Todays topic... TIME

Opening Question... What exactly is time and why on earth did God create it?

What does the world say about TIME?

Scientists on Time... Its Real: Time is part of the physical structure of the universe, a dimension in which events occur in sequence (Newton) Its Unreal: Time isnt an actual dimension, just the way humans sequence and compare events (Kant) Its Relative: Time depends on your perspective (Einstein)

Philosophers on Time... Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils. (Louis Berlioz) Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. (Unknown) Time is the justice that examines all offenders. (William Shakespeare)

Philosophers on Time... Time is but the stream I go a-fishin in. (Henry David Thoreau) Dont say you dont have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein. (H. Jackson Brown, Jr.)

Time Crunch Average workweek: up 32% in past 25 years Time spent in traffic jams: up 157% Family time: down 30% in past decade 60% of meals are rushed 40% of Americans are sleep-deprived 33% of employees are chronically overworked

Time Crunch The average employee is interrupted 7 times an hour and switches tasks every 3 minutes Your IQ falls 2.5 times more when multi-tasking than it would if you had just smoked marijuana 465 million vacation days went unused in in 6 employees has exhibited desk rage 80% of medical expenses are now stress-related

How do you spend your time?

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GOD on TIME

Time is... Primarily, the Bible views time as the limited succession of days in which human experience of the world flows. Human beings are allotted their appointed span of time – the Lord gives, and He takes away. (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia; Job 1:21)

100% OF TIME IS GODS

Theologians on Time... A Christian is not his own master, since all his time belongs to God. (Ignatius of Antioch) It is difficult for me to understand how an intelligent person can spend all of time building for this world and have no time for the future world. (Billy Graham)

Theologians on Time... To waste time is to squander a gift from God. (John Blanchard) Life is too short for us to do everything we want to do; but it is long enough for us to do everything God wants us to do. (Unknown)

Time: Gods Perspective God is Lord over time -- he created the succession of days (Genesis 1) His existence is limitless – a thousand years in his sight are like a day (2 Peter 3:8) By contrast, our earthly life is a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:14)

Time: Gods Perspective God displays his redemptive grace toward lost humanity through the medium of history (Isaiah 46:8-10; Ephesians 1:11) His actions form a progressive unity proceeding toward his final goals -- in that day, God will display his righteousness and glory and will consummate history (2 Peter 3:12; Revelation 1, 4-22)

What Time Is It? Between the times: the interval between the Resurrection and the Second Coming Time to seek the Lord (Hosea 10:12) Its later than its ever been (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)

Time Management God #1 Pray + Prioritize Holy Spirit: personal time consultant 24/7/365 $10 Million of TM training in 30 seconds –A-F To Do List –Start / Stop / Continue –White space –Schedule time with God –Rest

THE BOTTOM LINE Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15)

Discussion Questions 1.What are some creative ways to get more God Time in your life? 2.What are some of the biggest time suckers in the world today and how can we overcome them?

ONE THING What one thing from today will you apply to your life?