Thriving Through Purpose: Reflecting God’s Image and Mission

In a world filled with distractions and shifting definitions of success, it’s easy to drift into cultural expectations for what it means to thrive as individuals and families. We often measure thriving by good grades, good jobs, good health, and good experiences, but these are not the ultimate markers of a flourishing life. Instead, God’s vision for thriving is rooted in purpose, not perfection. From the very beginning, God created us in His image, calling us to reflect His character, multiply His life in others, and live on mission for His glory.

Looking back to Genesis, we see that our core purpose is to bear God’s image—to become more like Him in our character and actions. This is not just about knowing what God is like, but about living it out in daily habits and choices. Thriving means aligning our lives with God’s design, which requires immersing ourselves in His Word, not just for information, but for transformation. As we grow in Christlikeness, we fulfill our deepest purpose.

But thriving doesn’t stop with personal growth. God’s call is also to multiply—to reproduce disciples, not just biologically, but spiritually. This means teaching and sharing what God has entrusted to us, both within our families and beyond. Whether you’re a parent, a friend, or a coworker, you are called to pass on the faith, to talk about God’s ways in the everyday moments of life, and to help others grow in their walk with Him.

Finally, we are called to live on mission. Our lives are not just about self-improvement or family success, but about joining God’s work of reconciliation in the world. Through Christ, we have been reconciled to God, and now we are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation—inviting others to experience new life in Jesus. This is the heartbeat of a thriving life and family: reflecting God’s image, multiplying disciples, and living on mission for His glory.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True thriving is rooted in God’s purpose, not cultural measures of success. While good grades, jobs, and experiences are valuable, they are not the ultimate goal. God’s design is for us to bear His image, multiply His life in others, and live for His glory, which gives our lives lasting meaning and direction. [25:59]
• 2. Bearing God’s image requires more than knowledge—it demands transformation. Immersing ourselves in God’s Word, whether by reading or listening, is essential, but it must lead to action. Our habits shape us, so intentionally building rhythms of studying and living out Scripture is foundational to becoming more like Christ. [40:34]
• 3. Multiplying disciples is a calling for every believer, not just parents or leaders. We are meant to teach and share our faith with others, both within our families and in our daily interactions. Talking about God’s ways should become a natural part of our conversations, moving beyond the walls of the church into every sphere of life. [43:05]
• 4. Living on mission means embracing the ministry of reconciliation. Through Christ, we are reconciled to God, and now we are entrusted with sharing this message with a world in need. This involves courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to step beyond comfort to invite others into the life God offers. [47:52]
• 5. Thriving is not about perfection, but about living with purpose. God uses imperfect, even broken, families and individuals to accomplish His work. When we focus on His purpose—reflecting His image, multiplying disciples, and living on mission—we find true fulfillment, regardless of our circumstances or past failures. [52:00]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [12:34] - Christ Be Magnified: Worship
• [15:14] - My Lighthouse: God’s Faithfulness
• [19:55] - Introduction: Living as Exiles
• [21:42] - The Question: How Do Families Thrive?
• [22:53] - Cultural Measures of Thriving
• [25:59] - Challenging the World’s Definition
• [27:11] - Real Families in the Bible
• [29:36] - God’s Design for Family: Genesis 1
• [31:25] - Bearing God’s Image
• [32:37] - Multiplying and Reproducing
• [33:52] - Living on Mission
• [36:16] - Deuteronomy 6: Knowing and Doing God’s Word
• [41:52] - Teaching and Multiplying Disciples
• [44:51] - The Ministry of Reconciliation
• [49:40] - Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
• [52:00] - Purpose Over Perfection
• [58:42] - Responding to God’s Purpose
• [59:56] - Communion: Remembering Christ

Bible Reading

Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV) — > So God created man in his own image,
> in the image of God he created him;
> male and female he created them.
> And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (ESV) — > “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.
> You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
> And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.
> You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

2 Corinthians 5:17-20 (ESV) — > Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
> All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
> that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
> Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Observation Questions

1. According to Genesis 1:27-28, what specific instructions did God give to the first humans about their purpose and role on earth?
2. In Deuteronomy 6:4-7, what are the Israelites commanded to do with God’s words, and how are they supposed to pass them on?
3. In 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, what does Paul say God has given to believers after reconciling them to Himself?
4. The sermon described how the Bible doesn’t glamorize perfect families but instead shows God working through broken people. What are some examples from the Bible or the sermon that illustrate this? ([27:11])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon challenges the idea that thriving is about good grades, jobs, health, or experiences. Why do you think it’s so easy to drift into measuring success by these things instead of God’s purpose? ([25:59])
2. What does it mean to “bear God’s image” in practical, everyday life? How is this different from just knowing about God? ([31:25])
3. The call to “multiply” in Genesis is not just about having children, but about reproducing faith and discipleship. What are some ways this can happen outside of a biological family? ([32:37])
4. The sermon says we are entrusted with the “ministry of reconciliation.” What does it look like to live on mission in your daily life, and what might make this challenging? ([47:52])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that thriving is about purpose, not perfection, and that God uses imperfect people and families. Is there an area of your life or family where you feel “not good enough” to be used by God? How might God want to use you anyway? ([52:00])
2. When you think about your daily or weekly habits, how much time do you spend in God’s Word—either reading or listening? What is one small, practical change you could make to build a new rhythm of engaging with Scripture? ([40:34])
3. The sermon talked about the importance of not just knowing God’s Word, but doing it. Is there a specific command or teaching from the Bible that you know but struggle to put into practice? What’s one step you could take this week to live it out? ([41:11])
4. Multiplying disciples means sharing your faith and teaching others, not just within your family but in everyday life. Who is one person you could have a spiritual conversation with this week? What might that look like? ([43:05])
5. The idea of “living on mission” can feel intimidating. What is one way you could step out of your comfort zone to share God’s love or the message of reconciliation with someone who doesn’t know Jesus? ([47:52])
6. The sermon mentioned that our habits shape us, and that we often do what our friends do. Are there people in your life who help you follow Jesus, or do your relationships pull you away from God’s purpose? What changes, if any, do you feel prompted to make in your friendships or community? ([55:02])
7. Looking at your current definition of “thriving,” is there something you need to let go of or re-prioritize in order to pursue God’s purpose for your life and family? What is one step you can take this week to move in that direction? ([25:59])