Living with Purpose: Our Calling and Identity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: We Belong to God

Our lives are not our own; we were bought with a price. Jesus Christ shed His blood for our redemption, offering us the opportunity to walk in newness of life. Understanding that we belong to God gives us a sense of purpose and identity in Him. This foundational truth challenges the common belief that we are in control of our lives. Instead, God is in control, and He created us for a specific purpose. We often stray from His plan, making our own decisions that lead to destruction rather than fulfillment in Christ. Recognizing that we belong to God helps us align our lives with His will and find our true identity: blessed, adopted, chosen, loved, redeemed, and forgiven. [45:02]

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV): "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Calling is an Invitation

Calling is not about a feeling but an invitation from God to live the life we were made for. It involves joining Him in His work on earth, starting with salvation and extending to discipleship and equipping. This calling transcends human limitations and empowers us to live out our purpose. Understanding our calling means recognizing that God has a specific plan for each of us, and He invites us to participate in His mission. This calling begins with accepting Jesus as our Savior and continues as we grow in our faith and become equipped to serve others. By embracing our calling, we can live a life of eternal significance and impact. [52:16]

Ephesians 4:1-2 (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, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love."

Reflection: Think about a time when you felt a strong sense of purpose or calling. How can you take a step today to align your actions with that calling?

Day 3: God Uses Ordinary People

God often chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He transforms our lives, equipping us for His mission. This transformation involves aligning our minds with God's will and understanding that we are significant in His kingdom. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God using ordinary individuals to fulfill His purposes, demonstrating that our limitations do not hinder His plans. By trusting in God's power and allowing Him to work through us, we can achieve great things for His glory. This truth encourages us to step out in faith, knowing that God can use us despite our weaknesses and imperfections. [56:33]

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (ESV): "But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God."

Reflection: Identify a specific area where you feel inadequate or ordinary. How can you invite God to use you in that area for His extraordinary purposes?

Day 4: Faithfulness and Stewardship

We are called to be faithful stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. By seeking God's kingdom first, investing in meaningful relationships, serving faithfully, growing spiritually, and living missionally, we can make an eternal impact and leave a legacy that glorifies God. Faithfulness in stewardship means recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God and using it to further His kingdom. This involves being intentional with our resources, prioritizing our relationship with God, and serving others with a heart of love and compassion. By doing so, we can live a life that reflects God's glory and leaves a lasting impact on those around us. [01:27:25]

1 Peter 4:10-11 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Reflection: Reflect on how you are currently using your time, talents, and treasures. What is one specific change you can make to be a more faithful steward in one of these areas?

Day 5: Eternal Significance

Living with eternal significance means focusing on what endures in God's eternal kingdom. It involves aligning our lives with God's will, growing spiritually, and understanding our impact on others. By doing so, we can leave a lasting legacy that reflects God's love and purpose. This perspective shifts our focus from temporary, worldly pursuits to what truly matters in the light of eternity. It encourages us to invest in our relationship with God, nurture our spiritual growth, and influence others positively for Christ. By living with eternal significance, we can make a difference that lasts beyond our lifetime and brings glory to God. [01:14:02]

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (ESV): "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Consider your daily activities and priorities. What is one practical step you can take today to focus more on what has eternal significance?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound truth that our lives are not our own; we were bought with a price. This foundational concept challenges the common belief that we are in control of our lives. Instead, God is in control, and He created us for a specific purpose. We often stray from His plan, making our own decisions that lead to destruction rather than fulfillment in Christ. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price by shedding His blood on the cross, offering us redemption and the opportunity to walk in newness of life. We belong to God, and in Him, we find our true identity: blessed, adopted, chosen, loved, redeemed, and forgiven.

We also discussed the importance of understanding our calling. Calling is not about a feeling but an invitation from God to live the life we were made for and to join Him in His work on earth. This calling begins with salvation and extends to being recruited into God's family for discipleship and equipping. God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things, transcending human limitations. We are called to align our lives with God's will, grow spiritually, and live out our eternal significance.

The sermon highlighted the importance of being faithful stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. We are to seek God's kingdom first, invest in meaningful relationships, serve faithfully, grow spiritually, and live missionally. By doing so, we can make an eternal impact and leave a legacy that glorifies God.

###

Key Takeaways

1. We Belong to God: Our lives are not our own; we were bought with a price. Jesus Christ shed His blood for our redemption, offering us the opportunity to walk in newness of life. Understanding that we belong to God gives us a sense of purpose and identity in Him. [45:02]
2. Calling is an Invitation: Calling is not about a feeling but an invitation from God to live the life we were made for. It involves joining Him in His work on earth, starting with salvation and extending to discipleship and equipping. This calling transcends human limitations and empowers us to live out our purpose. [52:16]
3. God Uses Ordinary People: God often chooses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. He transforms our lives, equipping us for His mission. This transformation involves aligning our minds with God's will and understanding that we are significant in His kingdom. [56:33]
4. Faithfulness and Stewardship: We are called to be faithful stewards of our time, talents, and treasures. By seeking God's kingdom first, investing in meaningful relationships, serving faithfully, growing spiritually, and living missionally, we can make an eternal impact and leave a legacy that glorifies God. [87:25]
5. Eternal Significance: Living with eternal significance means focusing on what endures in God's eternal kingdom. It involves aligning our lives with God's will, growing spiritually, and understanding our impact on others. By doing so, we can leave a lasting legacy that reflects God's love and purpose. [01:14:02]
### [74:02]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[45:02] - Bought with a Price
[46:18] - Prayer and Encouragement
[47:41] - Clearpoint Church Core Values
[49:04] - Significance and Purpose
[50:38] - Statistics on Purpose
[52:16] - Understanding Calling
[53:54] - Recap of Last Week
[54:53] - Kingdom of God
[55:39] - Beyond Rescued
[56:33] - Recruitment and Equipping
[57:23] - Personal Testimony
[58:12] - Overcoming Fear
[59:38] - Living Out Your Calling
[60:02] - Example of Shane
[61:18] - Identity in Christ
[62:18] - God Uses Ordinary People
[63:00] - Examples from Scripture
[65:36] - Rescued and Recruited
[66:11] - Military Analogy
[68:01] - Transformation and Change
[69:17] - Equipped for Purpose
[70:22] - Calling of the Disciples
[72:33] - Eternal Purpose
[74:02] - Eternal Significance
[75:32] - Alignment with God's Will
[76:33] - Ordinary to Extraordinary
[78:08] - Greatest Commandments
[79:33] - Come as You Are
[81:14] - Impact on Others
[83:13] - Spiritual Growth and Transformation
[87:25] - Faithfulness and Stewardship
[89:20] - Practical Ways to Live Out Significance
[90:50] - Invitation to Prayer and Encouragement
[97:02] - Announcements and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, what is the significance of being "bought at a price"? How should this affect our daily lives?
In Ephesians 1:3-7, what are the spiritual blessings mentioned that we receive in Christ? How do these blessings shape our identity?
What immediate actions did Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John take when Jesus called them in Matthew 4:18-22? What does this suggest about their understanding of Jesus' call? [12:02]
The sermon mentioned that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Can you identify examples from the Bible where God used ordinary individuals for His purposes? [56:33]

Interpretation Questions

How does understanding that we are "bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) change our perspective on personal autonomy and decision-making? [45:02]
Ephesians 1:3-7 speaks of being chosen, adopted, and redeemed. How do these concepts influence our sense of purpose and belonging in God's family?
Reflecting on Matthew 4:18-22, what might have motivated the disciples to leave everything immediately to follow Jesus? How does this compare to our response to God's calling today? [12:33]
The sermon emphasized the importance of aligning our lives with God's will. What are some practical steps we can take to ensure our lives are in alignment with God's purposes? [15:32]

Application Questions

The sermon highlighted the idea that our lives are not our own and that we were bought with a price. How can you honor God with your body and decisions this week? [45:02]
Understanding our calling as an invitation from God, what specific steps can you take to discover and live out your calling in your daily life? [52:16]
The sermon mentioned that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Identify one area in your life where you feel ordinary. How can you offer this area to God for His extraordinary purposes? [56:33]
Faithfulness and stewardship were key points in the sermon. How can you be a better steward of your time, talents, and treasures this week? What specific actions will you take? [27:25]
The concept of eternal significance was discussed. What is one way you can focus on what endures in God's eternal kingdom rather than temporary achievements? [14:02]
Reflect on the relationships in your life. How can you invest in meaningful relationships and serve others faithfully as part of your calling? [29:20]
The sermon encouraged living missionally. Identify one person in your life who needs to hear about God's love. How can you share the gospel with them this week? [29:20]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "God is in control he made us for a purpose and then what happened is is we strayed we strayed away from his plan we're out here doing our own thing and his word tells us he says hey man will make many plans but in the end it's destruction so the plans we make they may seem good for a while but they're not leading us into Christ and to fulfill his purpose on this earth then we're living a life amiss we're missing the mark" [45:02] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "He says you know we are blessed we're adopted we're chosen we're loved we're redeemed and we're forgiven and that's our hope and we hope that you'll walk in that hope and in that truth today and that you'll be encouraged by what God's word says" [46:18] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "My goal as a pastor is really to understand that you have significance you are significant God did not create you on accident there are a lot of people who say you know um we didn't mean to have that kid hey you didn't mean to have that kid but God meant for that kid to be born God works in mysterious ways and he will take our um he'll take our erring ways he'll take what we believe is a mistake and he will use it for good the Bible says he will use it for good and he will use it for good he says that what the enemy means for evil God will use for good" [49:04] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So what I want you to know is God doesn't make mistakes you are significant and he has a purpose for your life and this week I was reading some studies that kind of shed some light on this issue of significance and it really highlights both the search for meaning and the uncertainty that many feel because sometimes if we just admit it like even even Solomon like even Solomon King Solomon was trying to find the purpose in life and he came to this conclusion life is fill in the blank he didn't say boring he said meaningless life is meaningless in our view sometimes it is meaningless why why is all this what does all this mean what is all this for but the fact is is God has a purpose for it all" [50:38] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So the life that he promises through Jesus Christ is abundant life. Is a significant life here. And then it's eternal life there in heaven. So that's the life he wants us to partake. Of. And it's the life that he wants us to live." [55:39] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "Calling is not about a feeling the calling is an invitation from God to live the life that you were made for to join him in the work that he is doing on the earth remember the prayer that he taught the disciples he said Father your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven let your kingdom be done on earth as it is in heaven and so what he knows is that That God is working and God is always working and he invites us to be involved in the work that he is doing." [52:16] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "So the next step of the calling, once we have solidified, hey, God rescued me. But we don't want to stay in this rescued mindset. Because if you stay in a rescued mindset, if you'll just go with me here for a minute, then you will live as a victim for the rest of your life. If I'm just rescued, then I have no purpose. I was just lost and I was wondering or I was stuck and I was dying and God just came and rescued me. And so many times. Many people just, they settle for rescued. But God has more for you than just rescued. He has recruited you into his family, into his body for his purpose." [55:39] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So God will use me. I have eternal significance. He has gifted me. He has given me everything I need for life and godliness. To live the way of life. And the kingdom value is this. We're going to talk about it again. You mentioned it a few minutes ago. To love the Lord your God with all your heart. With all your soul. With all your mind. With all your strength. That's the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it. That is to love your neighbor as yourself. He says on these two things. Hang all the law and the prophets. This is the greatest commandment." [01:18:08] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So when we respond to other people. According to the flesh. You got fleshly this week. It gets crowded on the highways. It gets crowded in the grocery store. And God forbid you go to Costco. You will lose your mind. It is unreal crowded in there. It makes me real nervous. I feel like I am about to lose it. How we get fleshly. Is we throw love out the window. And we get selfish. And we. lash out. Sometimes in anger. We say things we shouldn't say. And do things we shouldn't do." [01:24:44] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "There are three things you want to have stewardship over. Your time. Your tithes. And your talents. And we want to be good stewards of all those. Because you know. You can't really get those back. God gave you talents and gifts. To live those out for his purpose. God has given you. He has blessed you financially. Whether it is with a lot or with a little. He has blessed you. Just say it. God has blessed me financially." [01:27:25] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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