Who God Made You to Be

Intro:

Myself

SDSU

Family

Brief Testimony

Lifes Big Questions:

Who are you?

What is your purpose?

What is the meaning of all this?

Philosophers

Speculated

Jean Paul Sartre

Life has no inherent meaning.

Therefore, make up your own.

Like chasing a mirage.

You know it’s not really meaningful.

It has no point.

But you try to trick yourself to think it’s real.

Many led to Mental Breakdown.

Something is missing.

The Bible provides:

The most hopeful, peaceful perspective.

Makes sense of the world and reality.

Fits with what we observe scientifically.

The Christian Perspective: “God revealed to us our true identity, meaning and purpose in his Word.”

This changed everything for me.

Before: Chasing my own version of my meaning - led to depression.

After: Following my God given purpose.

Ryan Pond’s Story.

The Truth about You

1. You were DESIGNED intentionally by God.

Genesis 1:27 ESV

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Big Bang Theory - Nothing, then something.

Scientifically - In this universe, something can’t come from nothing.

Something outside of space and time. Outside of our laws of science.

Something powerful.

The Bible gives us that answer: God Gen. 1:1

Genesis 1:1 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Not just humanity, but you as a unique person designed by God.

Psalm 139:13–14 NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

2. You were created for a PURPOSE.

Rick Warren states our 5 main purposes from the Bible like this:

Worship: You were planned for God’s pleasure.

We all worship something.

Money.

Grades.

Addiction.

Fun.

Sex.

Health.

Romance.

Will that something let you down?

John 4:23 ESV

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Life isn’t about you, It’s about God.

The more you seek God, the more pleasure and joy you will have.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

We experience the most pleasure when we do what God designed us to do.

Fellowship: You were formed for God’s family.

Romans 12:4–5 NLT

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

Growth: You were created to become like Christ.

Romans 8:28–29 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Ministry: You were shaped for serving God.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Mission: You were Made for Mission.

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

3. You are an ETERNAL being.

“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” - C.S. Lewis, “The Weight of Glory”

There is more to life than just our life in this body. I’m not talking about reincarnation.

There are two destinations: Matt. 25:46

Matthew 25:46 ESV

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

How can we be righteous?

You can’t do it.

You need Jesus to pay the price for your unrighteousness.

Romans 4:5 ESV

And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,

None of us have the righteousness needed to enter heaven. Rom. 3:23

God sent his Son, Jesus to live a perfect life, and take the penalty for your sin on the Cross. Rom. 5:8

He died, was burried and was raised to life on the third day. 1 Cor. 15:3-4

You must turn to Christ and believe in him, and you will be saved. John 3:18

John 3:18 ESV

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Is God punishing people simply for not believing in him?

We were already heading towards destruction. He is offering salvation.

Like a lifeguard offering to save a drowning swimmer.

The offer is there.

Spiritually, we cannot save ourselves. And we only have one life to respond.

“I guess I’ll just see what happens.”

It will be too late.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Will you receive that?

John 1:12 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

Response:

Believe what God says about who you are and what your purpose is for your life.

Trust in Jesus for the first time.

Get your life back on track with Jesus.

Discussion Questions:

Icebreaker

If someone asked you, “Who are you?” how would you answer right now?

1. Identity

If God made you intentionally, how should that shape the way you see yourself?

2. Purpose

What are you most tempted to live for, and how could living for God bring deeper joy?

3. Eternity

How does knowing you’re eternal change the way you think about your life today?