Purpose Driven Life Lessson 15

Purpose Driven Life

Lesson 15

Formed for God’s Family

Hebrews 2:10 (NCV) — 10 God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory.

Hebrews 2:10 NCV

10 God is the One who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory, so he made the One who leads people to salvation perfect through suffering.

1 John 3:1 (NLT) — 1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

1 John 3:1 NLT

1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him.

Introduction:

You were formed for God’s family.

• This is God’s second purpose for our lives

• The entire Bible is the story of God building a family who will love him, honor him, and reign with him forever.

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) — 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Ephesians 1:5 NLT

5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

• God’s very nature is relational

• The Trinity is the first indication of that.

• God has always existed in loving relationship to himself.

• When God made us, he did so because it was to bring God joy.

• We are God’s prized possessions

• James 1:18 (NLT) — 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

James 1:18 NLT

18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

• It’s wonderful how God designed his family

o He’s the Father

o There is God the Son

o We are his children

o We call each other brother and sister

o We often use the expression “church family”

• The only way to be part of the ‘family” is to be born again

1 Peter 1:3 NLT

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

Consider this: Our physical family are a wonderful gift but are temporary and fragile (Often broken)

• Our spiritual family last forever

Ephesians 3:14–15 The Living Bible

14 When I think of the wisdom and scope of his plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth—

Benefits of being in God’s family

a. Your spiritual (church) family

i. The moment you were spiritually born into God’s family, you were given some astounding birthday gifts:

1. the family name

2. the family likeness

3. family privileges

4. family intimate access

5. The family inheritance

Galatians 4:7 NLT

7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir.

The Riches

Philippians 4:19 NIV

19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

As children of God we get to share in the family fortune.

iii. Here on earth we are given “the riches…of his grace…kindness…patience…glory…wisdom…power…and mercy.”

But when it comes to eternity listen to this

Ephesians 1:18 NLT

18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

What exactly does that inheritance include?

i. We will get to be with God forever. 1 Thess 5:10

ii. We will be completely changed to be like Christ. 1 John 3:2

iii. We will be freed from all pain, death, and suffering. Rev 3:14

iv. We will be rewarded and reassigned positions of service. Mark 9:41

v. We will get to share in Christ’s glory. Rom 8:17

This eternal inheritance, not retirement, is what you should be looking forward to and working for.

Colossians 3:23–24 NIV

23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Life’s greatest privilege

Being included in God’s family is the highest honor and the greatest privilege you will ever receive.

ii. This our greatest privilege

iii. Whenever you feel unimportant, unloved, or insecure, remember to whom you belong.