“It is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. . . part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.”Ephesians 1:11 (Mes)
“Everything, absolutely everything. . . got started in Christ and finds its purpose in him.” Colossians 1:16 (Mes)
1. GOD PLANNED ME
“You God created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created!” Revelation 4:11b
“The Lord takes pleasure in his people.” Psalm 149:4 (TEV)
“Long before he laid down earth's foundations, God had us in mind, and settled on us as the focus of his love.” Ephesians 1:4 (Mes)
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matthew 22:37-38 (NIV)
“I don't want your sacrifices - I want your love! I don't want your Offerings - I want you to know me!” Hosea 6:6 (LB)
THE 1st PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:
know and love God.
“WORSHIP”
2. GOD FORMED ME
for his family.
“God’s unchanging plan has always been to ADOPT us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.”Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)
“God has given us the privilege of being BORN AGAIN so that we are now members of God's own family.” 1 Peter 1:3 (LB)
“That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15 (NCV)
“Love your spiritual family.” 1 Peter 2:17 (Mes)
THE 2nd PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:
learn to love others.
“FELLOWSHIP”
“Let us not give up the HABIT OF MEETING TOGETHER. . . instead let us encourage one another.” Hebrews 10:25 (TEV)
3. GOD CREATED ME
to become like Jesus.
“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him--and all along he knew who would--should become like his Son.” Romans 8:29 (LB)
“We look at the Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created” Colossians 1:15 (Mes)
“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 2:5 (NCV)
“As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.” 2 Corinthians 3:18b (NLT)
THE 3rd PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:
spiritually.
“DISCIPLESHIP”
“Let us go on. . . and become mature in our understanding, as strong Christians ought to be.” Hebrews 6:1 (LB)
“By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you. . . !” Hebrews 5:12 (GW)
4. GOD SHAPED ME
to serve Him.
“You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.” Psalms 139:13 (Mes)
Spiritual Gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experiences
“God made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which he planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)
“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings.”1 Peter 4:10 (LB)
THE 4th PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:
serve God by serving others.
“MINISTRY”
“What can I GIVE BACK to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?” Psalms 116:12 (Mes)
5. GOD MADE ME
for a mission.
Jesus: “In the same way that The Father gave me a mission in the world, I give you a mission in the world.” John 17:18 (Mes)
(Paul) “I consider that my will be wasted unless I use it to complete my mission and finish the assignment that the Lord Jesus has given to me – to tell everyone the Good News about God's grace.”Acts 20:24
THE 5th PURPOSE OF LIFE IS TO:
share with others what God has done for me.
“WITNESSING”
“The things that you have learned from me I now want you to PASS ON to other reliable people, so that they can pass it all on to even more people.”2 Timothy 2:2
“Through Christ, God has made peace between us and himself, and He gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with Him. . . So we have been sent to speak for Christ!”2 Corinthians 5:18,20
“God’s people are like trees that bear life-giving fruit. They show their wisdom by saving souls.” Proverbs 11:30
THE FIRST CHRISTIANS & CHURCH DID GOD’S PURPOSES
“Those who BELIEVED. . . were BAPTIZED and ADDED to the church. . . They JOINED with the other believers and COMMITTED themselves to the apostles' TEACHING AND FELLOWSHIP. . . they SHARED everything with each other and they WORSHIPED together regularly at the Temple. . . and met in GROUPS in homes. . . and everyday the Lord added to their number those who were being SAVED!”Acts 2:41-47
NOTE THE ORDER:
1. God wants me to BELIEVE in Jesus
2. Next, he wants me to be BAPTIZED
3. JOIN the MEMBERSHIP of a church family
4. Commit to regular WORSHIP
5. Connect to a small group FELLOWSHIP
6. Start serving in some MINISTRY
7. BRING my friends and neighbors to Christ
