Pages of Purpose

Hook: Kid’s Book from Store.

What was your favourite story growing up?

We all care and love stories. We’re based on the THEM!

We love a GOOD BEGINNING, MIDDLE, AND END.

But what happens if we take this PAGE OUT, without the rest of it.

What happens to this story. We don’t understand it?

It’s lost it’s GREATER CONTEXT. So we don’t get what it’s trying to say.

We OFTEN do this WITH OUR PURPOSE.

We’re ALL LIVING OUT A STORY. Of who you’re becoming and what you’re going to be.

We live in a ME-CENTERED SOCIETY - our FOCUS IS US. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO? WHO AM I GOING TO BE?

WHAT STORY AM I LIVING OUT?

Our contribution to the world is contingent on whose story we make central in our lives.

IF I BELEIVE: “X” THEN I WILL DO THIS: “Y”

TENSION: WHAT STORY IS GIVING ME PURPOSE?

“I cannot answer the question, ‘What ought I to do?’ unless I first answer the question, ‘Of which story am I a part?’”

Let’s turn to…

Context - TRYING TO ASCRIBE VALUE by aligning with teachings…

Scripture

1 Corinthians 3 “Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn’t that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren’t you living like people of the world? When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s…”

These two were not focused on what their PURPOSE was, but what STORY GOD WAS WRITING THROUGH THEIR LIVES.

You are PAGE in the GREATER STORY.

You are not the main character, but you are a character ensuring that the Main Character’s story is told everywhere.

Your purpose isn’t about you!

Matthew 16:24–26 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

So often we STRIVE and end up EMPTY because we’re like a PAGE RIPPED From a book. We’re trying to separete PURPOSE from the STORY we were made to live in.

We can’t do that because…

Main Point: God’s Story gives PURPOSE to ours.

God is the larger context and plot in which our stories find themselves

Your Greatest Purpose is only found in the Greater Story Great God is Unfolding.

If you’re wondering what God’s plan is for your LIFE, begin by looking at the STORY he’s already been telling since the beginning of time. And you’ll begin to have CONTEXT for who he’s calling you to be.

In this fifth

Our best answer to the question “What difference can I make?” is that our lives matter because we are part of the ongoing plot of what God has done, is doing, and will do in our world.

Your purpose isn’t about you!

SIX PART STORY OF GOD.

Act One — Creation: In the beginning

Act Two — The Fall: Human rebellion

Act Three — Israel: A chosen people

Act Four — Jesus: The faithful Israelite

Act Five (We’re Here) — Church: The new Israel

Act Six — New Creation: A new heaven and a new earth

In this FIFTH ACT what is our ROLE…COMMISION and COMMANDMENT

Love

Disciple

Application

Starts by UNDERSTANDING where you STAND.