The Purpose of Life
We must start with the Purpose of Life
1. According to the scriptures, what is the purpose of life? (Why do I exist)
Answer: To glorify God– to demonstrate the greatness of His character by functioning according to His design and will in all aspects of life.
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We were not created for ourselves!!!
Isaiah 43:7, Romans 11:36, Colossians 1:15-17, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Corinthians 5:9,15, Matthew 5:14-16
2. Goals, to bring glory to God.
a. Know God Intimately
- Have a deep relationship with Him.
John 17:3, Matthew 7:21-23
b. Progressing In Spiritual Maturity
- Being transformed to the image of Christ – Sanctification
2 Corinthians 3:18, Ephesians 4:11-16
c. Being Useful To God
- Serving God by using your spiritual gifts and his kingdom
Ephesians 2:10, Romans 7:4, 1 Peter 4:10-11
3. Steps to reach the goals, to bring glory to God.
a. Learn The Truth Of God. (study)
2 Timothy 3:16, 2:15, Psalm 1:1-3, 119:104-105
b. Live As You Have Learned. (obedience)
James 1:19-22, Psalm 119:101-102
c. Love As You Have Learned. (serve others)
John 13:34-35, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Ephesians 4:16-17
So How do I fulfill my God given purpose in life?
- I learn the truth about God from his scriptures.
- I live that truth out in obedience and love as I have learned.
- This will put me in the position to know God intimately, to grow into spiritual maturity and serve His kingdom well.
- As I strive in the steps and increase in the goals, I will increasingly demonstrate the greatness of His character by functioning according to His design in all aspects of life.
- I incrementally increase in bringing glory to God.
Purpose of Life: Homework
With this homework, we will try to discern God’s purpose for our lives. We will look at the goals that must be sought after so that we can be equipped to fulfill God’s purpose for us and the steps/activities that God gives us to reach the goals that will allow us to fulfill God’s purpose for our lives.
- Record your answers on a separate sheet of paper and be ready to turn in your homework.
- You can copy and paste this homework on a separate document to fill it in, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs, etc.…
1. What is the Purpose of Life?
a. Read the following scriptures and write down key words or phrases that point to our purpose in life.
i. Isaiah 43:7
ii. Romans 11:36
iii. 1 Corinthians 10:31
iv. 2 Corinthians 5:9
v. 2 Corinthians 5:15
vi. Matthew 5:14-16
2. Now that we know our purpose in life, the next question is, What does it look like to live my life in a way that brings Glory to God? What are the Goals that we should strive for?
a. Read John 17:3,
This is Jesus praying to the Father.
Jesus speaks of believers knowing God and Himself in an intimate way.
i. Do you know God intimately? Why or why not?
ii. How can you get to know God more intimately?
b. Read 2 Corinthians 3:18 and Ephesians 4:11-16 and Romans 8:29.
- These verses speak about being transformed into the image of Christ.
- Which means being made holy and righteous in this life.
- This is sanctification.
- Spiritual maturity is one of the goals to allow us to Glorify God.
i. On a scale of 1-10 how serious are you about being transformed into the image of Christ?
ii. Give specific examples where God is spiritually maturing you at this time.
iii. Read Hebrews 12:10-11. Are you submitting to God’s discipline in your life so you can be trained up in spiritual maturity?
iv. Read Galatians 5:22-23. What fruit of the spirit is God developing in you at this time?
c. Read Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Peter 4:10-11.
- These scriptures teach us that we are to be useful to God in His Kingdom.
- Our service through the strength that God supplies is a goal that will help us live in a way to fulfill God’s purpose for us.
i. How are you serving others well?
ii. Who in your life are you not serving well?
iii. How could you serve them better?
3. Now we will look at the steps scripture gives us to strive for the goals to bring God glory.
a. The First Step is to learn the truth of God.
Read 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Timothy 2:15, Psalms 1:1-3 and Psalms 119:104-105.
i. From these verses, how do you think God wants us to learn His truth?
ii. How often are you reading the Bible?
iii. If not often, why not?
iv. What plans will you put in place to spend time learning the truth of God by being in His Word?
b. The second step after we learn the truth of God is to live in obedience to what we have learned. Read James 1:22 and Psalm 119:101-102.
i. Are there areas of your life where you know God’s truth but struggle to be obedient?
ii. Are you struggling to be obedient in your own strength? Or are you being strengthened by God’s power/grace? See Colossians 1:11-14, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 and Philippians 4:13.
iii. How do you think that having an intimate relationship with God (step 1) would help obedience?
c. The third step we must take to reach for the goals that will allow us to fulfill our God given purpose is to Love others as God’s Word tells us to.
We show that love by serving others. Read John 13:34-35 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
i. List people and/or circumstances which bring out a lack of love.
ii. Read the story of the unforgiving servant Matthew 18:21-35 and 1 John 3:16-18.
What reason did Jesus give that the unforgiving servant should have forgiven his fellow servant?
iii. What love have we been shown as in the 1John passage?
Does this motivate you to love to others? Why or why not?
iv. List ways that you can practically serve/love well those people in your life that you find it hard to love.
Summary:
How do I fulfill my God given purpose in life?
- I learn the truth about God from His scriptures
- I live that truth out in obedience and love as I have learned
- This will put me in the position to know God intimately, to grow into spiritual maturity and serve His Kingdom well
- Now my life will demonstrate the greatness of His character by functioning according to His design in all aspects of life
- My life will bring Glory to God
- I will reap the benefits of fearlessness, joy, and a peace that surpasses all understanding along with all the riches of God from his glory