Embracing God's Unique Mission for Our Lives

Devotional

Day 1: God Graciously Saves Sinners with Bad Strategies

God’s grace is extended to all, even those who have lived by misguided missions and failed strategies. No matter how lost or off-course someone may feel, God’s salvation is not earned by our own efforts or good works, but is a free gift received through faith in Jesus Christ. This means that no one can boast about their own achievements or righteousness, because it is Jesus who has accomplished everything necessary for our salvation. Take time today to consider the ways you may have tried to earn God’s favor or relied on your own plans, and remember that God’s grace is sufficient to rescue and redeem you, no matter your past. [09:17]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV)
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: What is one “bad strategy” you’ve relied on—like self-reliance or people-pleasing—that you need to surrender to God’s grace today?

Day 2: God Intentionally Made Each of Us with His Mission in Mind

Each person is uniquely crafted by God, designed with purpose and intentionality to make a difference for His kingdom. Just as a masterpiece is created with care and vision, you are God’s workmanship, made to reflect His glory and to fulfill the good works He has prepared for you. It would be a tragedy to live for a lesser mission or to use your gifts for something other than God’s intended purpose. Embrace the truth that you are not an accident or an afterthought, but a beloved creation with a divine calling. [16:36]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV)
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to use your gifts or energy for purposes other than God’s mission, and how can you realign your focus today?

Day 3: God Wants You to Walk in the Good Works He Prepared for You

God’s plan is not just for you to know about your purpose, but to actively live it out by walking in the good works He has set before you. Jesus modeled this by commissioning His disciples to go and make more disciples, a mission that continues through the church today. You are invited to participate in this ongoing movement, using your unique strengths and passions to impact others for Christ. Don’t let fear, comfort, or distraction keep you from stepping into the opportunities God has placed in your path this week. [24:08]

Matthew 28:19 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: Who is one person God is prompting you to encourage or disciple this week, and what is one step you can take to reach out to them?

Day 4: Discover and Articulate Your Unique Life Mission

God has given you specific strengths, passions, and opportunities to make an impact for His kingdom, both within your family and beyond. Taking time to prayerfully reflect on your gifts and desires can help you clarify your personal mission and live with greater intentionality. Whether you are a parent, a student, a worker, or a retiree, God has a calling for you in this season. Writing out your life mission statement can be a powerful step toward embracing and living out God’s purpose for you. [29:37]

Romans 12:6-8 (ESV)
"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

Reflection: Take 15 minutes today to write out your own life mission statement, considering your strengths, passions, and the impact you desire to have—then share it with someone you trust.

Day 5: Jesus Modeled Ultimate Mission by Serving and Sacrificing

Jesus is the ultimate example of living on mission, willingly submitting to the Father’s will and giving His life as a ransom for many. His sacrificial service is both our salvation and our model, calling us to serve others with humility and courage. As followers of Jesus, we are sent to serve, not to be served, and to embrace the cost and joy of living for God’s greater purpose. There is limited time to carry out the mission God has entrusted to you—will you accept it today? [33:25]

Mark 10:45 (ESV)
"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone sacrificially this week, following the example of Jesus?

Sermon Summary

Each of us is created with a purpose, designed by God to make a difference in the world for His glory. Just as the heroes in our favorite action movies are given missions only they can accomplish, God has entrusted each of us with a unique mission that matters. This isn’t just a cinematic thrill—this is the reality of the Christian life. We are not here by accident, nor are we meant to drift aimlessly or chase after lesser goals. God’s invitation is to step into a life of meaning, to be better missionally, and to live out the good works He has prepared for us.

We often find ourselves living by “bad strategies”—pursuing comfort, striving for approval, or simply playing it safe. Like Maverick in Top Gun, we sometimes go our own way, only to find ourselves lost or leaving destruction in our wake. Yet, God’s grace is greater than our missteps. He saves us not because of our works, but as a gift, through faith in Jesus Christ. This salvation is not just a rescue from sin, but a call into a new way of living—a life aligned with God’s mission.

God’s design for us is intentional. We are His workmanship, His masterpiece, crafted with care and purpose. The Greek word for “workmanship” is poema, reminding us that our lives are like a poem written by God, meant to reflect His creativity and love. He has placed us in this time and place, with specific strengths and passions, to walk in the good works He has prepared in advance. Our mission is not generic; it is personal and unique, shaped by our gifts, our stories, and the needs around us.

But knowing our purpose is not enough. God calls us to walk in it—to actively participate in His plan by making disciples, serving others, and investing in the people He’s placed in our lives. Whether in our families, our workplaces, or our neighborhoods, we are sent to serve, just as Jesus was sent to serve and give His life as a ransom for many. The time is limited, and the invitation is clear: Will you accept God’s mission for your life?

Key Takeaways

1. God’s grace rescues us from our failed strategies and self-centered missions. No matter how lost or misguided we have been, salvation is a gift, not a reward for our efforts. This grace frees us from the pressure to earn God’s favor and invites us to rest in what Christ has done, allowing us to let go of old patterns and embrace a new direction. [09:17]
2. Our lives are intentionally designed by God, not random or accidental. We are His workmanship—His poema—crafted with unique strengths, passions, and opportunities. To live for anything less than God’s purpose is to misuse the masterpiece He has created in us, missing out on the fullness of what He intends. [16:36]
3. God has prepared specific good works for each of us, tailored to our gifts and circumstances. The week ahead is not a blank slate, but a canvas God has already envisioned, filled with opportunities to advance His kingdom. Our role is to discern and walk in these works, trusting that God’s plan is both personal and purposeful. [17:59]
4. The call to mission is not just for spiritual “heroes” of the past, but for every believer today. Just as God used Samuel, Paul, and countless others, He has placed us in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and families for such a time as this. Our daily faithfulness in small and large ways is part of God’s ongoing story of redemption. [20:27]
5. Jesus is our ultimate example of living on mission, embracing the Father’s will even when it was costly. He was sent to serve, not to be served, and gave His life as a ransom for many. Our mission flows from His—sent to serve, to make disciples, and to invest our lives in what matters most, knowing that our time is limited and the invitation is urgent. [33:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:43] - Created for a Mission
[05:13] - Bad Strategies and Broken Missions
[07:53] - Lost Without God’s Direction
[09:17] - Salvation by Grace, Not Works
[11:01] - Common Distractions from God’s Mission
[12:11] - Comfort, Control, and Playing It Safe
[13:43] - God’s Intentional Design
[16:36] - We Are God’s Workmanship
[17:59] - Good Works Prepared in Advance
[20:27] - Our Unique Place in God’s Story
[21:22] - Abandoning Old Missions
[22:40] - Three Reasons to Embrace God’s Mission
[24:08] - The Great Commission and Discipleship
[25:27] - Leading Yourself: Practical Tools
[27:29] - Crafting a Family Mission Statement
[29:37] - Ministry Mission and Multiplying Disciples
[31:28] - God’s Mission in Every Life Stage
[32:31] - Jesus: The Ultimate Example of Mission
[33:25] - Sent to Serve: Accepting God’s Mission

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV) — 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV) — 19 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,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Mark 10:45 (ESV) — For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 2:8-9, what is the basis of our salvation? What does Paul say about our own efforts?
In Ephesians 2:10, what word does Paul use to describe us, and what does that word mean? ([16:36])
What specific mission does Jesus give to his followers in Matthew 28:19-20?
How does Mark 10:45 describe the purpose of Jesus’ coming to earth?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul emphasizes that salvation is a gift and not a result of works? How does this change the way someone might approach their relationship with God? ([09:17])
The sermon compared our lives to a “poem” or “masterpiece” crafted by God. What does it mean for someone to see themselves as God’s workmanship? How might this affect their sense of purpose? ([16:36])
The sermon mentioned “bad strategies” like living for comfort, approval, or playing it safe. Why do you think these are so tempting, and how do they distract from God’s mission? ([12:11])
Jesus is described as the ultimate example of living on mission, serving others even at great cost. What does it look like for a believer to follow Jesus’ example in their daily life? ([33:25])

Application Questions

The sermon talked about “bad strategies” we use in life, like seeking comfort, approval, or playing it safe. Which of these (or others) do you find yourself tempted by? How have these strategies affected your sense of purpose or direction? ([12:11])
Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship, created for good works prepared in advance. What are some unique strengths, passions, or opportunities God has given you? How might these point to the specific “good works” God has for you this week? ([17:59])
The pastor encouraged everyone to write a personal or family mission statement. Have you ever thought about your life’s mission in this way? If not, what would it look like to start? If you have, how has it shaped your decisions? ([27:29])
Jesus calls us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). Who in your life could you intentionally invest in or encourage in their faith journey? What is one step you could take this week to do that? ([24:08])
The sermon said our mission is not generic, but personal and unique. What is one area of your life (family, work, neighborhood) where you sense God inviting you to step out in faith or serve others? What might be holding you back? ([20:27])
The pastor shared that Jesus’ mission was costly and required sacrifice. Is there a cost or risk you sense God asking you to take for the sake of his mission? How can the group pray for you as you consider this? ([33:25])
The message ended with the question: “Will you accept God’s mission for your life?” What would it look like for you to say “yes” to God’s mission this week? ([33:25])

Sermon Clips

God has a mission that he's designed each one of us to live out and I'm going to give you three reasons from God's word to adopt that mission of God for as your mission in life. The first one is this, and it's a beautiful reason. Number one, God graciously saves sinners who have bad strategies. Our God graciously saves sinners like you and me who are born into this life, both with a sin nature and bad strategies for approaching things in life. [00:04:32] (37 seconds) #GraceSavesBadStrategies

The salvation that we each need from the consequences of our sin in order to avoid an eternal just judgment of God, an eternal separation from the fullness of God's goodness and presence in a real place called hell, in order to avoid that, we need God to save us from our sin. And there's not one thing that we can do on our own strength to get ourselves out of that predicament. We need God's grace to be given to us, and that is what He does. [00:09:20] (34 seconds) #RejectBadStrategies

Salvation is a gift. It's something that God has to be the one to give to us, and we have to receive it. And it's not a result of works. So let's take care of these books. Jesus is the one who did the good works on the cross and he gives that credit of holiness, of justification, he gives that to us. That means we can't be walking around bragging, acting like we're the ones who got ourselves here. Jesus is the one who did it. [00:10:16] (29 seconds) #AbandonSelfMadeSalvation

Maybe for you a bad strategy is trying to earn God's favor all on your own. Trying to say, you know what? I don't need God's grace and forgiveness. I think I can pull it together on my own. I think I can say enough prayers, go to church enough times, give enough money to earn salvation, to earn God's approval. The Bible makes it clear. There is no way we can do any of those things on our own. That's a bad strategy. [00:11:13] (33 seconds) #CreatedWithPurpose

God intentionally made each of us with his mission in mind. God has designed you with purpose, with intentionality to be able to make a difference for his kingdom. [00:13:57] (17 seconds) #ChooseNewMissionDaily

My friends, you and I, we've been designed by the creator of the universe, the master designer, the master worker. He has designed you and I with a specific purpose and design in mind. So to go off and get sidetracked on a distracting mission would be so tragic. [00:16:00] (23 seconds) #WalkInPreparedGoodWorks

Tom Cruise, as good as he is at making movies and hanging off of airplanes in the sky, which I would not want to do that. All right? He's not our ultimate role model. We all know who it is. It's Jesus Christ himself. [00:32:45] (15 seconds)

The word excruciating is a word that talks about the pain that someone would experience on the cross. Excrux, out of the cross. That word excruciating, Jesus was willing to go through that mission to go to the grave in our place and to rise again that we might have new life in him. [00:33:14] (21 seconds)

``Jesus was sent to serve and now we are sent to serve as well. So I invite you, God has this mission for you should you choose to accept. Don't worry, this message will not self -destruct in five seconds. That's what they say in all the movies, okay? This message will not self -destruct in five seconds but we do have limited time. There is limited time to carry out the mission that God has as your calling. That's what I want to ask you. Do you accept God's mission? [00:33:57] (36 seconds)

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