Why Are We Here? Lesson #8 of the series, “FAQ” 1. It is foolish and futile to think we can find meaning and purpose in power, pleasure or things. “I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves… I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! …Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.” -Ecclesiastes 2:4-11 (NLT) 2. We were made by God and for God. Therefore, we find meaning and purpose only in God. “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible . . . got started in him and finds its purpose in him.” -Colossians 1:16 (MSG) “It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.” -Ephesians 1:11-12 (MSG) 3. God created us to bring him glory. “Glory” = honor, esteem or acclaim. “For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.” -Romans 11:36 (NLT) “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” -1 Corinthians 10:31 (NLT) 4. We bring God glory by fulfilling the purposes for which he created us. “I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do.” -John 17:4 (NLT) a. We bring God glory by worshiping Him. “…ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.” -1 Chronicles 16:29 (NIV) “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. ” -Matthew 22:37-38 (NLT) b. We bring God glory by spreading the good news about Jesus. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere…” -Acts 1:8 (NLT) “…as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.” -2 Corinthians 4:15 (NLT) c.
We bring God glory by becoming like Jesus. “And the Lord… makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” -2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)
“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” -Colossians 2:6-7 (NLT) d. We bring God glory by serving others with our gifts and abilities. “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ.” -1 Peter 4:10-11 (NLT) e. We bring God glory by loving each other. “Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.” -Romans 15:7 (NLT) “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” -John 13:34-35 (NLT) 5. Knowing our purpose matters. a. Knowing our purpose prepares us for eternity. “As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” -2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NLT) b. Knowing our purpose gives us focus. “But I …focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” -Philippians 3:12-14 (NLT) “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step...” -1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NLT) c. Knowing our purpose gives us peace. “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.’” -Psalm 32:8 (NLT) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” -Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) John Schmidt ● 09-23-13 ●
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Connect Group Questions To prepare for this week’s meeting, take some time to focus on the following questions and write out a few brief answers. Be prepared to share them with your group. My Story 1. Looking back at your notes from this week’s message about why we are here was there anything that particularly caught your attention, challenged or confused you? 2. When you were a little kid what did you dream of becoming or accomplishing as an adult? Were you able to accomplish any of these things? 3. What brings you the greatest satisfaction? When do you feel most alive? Going Deeper 1. Read John 17:1-4. The night before He died on the cross Jesus prayed that He would bring the Father glory. How did he do this? How can God use you to bring glory to Himself? 2. What do the following passages tell us about finding meaning and purpose in life?
Acts 17:28
Colossians 1:16
Romans 11:36
3. Read Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 & 17-26. Why was Solomon so depressed in this chapter? Why didn’t pleasure or hard work or fabulous riches satisfy him? Do Solomon’s writings still apply to us today? If so, how? Why do many people still seek meaning by pursuing the same things? Life Application 1. In his message this week John mentioned five ways our lives can glorify God:
By worshiping Him. (Psalm 34:3, 1 Chronicles 16:29, Matthew 22:37-38)
By spreading the Good News about Jesus. (Acts 1:8-9, 2 Corinthians 4:15)
By becoming like Jesus. (2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 2:6-7)
By serving others. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
By loving each other. (Romans 15:7, John 13:34-35)
Which of these ways comes most naturally to you? Which is most difficult? Why? How do we stay aware of these purposes? How do we keep them in balance? 2. Discuss the following excerpt from Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis: "What Satan has put into the heads of our remote ancestors is that they could…invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history…the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy. The reason why it can never succeed is this. God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. That is why it is just no good asking God to make us happy in our own way without bothering about religion. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing. That is the key to history. Terrific energy is expended—civilizations are built up—excellent institutions devised; but each time something goes wrong. Some fatal flaw always brings the selfish and cruel people to the top and it all slides back into misery and ruin. In fact, the machine conks. It seems to start up all right and runs a few yards, and then it breaks down. They are trying to run it on the wrong juice. That is what Satan has done to us humans.” Harper Collins Publishing, 2001. pp. 49-50
3. Discuss the following quotations from What on Earth Am I Here For?: Six Sessions on The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. “It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness.” “You cannot fulfill God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans.” “We’re not completely happy here because we’re not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something." “Measured against eternity, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever.” “Without God, life has no purpose, and without purpose, life has no meaning. Without meaning, life has no significance or hope.” Being a Disciple 1. Ask someone in your group to share an insight gleaned from their daily Bible reading over the past week. 2. What Bible reading plan you are you using? Don’t have one yet? Go to www.bible.com and get the app!
Resources What on Earth Am I Here For?: Six Sessions on The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, ©2012, Zondervan
