Pastor J.D. Greear asks a powerful question with his latest book, What Are You Going To Do With Your Life?. I am a firm believer that God put each of us on this earth with a plan and a purpose for our lives. I believe this is realized when we pursue His “calling” to spend our one and only life for His glory and the good of others. This book is a super quick read, but it is singularly focused on the Great Commission and what it means to Live Sent. I highlighted several things while reading and have posted those notes below.
- “What we do in life echoes in eternity.” Maximus Decimus Meridius, Gladiator
- Eternity is real. The gospel is true. People’s souls matter. Your life counts. Don’t waste it. p. 4
- The call to leverage your life for the Great Commission was included in the call to follow Jesus: “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people” (Matthew 4:19). p. 6
- “I have but one passion—it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ…I desire only to preach the gospel, die, and be forgotten.” Count Zizendorf, Leader of the Moravians, p. 12
- “Only one life, ’twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.” C.T. Studd, English cricketer, p. 14
- How many of those things that occupy so much of your energy, time, and focus will you actually keep forever? p. 14
- “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, p. 15
- Life is short. Eternity is forever. We only get a brief moment in time to use the former to transform the latter. p. 16
- Only when we live cognizant of death will we think wisely about life. p. 25
- For what will it benefit someone if he Gaines the whole world yet loses his life? Or what will anyone give in exchange for his life? Matthew 16:26, p. 29
- Every follower of Jesus is called to leverage his or her life for the Great Commission. p. 36
- Here’s how I’d summarize pursuing the will of God in your career: whatever you’re good at, do it well to the glory of God, and do it somewhere strategic for the mission of God. p. 38
- Ordinary people are the tip of the gospel spear. p. 42
- Not all Christians go overseas, but all live sent. p. 45
- “Long gone are the days when [we should be] content with a bunch of people who sing out loud, don’t divorce, and give to missions. I now want to know I can drop off any member of my church in a city and that person could grow in Jesus, make disciples, and help start a church.” – Francis Chan, p. 51
- “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” – Martin Luther, p. 65
- God only raises to life what you first offer up in death. p. 69
- The Six Premises of an Eternal Worldview
- 1. All people have heard about God and rejected him. (Romans 1:18-20)
- 2. God has rightfully condemned all. (Romans 3:12)
- 3. In grace, God has made a way of salvation for all. (Romans 3:21-22)
- 4. People have to hear about this gift to receive it. (Romans 10:14)
- 5. We are the only ones from whom they can hear it. (Romans 10:14-15)
- 6. The task is urgent. (Romans 1:14, Acts 17) p. 119