The Life That Jesus Led
The sermon emphasizes the importance of following the life that Jesus Christ lived in order to achieve perfect happiness and make a positive impact on the world.
Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of finding joy and happiness in trusting God and loving His name, as seen in Psalms 6:11 and John 17:13. She highlights the path to perfect happiness by living a life close to that of Jesus Christ, where following Him leads to true fulfillment and turning away from Him results in darkness. Tileston also encourages each soul to contribute to making the world a better place, finding purpose and meaning in being co-workers with Christ and bearing witness to the truth, as expressed by George Hodges and James Freeman Clarke.
Text
Let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.
PSALMS 6:11
That they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves.
JOHN 17:13
GOD desires us to live as close as we can to the life that Jesus Christ lived. That is the broad avenue to perfect happiness. Most of us know by experience that in proportion as we have followed Him, we have found happiness. And we know by still larger experience that as we turn away from Him the world gets dark, and life ceases to be worth living.
GEORGE HODGES
EACH soul has its own faculty; it can help in some way to make the world more cheerful and more beautiful. This it is which makes life worth living. If we are living only for ourselves, our own amusement, luxury, advancement, life is not worth living. But if we are living as co-workers with Christ, as fellow-helpers with God, as part of the noble army of martyrs who bear witness to the truth in all time, then our lives are full of interest. This gives sweetness and strength to all our days.
JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE
Sermon Outline
- The Life That Jesus Led
- Our Faculty to Make a Difference
- The Value of Living for Others
- Living Only for Ourselves
- Living as Fellow-Helpers with God
- Bearing Witness to the Truth
Key Quotes
“GOD desires us to live as close as we can to the life that Jesus Christ lived.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“That is the broad avenue to perfect happiness.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“If we are living only for ourselves, our own amusement, luxury, advancement, life is not worth living.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We should strive to live as close as possible to the life that Jesus Christ lived in order to experience perfect happiness.
- Using our unique faculty to help others can make a significant difference in making the world more cheerful and beautiful.
- Living as co-workers with Christ and fellow-helpers with God gives our lives interest and sweetness.