Aligning Life with God's Purpose Through Repentance
Summary
Living a life on purpose is a universal desire, yet it often stems from a longing for significance and fulfillment. However, true purpose begins with aligning our lives with God's purpose. This journey starts with repentance, a profound change of mind that leads to a change of life. Repentance is not merely about feeling remorse but involves a conscious decision to agree with God, turning away from self-centeredness to a Christ-centered life. This transformation is akin to experiencing a new way of life, much like discovering a new method of brewing coffee that changes your perception and experience of it.
In Matthew 3, John the Baptist calls for repentance, urging us to bear fruits worthy of repentance. This means our lives should reflect the change within us. Repentance involves three key steps: agreeing with God, trusting God, and living out that trust through our actions. The Apostle Paul's conversion exemplifies this process. Once a persecutor of Christians, his encounter with Christ led to a radical transformation, demonstrating that true repentance results in a life that actively reflects one's faith.
Living a life on purpose also means embracing the Great Commission. Jesus commands us to go and make disciples, emphasizing that our faith, while a personal decision, is meant to be lived out publicly. Our neighborhoods and workplaces are our mission fields, and we are called to share the gospel actively. This requires stepping out of our comfort zones, trusting that God will use our efforts to draw others to Him.
As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the importance of inviting others to experience the life-changing power of Christ. Whether through prayer, personal invitations, or simply living out our faith authentically, we are called to be active participants in God's mission. For those who have not yet committed their lives to Jesus, the invitation is open to experience His saving grace and begin a journey of living life on purpose.
Key Takeaways:
- True purpose begins with aligning our lives with God's purpose, which starts with repentance—a change of mind that leads to a change of life. Repentance involves agreeing with God and turning away from self-centeredness to a Christ-centered life. [38:57]
- Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our sins; it involves a conscious decision to trust God and live out that trust through our actions. This transformation is akin to experiencing a new way of life, much like discovering a new method of brewing coffee that changes your perception and experience of it. [49:33]
- The Apostle Paul's conversion exemplifies true repentance, demonstrating that a genuine encounter with Christ leads to a radical transformation. His life changed from persecuting Christians to becoming a devoted follower of Christ, showing that repentance results in a life that actively reflects one's faith. [55:23]
- Living a life on purpose means embracing the Great Commission, where our faith, while a personal decision, is meant to be lived out publicly. Our neighborhoods and workplaces are our mission fields, and we are called to share the gospel actively, stepping out of our comfort zones to fulfill God's mission. [01:09:35]
- As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the importance of inviting others to experience the life-changing power of Christ. Whether through prayer, personal invitations, or simply living out our faith authentically, we are called to be active participants in God's mission, sharing His love with those around us. [01:13:07]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to Life on Purpose
- [01:45] - Understanding True Purpose
- [03:20] - The Call to Repentance
- [05:10] - Bearing Fruits Worthy of Repentance
- [07:00] - The Power of a Changed Mind
- [09:15] - The Coffee Analogy
- [12:00] - The Apostle Paul's Transformation
- [15:30] - Embracing the Great Commission
- [18:45] - Our Mission Fields
- [21:00] - Preparing for Easter
- [23:30] - Invitation to Salvation
- [26:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living a Life on Purpose
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 3:1-8
- Acts 26:19-20
- Matthew 28:18-20
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Observation Questions:
1. What does John the Baptist call people to do in Matthew 3, and what is the significance of "bearing fruits worthy of repentance"? [38:57]
2. How does the sermon describe the process of repentance, and what analogy is used to explain this transformation? [49:33]
3. In Acts 26, what does Paul say about his conversion experience and the message he shared with others? [55:23]
4. According to the sermon, what is the Great Commission, and how does it relate to living a life on purpose? [01:09:35]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of repentance as a "change of mind" challenge or affirm your current understanding of repentance? [49:33]
2. What does it mean to "bear fruits worthy of repentance," and how can this be observed in a person's life? [38:57]
3. How does Paul's transformation from persecutor to apostle illustrate the power of repentance and faith? [55:23]
4. In what ways does the Great Commission call believers to step out of their comfort zones, and why is this important for living a life on purpose? [01:09:35]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant change of mind or perspective. How did it lead to a change in your actions or lifestyle? [49:33]
2. Identify an area in your life where you feel called to "bear fruits worthy of repentance." What practical steps can you take to align your actions with this calling? [38:57]
3. Consider the story of Paul's conversion. How can you apply the principles of his transformation to a current challenge or decision in your life? [55:23]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of the Great Commission. What specific actions can you take this week to share your faith with someone in your neighborhood or workplace? [01:09:35]
5. As Easter approaches, think of three people you can invite to experience the life-changing power of Christ. How will you reach out to them, and what will you say? [01:13:07]
6. Reflect on the idea of living a public faith. How can you demonstrate your faith in everyday interactions, even when it feels uncomfortable? [01:09:35]
7. The sermon mentions the concept of "Christian atheists." How can you ensure that your life reflects your belief in Christ, rather than living as if He doesn't exist? [01:06:19]
Devotional
Day 1: Aligning with God's Purpose
True purpose in life begins with aligning oneself with God's purpose, which requires a profound change of mind and heart. This transformation starts with repentance, a conscious decision to turn away from self-centeredness and embrace a Christ-centered life. Repentance is not merely about feeling remorse for past actions but involves agreeing with God and allowing His will to guide our lives. This change is akin to discovering a new way of experiencing life, much like finding a new method of brewing coffee that alters your perception and enjoyment of it. [38:57]
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to realign your priorities with God's purpose? How can you begin this process of repentance today?
Day 2: Trusting and Living Out Faith
Repentance is not just about feeling sorry for our sins; it involves a conscious decision to trust God and live out that trust through our actions. This transformation is akin to experiencing a new way of life, much like discovering a new method of brewing coffee that changes your perception and experience of it. Trusting God means actively living out our faith in everyday situations, allowing His guidance to shape our decisions and actions. This process requires a commitment to change and a willingness to let go of self-reliance in favor of divine guidance. [49:33]
"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act." (Psalm 37:5, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific situation do you need to trust God more fully today? How can you demonstrate that trust through your actions?
Day 3: Radical Transformation through Encountering Christ
The Apostle Paul's conversion exemplifies true repentance, demonstrating that a genuine encounter with Christ leads to a radical transformation. Once a persecutor of Christians, Paul's life changed dramatically after his encounter with Christ, becoming a devoted follower and advocate for the faith. This transformation shows that repentance results in a life that actively reflects one's faith, illustrating the power of Christ to change hearts and lives. [55:23]
"And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced a significant change in your life due to your faith. How can you continue to allow Christ to transform you today?
Day 4: Embracing the Great Commission
Living a life on purpose means embracing the Great Commission, where our faith, while a personal decision, is meant to be lived out publicly. Our neighborhoods and workplaces are our mission fields, and we are called to share the gospel actively, stepping out of our comfort zones to fulfill God's mission. This requires courage and a willingness to engage with others, trusting that God will use our efforts to draw others to Him. [01:09:35]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about the love of Christ? What is one step you can take today to share your faith with them?
Day 5: Inviting Others to Experience Christ
As we approach Easter, we are reminded of the importance of inviting others to experience the life-changing power of Christ. Whether through prayer, personal invitations, or simply living out our faith authentically, we are called to be active participants in God's mission, sharing His love with those around us. This invitation is open to all, offering the opportunity to experience His saving grace and begin a journey of living life on purpose. [01:13:07]
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you invite someone to experience the love and grace of Christ this Easter season? What practical steps can you take to extend this invitation?
Quotes
"All right. Well, last week we wrapped up Binge the Bible. And this week we're starting a brand new series called Life on Purpose. Now, if I were to walk around the room and I were starting to talk to everybody and I'd go, listen, are you a person who wants to live your life on purpose? Everybody, I think, would say yes. Nobody would go, yeah, I really don't want to live my life on purpose. Like, I just want to kind of flounder around. Right? But when we talk about purpose, a lot of times it comes out of a place of I want my life to make a difference." [00:38:17] (41 seconds)
"And generally it has, and I think sometimes it comes from a good place, but oftentimes it has to do with the feelings that we have. We want to do something that makes us feel significant. We want to do something that makes us feel significant. We want to do something that makes us feel significant, that makes us feel like we're fulfilled, but I believe that we have to start, and I do believe that God will do that, and he wants to do that in each and every one of us, but I think it has to start with understanding that we have to live life on God's purpose, and that's really where it starts, and so today, we're gonna start that." [00:39:57] (39 seconds)
"Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Now, in the Greek, if you've been in church for a while, you know the term repent, right? You've heard the term repent. In the Greek, as you dig that out, you find out there's a Greek word metanoia, at least I think that's how it's pronounced. But literally it means the reversal of a decision. Okay? Now, I read this in a Bible dictionary a while back. It says in the New Testament, repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin." [00:41:37] (42 seconds)
"Repentance is a profound change of mind involving the changing of direction of life from self-centeredness or sin-centeredness to God or Christ-centeredness. So repentance is that. It is a change of mind. Now, the way that we say that, the way that I've said that for the purpose of this message is the change of mind is I choose to agree with God. It's a change of mind. It's a I'm choosing now to agree with God." [00:42:58] (40 seconds)
"And so repentance means there's this change of mind. And we said it like this, we choose to agree with God. Meaning the fact that, man, there are times in God's word that God will say something that I have to choose to agree with. Because in my natural, I don't necessarily want in the natural to agree with it. Come on, right? When he says, be angry and sin not." [00:51:21] (37 seconds)
"And there are times when I'm reading God's word that it's almost like God does that. He'll look at me and he'll go, stop. And he doesn't give a whole lot of an explanation other than to say what you are about to do is wrong. And that's where I have to, in repentance, choose to agree with God. Now, I don't know if you remember the story of the Apostle Paul prior to the Apostle Paul. But as I was studying this whole repentance thing, the Apostle Paul, Paul was formerly the Pharisee Saul who was persecuting those who followed the Bible calls the way. Okay?" [00:54:01] (54 seconds)
"And so he was so convinced that his form of Judaism was right and that their form of Judaism, because there was no such thing as Christianity at that point, it was a sect of Judaism. He was convinced that they were so wrong that he had gotten letters from the governor to be able to go and have them put to death if they were caught. Until one day as he was going on the road, what we now know as the road to Damascus, he is traveling down that road on his valiant steed when all of a sudden a bright light from heaven knocked him off of his steed. And he lands on the ground and he has this radical encounter with the one that he has been persecuting." [00:54:41] (53 seconds)
"And from that point on, Paul's life is changed. Right? He had an encounter that completely changed his mind. But it's in his recounting of that with King Agrippa in Acts 26 that I found something about repentance that I found interesting. It's Acts 26 19 and 20 and it says this, therefore King Agrippa, and he's talking to him, telling him about his conversion. He said, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance." [00:55:23] (56 seconds)
"And I, I really believe that's the third part of repentance. We, we have a change of mind. We, I, I choose to agree with God. We have a, a turning to God. I choose to trust God. And then there has to be a change of life where I act like he really exists. Now, back, back to, back to, Pastor Chris didn't even pour me a cup. I don't, I don't even know what to think. He just left me up here. I think he got tired of feeling like he was on the, on the, on the, a spotlight, right? And so, we made this Japanese siphon." [01:05:03] (38 seconds)
"As a matter of fact, if we want to live our lives on purpose, if we want to bear fruits worthy of repentance, we have to go back. To Matthew 28. I didn't give you this, Ms. Christy. No, it's not Ms. Christy back there today. I didn't give you this, but I'm just going to, I'm going to go to Matthew 28 and I'm just going to read. Jesus said to his disciples as he was getting ready to go to heaven, he said, therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I've commanded you." [01:09:02] (58 seconds)
"And so today, you know, we're coming up to Easter. Last week, we gave you opportunities to write some names on cards. If you weren't here for that or you didn't have an opportunity to do that, we've got some cards on either side of the stage that during our prayer time or worship time here, coming up in just a moment, man, you are free to move up here, write three names down, and lay them down. We're praying over these things on a daily basis. Somebody is in here every day praying over these things from now until Easter. Because we are believing that the people that you love enough to write their names down, that we believe God loves enough to begin by His Spirit to deal with their hearts and draw them to salvation, but He also loves them enough to send you and I to them." [01:11:58] (56 seconds)
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