The following blog post contains notes and application questions from our September 1, 2019 message, How to Not Waste Your Life.

Discussing and Applying the Sermon

• Pick one of the three ways to not waste your life—be self-controlled, be selfless, be a steward—and then ask your community group to help your grow in that area. Start by picking one verse and memorizing it

Summary

When was the last time you thought about what the end of your life is going to be like? What do you want to be remembered by? Adam Tarnow walks us through 1 Peter 4:7-11, teaching us three ways to make sure we don’t waste our lives.

Key Takeaways

• One of the great uses of Twitter and Facebook will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time. -John Piper
• If we aren’t careful, we will waste our lives one boring, mundane moment at a time.
• Be self-controlled
• In view of eternity, your life is a vapor. Regardless of your age, the end of all things is near.
• A few seconds of sin can lead to minutes, weeks, or even years of time to clean it up.
• Be self-controlled because sin is a waste of time.
• Be selfless
• The way you love other people can be louder than your sin.
• We are all prone to buy the lie that focusing on ourselves will be worth it and make our lives better. Don’t buy the lie!
• Be selfless because selfishness over promises and under delivers.
• Be a steward
• God gives all Christians gifts and He wants us to be re-gifters. The gifts He gives us aren’t for us...they are for others!
• How are you doing at stewarding your time, talents, and treasure for others?
• If you are hoarding your gifts you are wasting your life.
• Be a steward because hoarding serves no one.
• You just have to know a few things—be gripped by them—and be willing to lay down your life for them. The number one thing is that Jesus died for you.

Mentioned or Recommended Resources

• Suggested Scripture study: 1 Peter 4:7-11; Hebrews 12:1-2; Matthew 16:24-26
• Sermon: Lust & Self-Control
• Sermon: Life’s Slot Machine
• Sermon: A Truly Rich Life
• Video: You Have One Life, Don’t Waste It