Follow Along with the Message

What Story Do I Want To Tell?

Pastor Tom Lundeen

Note Ephesians 5:15-17

Dr. J. Robert Clinton, professor of leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, has spent the past 15 years conducting extensive research on the lifelong development of Christian leaders. In an exhaustive search of the Bible, he identified approximately 1000 leaders. Most were mentioned only by name. These included everything from Old Testament patriarchs, priests and military leaders to New Testament apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers and pastors. Sufficient information was available on only 49 prominent leaders to analyze how they finished.

The results are shocking. Only % of leaders in the Bible finished well. This means that % fell short of God’s plan for their lives. This fact should jolt any present day leader who desires to count for God.

So how can you and I be part of the 30% whose life and  leave a story we want to tell?

Note Acts 26:9-11 and 2 Timothy 4:7

How do we write a good life story by the  and decisions we make every day?

1. Say Yes to Jesus as

Saul the Pharisee was well-known in his day, but for the  reasons…

If he had never said Yes to Jesus as Lord, he would have been at best, an  in history…

Note 1 Timothy 1:13-16

No matter what your past may be, no matter who you’ve been…Jesus can forgive you, give you a new start…and help you start  a new story.

2. Say Yes to Jesus’   

Note Acts 9:19b-22, 26-28

Every next step Paul took in following Jesus was preceded by, based on, and  through the mission of Jesus.

There is no “” without the mission of Jesus first in our hearts and the motivation for everything we do.

Note 2 Timothy 1:8-11

3. Say Yes to God’s

A good life story is never written in .

Paul mentions  people just in Romans 16 and  people in just 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.

So often we can focus our attention and efforts and   invested in things that don’t last…the only thing we can bring into eternity…is other .

Writing a meaningful life story means that we  in relationships with others. 

Paul's investment was two-fold:

A. He invested in  up others (note 1 Corinthians 11:1; 2 Timothy 3:10-11a, 14-15; 4:1-2, 5).

B. His investing in others also resulted in others  in him – Paul was honest about the  even the strongest Jesus followers experience in life:

    i.  Complete assurance of  in Jesus (note 2 Timothy 4:6-8)…

    ii  …but also acknowledging my human , struggles, needs, disappointments, etc. (note 2 Timothy 4:9-16, 19-21).

Am I making better decisions so I can have fewer regrets?: 

• What story are you  writing?
• What story do you  you were writing?
• Saying Yes to Jesus as Lord, to His mission, and to His family will help us write a story that will outlive us, touch many other people, and give glory to God (note 2 Timothy 4:17-18).

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