Living to Please God
The sermon emphasizes the importance of living to please God above all, while maintaining a balance in our interactions with others for effective evangelism.
Theodore Epp emphasizes the importance of living to please God rather than seeking the approval of man, drawing from Paul's prayer for the Colossians. He highlights that true pleasing of God comes through the strength of the indwelling Christ, enabling believers to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. While our primary focus should be on God, Epp reminds us that maintaining a balance is crucial, as our attitudes and actions can impact our ability to reach others with the Gospel. Paul exemplified this balance by seeking to please others for their salvation while remaining true to God. Ultimately, the goal is to always do those things that please Him.
Text
Colossians 1:9-12
As Paul prayed for the Colossians and their walk, or way of life, he did not pray that it might be pleasing to man but to God. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul said of himself, "For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ" (1:10). Of course, when we live in a way that pleases God, many people will also be pleased by the way we live. But our focus of attention should be on pleasing God rather than people.
Living in a way that pleases God cannot be done in one's own strength. It is only by means of the indwelling Christ that the believer can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit and have a walk that pleases the Lord.
Although the believer seeks primarily to please God, not people, we must keep these truths in balance. We will not be successful in reaching others with the Gospel if we constantly displease them by our attitudes and actions. But above all, we must be true to God Himself in all that we do. As Paul sought to evangelize the lost, he was very careful not to unnecessarily offend those he was endeavoring to reach. Paul summed up this aspect of his life in this way: "Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved" (1 Cor. 10:33).
"For I do always those things that please him" (John 8:29).
Sermon Outline
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I
- The importance of pleasing God over pleasing man
- Paul's example in seeking to please God
- The balance between pleasing God and others
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II
- The role of the indwelling Christ in pleasing God
- Exhibiting the fruit of the Spirit
- Living a walk that pleases the Lord
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III
- The necessity of not offending others in evangelism
- Paul's approach to reaching the lost
- The ultimate goal of leading others to salvation
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IV
- The significance of actions reflecting our faith
- Maintaining a God-centered focus in life
- Living out the teachings of Christ
Key Quotes
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” — Theodore Epp
“Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.” — Theodore Epp
“For I do always those things that please him.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- Focus your life on actions that are pleasing to God, rather than seeking the approval of others.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit to guide your walk and produce fruit that reflects Christ's character.
- Engage with others in a way that is respectful and loving, aiming to share the Gospel without unnecessary offense.