The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren

Lots of content here, so splitting these last 5 days into 2 blogs…

Purpose 5: You were made for a mission

Day 36: You were made for a mission

• 1 part is shared with other Christians – share the name of Jesus
• 1 part is unique to each of us – using our specific traits to serve this purpose
• The Bible gives several reasons why this is so important:
  • It is a continuation of what Jesus started when He came to earth
  • It’s our job to share with unbelievers, not just pastors and missionaries
  • It’s our privilege:
    • Working with God
    • Representing Him
  • It has eternal significance – no matter how happy unbelievers may seem on the surface, there is emptiness inside and are heading for a life of eternity without Christ
  • It gives our life meaning
• What it costs to fulfill your mission:
  • Requires you to abandon your agenda and follows God’s plan
  • Turn over everything to Him
  • All selfish desires are now meaningless
• Ending:
  • I was made for a purpose
  • Matt 28:19-20
  • What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the good news?

Day 37: Sharing your life message

• Your life message has 4 parts to it:
  • Your testimony – when you gave your life to Christ
    • We are Christ witnesses, and we are told to share it
    • Each is unique and has its own purpose
    • Bypasses intellectual defenses
    • Divide it into 4 parts:
      • What your life was like before you met Jesus
      • How you realized you needed Jesus
      • How you committed your life to Jesus
      • The difference Jesus has made in your life
  • Life lessons – what God has taught you
    • Wise to learn from experience, but wiser to learn from others
    • Ask yourself some questions:
      • What has God taught me from failure?
      • What has God taught me from a lack of money?
      • What has God taught me from pain/sorrow/depression?
      • What has God taught me through waiting?
      • What has God taught me through illness?
      • What has God taught me through disappointment?
      • What have I learned from my family/church/relationships/small group/critics?
  • Life passions – what God has shaped you to care about most
    • May be a passion about a:
      • Problem – abuse, addiction, depression, disease, etc
      • Purpose – starting new church, strengthening families, training Christian leaders, etc
      • Principle – defending theology, God’s commands, etc
      • People group – young mothers, business leaders, unborn, persecuted, the defenseless, etc
  • The Good News – the message of salvation
    • Need to have a passion for the lost
    • What are you willing to do for those that don’t know the Good News?
    • Who will greet you in heaven because of you sharing with them?
• Ending:
  • God wants to say something to the world through me.
  • 1 Pet 3:15b-16
  • As I reflect on my personal story; who does God want me to share it with?