02 09 16 Kobe and How to Leave a Lasting Legacy Series How to Create Your Best Decade Ever
Best Decade Ever Series
Sermon Title: Choose YOUR # Hashtags Wisely [Kobe Bryant — A Lesson on Leaving a Lasting Loving Legacy]
Serie’s Recap
I. One Resolution to Rule Them All: Follow Jesus first.
II. Thoughts, words and deeds are seeds. Plan for the harvest you want in ten years by planting wisely today. Begin with the end in mind.
III. Your Bigger Dream is Gonna Take a Better Team.
IV. Football Sunday! What ‘Super Bowl’ are you preparing for? Who’s on YOUR team?
V. Today – Your #hastags will be the shorthand of your legacy. What #hastags will you leave behind.
Kobe Bryant’s Legacy
My girls and I want to thank the millions of people who’ve shown support and love during this horrific time. Thank you for all the prayers. We definitely need them. We are completely devastated by the sudden loss of my adoring husband, Kobe — the amazing father of our children; and my beautiful, sweet Gianna — a loving, thoughtful, and wonderful daughter, and amazing sister to Natalia, Bianka, and Capri.
We are also devastated for the families who lost their loved ones on Sunday, and we share in their grief intimately.
There aren’t enough words to describe our pain right now. I take comfort in knowing that Kobe and Gigi both knew that they were so deeply loved. We were so incredibly blessed to have them in our lives. I wish they were here with us forever. They were our beautiful blessings taken from us too soon.
I’m not sure what our lives hold beyond today, and it’s impossible to imagine life without them. But we wake up each day, trying to keep pushing because Kobe, and our baby girl, Gigi, are shining on us to light the way. Our love for them is endless — and that’s to say, immeasurable. I just wish I could hug them, kiss them and bless them. Have them here with us, forever.
Thank you for sharing your joy, your grief and your support with us. We ask that you grant us the respect and privacy we will need to navigate this new reality. —Vanessa Bryant, wife of Kobe Bryant and mother of Gianna Bryant
Where were you when you got the news of Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Crash?
Life Can Change on a Dime Can’t It?
Jeff’s Note: I’m not sure of Kobe’s faith so I am not saying whether he was a Christian or not, but a lot of things that he was doing in these recent years sure look a lot like what Jesus would do.
The MOST potent way to insure that this next decade if your best ever is to focus on Leaving a Lasting & Loving Legacy to your Family and Community
My favorite # about Kobe was:
#GirlDad
There are a few hashtags I hope will ring true of me:
#WalkedWithGod
#LovedMeJustLikeIWas
#BroughtOuttheBestInMe
#LovingChristFollower
#BestDadEver
#LovingHusband
#LovingSon
What hashtags would you choose?
Your thoughts, your words and your deeds are all seeds that will grow into your # [hashtags] someday.
If ten years were all that you had to liven, then what would change in your life to insure that your #hashtags are what you hope for?
Why not make those changes right now while you still have time. Some of you have a few more days or weeks or months, some of you have about a decade and some of you have many decades.
Ecclesiastes 12:1
So remember your Creator in the days of your youth:
Before the days of adversity come,
and the years approach when you will say,
“I have no delight in them” —Ecclesiastes 12:1 (HCSB)
Proverbs 90:12
Teach us to number our days carefully
so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts. —Psalm 90:12 (HCSB)
None of knows when our ‘chopper’ is gonna go down.
So, principle #1 for Leaving a Lasting Loving Legacy is to choose your #hashtags wisely.
Principle #2 = It’s NEVER too late to start over.
Kobe’s Failure
Backhoe operator story
My Failure: Hey Dad, where were you?
Bounded VS Unbounded Ambition
Pic of house burning down versus a nice warm fire in a fireplace.
Principle #3
Life is NOT a do it yourself project it is a “Do It With God Project!”
Start with what HE created you for.
Ask for HIS help.
Walk with Him.
Let Him write, direct and produce the movie of your life.
Jesus Offers Invitations to YOU that will lead you into a lasting loving, even laughing legacy filled life than leave behind the #hashtags you most hope to leave behind.
Invite 1: Come to me and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19
We get to be involved in His Dream for the world as we follow Him.
Invite 2: Follow me and I will maximize your life both here and in eternity with My Father.
John 10:10 He offers us an ‘abundant’ life.
Invite 3: Jesus offers a clean slate and a fresh start.
We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace —Ephesians 1:7 [HCS ]
You get a fresh start no matter how bad your past has been.
Invite 4: Jesus invites you into an animating relationship with Himself and with His Father. This is the ONE relationship you long for and need most of all.
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. —Jesus Christ quoted in John 14:23 (HCSB)
Will you accept Jesus’ Invitations?
If you want to have a string of great #hashtags when people remember you someday it all begins with Jesus and it all begins today. You don’t know when your chopper is going to go down, so don’t delay. Let’s get started.
Call to Action to Create #GreatHashtags
Repent — Turn Around
Take God on as your script writer, director ad producer. Trust Him and work with Him to leave the legacy of a true Christ follower for your family, your friends and your community.