Embracing Our Purpose: God's Masterpiece in Action
Summary
Welcome to Vision Sunday, a day where we celebrate the past year and look forward to what God has in store for us. Today, we welcome new members into our church family, recognizing that each of us is a masterpiece created by God. We are reminded that God has planned good works for us to do long ago, and it is our privilege to walk in those plans. As we reflect on Ephesians 2:10, we understand that we are not just saved to be part of God's family but to actively participate in His work on earth.
The church is the visible presence of Christ, and through us, God wants to bring hope and healing to the world. We are called to be His hands and feet, to serve and love others, and to be a light in the darkness. This is not just a call for the church as a whole but for each individual. God has given each of us unique gifts and opportunities to make a difference. Whether it's through inviting a friend to church, serving in a ministry, or simply being a loving presence in someone's life, we are all part of God's plan.
As we look to the future, we are reminded of the importance of prayer and discernment. We are in a season of seeking God's guidance for our church and for the broader Alliance movement. We trust that God has a plan, and we are committed to following His lead. We invite you to join us in prayer as we seek to be faithful to His calling.
Key Takeaways:
- The Power of Invitation: A simple invitation can be a powerful tool in God's hands. Many people come to know Christ through a personal invitation from someone they trust. Consider who in your life might be open to an invitation to church or a small group. [33:14]
- God's Masterpiece: You are God's masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus. This means that God sees immense value in you and has specific plans for your life. Embrace your identity in Christ and seek to live out the good works He has prepared for you. [38:16]
- The Church as Christ's Body: The church is the visible presence of Christ on earth. As His body, we are called to be His hands and feet, serving and loving others. This is not just a collective calling but an individual one. Each of us has a role to play in God's mission. [42:33]
- Living with Purpose: God has planned good works for you to do long ago. Your life has a purpose beyond personal enjoyment or achievement. Seek to align your life with God's plans and be open to the opportunities He presents to serve and love others. [47:37]
- Trusting God's Plan: In times of uncertainty, we can trust that God has a plan. He is faithful and His promises are true. As we seek His guidance for our church and our lives, we can be confident that He will lead us in the right direction. [01:05:51]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Vision Sunday Overview
- [01:15] - Invitation to Vision Night
- [02:45] - New Membership Celebration
- [05:00] - Prayer for New Members
- [07:30] - God's Work in the World
- [10:00] - Call to Prayer for Leaders
- [12:00] - The Power of Invitation
- [15:00] - The Church as Christ's Body
- [18:00] - Ephesians 2:10 - God's Masterpiece
- [22:00] - God's Long-Ago Plans
- [25:00] - Living with Purpose
- [30:00] - Trusting God's Plan
- [35:00] - Vision Night Details
- [40:00] - Closing Prayer and Song
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:10: "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
Observation Questions:
1. According to Ephesians 2:10, what does it mean to be God's masterpiece, and how does this relate to the good works He has planned for us?
2. In the sermon, what examples were given of how the church acts as the visible presence of Christ on earth? [42:33]
3. What statistics were shared about the power of a personal invitation to church, and how does this reflect the sermon’s emphasis on outreach? [33:14]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of prayer and discernment in seeking God's guidance for the church's future? [01:05:51]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding oneself as God's masterpiece influence a believer's identity and purpose in life? [38:16]
2. What does it mean for the church to be the "visible presence of Christ," and how can individuals embody this in their daily lives? [42:33]
3. Why might a simple invitation to church be a powerful tool in God's hands, and how can this be seen as part of God's plan for outreach? [33:14]
4. How can believers discern God's plan for their lives and the church, especially during times of uncertainty? [01:05:51]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life. In what ways do you see yourself as God's masterpiece, and how can you embrace this identity more fully in your daily actions? [38:16]
2. Think of someone in your life who might be open to an invitation to church or a small group. What steps can you take this week to extend that invitation? [33:14]
3. How can you actively participate in being the hands and feet of Christ in your community? Identify one specific action you can take this week to serve others. [42:33]
4. Consider a time when you felt uncertain about God's plan for your life. How did you seek His guidance, and what can you do to strengthen your prayer life during such times? [01:05:51]
5. Identify a gift or talent you believe God has given you. How can you use this gift to contribute to the church's mission and serve others?
6. Reflect on the sermon’s message about living with purpose. What is one area of your life where you feel called to align more closely with God's plans? [47:37]
7. How can you support the church's vision and mission, both locally and globally, through your prayers, time, or resources? [54:51]
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Personal Invitation
A simple invitation can be a transformative tool in God's hands. Many people come to know Christ through a personal invitation from someone they trust. This act of reaching out can open doors to spiritual growth and community. Consider who in your life might be open to an invitation to church or a small group. The impact of such an invitation can be profound, as it often leads to deeper relationships and a greater understanding of God's love. [33:14]
"Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find." (Matthew 22:9, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life might be open to an invitation to church or a small group? How can you extend that invitation this week?
Day 2: Embracing Your Identity as God's Masterpiece
You are God's masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus. This means that God sees immense value in you and has specific plans for your life. Embrace your identity in Christ and seek to live out the good works He has prepared for you. Understanding this truth can transform how you view yourself and your purpose. It encourages you to step into the roles and opportunities God has designed uniquely for you. [38:16]
"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, ESV)
Reflection: What unique gifts and talents has God given you? How can you use them to serve others this week?
Day 3: The Church as the Visible Presence of Christ
The church is the visible presence of Christ on earth. As His body, we are called to be His hands and feet, serving and loving others. This is not just a collective calling but an individual one. Each of us has a role to play in God's mission. By actively participating in the life of the church, we become conduits of hope and healing in the world. This calling challenges us to live out our faith in tangible ways, impacting those around us. [42:33]
"Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." (1 Corinthians 12:27, ESV)
Reflection: How can you be the hands and feet of Christ in your community this week? What specific actions can you take to serve others?
Day 4: Living with Purpose Beyond Personal Achievement
God has planned good works for you to do long ago. Your life has a purpose beyond personal enjoyment or achievement. Seek to align your life with God's plans and be open to the opportunities He presents to serve and love others. This perspective shifts the focus from self-centered goals to a life of service and impact. It invites you to consider how your daily actions contribute to God's greater plan. [47:37]
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can align more closely with God's purpose? How can you take a step towards that alignment today?
Day 5: Trusting in God's Faithful Plan
In times of uncertainty, we can trust that God has a plan. He is faithful, and His promises are true. As we seek His guidance for our church and our lives, we can be confident that He will lead us in the right direction. This trust requires a willingness to surrender our own plans and desires, believing that God's ways are higher and better. It encourages us to lean into prayer and discernment as we navigate life's challenges. [01:05:51]
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God's plan more fully? How can you practice surrendering that area to Him today?
Quotes
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you're the one who made it possible for us to be adopted into a family that is forever and spans the globe and is just beautiful, uh, in the eyes of the Father. So thank you, Lord, for each one of these sisters and brothers. Thank you for how you've brought them to a relationship with you, for how you're already making an impact through their lives. Lord, would you just pour out your peace and your joy. Lord, may their lives be an overflow of your Holy Spirit that, uh, as Jesus, you said, rivers of living water, uh, would come from them. Just refresh the people around them. So God, do great things to them, uh, guide them and guard them, Lord. Guard them from any attacks that would come their way. And may they stand strong in you. [00:17:44] (49 seconds)
We have such a great God. To be able to witness what he's doing all around the world, let's just thank him together. Father, we thank you today that you're active, Lord, here and all over Cleveland and around Ohio and our country and in nations around the world, Lord. You're so good. Thank you for what you're doing. Lord, thank you for last week and how many youth from the Grace family encountered you and your presence on their retreat. God, what you did. May their roots go deep in you, Lord. Thank you for them. Thank you, Lord, for those who were baptized a couple of weeks ago and just some of the great stories of how you're at work. And, Lord, may their roots go deep in you. [00:31:26] (46 seconds)
The church was created, listen to this, the church was created by God the Father to be the visible presence of Christ on the earth. Do you believe that? In other words, we don't see Jesus. People are like, I don't really see. You know where Jesus is seen? In his people. That we're, he's the head of the church and we're the what? We're the body. So the hands that Jesus is going to use today are your hands. The ears he's going to listen with are your ears. The mouth he's going to speak with is your mouth. The feet that he's going to take someplace are your feet. He wants to do his work through you. What Jesus does today in the world, he does through his people. [00:36:47] (43 seconds)
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Friends, when you look in the mirror, I don't know what you see or how you feel about what you see, but can I tell you this? When God the Father looks at you, he looks at you and he sees a what? A masterpiece. Like he likes the way he created you, the way he wired you, the gifts that he's given you. God personally designed you and has plans for your life. [00:39:24] (39 seconds)
You are his masterpiece created anew in Christ Jesus so that, like he doesn't just save you to be part of his family and to bless you, although he does do that, but it says so that we can do the good things he planned for us when? Long ago. I'm going to ask you several times to say those two words. Let's just say them again right now. Ready? When did he do that? Long ago. Long ago. That God knew, like from way before you were born, he had in mind the good things he wanted to do through your life. [00:41:54] (39 seconds)
Friends, long ago that God had in mind not only to send Jesus the first time as a little baby, only a few witnesses, but he was going to send him again and every eye will see him and it's going to happen and Jesus is going to come and he's going to restore all things to the way that God originally intended them to be. So here are some of the things planned long ago. The mission of Jesus, the coming of the Holy Spirit, your adoption into God's family, the plans to reach all people, the second coming of Jesus, and you know what else we can put in there? This is amazing. With all those other things, something else that God planned long ago are the good things he wants to do in your life and through your life. [00:46:23] (46 seconds)
Wherever he takes me, wherever he takes you, that he has all kinds of things that he wants to do through your life. And he gives us gifts in order for that to happen. If you turn over a page to Ephesians chapter 4 verse 7, we read this, God has given how many of us a special gift? Each one. Each one of you has been given a special gift. And down in verse 16, through those gifts, he makes the whole body fit together perfectly as each part does its own special work. It helps the other parts to grow so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. [00:48:07] (43 seconds)
That's what God wants to do through you, is to bring greater health and growth and love among his people. He gives you the ability, a gift, and to do good things so that those, that kind of health and growth and love can take place. And every person has an important role. There's not like eight gifts and, you know, B gifts or, you know, tier one and tier two or something like that. He gives every one of us a gift. He's given you a gift or probably multiple gifts. And he's saying, I have a lot of things I planned long ago that I want to do through your life. [00:48:50] (35 seconds)
Friends, there's really just one reason why God hasn't taken you to heaven yet. He's not done doing good things through your life. He's got plans for you. You and I are not primarily alive today so that we can maybe play with the grandchildren someday or retire or visit these national parks or go to Disney again or whatever. There's nothing wrong with those things. Timothy says, God gives us all things to enjoy. But if that's the primary aim of your life, you're going to come up very disappointed. [00:49:26] (38 seconds)
Because ultimately, your life is about your relationship with Jesus Christ and the good things that God wants to do through you. And it's your destiny. It's the reason why he hasn't taken you yet to heaven is because he's going, I'm not done. I have things I want to do through her life. I have things that he... When Christians are at their best, they just show the goodness of God. [00:50:18] (26 seconds)
You are God's masterpiece. I hope that you've put your trust in him. He's creating you anew and he has good things he wants to do through you. So here's my request. Would you pray with us and would you keep serving? Keep doing the good things. Whatever, the elders here have an emergency succession plan. If I'm killed in a car accident this afternoon or whatever, they have a succession plan. Whenever God takes me off the scene, Jesus is not going to leave this church family, right? He's going to be faithful all the way through. [01:06:39] (35 seconds)
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