https://youtu.be/ZrrZyYTb9-M?si=d7jwcxayE2DOR4dg Follow along with us! Welcome to Week 2 of 30 Days of Purpose. Last week: Why am I even here? Made on purpose, for God’s purpose. Today is Mother’s Day, and we are talking about a pressure that hits all of us. When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough Personal pressure: pastor, husband, dad, leader, counselor, problem solver, encourager, planner, fixer. Sometimes I can do a lot…and still think: “I don’t know if I’m enough.” Not because I do not care. Not because I am not trying. But because the needs are bigger than me. Mother’s Day can bring that feeling right to the surface. Mother’s Day can be beautiful and complicated For some, today is joyful. For some, today is painful. Some are celebrating their mother. Some are missing their mother. Some are grieving a relationship that was never what it should have been. Some are waiting, wanting, or praying to become a mother. Some are exhausted from invisible work nobody sees. Some are comparing themselves to another woman, another family, another home, another version of life. Culture often responds with a phrase that sounds encouraging: “I am enough.” I am Enough “I am enough” is not just a phrase anymore. It is an industry. Buy it – shirt, mug, bracelet, sticker, …probably a throw pillow, and maybe even a scented candle. I understand why people like it. It can help people push back against shame, comparison, and criticism. “I am enough” sounds encouraging, but it can become exhausting Eventually life will hand you a moment where the mug is lying. You are not enough for every situation. … to fix every person. …to meet every need. …to carry every burden. …to save yourself. You are not enough to be God. And that is not shame. That is grace. The Bible does not say, “You are enough for everything.” The Bible says, “God’s grace is sufficient for you.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) The Bible does not say, “You are the whole body.” The Bible says, “You are a part of the body.” (1 Corinthians 12:27) The Bible does not say, “You are the source of light.” Jesus says, “You are the light of the world,” because your light comes from Him. (Matthew 5:14) The Bible teaches this… Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack. That is freedom. I do not have to be everything. I do not have to fix everything. I do not have to carry everything. I do not have to be God. I just need to be faithful with what God gave me. Scripture Gives Us Something Better 1. You Are Not the Whole Body, but a designed part 1 Corinthians 12 – Paul talks about a Boby. Your 1 body has many parts. It takes a lot of parts to make up 1 body. Paul uses this to talk about the Body of Christ – the Church. The Church is made up of a lot of parts. 1 Corinthians 12:12&14 12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. Paul is saying… You are not the whole body. You are a part. (1 Corinthians 12) That is not an insult. That is freedom. Paul does not say, “You are the whole body of Christ.” He says, “You are a part.” You are not called to be everything. You are called to be faithful with the part God gave you. A mom is not called to be God. A dad is not called to be God. A pastor is not called to be God. A leader is not called to be God. A friend is not called to be God. Needed? Yes. Gifted? Yes. Valuable? Yes. Everything? No. And that is grace. God placed the parts just as He wanted them Your part is not random. Your gift is not an accident. Your role is not a social construct. Your personality is not a product of evolution. It is all created by God… created in you. Your ability to encourage, organize, serve, pray, lead, help, teach, create, give, comfort, or notice what others miss is not random. It is PURPOSE! Purpose begins when you stop trying to be every part and start being faithful with your part. Scripture Gives Us Something Better 1. You Are Not the Whole Body, but a designed part 2. Jesus Calls You Light Is Jesus the light of the world? Yes – John 8:12 Are you the light of the world… tempted to say no… But Jesus says yes! Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Notice what Jesus does not say: You are the light when your house is clean. You are the light when your kids are perfect. You are the light when your emotions are stable. You are the light when your calendar is under control. You are the light when you finally have it all together. He says: You are the light of the world. Light has one job. Light just has to shine. Light does not have to be loud. Light does not have to be impressive. Light does not have to be what others desire. Light just has to shine. Your light shines through good deeds, not to glorify you, but so people glorify your Father in heaven. We shine in different ways… Serving, forgiving, creating, listening, encouragement… Hospitality, raising children with love, helping, giving… Staying faithful when it feels no one notices. You do not have to be everything. But you do have to shine. God’s design is for you to shine. 3 Steps 1. Name the Script What “not enough” script have you been believing? I am not a good enough mom. I am not spiritual enough. I am not successful enough. I am not organized enough. I am not strong enough. I am not doing enough. Name it, because a lie you never name gets to keep talking. Replace it with truth: I do not have to be enough for everything. Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack. 2. Find Your Part You have a part to play! What has God actually given me? What do people come to me for? What do I notice that others miss? How do I naturally help people? Where do I bring life? What gift has God placed in me? And help others find their part! Your family plays a part… does your family know this? Family Purpose Conversation What is one thing God has made each of us good at? Who around us needs encouragement, help, prayer, or kindness? What is one thing our family can do this week to shine? This week, have a family purpose conversation. We printed slips with these three questions. Grab one on the way out. “What is one thing God has made each of us good at? Who around us needs encouragement, help, prayer, or kindness? What is one thing our family can do this week to shine?” 3. Shine This Week Encourage one person. Pray for one person. Serve one person. Invite one person. Help one person. Tell someone about Jesus. Use one gift on purpose. This week, do not try to be everything. Just be faithful with what God gave you. This body needs you. This world needs you. You are a part of the body of Christ. We need you. We don’t require you to do everything… we just need you to be you. You are the light of the world. This world needs you to shine. Wherever you go – you are needed! What if we accepted the call of Jesus to walk in purpose? What if we stopped comparing gifts and start celebrating them. What if mom’s were not crushed under impossible expectations. Imagine a church where women are honored, men are faithful, children are loved, singles are seen, seniors are valued, and families live on purpose. Lord let us be a place where every person knows they have a purpose. Not everyone has the same gift, role, or story, but everyone matters. The body needs you. The world needs your light. God is glorified when you faithfully shine where He placed you. You are not enough… and that is ok Jesus is Enough One of the best ways to recognize this is communion. Deacons come – they bring the elements we need to take communion together. All are welcome to take communion with us. Raise your hand if you are needing the elements. The gospel is not: I am enough. The gospel is: Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack. Communion is where we stop pretending to be enough. We do not come to Jesus saying, “Look how strong I am.” We come saying, “Jesus, I need You.” His body was given for us. His blood was shed for us. His grace supplies what we lack. On the night Jesus was betrayed, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said: This is my body, given for you. The body of Jesus was enough for our brokenness. Take and eat. In the same way, after supper He took the cup and said: This cup is the new covenant in my blood. The blood of Jesus was enough for our forgiveness. Take and drink. Jesus, thank You that we do not have to save ourselves. Thank You that Your body was given and Your blood was shed. Thank You that Your grace is enough for tired people, hurting people, striving people, and people who feel like they are not enough. Amen. Communion reminds us: We are not enough to save ourselves, but Jesus paid it all. Not some of it. Not most of it. Not only the part we could not handle. Jesus paid it all. As we sing, this space is open for you. If you need prayer today, come. If you are tired from trying to be enough, come. If you are ready to surrender your life to Jesus, come. I am not enough. Jesus is enough. His grace supplies what I lack.
