Living with Purpose - Principles of Significance

Living With Purpose: Principles of Significance
2 Timothy 4:1-5
Pastor Rick Baldwin
January 15, 2006

“If you have a good why for living, you can stand
almost any how.”

Influencing Our Culture

• Take a real look.

• Make a choice.

• Our challenge is maintaining our perspective
  without succumbing to compromise.

Five Principles of Significance (v. 5)

1. Concentrate on your uniqueness - “But You”

2. Be aware of your environment - “Be Sober”

   • Awareness of what's going on.
   • Urgency of life.

3. Expect to Suffer - “Endure Hardship”

4. Focus on the core of the cause, The Cross - “Do the
   work of an Evangelist.”

“The simplest truth of the Gospel, and the
profoundest truth of theology must be put in
the same words: He bore our sins.” ~James Denny

5. Pursue faithfulness and obedience - “Fulfill
   Your Ministry”

   Paul's personal testimony (vs. 6-8).

Application:

1. God has given the Christian community what the
   world needs - Purpose.

   Discuss how you maintain 'purpose' in our culture.

   'God did not call us to a playground,
   but a battlefield.' - Elisabeth Elliot

2. The words in verse 5, 'Be Sober' convey the idea
   (among other things) of the urgency of life. God has
   given every believer 'a moment'. What will you do
   with your moment?

3. 'Endure hardship' - what does it mean to endure?
   Have you personally end