Rhythm Recap [ 11.26.17 ]

11.26.17

"Ultimate Purpose"

TEXT: Mt. 28:18-20; 1 Cor. 9:1-2, 10:4-21, 11:17, 12:1-14, 13

TRUTHS:

1. Jesus expects His followers to participate in certain and specific activities as a result of them being saved and added to His family. It can be helpful to understand this using the concepts of: (1) what we have been saved from and (2) what we have been saved to. We have been saved from the consequences of sin and we have been saved to join God in His reconciling mission amongst humanity and all of creation. 

2. Within humanity, it is common for individuals to realize they have a deep desire for their life to have significant purpose and meaning. This desire would not be present in us if we had been created from a source without purpose or meaning. This reality points to the fact that we have been created by God (for a specific purpose) and that our lives are called to have an eternal significance. 

3. Jesus lays out this purpose in the Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20). We find meaning in becoming disciples of Christ and then leveraging our lives to make more disciples of Jesus. Our purpose could also be stated this way: we are called to join Jesus in His mission of removing the evil from this world through the means of gospel-preaching and gospel-service. 

4. When looking at our world and culture, it is easy to spot the evil acts that take place. Some wrongly blame God for these acts of evil, but the blame rests squarely on humanity. Evil comes from the hearts of self-centered people. It is a result of people wrongly thinking that purpose is found in material and temporal pleasure. Through the gospel's saving power, those evil hearts can be transformed into hearts that desire God, holiness, and a life that moves away from self-centeredness. Therefore, the gospel is the means through which God is eradicating evil from this world. 

5. As believers fulfill their purpose of removing evil from the world, Jesus promises that He will be with us. He is referring to being filled with the Holy Spirit and having the gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in and through us. We should pray for and expect to see the Holy Spirit moving in power as we fulfill the purpose our Savior has called us to. 

 
6. It is important to remember that the work of the Holy Spirit will not just bring emotions. His work will bring action that seeks to eradicate and remove evil from this world.  

7. The New Testament teaches us that Jesus is with His Church as they do the following actions to join Him on His rescue mission:

1. When we share the gospel.
2. When we share communion. 
3. Water baptism. 
4. When the gifts of the Holy Spirit are shared.
5. When we share our testimony.
6. When we share our blessings. 
7. When we share our lives.

TALK TO EACH OTHER:

1. What does it mean and look like to be self-centered and what does it mean and look like to be God-centered? 

2. What are common areas where we mistakenly try to find purpose and meaning for our lives?

3. How have you experienced or seen Jesus be with you as you have done one of the actions in TRUTH 7? 

TALK TO GOD:

Pray as you feel led concerning the following area(s):

That we would be committed to all (7) actions that help us fulfill the purpose God has called us to. 

That our church would desire to fulfill the Great Commission both locally and throughout the world.