OCTOBER 2

FLOURISHING IN MY PURPOSE

We are all created on purpose and for a purpose. Instead, we may find ourselves disillusioned or discouraged as we wander around in circles trying to make sense of a life of meaning. With God’s help, we can find what we’ve been designed to become.

Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. If someone were to ask you what your purpose is in life, what would you say?
2. What stood out to you from the message?
3. Read Genesis 1:26-28. What do we learn about our purpose from this passage? What does it look like to live out this purpose?
4. Read Ephesians 2:1-10. 
   • Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say):
     • Who is talking?
     • What is the circumstance?
     • Any repeated phrases?
     • What surprised you?
     • What stood out to you?
   • Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean)
     • What questions do you have?
     • Summarize the passage in 1-3 sentences – what are the main points?
     • What do you learn about the nature and character of God as you read this?
     • What do you learn about yourself and your choices?
   • Now make some applications (what’s my response)
     • How do you respond to what you are reading?
     • How does this apply to your life?
     • What is the central truth that you could put into practice from this?
     • Who could you share this with for the sake of encouragement?
5. Read Ephesians 4:1-6, 15-16 What do we learn here about the good works that God designed us to walk in? What role does community play in living out our purpose? 
6. Read Hebrews 1:3. If Jesus is the true image of God and perfectly lived out God’s purpose for humanity, what do we learn from Him about how to reflect God in the world?
7. What are the good works you know God has for you to walk in? How are you living in them personally as well as among community?  

KEY SCRIPTURE

Genesis 1:26-28    Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals   and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

Ephesians 2:1-10    As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.  

TAKE A NEXT STEP

1. For further study on what it means to be made in the image of God, check out the Bible Project video on this topic: https://bibleproject.com/bible-studies/image-of-god/
2. Consider doing the Bible study that goes along with the video:  https://bibleproject.com/bible-studies/image-of-god/ 

FOR THE PARENTS

THIS WEEK

This week, kids learn about Israel’s journey in Babylon, and how God was always with them.

ASK THIS

Because sometimes you and your kid need a conversation-starter that isn’t, “So . . . how was church?”

• Was there a time you made a different choice than those around you because it was the right one? Was it difficult?
• What helped you to not give up?

REMEMBER THIS

This month, your kids are memorizing the Bible verse Nahum 1:7 (NIV), in case you want to work on them together.

Preschool: “The Lord is good.” Nahum 1:7a

Elem: “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and he know those who trust in him.” Nahum 1:7

NEXT WEEK

Next week, kids will learn about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s devotion to God and how they ended up in the fiery furnace.