Episode Details

The Question WHY

• Frustrating when kids ask

But a REALLY GOOD QUESTION
WHY do you do what you do?

WHY Are you here?

• WHY do you exist?

What is your WHY?

• We all have one

Abundant Life is a PURPOSEFUL LIFE

John 10:10

10 A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.
Last week…

What is abundant life?

Abundant life is a life full of the spiritual gifts of God’s Holy Spirit given to His faithful followers

 

Current Statistics:

2023 Harvard Graduate School of Education

More than half of young adults (58%) reported that they lacked “meaning or purpose” in their lives in the previous month and half of young adults reported that their mental health was negatively influenced by “not knowing what to do with my life.”
There are many other factors that may contribute to feelings of meaninglessness and purposelessness as well as to anxiety and depression, including:

• The increasing focus on the self in our culture;
• Difficulties making choices given new, rapidly changing, and sometimes undefined career paths;
• Young adults marrying at older ages
• Declines in religious participation
• High social media use and other forms of digital media use
• A media ecosystem that floods us with frightening messages
• Higher expectations than their predecessors for finding meaning and purpose

“Religious communities can provide you with a meta story, can give you a sense of meaning, a place across geographic boundaries and time,” Weissbourd said. “So I’m not again saying we should become more religious, but we should think about how we create some of these aspects of religion in secular life.”

 

2 Rules for having a PURPOSEFUL ABUNDANT LIFE

Rule 1: Your purpose cannot start with you

“What’s my WHY?” is the wrong question for the Christian
Scripture teaches that…

True purpose is found in God Alone

God Created ALL THINGS on purpose for a purpose

2 Types of Purpose

General Purpose:

The chief end of man is to Glorify God with your life

 

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
This is the FOUNDATION of your WHY

You exist to GLORY GOD with your WHOLE LIFE
You cannot bypass this to get to your “Specific purpose”
Specific Purpose/Calling:

Empowered by specific gifts of the Holy Spirit

• Lived out through the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Can be:

• Something right now
• Something Later in life

Tips to knowing your specific calling:
Grow where you are planted

Luke 16:10

Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.

• Healthy things grow

Whether you are a…

• Parent
• Student
• Spouse
• Employee
• Leader
• Teacher

Your calling will often follow your gifts/passions

• But the Lord can “ADD TO” the meet what He has purposed you for

 

Your Purpose is for you but not ABOUT YOU

• Bigger than you
• Will take FAITH/OBEDIENCE

  Rule 2: God’s Purpose for your life Is a PROCESS, Not a PLACE

 

God’s purpose for your life is not linear
Romans 8:20

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Process = Sanctification

Sanctification: The process of being made into the image of Christ in your life

 

Joseph in Potiphar’s house

• Summarize up to this point