FEBRUARY 6
TAKE SOME PURPOSE
God created you on purpose and for a purpose. God gives us so many remarkable spiritual blessings so that we can share them with others. We receive His joy, hope, peace and so much more so that we can share them with others. The God of love invites us to bring His light and life everywhere we go. We can make the world a better place and help others discover that they “take all they need” as well.
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. As we have been in this series, Take as much as you need, what have you discovered you most need to take hold of that God has already promised and made available to you as his child (hope, community, joy, peace, purpose, etc)?
2. What stood out to you from the message?
3. Read Acts 17:24-28.
- 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?
b.) 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 or the world around you?
c.) Now make some applications (what’s my response)
• How do you respond to what you are reading?
• How could this apply to your life today?
• What is the central truth that you could put into practice from this?
• Who could you share this with for the sake of encouragement?
4. Read Ephesians 1:3-5. God chose you before he made the world. How does it feel to know you are chosen? Do you think about yourself as chosen? Why or why not?
5. Read Ephesians 2:8-10. You are God’s masterpiece. Do you believe that? What would God say if He was sitting right next to you about the beauty and uniqueness you bring to the world?
6. Read Romans 12:6-8. God wants to partner with you to bring His goodness into the world. He does that by giving you unique gifts to use to bless others. What are your spiritual gifts? If you aren’t sure, think about what others have said about things you have done (where have others consistently pointed out you are good at something?)
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7. How can you take a step deeper into knowing who you were uniquely made to be by God?
1. Are you in a group – maybe find a running partner and talk regularly about your faith and challenge/encourage one another to step out in faith.
2. Are you doing life alone – find a group (New ones are starting in February).
3. Want to know your spiritual gifts – take a class
4. We are made in the image of God, maybe your next step is to explore God – Join Alpha starting in February
KEY SCRIPTURE
Acts 17:24-28 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Ephesians 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
Ephesians 2:8-10.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.
Romans 12:6-8.We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
DIGGING DEEPER
Watch “Heaven and Earth” video at BibleProject.com
Watch “Holy Spirit” video at BibleProject.com
Sign Up for Advance to discover your uniqueness and calling.
Purchase Fruitful: Becoming Who God Created You To Be by Eric Bryant at
Use this excerpt from Fruitful to help you discover your Calling:
In what areas are you currently serving out of passion?
In what areas are you currently serving out of obligation? If you were passionate about
this area in the past, what changed in you or the situation?
How do your preferences shape what may be your calling?
How do your strengths shape what may be your calling?
How do your underlying motivations shape what may be your calling?
When in your life have you felt most alive?
Consider Psalm 37:4, which says: “When we delight ourselves in God, He gives us the
desires of our heart.” With this being the case, think of a time when you have been closest to God, what were you wanting to do with your life?
In what areas of your life have you been affirmed for your efforts?
In what ways do you like to serve others?
Do you have personal core values?
If so, what are they?
If not, consider Michael Warden’s definition of a value and come up with your top five.
“A value is any context, quality or way of engaging with life that fills you up, gets your
blood going, and nourishes your soul. Essentially, a value can be anything that makes
your heart come alive.”
Do you have a personal mission statement?
If so, evaluate on a scale from 0 to 10 how well you are doing at living out this
statement?
If not, what do you think would be elements you could include in one?
How has God spoken to you through the Scriptures, through your church family, or
through that “still, small voice” about your purpose?
What are areas of need you see around you that you sense need to be met?
What does God want you to do for the world?