2008 at 9:34 am
Applying “Don’t Waste Your Job”
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Yesterday Mark Mitchell preached a sermon called “Don’t Waste Your Job.”
The artwork corresponding to the message was done by Amber Cloutier. Thanks, Amber!
You can download the message, or listen online here.
And, as you seek to apply the message, here are some questions, prepared by pastor Don DeVries, to consider either on your own or in a small group setting:
1. Genesis 1 and 2 teaches that our work is from God. In whatever kind of work we do, no matter how significant or insignificant it is before men, our work reflects some aspect of the image of God and fulfills His command to subdue the earth. Is this your perspective on your work? In what ways does your work reflect God’s image? In what ways does your work obey God’s command to subdue the earth?
2. Mark Mitchell reminded us that every kind of work is a sacred calling from God. Quoting Gene Edward Veith, he said that, “every kind of work…is an occasion for…exercising a holy service to God and to one’s neighbor.” Have you incorrectly seen your work as “secular” and only your church activities as “sacred”? Have you wrongly assumed that pastors are “called” but you are not? How can you begin to see your work as “exercising a holy service to God and your neighbor”?
3. Colossians 3:22-23 calls us to obey our earthly master, to work with “sincerity of heart” and to work “heartily, as for the Lord.” Mark taught us that these commands call us to obey thoroughly and to give our best effort—even when others are not watching. In your work, where are you tempted to laziness, grumbling, man-pleasing or taking short-cuts? What would repentance and change look like to honor and fear God in your workplace?
4. Colossians 3:23-24 teaches us that we should work “as for the Lord,” knowing that in our work we are “serving the Lord Christ” and that He will ultimately reward us for our faithfulness. How should this eternal perspective transform the way you view and perform your job?
July 28 2008 at 10:09 am
Applying “Don’t Waste Your Kids”
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Yesterday my father Gregg Harris preached the latest message of our series titled “Don’t Waste Your…Kids.” The artwork for it was created by Sue Robb, a longtime member of our church.
You can download the message or listen online here.
Also, here are this week’s questions prepared by pastor Don DeVries to help us—particularly parents, in this case—apply the message in our personal devotions, family times or times of fellowship with friends and care groups.
1. In his message, Gregg Harris reminded us that God normally works through his created order to accomplish his purposes. In other words, God uses the diligence and faithful labor of dads and moms as his tools to train, instruct and direct our children. In what ways have you neglected or delegated this vital responsibility? In what ways is the Lord calling you to change?
2. Psalm 127 refers to children as a blessing, a “heritage” and a “reward.” In your heart, do you agree with God’s assessment for the children that he has given you? If not, what thinking and heart attitudes is the Lord calling you to change?
3. Gregg Harris challenged parents to train our children to be included in our lives. He said that, “when children are not trained to be included on the household team, they…live like guests in their own homes with no clear sense of purpose.” Parents (specifically dads and single moms), what practical steps can you take to train your children to be included “on the household team”?
4. He also called parents to partner with our kids and include them in our lives. Parents (specifically dads and singles moms), in what practical ways could you enter into a partnership with your kids to include them in various aspects of your life (spiritual, vocational, recreational, hobbies, projects, etc.)?
July 21 2008 at 5:00 am
Applying “Don’t Waste Your Vote”
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The artwork for yesterday’s message, “Don’t Waste Your Vote,” was created by Seth Remsnyder. Don’t hesitate to post a comment encouraging Seth and the other artists who are using their gifts in support of the series.
Robin Boisvert preached from Romans 13:1-7, considering what are the privileges and responsibilities of being citizens. If you missed the message or want to listen again, you can get it here. For those who want to go deeper on this topic, here is a brief article (Windows: right click, and choose “Save Target As”; Mac: CTRL click, and choose “Download Linked File”) that Robin has written on the relationship between Church and State.
Finally, here are some questions prepared by pastor Don DeVries to help you apply the message in your personal devotions, family times or care groups:
1. Romans 13 teaches that civil government is established by God, is a servant of God and is a gift from God. Is that how you think about civil government? What about your thinking needs to change in order to align your thoughts with God’s word?
2. We can often take for granted the blessings and freedoms of our political process. If you’re a citizen of the United States, what reasons do you have to be grateful for that?
3. Robin encouraged us to be informed about the issues and a candidate’s convictions about the issues. What practical things can you do to think wisely and biblically about various issues, including the critical issue of abortion?
4. Robin reminded us that God is sovereign over all earthly powers—He raises up kings and He deposes kings (see Daniel 4). How should this eternal perspective direct your heart to trust in God even if the election outcome isn’t what you are hoping for?