The Greatest Need

A need is something that is essential or required for survival, stability, or functioning. It's a deficiency that, if not met, causes clear negative outcomes like dysfunction or death. Need can also refer to a lack of something useful or required, or a situation requiring relief or supply. 

What are some things that all humans NEED? 

When is a do it yourself project a bad idea?

We are going to look at humanity’s greatest need and learn why reconciliation with God is not a DIY endeavor.

While science and technology have given us so many ways to correct problems that arise, we still run into areas of life we can’t correct in our own power. That is certainly the case with our spiritual lives and our need for a relationship with God. Most just can't do it on their own. Thankfully, our greatest need is met by the one who is truly the greatest. 

The Greatest Name

Why are names important?  

How often to you encounter names like Judas or Jezebel?  Or how about Ninel (Lenin spelled backward), Semaj (James spelled backward), Derfla (Alfred spelled backward.  

Usually names are chosen to inspire and encourage, but now it seems as if names are an afterthought of picking up a spilled Scrabble board.

In this lesson, we look at the greatest name of all and WHY this name is so great.  We look at Isaiah 42:1-12 where the prophet Isaiah spoke of a coming “servant” who would represent God. 

We now know this servant by the name of Jesus. His mission was to represent God and God’s name accurately, and to bring honor and glory to that name.  There is only One God and only God’s name deserves glory.

Let’s discover how Isaiah said Jesus would do that.

Character: Integrity

We tend to create “silos” for the different areas of life: family, work, church, leisure in an effort to strive for balance.  While it can be good to keep work from seeping into our family life, our character should be consistent in all areas of life regardless of where we are and what we are doing. This is a life of integrity. .

 

Integrity is from the same word as integer, indicating a whole number, not a fractional number.  Integrity to character is when we are wholly authentic and not only "partially" authentic.  We are wholly godly and not only partially Godly. 

Character: Generosity

You’ve got to love the stories of philanthropists—those who give away large sums of money through donations, trusts, and foundations. For example, Warren Buffet gives away 99 percent of his wealth. 

Considering that, in 2023, he made over $37 million every day, his pledge to give away 99 percent certainly gets our attention for he would give away $36.63 million a day. That sounds so noble and sacrificial, but if you had $135 Billion (Warren Buffet’s net worth) and chose to live on a mere one percent, you would still have $1.3 billion to scrape by on!  That's 3.6 Million dollars EVERY day of the year.

That’s a lot of money to give, but is that same as being generous? Generosity has nothing to do with the amount. Generosity is a heart issue.