Pastor Elio Marrocco's "Deciding What's Important" sermon at New Life Christian Church on December 30, 2012. You can learn more about New Life Christian Church here: http://www.newlifecc.ca

1. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Text: Ephesians 4:17-24
1

2. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Ephesians 4:17-24 (MES)
“Stop going along with the mindless
crowd… that’s no life for you… get rid
of it! then take an entirely new way of
life – a God – fashioned life, renewed
from the inside and working out into
your conduct, as God reproduces his
character in you.”

3. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Integrity = from the Latin,
intero, being one with self,
living by my values

4. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
“Prioritize the values that matter most,
then evaluate my life and bring it into
harmony with what I believe is
important.”

5. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
MY VALUES AFFECT MY STRESS.
“Double minded man is unstable in all
he does.”

6. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
MY VALUES AFFECT MY STRESS.
MY VALUES AFFECT MY SUCCESS IN LIFE.
MY VALUES AFFECT MY SALVATION.
Mark 8:36
“What good is it for a man to gain the
whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

7. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values

8. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Where do we get our values?
- Parents
- Peers
- Magazines
- Books
- Music
- Society

9. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
The average person watches about 1000
hours of TV per year, against 104
hours of church per year.

10. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
In a lifetime of 70 years he/she would
have watched 70,000 hours of TV
which equals to 8 years of life.

11. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
He/she would have attended church 2
hours a week at the end of 70 years –
it would be 7,280 hours which equals
to 8 months.

12. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
- The secular world or the word of
God
- Secular culture or Christ

13. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
1 John 2:15-16 (LB)
“Don’t love the world’s ways… the lust
for physical pleasure, the ambition to
buy everything that appeals to you, …

14. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
1 John 2:15-16 (LB)
… and the pride that comes from wealth
and importance – these are not from
God but from the world.”

15. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
There are three basic values:
- Pleasure
- Possessions
- Prestige, power

16. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
‘If we buy into the world value system
that the ultimate value in life is
pleasure, possessions, prestige, we will
miss God’s purposes for our life!’

17. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
2.Clarify what is important
Job 34:3-4 (LB)
“… we should choose to follow what is
right. But first we must define what is
good.”

18. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
2.Clarify what is important
‘Real success is when you decide what
value are really important to your life,
and then you bring your life in
harmony with them.’

19. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
2.Clarify what is important
Success is a journey, it is a progression
and not an achievement.

20. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
‘What is going to last?’

21. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Pleasures don’t last:
Hebrews 11:25
“… the pleasure of sin lasts for a short
time.”

22. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Pleasures don’t last:
Possessions don’t last:
1 Timothy 6:7,
“We brought nothing into the world, and
can take nothing out…”

23. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Pleasures don’t last:
Possessions don’t last:
Prestige will not last:
1 John 2:17,
“The world and its desires will pass
away, but those who do the will of God
will live forever.”

24. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
2.Clarify what is important
3.Change my lifestyle

25. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Focus on:
- Your schedule
- Your budget
- Your relationships

26. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Psalm 119:37,
“Turn my eyes away from worthless
things.”

27. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Ephesians 4:17-24 (MES)
“Stop going along with the mindless
crowd… that’s no life for you… get rid
of it! then take an entirely new way of
life – a God – fashioned life, renewed
from the inside and working out into
your conduct, as God reproduces his
character in you.”

28. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Philippians 4:13 (LB)
“I can do everything God asks me to with
the help of Christ who gives me the
strength and power.”

29. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
HOW TO LAY A FOUNDATION OF
VALUES FOR LIFE.
1.Choose the source of values
2.Clarify what is important
3.Change my lifestyle
4.Check my values daily

30. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Proverbs 4:23 (LB)
“Guard your affections. They influence
everything else in your life.”

31. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
1 Timothy 4:16 (LB)
“Keep a close watch on all you do and
think. Stay true to what is right and
God will bless you and use you to help
other.”

32. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
GOD’S VALUE SYSTEM =
THE KINGDOM OF GOD

33. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else,
and live righteously, and he will give
you everything you need.’

34. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Matthew 6:33 (AMP)
‘But seek (aim at and strive after) first of
all His kingdom and His righteousness
(His way of doing and being right), and
then all these things taken together
will be given you besides.’

35. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
Worship =
give highest value to something.

36. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
1 Timothy 6:21 (LB)
“Some have missed the most important
thing in life – they don’t know God.”

37. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
GOD’S VALUE SYSTEM FOR US
1.My relationship with God, through:
• Prayer
• Reading & studying His Word
• Going to Church

38. DECIDING WHAT’S IMPORTANT
GOD’S VALUE SYSTEM FOR US
1.My relationship with God, through
2.My relationship with my spouse
3.My relationship with my children
4.My work/career
5.Serving within the Church
6.My external family
7.My friends