Living with Purpose: Embracing God's Mission for Us

Devotional

Day 1: Created in Christ Jesus—A New Creation with Purpose

To be a disciple of Jesus is not simply to conform to a set of external behaviors, but to be transformed from the inside out. In Christ, you are not merely improved or patched up; you are made entirely new—a brand new creation. This transformation is not your own doing, but the creative work of God, who brings into existence what did not exist before. Each day, you are called to put off the old self and put on the new, living out the reality that the old has gone and the new has come. Your identity and purpose are rooted in this truth: you are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, and your life is meant to reflect His nature and glory. [13:11]

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 area of your life do you still see yourself as the “old self” rather than God’s new creation, and how can you intentionally “put on the new” today?

Day 2: Good Works—For God’s Glory and Others’ Good

Good works are not the root of your salvation, but they are the fruit of it. As a new creation, you are called to live out perceivable, actionable good works—not for your own applause, but to bring glory to God and to benefit others. These works are not just morally commendable actions, but deeds that flow from faith and are motivated by a desire to honor God. When others see your good works, the goal is that they would glorify your Father in heaven. Your acts of service, generosity, and kindness are meant to point people to God, not to yourself, and to bring tangible good to those around you. [20:37]

Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: What is one specific good work you can do today that will bring glory to God and benefit someone else, rather than draw attention to yourself?

Day 3: Every Believer Has a Role—Serving the Body of Christ

God has uniquely equipped every believer with gifts to contribute to the health and growth of the church. You are not meant to keep your gifts hidden or unused; when you do, you not only neglect the purpose for which God gave them, but you also deprive the church of something essential. Each part of the body is needed for the whole to mature and be built up in love. Whether your role is visible or behind the scenes, your presence and service should make your workplace, community, home, and church better because you are there as a disciple of Jesus. [23:10]

1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (ESV)
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.

Reflection: Where in your church or community can you use your unique gifts to serve others this week, and what step will you take to do so?

Day 4: Discovering Your Calling—Practice, Passion, Proficiency, People, Prayer

Finding your place in God’s mission often begins with simply stepping out and serving. As you practice, you discover where your passions align with God’s heart, where your proficiencies lie, and how others affirm your gifts. Prayerfully seeking God’s guidance and listening to the input of those who know you well can help you discern where your gifts and God’s purposes meet. You don’t have to be every tool in the toolbox; you are called to be the tool God designed you to be, bringing focus and intentionality to your service for His glory and the good of others. [33:39]

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: Which of the five Ps (practice, passion, proficiency, people, prayer) do you need to focus on this week to better discover and deploy your God-given gifts?

Day 5: Embracing the Mission—Living with Purpose and Intentionality

You are not called to drift through life aimlessly, but to live with purpose and intentionality, embracing the mission God has given you. Every believer is called to make disciples, not just the “professionals” or those sent overseas. Your everyday spheres—workplace, family, community—are your mission field. When you step boldly into God’s work, trusting that He who began a good work in you will work through you, your labor is never in vain. Give yourself wholeheartedly to God’s mission, knowing that He has prepared good works for you to walk in, and that your life can have an eternal impact. [35:07]

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Reflection: What is one intentional step you can take today to live on mission and make disciples in your everyday context?

Sermon Summary

So many of us spend our lives searching for purpose, asking the deep “why” questions that echo from childhood into adulthood: Why am I here? What am I supposed to do with my life? God, in His wisdom, has not left us to wander aimlessly. Instead, He has called us to something better—a life of purpose, meaning, and mission. This calling is not reserved for a select few, but is given to every follower of Jesus. We are invited to live lives worthy of our calling, not by measuring up or earning God’s favor, but by living in a way that is consistent with the new identity and mission He has given us.

At the heart of this purpose is the reality that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. Our identity is not self-made; it is the result of God’s creative and redemptive work. We are not simply improved versions of our old selves, but new creations—transformed from the inside out. This transformation is the foundation for everything God wants to do through us. Good works are not the root of our salvation, but they are the fruit. They are the visible evidence of God’s work in us, meant to bring glory to Him and good to others.

These good works are not about building our own reputations or kingdoms, but about magnifying Christ and serving those around us. Every believer has been uniquely gifted and equipped to contribute to the body of Christ and the world. When we withhold our gifts, we not only rob the church of what God intends, but we also miss out on the joy and fulfillment that comes from living in step with God’s purpose.

Discovering our place in God’s mission involves practice, passion, proficiency, people, and prayer. As we step out, try new things, listen to the affirmations of others, and seek God’s guidance, we begin to see where our gifts and God’s purposes intersect. The call is clear: don’t settle for aimless living. Embrace the mission God has given you. Live with intention, knowing that God’s work in you is meant to produce God’s work through you. In doing so, we find the better life Jesus promised—a life of purpose, impact, and eternal significance.

Key Takeaways

1. True discipleship is not passive or superficial; it is a call to become like Jesus in every aspect of life. Following Christ is not just about acquiring knowledge or attending church, but about apprenticing ourselves to Him—observing, imitating, and embodying His mission, love, and character in the world. This is a costly, transformative journey that shapes our entire being. [05:33]
2. Our identity as new creations in Christ is foundational. We are not merely conforming to external standards, but have been transformed from the inside out by God’s creative power. This means that every day, we are called to “take off the old and put on the new,” living out the reality that the old has gone and the new has come, regardless of how we feel. [13:11]
3. Good works are not the means of our salvation, but the evidence of it. They are the natural outflow of God’s work in us, designed to bring glory to God and good to others. If our lives lack these visible, selfless acts, it is worth asking whether we are truly living out our faith or simply going through the motions. [17:52]
4. Every believer has a unique role and gift to contribute to the body of Christ. When we withhold our gifts, we not only dishonor the Giver but also deprive the church and the world of what God intends to do through us. The health and maturity of the church depend on each part working properly, using their God-given gifts for the common good. [24:40]
5. Discovering and living out our purpose requires intentionality. By practicing, exploring our passions and proficiencies, listening to the affirmations of godly people, and seeking God in prayer, we can discern where God is calling us to serve. Living with purpose means aligning every decision and commitment with God’s mission, stepping boldly into the good works He has prepared for us. [33:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:10] - Men’s Ministry and Retreat Invitation
[02:30] - The Universal Search for Purpose
[04:45] - What Does It Mean to Live with Purpose?
[05:33] - The Cost and Depth of Discipleship
[07:40] - Jesus’ Mission and Our Commission
[09:30] - Defining Missional Discipleship
[11:00] - God’s Work in Us: New Creations
[13:11] - Transformation vs. Conformation
[15:18] - Created for Good Works
[17:52] - The True Nature of Good Works
[20:37] - Good Works for the Benefit of Others
[23:10] - Every Believer’s Contribution Matters
[24:40] - The Cost of Withholding Your Gifts
[26:10] - Obedience and the Path of Good Works
[29:46] - Discovering Your Unique Role: The Five Ps
[33:39] - Living with Purpose and Mission
[35:07] - A Call to Intentional, Missional Living

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:8-10 (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. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 4:1 (ESV) — > I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called.

Observation Questions

According to Ephesians 2:10, what does it mean that we are God’s workmanship, and what are we created for?
In the sermon, what is the difference between “conformation” and “transformation” in the Christian life? [13:11]
What are the two main purposes of good works as described in the sermon? [17:52]
How does Paul describe the way we should live in Ephesians 4:1, and what does “worthy of the calling” mean in this context?

Interpretation Questions

The sermon says that good works are not the root of our salvation, but the fruit. Why is it important to keep this distinction clear in our understanding of faith and works? [17:52]
The pastor described discipleship as “apprenticing” ourselves to Jesus, not just learning information. What does this look like practically in daily life? [05:33]
The message emphasized that every believer has a unique role and gift to contribute. What might be some reasons people withhold their gifts from the church, and what are the consequences? [24:40]
The “Five Ps” (practice, passion, proficiency, people, prayer) were given as ways to discover our place in God’s mission. How might these help someone who feels unsure about their purpose? [29:46]

Application Questions

The sermon began with the question, “Why am I here?” Take a moment to reflect: Do you feel like you are living with purpose right now? Why or why not? [02:30]
The pastor said, “Every day we wake up, take off the old, put on the new.” What is one “old” habit or mindset you need to take off this week, and what is one “new” way of living you want to put on? [13:11]
Think about your current routines. Are there areas where you are just “going through the motions” instead of living with intention and mission? What is one step you could take to change that? [04:45]
The sermon challenged us to use our gifts for the good of others and the glory of God. What is one gift, skill, or passion you have that you could use more intentionally to serve in your church or community? [24:40]
The “Five Ps” were suggested as a way to discover your role in God’s mission. Which of these (practice, passion, proficiency, people, prayer) do you need to focus on most right now? What is a practical next step you can take this week? [29:46]
The pastor said, “If we are created as God’s masterpiece for good works, where’s the inconsistency that none of them would show up?” Are there visible, selfless acts in your life that point others to Jesus? If not, what is one way you can start this week? [17:52]
The message ended with a call to “run recklessly after” God’s purpose. What would it look like for you to take a bold step of faith in living out your calling this month? [35:07]

Sermon Clips

We have been given this calling this mission to go let's make disciples let's be intentional about these things and do it with a purpose so we're going to define a very simple definition of missional discipleship this morning and we we could come up with far more more robust ones and i know that but if we're to define missional discipleship it's god's work in you producing god's work through you. [00:09:39] (22 seconds) #MissionalDiscipleshipPurpose

You have been transformed by the redeeming work of Christ made new. That is a powerful truth we must lock in because that is the root for the good works that Paul says we are created for. [00:16:49] (16 seconds) #FaithEvidencedInWorks

Your workplace, your community, your home, this church, all should be better because you, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, are there. Because what God has articulated in his word is that every single one of us, even in this church, in the context of this local body of believers, has been given something that we have to contribute to the whole. [00:23:18] (27 seconds) #UseYourGodGivenGifts

We are talking about obedience. We are walking in a path that God has set before us to fulfill things that God has set before us that we should walk in them. So on the level of obedience, we can keep it real simple. What are the good works that God has prepared for you to do but the things that he has commanded you to do? [00:26:06] (24 seconds) #UnlimitedObedience

We all have a purpose, and of all people in the world, friends, we should be the ones that live with purpose, that live with meaning, that every decision, every commitment that we make is formed by this purpose. It's aligned with this purpose. So let's embrace it. Let's run with it. [00:34:05] (23 seconds) #GodsWorkThroughUs

I have yet to meet somebody who has given themselves to God's work and they said, I regret it. Give yourself to it. Run recklessly after it. Just pursue what God is for you because the apostle Paul says he has prepared good works that we should walk in them. So let's walk in them. [00:35:47] (20 seconds)

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