May 5, 2024
GRAND PARKWAY BAPTIST CHURCH
Neil McClendon, Lead Pastor
How To Enjoy Life More
Acts 16:16-24
1. Habits are the avenue of involvement, v. 16
The fruit of habits…
a) habits move me beyond what I feel towards structures that I need
b) habits facilitate exposure and exposure initiate change
c) habits interrupt the status quo
d) habits lesson our need of spiritual stimulation
2. Life is also spiritual, v. 16-19
There are three dimensions to life: physical, psychological, spiritual
Syncretism is the blending together or an attempted blending of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.
3. There is a bondage that comes with one dimension living, v. 19-24
Each dimension is characterized by a simple word…
physical- control
psychological- fear
spiritual- freedom
Their bondage to the physical manifests itself in three ways...
1) an inability to acknowledge the obvious, v. 19
2) same response to everything, v. 19
3) an inability to tell the truth, v. 20
4. Regardless of where I am or what happens to me, I am never alone, v. 23-25
* Can you experience this kind of injustice, hardship and persecution and still sing to God? They aren’t singing about God but to God b/c what they believe about God, what they know about God hasn’t been altered by their experiences.
Mental worship…
Do your habits involve you in what God is doing in the world or are you always seeking experiences?
Where is your place of prayer?
What new habit could you start that would help you grow spiritually?
How often do you think about the spiritual dimension of life?
Which dimension of life are you most likely to get stuck in: physical, psychological or spiritual?