·     God’s heart is for the lost broken Ps 34:18

o We are to love as Jesus loved  Jn 13:34

o Most if not all leaders who share with you do so in response to God's love.

o With 9/10 of you giving up, it seems that we love you more than you love yourself. We hardly know you!

·     Many men find their value in what they do.

·     The truth is we’re valuable for who we are whether or not you’ve accepted the gift of God’s love.

·     Don't believe in God or that Jesus died for you?

o  What do you believe?

§ What is the basis for what you believe?

§ How well is your belief system working out for you?

o Where do you believe value comes from?

§ Health, good looks, intelligence, abilities. Most of those were given at birth.

§ Discipline, riches, popularity.  Some of these are a result of upbringing.

§ All that you consider valuable outside of what value is given by God will you will someday see turn to dust, valueless in your eyes.

1.  How does it prove your value that God created you, giving you life, giving you an opportunity to have eternal life?  ____________________________ __________________________________________________

2.  How does it prove your value that God, the God of the universe, desires to have a relationship with you? ____________________________________ _________________________________________________

3.  How does it prove your value that Jesus suffered and died for each and every thing you have done wrong? ________________________________

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4.  How does it prove your value that God has adopted you into his family calling you his son or daughter? __________________________________ ____________________________________________________

5.  How does it prove your value that God has prepared a place for you to live for eternity that is beyond anything you can imagine? _________________

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6.  What more could God do for you to prove you are more valuable than you now think you are?_____________________________________________ _________________________________________________

7.  What could anyone do for you to prove you are more valuable than you now think you are?_____________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

8.  What does it mean to you that each of the speakers and leaders believe you are so valuable that they are willing to pour their hearts into 20 people just to have one succeed? _________________________________

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9.  Seeing how valuable each person involved in ministry sees you, how do you see yourself differently?_____________________________________

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10. List the differences in your value if you would believe you are called as a child of the King of the universe.__________________________________ __________________________________________________

11. What would you be motivated to do differently if you were thinking of being a child of the King of the universe. ________________________________

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12. Consider a life on drugs/alcohol from the time you started until you die. What deep inside you motivates you to want that life?______________________

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13. Consider a life without drugs/alcohol starting when you had your last.  What deep inside you motivates you to want that life? ______________________ __________________________________________________

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14. Write out how substance abuse damages your life. ____________________

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15.  List what worthwhile things would motivate you to abuse yourself again. _________________________________________________________________________________________

16.  Considering all these truths, write a short letter to the you who may be tempted to give in and abuse yourself again. _________________________

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TRUTHS

One’s relationship with God

·    God’s love through

o Creation:

o Desire for relationship Revelation 3:20

o Suffered and died to pay the price for our wrongdoing I John 4:9-10

o If saved, called child of God  2 Corinthians 6:18

o If saved, preparing a place for us  I Corinthians 2:9

o Each of the above makes you valuable, not for what you do but who you are

o Is that enough for God to do to show you are valuable?

§ Yes, well based on how many leave the program, it’s not enough for 9/10 of you!

§ No, then what God is supposed to do to show you that you are valuable.

Substance Abuse

·    God has called you as children, to a higher life. Not living consistently

o Denies God’s calling

o Prideful believing one’s life doesn’t matter

·    Abuse is not pleasurable long term

·    Abuse is damaging to self

·    Abuse is damaging to others

o Is very selfish

o Is very unloving

When Eckhart Tolle woke up and realized that everything he had ever desired existed right here in the present moment, he spent months sitting on a park bench, basking in the bliss of his awakened state. He suddenly knew he was a valuable, worthy child of God who didn’t have to do anything to earn that grace.