Discovering Divine Purpose Through Our Identity in Christ
Summary
In our journey through the book of Ephesians, we have been exploring the profound vision that God has for us, a vision that is not of human origin but divinely inspired, as seen in Acts 1:8. This vision calls us to be witnesses of Christ's love and power in our immediate surroundings—our "Jerusalem"—and beyond, to our broader region, to those who are different from us, and to the ends of the earth. We are called to engage in prayer, outreach, and giving, recognizing that together, we can continue Christ's mission more effectively than we can alone.
We delved into the puzzle of purpose, understanding that every one of us has a deep-seated need for purpose. This need transcends age, wealth, and education. Without purpose, even the wealthiest life can feel empty. The search for purpose has long puzzled humanity, but we are reminded that we cannot find our purpose by looking within ourselves. Instead, we must turn to God, our Creator, to discover the purpose He has for us.
In Ephesians 4, Paul, writing from prison, implores us to live a life worthy of our calling. We are called by God, chosen before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. This calling is not just for the spiritually elite but for every follower of Jesus. We are blessed with every spiritual blessing, chosen, loved, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven. This new identity in Christ is the foundation of our purpose.
Paul instructs us to embody humility, gentleness, patience, unity, and peace. These attributes are not naturally esteemed by our culture, but they are essential for living a life worthy of our calling. We grow in these attributes through community, as we interact with others who challenge and stretch us. However, being part of a community does not automatically result in maturity. We need something beyond ourselves.
This is where the gifts of Christ come into play. Paul speaks of the gifts given to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts are not for a select few but for every believer, equipping us to do God's work and build up the church. When we understand and exercise our gifts, Christianity becomes far from boring. We become active participants in God's work, and the church thrives.
The greatest gift, however, is not the spiritual gifts themselves but the gift of purpose in Christ. Understanding that God loved us even in our lostness and brokenness, and that He has called us to a relationship with Him, is the ultimate gift. This relationship with Christ is where we find true purpose and are empowered to live in alignment with our new identity.
Key Takeaways:
- God has given each of us a unique calling that is not based on our human qualifications but on His divine purpose. We are called to live out this purpose with humility, gentleness, patience, unity, and peace, reflecting the character of Christ in our daily interactions. [47:20]
- The gifts of Christ to the church—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—are not just titles or roles but are meant to equip every believer to participate in the work of God. When we understand and develop our spiritual gifts, we contribute to the growth and health of the church body. [01:01:13]
- Our identity in Christ is foundational to our purpose. We are chosen, loved, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven by God. This identity should shape our behavior, actions, speech, and responses, aligning us with God's calling on our lives. [44:10]
- The pursuit of purpose apart from Christ is futile. It is only in understanding our relationship with Him that we can truly grasp the purpose for which we were created. This purpose is not self-centered but is rooted in serving God and others. [35:32]
- The greatest gift we can receive is the knowledge of our purpose in Christ. When we embrace this gift, we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, and we are empowered to live in a way that honors Him and fulfills His mission on earth. [01:09:02]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Acts 1:8
2. Ephesians 4:1-13
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Acts 1:8, what are the four areas where Jesus instructs His followers to be witnesses? ([29:22])
2. In Ephesians 4:1, what does Paul urge believers to do, and from where is he writing this letter? ([38:10])
3. What are the attributes Paul lists in Ephesians 4:2-3 that believers should embody? ([47:02])
4. What are the gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11, and what is their purpose? ([01:00:57])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the vision in Acts 1:8 expand the scope of Christian witness beyond just local communities? ([29:22])
2. Why does Paul emphasize humility, gentleness, patience, unity, and peace in Ephesians 4:2-3, and how do these attributes contrast with cultural values? ([47:02])
3. What is the significance of the spiritual gifts listed in Ephesians 4:11, and how do they contribute to the growth and health of the church? ([01:00:57])
4. How does understanding our identity in Christ, as described in Ephesians 4:1-13, shape our behavior and purpose? ([44:10])
#### Application Questions
1. Acts 1:8 calls us to be witnesses in various spheres of influence. How can you be a witness of Christ's love and power in your immediate surroundings this week? ([29:22])
2. Reflect on the attributes of humility, gentleness, patience, unity, and peace. Which of these do you find most challenging to embody, and what steps can you take to grow in this area? ([47:02])
3. Paul speaks of the importance of community in developing these attributes. How can you engage more deeply with your church community to foster these qualities? ([51:01])
4. Identify your spiritual gifts from the list in Ephesians 4:11. How can you begin to develop and exercise these gifts to contribute to the growth of your church? ([01:00:57])
5. The sermon emphasized that our purpose is found in Christ. How can you align your daily actions and decisions with your identity and purpose in Christ? ([44:10])
6. The pursuit of purpose apart from Christ is described as futile. Have you experienced this in your life, and how did turning to Christ change your understanding of purpose? ([35:32])
7. The greatest gift is the knowledge of our purpose in Christ. How can you share this understanding with someone who is struggling to find their purpose? ([01:09:02])
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Design for Daily Living
God's vision for our lives is not something we can craft on our own; it is a divine blueprint that surpasses human understanding and qualifications. This vision encompasses our immediate environment and extends to the farthest reaches of the earth, urging us to be witnesses of Christ's love and power. It is a calling that requires us to engage in prayer, outreach, and giving, emphasizing the importance of community in fulfilling Christ's mission. As individuals, we may have limited impact, but together, we can achieve a greater purpose and continue the work that Jesus began.
"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
Reflection: How can you be a witness of Christ's love in your 'Jerusalem' today, and what practical step will you take to reach out to someone in your community? [47:20]
Day 2: Equipped for Service, Empowered for Growth
The gifts of Christ to the church are not mere titles or roles but are essential tools for equipping every believer to actively participate in God's work. These gifts, including apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, are given to build up the church and foster unity and maturity within the body of Christ. When we understand and develop our spiritual gifts, we contribute to the growth and health of the church, making Christianity an engaging and dynamic faith.
"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Reflection: What spiritual gift do you believe God has given you, and how can you use it this week to serve others in your church community? [01:01:13]
Day 3: Identity Shaped by Divine Love
Our identity in Christ is the cornerstone of our purpose. We are chosen, loved, adopted, redeemed, and forgiven by God, and this new identity should inform and transform our behavior, actions, speech, and responses. Understanding who we are in Christ aligns us with God's calling on our lives and enables us to live in a manner that honors Him and reflects His character to the world.
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9)
Reflection: In what ways can you live out your identity as a chosen and loved child of God in your interactions with others today? [44:10]
Day 4: The Futility of Purpose Without Christ
The pursuit of purpose apart from Christ is ultimately futile. It is only through understanding our relationship with Him that we can truly grasp the purpose for which we were created. This purpose is not self-centered but is rooted in serving God and others, reflecting the sacrificial love of Christ in our lives.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10)
Reflection: What is one way you can serve someone else this week as an expression of your purpose in Christ? [35:32]
Day 5: Embracing the Gift of Purpose in Christ
The greatest gift we can receive is the knowledge of our purpose in Christ. When we embrace this gift, we experience the fullness of life that God intends for us, and we are empowered to live in a way that honors Him and fulfills His mission on earth. This gift of purpose provides us with a sense of direction and motivation to pursue a life that is pleasing to God and beneficial to others.
"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being." (Ephesians 3:14-16)
Reflection: How can you align your daily activities with the purpose God has given you in Christ, starting today? [01:09:02]
Quotes
1) "You grow in these attributes as you get around other people. They stretch you. But just because we're part of a community doesn't mean that we will automatically mature." [51:27](Download | Download)
2) "Paul is saying you're called by God. He has blessed you. He's chosen you. He loves you. He adopted you. He redeemed you. He forgave you. So what would a blessed, chosen, loved, adopted, redeemed, forgiven person do?" [46:42](Download | Download)
3) "He gave gifts to his people. Our conquering hero, he's conquered darkness, he's conquered Satan, and he doesn't receive gifts like any other conquering hero would do. What does our conquering hero do? He gives gifts." [01:00:13](Download | Download)
4) "When we're functioning in the way that God designed us to function, the church will come to a full knowledge of God and that's not just facts and information about God. That's experiential knowledge." [01:06:59](Download | Download)
5) "Because of what God has done for us and his calling on our lives, Paul begs us to live a life worthy of that calling. My behavior, my actions, my speech, my reactions and responses should be in accordance with, in alignment with the way that God has called me." [44:10](Download | Download)
6) "Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. This is what it means to live a life worthy of the calling. And you have been called." [49:54](Download | Download)
7) "Always be humble and gentle. These aren't even necessarily attributes that this culture esteems, but Paul says, if you're going to live a life worthy of the calling, this is what it looks like." [47:20](Download | Download)
8) "The greatest gift is when you understand that you have a purpose and that purpose is in Christ. You'll never understand purpose apart from Christ." [01:09:02](Download | Download)
9) "Christianity becomes far less boring when we stop seeing the church as merely sitting in rows of chairs, listening to a guy spit, and we instead realize that God has called each one of us to be active participants in what he is doing in our community and world." [01:03:15](Download | Download)
10) "He has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. Each one of us, that's what Paul's saying. Each one of us gets a gift through the generosity of Christ." [55:43](Download | Download)
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