Sermon Central
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It's A Wonderful Life Series
Contributed by Larry Thompson on Jul 4, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: This is part one of the family series designed around reality television. This message deals with the importance of living a life with no regrets.
MEET JOE FAMILYMAN
“IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”
PROVERBS 14:8 - ©LARRY L. THOMPSON (2003)
“The wise look ahead to see what is coming, but fools deceive themselves.” (NLT)
This morning, we begin the series “Meet Joe Familyman” and we began with a reality check! We’re traveled with Joe to see what his funeral might be like if he died today and if everyone told the truth. We did that to help Joe Familyman understand the reality of LIFE; to help him come to grips with a major decision in life. The decision is simple: If I died today would I have regrets?
What if you occupied Joe’s pew this morning? As you slip in the back door and take your seat, you see that the altar is covered with flowers, the organ is playing softly, and the church is full of people who have come to bid you farewell.
Different people have been asked to make a few remarks about you. Who do you imagine they would be? More importantly, if they really told the truth…what would they say about your life…if it were to end today? Have you lived a life without regrets?
Now, think for a minute. What would each speaker to be able to say about you? What kind of person would they say that you were? What kind of husband, wife, father, or mother? What kind of friend or fellow worker? What would they say about your character? What life achievements would you want them to mention? As you look around at the people who are there, what difference have made in their lives? What phrases would you like to hear?
Solomon: In order to live a life without regrets you must first consider your life.
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.”
Think through this question: “Am I living a life without regrets.” Your answer will help you make plans for today as well for the future so that you don’t find yourself some day looking back on your life and regretting those things you did or didn’t do.
Today we’re beginning a new series entitled, “Meet Joe Familyman.” The truth of the matter this series could be JOE EVERYMAN or JOAN EVERYWOMAN. It is a series that follows a man and watches how he manages the responsibilities he has in life. This is actually a series about the stewardship of your life. During the next six weeks we will be on an excursion to examine what the Bible says about making the basic decisions that lead to a life of no regrets. In this journey together it will be amazing what Joe Familyman will find…and just possibly what we may discover as well.
• June 8th - Finding a Life without Regrets
• June 15th - Finding Balance in Brokenness
• June 22nd - Finding Fruit in Your Family Tree
• June 29th - Patriotic Celebration
• July 6th - Finding Freedom in Your Boundaries
• July 13th - Finding Significance when Looking for Success
• July 20th - Finding a Legacy for Those You Love
In planning your life there are two mistakes to avoid.
1. Spending your life focused on the future while totally disregarding today.
2. Spending your life focused only on today while totally disregarding the future.
The Bible warns against both extremes and either extreme leads to a life full of regrets. There is, however, a happy medium--a balance that can be achieved. This is how it is accomplished; “Live Every Day with an Eternal Perspective.” Each day of our lives has eternal significance. What you do today will make a difference in how you perceive the value of your life when your time on earth is through. What’s more, what you do today can continue to be significant even thousands of years from now.
The Bible instructs us...
“The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways…” (Proverbs 14:8a)
We’re going to look at some ways to manage your life today in a way that will help you reach your goals and accomplishments that last far beyond your lifetime. Maybe you wasted yesterday—maybe you’ve wasted every one of your yesterdays. However today is a new day and today it is your choice! Today is the only time to take charge of today! If you begin living by these biblical principles to ensure that you get the most out of today, you will find in the process your future will begin to be what you want it to be. Here are three biblical principles you can begin to practice in your life for the purpose living a life without regrets, your opportunity to say: “It’s a Wonderful Life!” First of all...
I. PREPARE TODAY FOR TOMORROW’S TESTIMONY (Ps. 118:24)
