SERIES OVERVIEW
This is a ten-part series – based on John Maxwell’s Best Selling Book “Put Your Dream To The Test: Ten Questions To Help You See It and Seize It!” This week, Pastor G talks about “The Passion Question: Does My Dream Compel Me To Follow It?”
MESSAGE NOTES
THE PASSION QUESTION: Does my dream compel me to follow it?
Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. ~ Psalm 37:4
COMPEL
To drive or urge forcefully or irresistibly. To cause to do or occur by overwhelming pressure.
If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you. ~ Steve Jobs
WHY DOES PASSION MATTER? ~ Passion Creates Possibility.
THREE SIGNIFICANT THINGS PASSION DOES FOR US
1) PASSION PULLS US UP ~ Passion enables us to overcome adversity.
We quickly realize that between the dream’s inspiration and it’s manifestation, there is going to be a lot of perspiration! ~ John Maxwell
When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, it was very displeasing to them that someone had come to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel. ~ Nehemiah 2:10
But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked us and despised us and said, “What is this thing you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” ~ Nehemiah 2:19
Now it came about that when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and very angry and mocked the Jews. He spoke in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria and said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the dusty rubble even the burned ones?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was near him and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should jump on it, he would break their stone wall down!” ~ Nehemiah 4:1-3
Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches began to be closed, they were very angry. All of them conspired together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause a disturbance in it. ~ Nehemiah 4:7-8
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” ~ Nehemiah 6:3
Believe while others are doubting. Plan while others are playing.
Study while others are sleeping. Decide while others are delaying.
Prepare while others are daydreaming. Begin while others are procrastinating.
Work while others are wishing. Save while others are wasting.
Listen while others are talking. Smile while others are frowning.
Commend while others are criticizing. Persist while others are quitting.
~ William Arthur Ward
IF you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ~ John 15:7
2) PASSION PUSHES US OUT ~ Passion gives us the initiative we need.
I’m sick of all the reasonable people: they see all the reasons for doing nothing. ~ George Bernard Shaw
Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9
COMPLACENCY KILLS PASSION!
3) PASSION POSITIONS US WELL ~ Passion gives us the greatest chance for success.
There are two things to aim at in life; first, to get what you want; and after that, to enjoy it. Only The wisest of mankind achieve the second. ~ Logan Pearsall Smith
RATE YOUR PASSION FOR YOUR DREAM ON A SCALE OF 1-10
10 ~ My passion is so hot that it sets other people on fire.
9 ~ I cannot imagine my life without my dream.
8 ~ I willingly sacrifice other important things for my dream.
7 ~ I am fired up by my dream and often preoccupied with it.
6 ~ I enjoy my dream as one of many equal interests.
5 ~ I can take it or leave it. It doesn’t really mean that much to me.
4 ~ I prefer not to waste much time thinking about it.
3 ~ I go out of my way to avoid thinking about it.
2 ~ I’ve put it on my list of least favorite things.
1 ~ I would rather have a root canal without any anesthesia.
An 8 on the one to ten scale, is merely the ENTRY POINT for having enough passion to achieve a dream! If you aren’t willing to sacrifice lesser things, you will never achieve what is most important.
HOW TO STOKE YOUR DREAM PASSION FIRE
1) Take Your Natural Temperament Into Account!
2) Keep Your Attention On What Is Important To You!
3) Overcome The Fear of Being Different Than Others!
4) Resist The Apathy That Often Accompanies Aging!
HOMEWORK QUESTIONS
1) Do you really own your dream?
2) Do you really fully see your dream clearly?
3) Is the fulfillment of your dream realistic, even though it may require tremendous effort and other resources? Is it doable?
4) Does your dream match your God-designed abilities, gifts, skills and interests? Are you focusing on your strengths and not your weaknesses?
5) Does your natural temperament create some challenges in fulfilling certain parts of your dream? Can you begin to gather a team around you to cover those areas?
6) Do you struggle with a fear of being different or a fear of being criticized by people who don’t understand you or your dream?
7) Has your passion for your dream diminished as you have gotten older? Can you recapture your youthful spirit and enthusiasm?
GO DEEPER
PRIVATE OR GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Read the definition of “compel” above in the notes again. Does your dream COMPEL you to follow it? Why or why not?
READ: Nehemiah 2:10, 2:19, 4:1-3, 4:7-8 and 6:3
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Have you ever had an enemy like Sanballat and Tobiah who constantly tried to prevent you from realizing your dream? What does it feel like to be continually criticized day-after-day? Does it ever make you want to give up on your dream?
2) Following Nehemiah’s example, what should our response be to overcome this kind of adversity, especially when it is an attack on our dreams?
READ: John 15:7
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) When Jesus says we can “ask whatever [we] wish” and He will give it to us, are there conditions or restrictions on that promise included in this verse? If so, what are they?
2) How do you know if you are “remaining in Him” and if “His words are remaining in you?
READ: Joshua 1:9
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) The Lord made this promise to Joshua. Do you think it was only for him or does it apply to all of us who are believers? Explain your reasons for your answer.
2) What are some things about your dream that frighten or concern you? Does this promise give you comfort and reduce that fear? Why or why not?
3) In what way does pursuing your dream with passion require some courage on your part?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Pastor Greg challenged us to rate our passion for our dream on a scale of 1-10. The rating scale is included in the notes above. Go read it again and give an honest answer for your level of passion for your dream. What is your number?
2) Pastor Greg said that “An 8 on the one to ten scale, is merely the ENTRY POINT for having enough passion to achieve a dream! If you aren’t willing to sacrifice lesser things, you will never achieve what is most important.” Do you agree or disagree with him? Why?
3) Pastor Greg gave us four key methods for stoking our passion for our dream to make it burn brighter. Which of those methods is the most difficult for you when it comes to your goal of fulfilling your dream?
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Share your dream again with the group and then work through the seven homework questions listed above in detail with the group. Help each other flesh out the details by asking supportive and open-ended questions to each other about your respective dreams.