Finding Identity and Purpose Through Christ's Mission

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound question of identity and purpose in our lives, particularly as it relates to our faith in Christ. We often find ourselves in different seasons of life, each with its own unique calling. Whether we are in school, married, single, or experiencing other life changes, we all seek to understand who we are before God and what we are meant to do in our current season. This quest for identity and purpose is a universal human experience, and it is something that the Apostle Paul addresses in his letter to the Romans.

Paul's mission was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, to unify the diverse nations as one acceptable offering to God. His life was a testament to the relentless pursuit of this mission, even in the face of imprisonment and adversity. Paul understood that the gospel was not just for the Jewish people but for all nations, and he worked tirelessly to spread this message. His writings remind us that we are part of a larger story, one that involves bringing all nations back to God as a unified family.

As we reflect on Paul's mission, we are reminded of our own responsibility to continue this work. We are called to be ministers of Christ, to bring others to the obedience of faith, and to live as a unified, diverse church. This involves not only sharing the gospel but also living it out in our daily lives, being a light to those around us, and working together as a community of believers.

Paul's example challenges us to examine our own lives and consider how we can contribute to this mission. Are we planting seeds of faith in our communities? Are we working to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace? Are we reaching out to those from different cultural backgrounds and learning from their faith journeys? These are the questions we must ask ourselves as we seek to live out our calling in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Identity and Purpose in Christ: Our identity in Christ is foundational, yet each season of life brings a unique calling. Understanding who we are before God and what we are meant to do in our current season is a journey that requires reflection and faith. [00:58]

- Paul's Mission to the Gentiles: Paul's mission was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, unifying diverse nations as one offering to God. His relentless pursuit of this mission, even in adversity, serves as a powerful example for us to follow. [06:13]

- Unity in Diversity: The gospel calls us to be a unified, diverse church. This involves embracing different cultural backgrounds and expressions of faith, working together as a community, and preserving the unity of the Spirit. [39:04]

- Living the Gospel: Sharing the gospel is not just about words but also about living it out in our daily lives. We are called to be a light to those around us, planting seeds of faith and working towards a harvest. [10:36]

- The Bigger Story: We are part of a larger story that involves bringing all nations back to God. This mission requires us to be active participants, contributing to the work of the gospel and living as a unified, diverse church. [22:18]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [00:58] - Seasons of Life and Identity
- [01:49] - Understanding Paul's Mission
- [03:03] - The Role of Tertius
- [05:33] - Paul's Calling and Ministry
- [06:13] - Ministering to the Gentiles
- [07:57] - Obedience and Faith
- [09:26] - Paul's Ambition and Journey
- [10:36] - Planting Seeds of Faith
- [12:43] - Reversal of Babel
- [15:26] - Mutual Aid and Unity
- [17:59] - Challenges and Deliverance
- [19:29] - The Bigger Story
- [22:18] - Paul's Message and Mission
- [39:04] - Unity in Diversity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 15:14-21
2. Romans 16:17-20
3. 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Paul express about his satisfaction with the Roman believers in Romans 15:14? How does he describe their qualities? [05:33]

2. In Romans 15:20, what is Paul's ambition regarding preaching the gospel, and how does he plan to achieve it? [09:26]

3. According to Romans 16:17, what does Paul warn the believers to watch out for, and why is this important? [43:08]

4. How does Paul describe the ultimate victory over spiritual forces in Romans 16:20? What imagery does he use? [48:16]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Paul's mission to the Gentiles reflect the broader theme of unity in diversity within the church? Consider how this mission challenges cultural and religious boundaries. [06:13]

2. What does Paul's ambition to preach where Christ has not been named suggest about his understanding of the gospel's reach and purpose? [09:26]

3. In Romans 16:17-18, Paul warns against those who cause divisions. How might this relate to the challenges faced by the early church, and what lessons can be drawn for today's church? [43:08]

4. How does the imagery of God crushing Satan under the believers' feet in Romans 16:20 relate to the overall message of hope and victory in the Christian faith? [48:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current season of life. How can you better understand your identity and purpose in Christ during this time? What steps can you take to seek clarity? [00:58]

2. Paul's mission was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. How can you contribute to spreading the gospel in your community, especially to those from different cultural backgrounds? [06:13]

3. Unity in diversity is a key theme in Paul's writings. How can you actively work to preserve the unity of the Spirit in your church community, especially when faced with differences? [39:04]

4. Consider the idea of living the gospel in your daily life. What practical actions can you take this week to be a light to those around you? [10:36]

5. Paul warns against those who cause divisions. Reflect on your interactions within the church. Are there ways you might unintentionally contribute to division, and how can you address this? [43:08]

6. The sermon mentioned the importance of planting seeds of faith. Identify one person in your life who you can encourage in their faith journey. What specific action will you take to support them this week? [10:36]

7. How can you engage with someone from a different cultural background to learn from their faith journey? What steps will you take to reach out and build a connection? [49:45]

Devotional

Day 1: Discovering Our Unique Calling in Christ
In every season of life, whether in school, married, single, or experiencing other changes, we are called to understand our identity and purpose in Christ. This journey requires reflection and faith as we seek to discern who we are before God and what we are meant to do in our current season. Our identity in Christ is foundational, and each season brings a unique calling that we must embrace with courage and trust. As we navigate these different phases, we are reminded that our ultimate purpose is to glorify God and serve others, aligning our lives with His will. [00:58]

"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 specific calling do you sense God has for you in this current season of your life, and how can you actively pursue it today?

Day 2: Embracing Paul's Mission to the Gentiles
Paul's mission was to bring the gospel to the Gentiles, unifying diverse nations as one offering to God. His relentless pursuit of this mission, even in the face of adversity, serves as a powerful example for us to follow. Paul understood that the gospel was not just for the Jewish people but for all nations, and he worked tirelessly to spread this message. His life challenges us to consider how we can contribute to this mission, reaching out to those from different cultural backgrounds and learning from their faith journeys. [06:13]

"And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation." (Romans 15:20, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life might be considered a "Gentile" in terms of being outside your usual circle, and how can you share the love of Christ with them this week?

Day 3: Unity in Diversity as the Church
The gospel calls us to be a unified, diverse church, embracing different cultural backgrounds and expressions of faith. This involves working together as a community and preserving the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. As we reflect on Paul's mission, we are reminded of our responsibility to continue this work, living as a unified, diverse church. This unity is not just about tolerating differences but celebrating them as part of God's design for His people. [39:04]

"There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to the unity and diversity of your church community, and what steps can you take to build bridges with those who are different from you?

Day 4: Living the Gospel in Daily Life
Sharing the gospel is not just about words but also about living it out in our daily lives. We are called to be a light to those around us, planting seeds of faith and working towards a harvest. This involves embodying the teachings of Christ in our actions, attitudes, and relationships, being a living testimony of His love and grace. As we live out the gospel, we become instruments of God's peace and reconciliation in the world. [10:36]

"In the same way, 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: What is one practical way you can let your light shine in your community this week, and how can you be intentional about planting seeds of faith in your interactions with others?

Day 5: Participating in the Bigger Story
We are part of a larger story that involves bringing all nations back to God. This mission requires us to be active participants, contributing to the work of the gospel and living as a unified, diverse church. As we engage in this mission, we are reminded that our lives are part of a grand narrative that God is writing, one that transcends our individual stories and connects us to His eternal purposes. [22:18]

"And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'" (Revelation 5:9, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively participate in God's larger story of redemption, and what steps can you take to align your life with His mission of bringing all nations back to Him?

Quotes

1) "These different seasons come, but we all want that pervasive sense of, like, who am I before God? But then there's that sense, like, right now, in this season, what am I supposed to be doing? What exactly is that? I know that haunts a lot of us, and I know that from personal conversations. I know that because it's a human thing. But it takes us a while to figure these things out, for sure. But in this last bit of Romans, we're going to look at the Apostle Paul. He's going to start to show... Oh, like, this is what my life is all about. And you're going to start to hear from him. And as we have been, this is my goal. This is what I'm trying to do. This is what I'm trying to accomplish." [00:58] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "In King Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished, through me to bring the Gentiles to the obedience. Isn't that interesting? I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience. What kind of obedience? Well, the main issue of disobedience we know is what? It's unbelief. That's the main issue. And all other issues stem from unbelief. You worship some other God or no God at all, you will descend. You will descend into darkness and chaos. Any of you know that story? If you don't keep Jesus ahead of you, then you'll start looking around and we will wander off." [07:57] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "So many of us live our lives like, God, I just want you to bring a harvest. Like where? Like right out there. Like, did you plant any seeds? No. No. But wouldn't it be great to see a harvest? Yeah. Yeah. You don't understand it, do you? At all. Not a bit. You just want to see a harvest. Like, see crops grow. And it's like, no. No, you have to remember, you have to till the soil. And then you put the seeds in. And then some water, some plants. But God gives the increase. So yes, pray for a harvest. But you kind of got to, well, some of you know this. Some of you have tried gardening without any seeds. And you notice that it's just, there it is again. It's just the same old. It's just the same old lawn, right?" [10:36] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "It is an amazing thing to think of the spirit coming into a cleansed people to go to all the nations to bring them all back so they can be offered to god because he's worthy i think that's the bigger story that we're in now yes jesus died so you could be saved and you could go to heaven when you die sure yes amen but you're in a much bigger story than that a much bigger story and it's really cool so he wants to get to spain and be helped along in his journey and and they could give him some money however he's going to jerusalem to bring aid to the saints some of you have known this from your reading of bible you've remembered that sometimes he talks about hey on the first day of the week set aside some money because when i come through town to collect that money i don't want it to be like i'm begging you and stuff like i just have it ready because i'm going to come through and then we're going to take this money to jerusalem because the saints are poor interestingly they're probably sort of poor because they live in a city and they don't have generate you know wealth out in the town and they also they pooled all their money and all their resources in acts chapter two so they're all kind of equally poor because they all just shared the increase and he wants to bring this mutual aid from all the gentile nations and bring it to jerusalem and just say we honor you we're one of you we love you we the nations have received the message of the gospel the messiah king jesus from you jewish people the jew first and also to the greek and what we want to do is now collect the money and send this money back to you and so all all the time paul was collecting this he'd grab one or two people from that church from that city from that church from that city to carry the wealth because they weren't wiring it they weren't sending in head they had to actually carry it so at some point he goes from bags of silver to like could i just have like two gold coins for that please so because we're carrying a lot of wealth back with them and he needs an entourage and accountability in the midst of this but his goal is to like bring the jewish and the gentile church together see we haven't forgotten about you we know that the gospel has gone out from you and so you can see his whole purpose is just to have one church one people but here he keeps going macedonia and ikea have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints of jerusalem for they were pleased to do it indeed they owe it to them for if the gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings they also ought to be of service to them a material blessing when therefore i've completed this have delivered to them what has been collected i will leave for spain by way of you and i know that when i come to you i will come in the fullness of the blessing he's never been to rome he's never met these in these different churches but he knows a bunch of people from these churches i appeal to you brothers by our lord jesus the king and by the love of the spirit to strive together with me in your prayers to god on my behalf that i may be delivered from the unbelievers in judea and that my service for jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints how many of you know what happened did was he delivered from the unbelievers in judea the book of acts yes and no he had to become imprisoned for multiple years to stay away from him because they wanted to attack him and so so when they were beating him up and trying to tear his throat out and beat him down with stones he was saved by a roman centurion but then put in prison and then there was a plot against him and so they under guard took him to cesarea to protect him from those who are unbelieving and wanted to destroy him now paul understands these people right because paul's a pharisee he's like i get it i understand why you'd want to destroy the work of jesus until you meet jesus until you meet jesus and then wow that there sure spins things around doesn't it but you would think they're ruining judaism they're ruining our story they're ruining our people we need to become pure don't we want god to come purify purify purify do we not want god to come yes we do so purify purify who are these people that say they've got this jewish you know they say that jesus is this thing get rid of them so we can purify ourselves so god can come they're just under a delusion paul had the scales fall off his eyes quite literally and so emerging forward but they come after him and so he is sort of saved right he's delivered was the service in jerusalem acceptable to the saints saints we don't know we don't know if the gift that he later brought would be with that would make their hearts just sing and praise toward god because look the gentiles believe as well so that by god's will i may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company may the god of peace now i'm not going to read through all of 16 we will get there when we when we get there but the the point of of wanting to read these things ahead of time is so that we know when we go study" [15:26] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Paul has been saying that that he is a minister of christ jesus to the gentiles in the priestly service priests stand in between purify and create a space for god to show up service of the gospel so the offering of the gentiles may be acceptable sanctified by the holy spirit and i want to encourage you to think that maybe this is the whole point of his message to offer because look at look we'll see this in the beginning romans chapter 1 verse 4 through 6 jesus christ our lord through whom we have received grace and the apostleship of the holy spirit and the holy spirit of the holy spirit to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations including you who are called to belong to jesus christ he also says this early on i don't want you to be unaware brothers that i've often intended to come to you but thus far have been prevented in order that i may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the gentiles i'm under obligation both to greeks and the barbarians both to the wise and the foolish so i'm eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in rome this is kind of the end caps of his book or his letter this is what he is all about so here's my main point about about call paul and his is the man the message and then what we can participate in that his calling was to bring about the obedience of faith among the nations present a united church as a living sacrifice and that's a reasonable offering that's an acceptable offering don't you think that jesus this is what jesus is doing is bringing the nations to the father and paul is delivering the nations to jesus and then we are doing the same thing in line remember the end of the whole story in first corinthians 15 the end of the what will be the end of the story we got the resurrection of jesus he's on the throne he's ruling and reigning until all the nations but in fact christ has been raised from the dead the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep for as a man by a man came dead by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead for as in adam all die so also in christ shall all be made alive but each in his own order christ the first fruits then at his coming those who belong to christ and then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to god the father after destroying every rule and every authority empire for he must reign until he's put all his enemies under his feet and the last enemy to be destroyed his death this is the story that we're in why do the nations reign for he must reign until he's put all his enemies under his feet and the last enemy to be destroyed his death this is the story that we're in why do age why are things such a mess why does it seem like there's spiritual forces that just darken some areas of our nation some areas of our world some areas of our mind well we're in the midst of and it's the i had this moment i was in a substitute teaching in a in a middle school classroom and i throw out the option for people to ask me random questions about anything they want anything whatever you want just to get started i tease i tease the idea that i'm not going to be i'm doing a student teacher connection moment just want to that's what i call an stc student teacher connection i'm just a you know i'm a schmuck so i just just make things up and i'm just having fun so so you know so one of the things that students and teachers do to connect is that the student says hey hey teacher i have a question and the teacher says oh what's your question i would like to inform you and then they have this little interchange you know so kids ask all sorts of stupid questions and i usually tell them something like but don't ask me any more questions about broccoli i'm super tired of those questions questions just to show them how random i am and that they they can ask anything but in one of these classes the girl's like what's one conspiracy theory you 100 believe in like no this girl has practiced this question before i love it yes this is great and the first thing i did is i said that there is personal evil that is opposed to us and god's plan and it's it's a strange one because it you feel like a kook sometimes don't you typically oh there's an enemy out to get you principalities and powers and authorities arrayed in opposition to god and you're like i don't want to believe that yeah congratulations not wanting to believe it you know but you go anywhere else in the world and what do they believe like that's the most that's the most they believe in is like oh yeah there's spiritual evil and it's terrifying but jesus is going to come and destroy every rule and every authority and every power and for paul when he discusses these things he's talking about rulers and authorities and powers he's talking about dark powers that back the play of many physical things but our our battle is not against flesh and blood so you have to be careful about that because there are people in our nation that are deceived and how do i know that they don't think exactly like you do no that'd be the conspiracy right like they don't they're deceived because they don't they don't know it's not as enlightened as you right and so we want to then recognize those people who don't get it right as opposed to saying you know i'm not here to battle against humans i believe that there are darker forces at work so it is kind of a weird conspiracy theory except for it just happens to be the one that bears out in data around the world is certainly communicated by scripture and makes some sense of what's going on that we battle against these things and jesus is going to battle and he's going to move forward and he's going to take all of these powers and authorities and then he's going to just deliver them to god the father that's his thing" [20:51] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "So this unity and diversity really matters to Paul, really matters to Jesus. He's worthy of us staying united together. Again, we could pull each other on current, modern day, political, you know, all sorts of different issues. But what we want to do is in this family, we want to keep the main things the main things. We want to, in the essentials, we want unity. In the non-essentials, we want, you know, a diversity and a tolerance. And an acceptance of those things. But in all things, we want to just treat each other with love. And that honors what God's trying to do to create a family. And when we allow ourselves, and America is the land of denominations, when we allow ourselves to divide, divide, divide, divide, to stay pure, stay pure, stay pure, stay pure, we undo the project that Jesus is worthy of, that Paul was attempting to accomplish, that we are now a part of doing as well. To preserve the bond, to preserve, to preserve the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. Not make unity, because what happened was Jesus did it. But to preserve the unity. So we just need to consider that we are a part of the promise to bless all nations. We are the plan to make that happen. We happen to be all nations, but then now we have to continue to move forward that way." [39:04] (92 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "So church, just consider the gift that you have in a family and consider the gift that you are to the family. And let's just lock in to preserve the unity, even celebrating the diversity. Consider, do you have partners in gospel work? Do you have partners in gospel? Like Paul does. Do you have partners, fellowship, partners in gospel work? If not, look around. Talk to them over lunch. Hey, I need help doing this. I need accountability doing this. I need support doing this. Seek to understand the different cultural backgrounds, different expressions of faith. Get after our cross-cultural work and our missions work. And then the last thing is just to do is just reach out to someone, maybe here in our church, but someone from a different cultural background than you. And try to see how their faith journey has been shaped by their cultural context. Just get outside of yourself a little bit more. And just know this, God, Jesus is worthy of all this work to maintain the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace. He's worthy. And it seems to be our main work. It seems to be the easiest thing to give up because we just don't like people anymore. That sort of turned out. And so we just don't like people anymore. That extends to church families. It extends to personal families. If we're supposed to love our enemies, we could probably start to love our church family. Just pour in to one another. So just remember, we're part of this ongoing mission that he had, that Paul had, that Jesus initiated to present a unified, diverse church as a living sacrifice to God. So let's just think about it. Think about ways that that is so easy to fall off the line on. And then, Lord, give us grace and mercy to move us forward." [49:06] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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