Living On Purpose: Embracing God's Intentional Design

This morning, we gathered as a church family to reflect on the incredible work God has done through our summer at Camp White Branch and to consider the deeper truth of our purpose in Him. We began with an object lesson for the kids, using water, food coloring, and bleach to illustrate how sin stains our lives, separating us from God, but how Jesus alone can cleanse us and restore us to relationship with Him. This simple but powerful demonstration reminded us all—young and old—that we are in need of a Savior, and that when we invite Jesus into our hearts, He makes us new and gives us access to God’s presence.

As we celebrated the impact of camp, I shared stories of the 46 kids and 12 counselors who participated, many of whom encountered God in new and life-changing ways. Some met Jesus for the first time, others wrestled honestly with faith, and several are now preparing for baptism. The sacrificial love and service of our counselors, kitchen crew, and nurse made these encounters possible, and the church’s generosity—both in prayer and finances—opened the door for so many to experience God’s love in a focused, distraction-free environment.

The heart of our time together centered on the theme of “On Purpose,” drawn from Jeremiah 29:11. In a world that tells us to define ourselves however we wish, we looked at God’s promise to His people in exile: that He has a plan, even in seasons of brokenness and uncertainty. We explored the context of Jeremiah’s words, seeing that God’s call was not just to survive hardship, but to live with purpose and faithfulness right where they were. This promise is echoed throughout Scripture—Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1, Proverbs 3, Romans 12, Ephesians 5, and Matthew 28—all affirming that we are created intentionally, for relationship with God, for transformation, for wisdom, and for sharing the gospel.

Ultimately, our identity and purpose are not defined by our circumstances, our achievements, or the opinions of others, but by the God who made us. We are loved, chosen, and crafted on purpose. Our calling is to know God, delight in Him, and make Him known to others. As we go into the week ahead, may we remember that our lives have meaning because we are made by a loving Father, for His good purposes.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Sin is not just a list of wrong actions, but a condition that separates us from God and distorts who we were created to be. Only Jesus can cleanse us from this stain, restoring us to the relationship and purpose for which we were made. This is not a one-time event, but an ongoing invitation to let Christ transform us daily. [21:35]
• 2. God’s plans for us are not generic or distant; they are deeply personal and present even in seasons of exile, pain, or confusion. The Israelites’ exile was not a sign of God’s absence, but a context in which He called them to live faithfully and purposefully. Our brokenness or circumstances never disqualify us from God’s love or His plans. [41:51]
• 3. Our purpose is rooted in relationship with God, not in self-definition or achievement. Scripture calls us to trust Him, seek His will, surrender our lives, and allow Him to transform us from the inside out. True worship is not just what we sing, but how we live—offering our whole selves to God and letting Him shape our desires and direction. [45:07]
• 4. Living on purpose requires intentionality and wisdom. We are called to make the most of every opportunity, to model the difference that following God makes, and to walk in a way that points others to Him. Purpose is not something we drift into; it is the result of daily choices to align our lives with God’s will and to reflect His character in a world that desperately needs hope. [46:28]
• 5. Our identity and value are defined by God alone. No person, circumstance, or failure can override the truth that we are loved, chosen, and created on purpose. When we embrace this, we are freed from the pressure to prove ourselves and can instead delight in God, serve others, and participate in His mission to make Himself known to the world. [51:29]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Kids’ Object Lesson: The Water and Sin
• [04:00] - What is Sin?
• [07:00] - Jesus Cleanses Us
• [10:00] - God’s Presence After Forgiveness
• [12:00] - Camp White Branch Recap
• [15:00] - The Impact of Camp on Kids and Counselors
• [18:00] - The Power of Serving and Sacrifice
• [21:00] - The Church’s Generosity and Support
• [23:00] - Camp Theme: “On Purpose”
• [25:00] - Jeremiah 29:11 in Context
• [28:00] - God’s Plans in Exile and Brokenness
• [30:00] - Created with Intention: Psalm 139 & Jeremiah 1
• [32:00] - Our Purpose: Trust, Surrender, Transformation
• [34:00] - Living with Wisdom and Mission
• [36:00] - Identity Defined by God
• [38:00] - Closing Reflections and Prayer

Bible Reading

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) — > For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV) — > For you formed my inward parts;
> you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
> I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
> Wonderful are your works;
> my soul knows it very well.
> My frame was not hidden from you,
> when I was being made in secret,
> intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
> Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
> in your book were written, every one of them,
> the days that were formed for me,
> when as yet there was none of them.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) — > I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Observation Questions

1. In Jeremiah 29:11, what kind of plans does God say He has for His people? What is the context in which this promise was given? ([40:58])
2. According to Psalm 139, how does God view and interact with us even before we are born? ([42:56])
3. In Romans 12:1-2, what does Paul say is the true way to worship God, and what does he warn us not to do? ([45:07])
4. The sermon used an object lesson with water, food coloring, and bleach. What did each element represent, and what was the main point of this demonstration? ([21:35])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God gave the Israelites a message of hope and purpose while they were still in exile, instead of waiting until their situation improved? ([41:51])
2. The sermon said that our purpose is rooted in relationship with God, not in self-definition or achievement. What does this mean for how we see ourselves and our value? ([49:26])
3. Romans 12:2 talks about not conforming to the world but being transformed. What are some ways the world tries to define our identity and purpose, and how does God’s way differ? ([45:07])
4. The object lesson showed that only Jesus can cleanse us from sin. Why is it important to understand that sin is not just a list of wrong actions, but a condition that separates us from God? ([24:18])

Application Questions

1. The Israelites were told to “build homes, plant gardens, and seek the peace of the city” even while in exile. Is there a situation in your life right now where you feel “in exile” or stuck? What would it look like to live with purpose and faithfulness right where you are? ([40:17])
2. The sermon emphasized that our identity is defined by God alone, not by our circumstances or what others say. Are there voices or situations in your life that you’ve let define your worth? How can you remind yourself this week of God’s definition of you as “loved, chosen, and created on purpose”? ([51:29])
3. The object lesson showed that Jesus alone can cleanse us from sin and restore us to relationship with God. Is there an area of your life where you need to invite Jesus to bring cleansing and transformation? What is one step you can take this week to open that area to Him? ([21:35])
4. Romans 12:1-2 calls us to offer our whole selves to God and let Him transform us. What is one practical way you can surrender a part of your life to God this week—maybe a habit, a relationship, or a way of thinking? ([45:07])
5. The sermon talked about making the most of every opportunity and living with intentionality. Can you think of a specific opportunity this week to point someone to Jesus—at work, school, home, or in your neighborhood? What would it look like to step into that on purpose? ([46:28])
6. At camp, some kids met Jesus for the first time, and others wrestled honestly with faith. Where are you right now in your relationship with God—meeting Him for the first time, wrestling with questions, or growing deeper? What is one thing you can do this week to take a next step? ([30:00])
7. The sermon said that when we embrace our God-given identity, we are freed from the pressure to prove ourselves. Is there an area where you feel pressure to achieve or measure up? How can you practice delighting in God and serving others out of freedom instead of pressure? ([49:26])