Finding Clarity and Purpose in God's Plan

Summary

In our journey through life, clarity is a precious gift. It guides us in understanding our purpose and the role we play in God's grand design. Just as I found clarity from my three-year-old daughter when choosing a gift for my niece, we too can find clarity in our spiritual lives by seeking God's guidance. We often wander through life, unsure of our purpose, but God has a divine reason for each of us. Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are God's masterpiece, created for good works that He planned long ago. Our purpose is intertwined with God's larger plan of redemption, and we are invited to participate in this mission.

The story of Joseph from Genesis illustrates how our purpose may not always be clear. Joseph's journey was filled with challenges, yet God was with him, guiding him to fulfill a greater purpose. Joseph's life teaches us that our purpose is not solely for ourselves but is part of God's plan to bring salvation to the world. Even in our darkest moments, God is working behind the scenes, shaping us for His mission.

Our purpose is often found at the intersection of our past experiences, our gifts, and the passions that stir our hearts. It's not always about monumental acts but can be found in small acts of love and service. As Mother Teresa said, "It's the small things done in great love." We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reflecting His love and grace to those around us.

The question we must ask ourselves is, "What is the next step for me to be driven by my dreams?" Whether we are living out our purpose or seeking it, God is calling us to participate in His plan of redemption. He is on a mission, and we are invited to be part of it, regardless of our stage in life. Let us seek clarity in our lives by asking, "What is God doing around me?" and "How can I join Him in His work?" God's peace and strength be with you as you discover and live out your purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Clarity in life is essential for understanding our purpose. Just as I found clarity from my daughter, we can find spiritual clarity by seeking God's guidance. Our purpose is part of God's larger plan of redemption, and we are invited to participate in this mission. [01:59]

2. The story of Joseph teaches us that our purpose may not always be clear, but God is with us, guiding us through challenges. Our purpose is not solely for ourselves but is part of God's plan to bring salvation to the world. [06:58]

3. Our purpose is often found at the intersection of our past experiences, our gifts, and the passions that stir our hearts. It's not always about monumental acts but can be found in small acts of love and service. [13:14]

4. We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reflecting His love and grace to those around us. Our purpose is to participate in God's plan of redemption, regardless of our stage in life. [14:24]

5. The question we must ask ourselves is, "What is the next step for me to be driven by my dreams?" God is calling us to join Him in His work, and we must seek clarity by asking, "What is God doing around me?" [16:07]

Youtube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[01:59] - Understanding Purpose
[06:58] - Joseph's Journey
[08:29] - God's Greater Plan
[09:06] - Joseph's Role in Salvation
[13:14] - Finding Our Purpose
[14:24] - Reflecting God's Love
[16:07] - Driven by Dreams
[17:09] - Conclusion and Blessing

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. 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."
2. Genesis 50:20 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
3. Matthew 28:19-20 - "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 have commanded you."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Ephesians 2:10 say about our identity and purpose as God's creation?
2. How did Joseph's understanding of his purpose evolve throughout his life, according to Genesis 50:20? [09:06]
3. What role does Jesus assign to his followers in Matthew 28:19-20, and how does this relate to the sermon’s message about participating in God's plan? [14:24]
4. How did the pastor's story about his daughter Addie illustrate the concept of finding clarity in our purpose? [01:59]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of being God's "masterpiece" in Ephesians 2:10 influence a believer's understanding of their personal purpose and value?
2. In what ways does Joseph's story in Genesis 50:20 demonstrate that our purpose can be part of a larger divine plan, even when it is not immediately clear? [08:29]
3. How might the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20 serve as a guiding principle for believers seeking to understand their role in God's mission? [14:24]
4. What does the pastor mean when he says that our purpose is often found at the intersection of our past experiences, gifts, and passions? [13:14]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt unclear about your purpose. What steps can you take to seek clarity from God in your current situation? [01:59]
2. Joseph faced many challenges before understanding his purpose. How can you remain faithful and patient when your purpose seems unclear or distant? [06:58]
3. Consider your past experiences, gifts, and passions. How might these elements come together to reveal your unique role in God's plan? [13:14]
4. How can you actively participate in God's mission of redemption in your daily life, regardless of your current stage in life? [14:24]
5. Identify a small act of love or service you can perform this week to reflect Jesus' love and grace to those around you. [14:24]
6. What is one specific way you can engage with what God is doing around you, and how can you join Him in His work? [16:07]
7. How can you be driven by your dreams while aligning them with God's purpose for your life? What is the next step you can take in this journey? [16:07]

Devotional

Day 1: Seeking Clarity in God's Guidance
In our journey through life, clarity is a precious gift that helps us understand our purpose and the role we play in God's grand design. Just as one might find clarity from a child's simple perspective, we too can find spiritual clarity by seeking God's guidance. Often, we wander through life unsure of our purpose, but Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are God's masterpiece, created for good works that He planned long ago. Our purpose is intertwined with God's larger plan of redemption, and we are invited to participate in this mission. By seeking clarity, we align ourselves with God's will and open our hearts to His direction. [01:59]

"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 is one area of your life where you feel uncertain about your purpose? How can you seek God's guidance to gain clarity in this area today?

Day 2: Trusting God's Presence in Uncertainty
The story of Joseph from Genesis illustrates how our purpose may not always be clear. Joseph's journey was filled with challenges, yet God was with him, guiding him to fulfill a greater purpose. Joseph's life teaches us that our purpose is not solely for ourselves but is part of God's plan to bring salvation to the world. Even in our darkest moments, God is working behind the scenes, shaping us for His mission. Trusting in God's presence during times of uncertainty allows us to remain steadfast and hopeful, knowing that He is guiding us toward His divine purpose. [06:58]

"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." (Genesis 50:20, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you trust that God is with you and working for your good in this situation?

Day 3: Discovering Purpose in Everyday Moments
Our purpose is often found at the intersection of our past experiences, our gifts, and the passions that stir our hearts. It's not always about monumental acts but can be found in small acts of love and service. As Mother Teresa said, "It's the small things done in great love." We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reflecting His love and grace to those around us. By embracing our unique gifts and passions, we can discover our purpose in everyday moments and make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. [13:14]

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: What small act of love or service can you do today to reflect Jesus' love to someone in your life?

Day 4: Reflecting God's Love and Grace
We are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, reflecting His love and grace to those around us. Our purpose is to participate in God's plan of redemption, regardless of our stage in life. By embodying Christ's love and grace, we become living testimonies of His transformative power. This calling invites us to engage with the world around us, offering hope and compassion to those in need. As we reflect God's love, we contribute to His mission of redemption and bring light to the darkness. [14:24]

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect God's love and grace to someone in your community this week?

Day 5: Taking the Next Step in God's Mission
The question we must ask ourselves is, "What is the next step for me to be driven by my dreams?" Whether we are living out our purpose or seeking it, God is calling us to participate in His plan of redemption. He is on a mission, and we are invited to be part of it, regardless of our stage in life. By seeking clarity and asking, "What is God doing around me?" we can discern how to join Him in His work. God's peace and strength be with you as you discover and live out your purpose. [16:07]

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific step you can take today to align your actions with God's mission and your dreams?

Quotes

1) "Everyone ends up somewhere, and few people end up somewhere on purpose, and as God's people, we are called to something greater, something bigger than ourselves, and so how great would it be if each day we woke up with the clarity of this is why God has me in this moment, at this time, in this place. It'd be great. It'd be life-changing, I would say, go so far as to say, and so the question is, what is purpose? Well, purpose is God's divine reason for calling a person as it relates to God's bigger, larger plan of redemption, of bringing the world, bringing the lost back to himself, and he invites us to play a role in that." [01:59] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "We are called into this life as God's children, as God's people, to play a role in what God is doing. He is working on us and in us so that he can work through us. What a privilege, what a responsibility that we all have as God's children. We get to play a role in God's plan, but I think the challenge for us is that sometimes that role is not always clear. Sometimes it's distracted. It gets lost in the everyday, the mundane of life. It's not generally found on a big billboard that says, this is what you're supposed to do, but rather it happens more organically, and sometimes you just happen to stumble, upon it, and the reality is that each one of us, regardless of where we're at in life, has a part to play." [06:58] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Joseph, from the book of Genesis, is that sometimes our purpose is not easily seen. Joseph, for instance, he got a glimpse of what God was going to do for him or through him when he was 17 years old, but it wasn't until he was about 30 that it became abundantly clear. And in the time, that stretch of 10 to 15 years, Joseph's life was full, full of twists and turns. He took one step forward and then followed by a few steps backwards. He was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was raised to a position of significance and prominence in an Egyptian's house, where he was then wrongfully accused of sexual assault and thrown into prison for years, all right? And yet, what we see each and every time is that God has a purpose for each one of us." [06:58] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "And little did Joseph know that through this act, through this purpose, that he was ultimately serving God's greater, bigger purpose that would ultimately lead to Jesus, right? Because it was through one of his brothers, that Judah, who would become the 30th great-grandfather to Jesus, the one who would come into the world to rid us of the depravity of sin, to free us from the bonds of sin, death, and the power of the devil, so that we can find life and freedom and forgiveness through Jesus, the one who is the ultimate deliverer, the one who is the best form of salvation that we need, right? Little did Joseph know that his act of protecting and providing for his family was ultimately going to lead to yours and mine's salvation for all humanity, right?" [09:06] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "And so the same is true for us, that even in the darkness, even in the questions of why is this, what am I doing? What am I doing here? That God is working behind the scenes and that he has promised, as Jesus said, that I will never leave you nor forsake you, that God is with you, that he is shaping you, that he is moving you into this season of your purpose, which is a different, which is going to look a little bit different depending on where you are and the different stages of life. Jesus says, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, right? It's the purpose that ultimately Jesus invites us into as part of God's family, to go and make disciples, to go and share everything that we know about God." [13:14] (58 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "And it's in this place that we find our purpose. And for us, purpose, and sometimes we get confused about this. Maybe we get afraid or timid by this, but purpose is not, just these big, monumental things. Sometimes, and as Mother Teresa says, it's just the small things done in great love. And so for us, as we sit here today as God's people gathered together, as people who ultimately want to be the light, want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, what does it tangibly look like in my life right now? How is God, messing with you, so to speak? What is he doing around you that he is inviting you into, right? Not so that you get the glory, but as Paul says in 2 Thessalonians, that the name of Jesus will be honored because of the way you live." [14:24] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Just like I found clarity from a three-year-old about what gift to give my niece, we find clarity when we lean into what is God doing around me? What is he teaching me right now? What is he asking me to do through the promptings, the nudgings of the Holy Spirit? What is he circumstantially doing in my life that maybe is moving me more fully into a purpose that he has been preparing for me? And I think that's what we need to do. And I think that's what we need to do for years. God, what are you doing? Right? Clarity is so important. So here's the question that I want to ultimately leave you with today. What is the next step for you to be driven by your dreams?" [16:07] (49 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?