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Life’s Great Gamble

Living Beyond Myself, part 1 of 4
Life is filled with gambles. We all take more risks with the choices that we make than we realize. The most important decision in life however, is to take gambles that have huge pay offs. The bible says that when ever you try to play it safe or not take gambles you lose and whenever you take great gambles for God’s glory, you win and the same holds true for life. If you try to live in such a way that you keep life for your self, you lose. But if you try to live life by giving it away to serve others, you win. That’s the great gamble. In this message we’ll teach how living for others, living beyond yourself, is a great gamble. But it is a gamble that God promises that you will win and you will have great odds and rewards on. Pastor Vince DiPaola

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Life’s great gamble: How are you betting your life?

Gamble 1. Jesus: the basin, water and towel
John 13:1-17

“Jesus… having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love. “ (John 13:1, NIV)

1. “Where’s the foot–washer guy?” Who will step up?

“The evening meal was being served…” (John 13:2, NIV)

2. “The room gets quiet”: Jesus takes basin & towel duty.

” So [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:4–5, NIV)

3.”Embarrassment sets in”: People see serving as lowly.

“He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet… No.. you shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ Simon Peter replied, ‘not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!’” (John 13:6–9, NIV)

4. “Teaching time”: Jesus calls every follower to serve.

” ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ [Jesus] asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and rightly so. . Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.’” (John 13:12–15, NIV)

Gamble: Jesus asks us to “lay points” and pick servant hood.

Payoff: You will be completely blessed!

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17, NIV)

h2. Gamble 2. Solomon’s please yourself plan
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11

“I thought in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure to find out what is good.’” (Ecclesiastes 2:1a, NIV)

Seeking satisfaction in something…

“I tried cheering myself with wine…to see what was worthwhile…” (Eccles. 2:3, NIV)

“I built houses for myself and planted vineyards…” (Ecclesiastes 2:4, NIV)

“I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water the groves of flourishing trees.” (Ecclesiastes 2:5–6, NIV)

“I bought male and female slaves… I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone… I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings…” (Eccles. 2:7–8a, NIV)

“I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well– the delights of the heart of man.” (Ecclesiastes 2:8b, NIV)

Gamble: Solomon says “lay off” and avoid self–serving.

” I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure… Yet when I surveyed… what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless,* a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10–11, NIV)

Payoff: You will be ultimately bored!

One choice. How will you gamble your life?

Key tools to “stack the odds”

1. Make church priority one the next three weeks!

2. Pick up a “LBM” study guide and use it this series!

2. Try out a community group the next four weeks!

4. Try the “LBM” lifestyle today!

Upcoming: Next week: “What? Me, A Priest?”
In two weeks: Ministry Expo & Common Ground Pizza Party In three weeks: “The Power Of Doing Good”