A Life of Purpose Key Verses: Objective

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A Life of Purpose

Key Verses: Proverbs 29:18 KJV - Where there is no vision, the people perish… 2 Timothy 4:5 - As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.

Objective: Jesus gave His disciples a vision for their life when He invited them to follow Him. The success of their life mission would be determined by their passion, focus, and obedience. In this lesson, we will discuss how necessary it is to embrace the calling of life lived on purpose.

1) We are called to be ___________ of ____________. a) When Jesus called the disciples, He called them to a purpose. Mark 1:16, 17 - Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. v.17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” b) We were ___________ and _______________ to a purpose. John 15:16 - You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide... Ephesians 1:11 NIV - In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the



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purpose of his will. “All people end up somewhere in life, but few end up there on purpose.” ― Craig Groeschel 2) Jesus put high value on living by purpose. a) Jesus was not _____________. He would not allow anyone or anything to distract or detour Him from His life purpose. i) Satan tried to tempt Him with food, power, and worldly riches while Jesus was fasting in the wilderness but Jesus rebuked him and sent him on his way. Matthew 4:10 - Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” ii) When Peter aggressively tried to stop Jesus from sacrificing Himself on the cross, Jesus rebuked him and told Peter he was being a hindrance to Him. Matthew 16:23 - But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” iii) Pilate, who sought to release Jesus, asked Christ if He realized that he had authority to release Him or to crucify Him. Jesus said, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above” (John 19:11). Jesus told Pilate, “… For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world…” (John 18:37). b) The apostle Paul was not ______________. i) The risen Jesus called Saul of Tarsus to be a chosen instrument “to bear [His] name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel” (Acts 9:15).



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ii)

Paul celebrated and rejoiced that he had finished his race. 2 Timothy 4:5-8 - As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. v.6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. v.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. v.8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness…

c) We must not be _______________. As Paul told Timothy, we should “… always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). The enemy will use many things and many people to hinder you from fulfilling your ministry. He will provide distractions from your family, friends, and even from your employers. 3) We need a vision of our purpose. a) Our ____________ purpose is to join Christ Jesus in His work. i) Win the Lost Luke 19:10 - For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. ii) Disciple the Nations Matthew 28:19, 20 - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, v.20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. b) Our _____________ vision must be discovered through prayer, experience, and counsel. i) Paul was able to define personal and specific vision.



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(1) Five times Paul introduces himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 2 Timothy 1:1) (1) He knows the task God has given him and values it more than his very own life. Acts 20:24 NIV - I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. ii) Are you able to define any specific task of which the Lord Jesus has given you? iii) What will the task involve? (1) It will involve _____________. (2) It will advance the ______________. (3) It will bring ____________ to God. (4) It will be bigger than you can do in your ________ _____________. 4) Living with a personal vision is vital to our discipleship. Proverbs 29:18 KJV - Where there is no vision, the people perish… a) A personal vision will keep you ____________. Bearing fruit is impossible without a vision. John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide… i) Farmers plant seed because they have a vision for their harvest.



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ii) Vision is what keeps them (and us) getting up every morning. b) A personal vision will supply you with ______________. c) A personal vision will keep your life fueled with _______________.



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1. Are you able to define any specific task of which the Lord Jesus has given you? 2. Can you identify any unnecessary distractions in your life that are preventing you from fulfilling your purpose? 3. Talk about your personal vision related to God’s call on your life. 4. What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this lesson?



Write out a statement that summarizes what you feel is God’s personal vision for your life. Share it with your spouse if are married. If you feel comfortable, share it with your coach and fellow group members.