Who Are You?

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Introduction: I'm the new guy at work - so I spend a lot of time asking folks "Who are you?"

 

Proposition or Thesis: We all have different ways that we identify ourselves

 

Interrogative:

 

Transition: Most of us are called by a name

 

I. That name is what we use to identify ourselves

 

  1. Most names are given to us by our parents (Rebecca / Jenny)
  2. Some names are given to us by step-parents (Me)
  3. Sometimes names are changed (protect the innocent?) (Rachel)

 

Transition: At other times, we're known by what we do

 

II. Names can reflect a title

 

  1. President Bush
  2. Will Randolph - CIO for World Vision
  3. Pastor Tom - Pastor, Faith Chapel

 

Transition: Yet still other times they can be a nickname that we've "earned"

 

III. Bikers have unique nicknames

 

  1. Guard dog
  2. Bailing Wire
  3. Duct Tape
  4. Linex

 

Transition: Sometimes we have names or labels that we put on ourselves

 

IV. It seems that most of these do with our self image

 

  1. Many people consider themselves worthless
  2. Many people consider themselves beaten down and losers
  3. Many people think they have nothing worth passing on ("spending our kids inheritance)
  4. Many people come from a broken family - nothing to look up to

 

Transition: But did you know that God has names for us too?

 

V. Of all of the names that we can be given, I found God's names to be the ones that I identify with the most.

 

  1. Valuable:
    Matthew 10:29-31     Are not two sparrows sold for a penny[d]? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
  2. Conqueror:
    Romans 8:37     No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
  3. Heirs to the throne:
    Ephesians 3:6     This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
  4. Sons of God:

Galations 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 1:4-5 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will

Where is your identity derived from? Man’s ways are good, but God’s ways are better.

 

Conclusion:

 

  1. There's nothing wrong with being known
  2. A name is a good thing to have
  3. Though we have our own opinion of ourselves, God has a different opinion

 

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