In this fun and meaningful message, Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt explores *Nacho Libre* and the true story of a priest who became a wrestler to support orphans. We’re reminded of the power of impacting ONE LIFE at a time. Your career may be temporary, but the influence you have on others can make an eternal difference.
So who’s your ONE LIFE?
Notes 📓✏️:
At the Movies – Nacho Libre
Pastor Jeremy DeWeerdt
1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NIV); “To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
Whatever you do for a living, you will not do forever.
The problem is, God never called us to be important. He called us to be faithful.
John 1:35-37, 40-42a (NLT); “Again the next day John [the Baptist] was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.”
“One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.”
John 6:5-9 (NLT); “Jesus soon saw a huge crowd of people coming to look for Him. Turning to Philip, he asked, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for He already knew what He was going to do. Philip replied, “Even if we worked for months, we wouldn’t have enough money to feed them!” Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. “There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
Andrew is a bringer. He brought people to Jesus.
FACT: People are not introduced to Jesus by mistake. They are introduced to Jesus by A PERSON.
So, how do we introduce others to Jesus?
1. Look for opportunities to serve others.
1 Peter 4:10 (NIV); “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
2. Look for opportunities to care for others.
Philippians 2:4 (ESV); “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
3. Look for opportunities to sacrifice your time and resource for others.
John 15:13 (NIV); “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
4. Look for opportunities to bring others to church.
2 Corinthians 5:20 (NLT); “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making His appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
The act of an introduction can change a life.
All Andrew needed to do was bring people to Jesus. Then Jesus would do the rest.
Something remarkable happens when we start measuring our lives in terms of purpose and not accomplishment.
“One Life”
1. Write the name of your ONE LIFE
2. Keep the card where you will see it often
3. Pray for that person frequently
4. Look for opportunities to bring them to City First Church
Discussion Questions 📝❓:
- What do you think it means to be a ‘bringer’ like Andrew in your everyday life?
- How do you think the story of Fray Tormenta, the real-life priest who became a wrestler to help orphans, relates to our own personal sacrifices?
- In 1 Corinthians 9:22, Paul mentions becoming ‘all things to all people’ to share the gospel. What do you think he means by that?
- Why do you think it’s important to keep eternity in mind when making decisions in your daily life, as mentioned by Pastor Jeremy?