Walking In Your Purpose
TRAVIS HALL
Walking In Your Purpose by
TRAVIS HALL
Copyright © 2018 by Travis Hall ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Published by Lifetogether Ministires Copyright and use of the curriculum template is retained by Brett Eastman. Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from New American Standard Bible®. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-7326688-5-0 Printed in the United States of America
CONTENTS Using This Workbook (Read This First!) Outline for Each Session
6 8
Sessions SESSION ONE: Discovering Your Purpose, Part 1
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SESSION TWO: Discovering Your Purpose, Part 2
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SESSION THREE: Developing Your Purpose
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SESSION FOUR: Protecting Your Purpose
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SESSION FIVE: Redeeming Your Purpose
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APPENDICES FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Life Group Agreement Life Group Calendar Spiritual Partners Memory Verse Cards (Clip and Review)
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LIFE GROUP LEADERS Hosting an Open House Leading for the First Time Leadership Training Prayer and Praise Report Life Group Roster Notes
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USING THIS WORK BOOK
1. Notice in the table of contents there are three sections: (1) Sessions; (2) Appendices; and (3) Life Group Leaders. Familiarize yourself with the appendices. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves.
2. If you are facilitating/leading or co-leading a life group, the section
“Life Group Leaders” will describe some other people’s experiences. Their stories will both encourage you and help you overcome many common obstacles to effective life group leadership.
3. Use this workbook as a guide, not a straitjacket. If the group
enthusiastically responds to a certain point in an unexpected but relevant way, go with that. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. Take to heart the insights included in the “FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)” pages and the “Life Group Leaders” section.
4. Enjoy your Life Group experience. 5. Pray before each session—for your group members, for your time
together, for wisdom and insights.
6. Read the “Outline for Each Session” on the next pages so that you
understand how the sessions will flow.
usin g this wor k b oo k
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A T YPICAL GROUP SESSION FOR WALKING IN YOUR PURPOSE WILL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS. READ THROUGH THIS TO GET A CLEAR IDEA OF HOW EACH GROUP MEETING WILL BE STRUCTURED:
WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE. Each session includes a memory verse
that emphasizes an important truth from the session. This is an optional exercise, but we believe that memorizing Scripture is vital to filling our minds with God’s will for our lives. We encourage you to give this important habit a try. The verses for our five sessions are also listed in the appendix.
WELCOME (5 MINUTES). After a prayer, each session opens with a brief thought that will help the group prepare for the discussion and get them thinking about the subject they will explore. Make it a practice to read these sections before the session, and you may want to have someone in the group read them aloud. Also, after you open the first couple sessions with prayer, consider having others pray in the subsequent weeks. Ask for volunteers. People comfortable with praying out loud will step forward. As the members of the group get more comfortable with each other, encourage the more hesitant to pray. LET’S GET STARTED (10 MINUTES). The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. To help build that connection, this section provides some simple questions to get the group talking and thinking about the material to come. LET’S LEARN (15 MINUTES). In this section, you’ll watch the DVD teaching segment. Group members will have space where they can jot down notes, questions, and comments. The focus is not so much on accumulating information but on what that information says about how you can discover and nurture your purpose in this life. Also, Pastor Travis includes key Bible verses, and during the group discussions, we want to help you apply the insights from Scripture practically and creatively, so
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that the truth touches your heart as well as your head, so that it can guide you toward discovering, developing, and protecting your purpose. At the end of the day, may allowing the timeless truths from God’s Word to transform your life be your greatest aim.
LET’S TALK (20 MINUTES) God wants His truths to transform our lives. In this section you will discuss the heart of the DVD teaching. In addition to grappling with the ideas that have been set forth, you’ll consider your life in light of the material presented and the challenges issued. This is where the Bible’s instruction to “be doers of the Word, not just hearers” (James 1:22) comes into play. Many people skip over this aspect of the Christian life because they find it scary, awkward, or simply too much work. LET’S GO DEEPER (OPTIONAL 15 MINUTES) If you
want to dig deeper into two Bible passages about the topic at hand, we’ve provided the passages and the questions. You can use this section either during the meeting or as homework. Your group may choose to read and prepare before each meeting in order to cover more biblical material. Or group members can use this additional study section during the week that follows the meeting. If you prefer not to assign homework, this section gives the group plenty to discuss. These options allow individuals or the whole group to expand their study while still accommodating those who can’t do homework or are new to church.
LET’S PRAY (10 MINUTES) Here
group members have a chance to further
S ession out l ines
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build community by sharing their concerns and praying for one another. Remind participants to keep requests brief and limited to close family members and themselves. Remind those who are listening while someone speaks to not try to solve the problem. In this context, prayer is the best gift you can give. If you do have a potentially life-saving and/or problemsolving idea, arrange to talk outside the meeting time or grab a few minutes after the session ends.
LET’S WALK WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK (DAILY DEVOTIONS). Each week
we provide Scriptures for you to read and reflect on between sessions. Let these daily devotions serve as an opportunity for you to slow down, read and reflect on a small portion of Scripture, and pray. May this section prompt Walking in Your Purpose leaders and participants to seek God on their own throughout the week. As you present this possibility to the group, encourage members to begin and end their times with prayer; to not hurry through the devotions; and to take enough time to hear God’s direction. Note: The times are approximate. They will be different based, for instance, on how many people are in a group. Right now the time spent on each section adds up to one hour. Adding the optional “Let’s Go Deeper” segments into each meeting time would make the session 75 minutes long. If the schedule allows, advertise this program as being comprised of five hour-and-a-half sessions The additional fifteen minutes will add breathing room and discussion time.
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S ession out l ines
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SESSION ONE
Discovering Your Purpose —Part 1 WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE We are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ~ Ephesians 2:10 NASB
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WELCOME (5 MINUTES)
WELCOME TO WALKING IN YOUR PURPOSE AND INTO A GROUP THAT IS NOT A RANDOM GATHERING. OUR SOVEREIGN GOD HAS ARRANGED FOR US TO SHARE THESE FIVE WEEKS THINKING AND TALKING ABOUT PURPOSE.
LET'S OPEN WITH A PRAYER. Now, purpose may be an unsettling word. So we’re going to start with some basics. • What is a hammer used for? a flash drive? a rolling pin? • What was the purpose of a fax machine? a washboard? a roll of film? a floppy disk? Things have a purpose: they were designed by someone to accomplish or simplify a task. People also have a purpose: God designed all of us to love Him and to love one another. But every single one of us is unique, designed for a specific one-of-a-kind purpose as well. What’s your purpose? May this Walking in Your Purpose study help you discover it and, yes, start walking in it!
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LET'S GET STARTED
• Please share your name and your specific purpose in coming to this five-week study. Why did you decide to make this commitment? • Now let’s brainstorm some nonstandard purposes— some different uses—for a few everyday objects. In addition to holding a drink—its purpose—what can use a paper cup for? What nonstandard can a toothpick be used for? What can a screwdriver be used for when it’s not screwing or unscrewing screws?
(10 MINUTES) LET’S HEAR WHAT PASTOR TRAVIS HAS TO SAY ABOUT DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE.
LET'S LEARN (15 MINUTES) IT’S TIME TO WATCH THE VIDEO DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE, PART I. USE THE SPACE PROVIDED ON PAGE 19 FOR NOTES, QUESTIONS, AND COMMENTS YOU WANT TO BRING UP DURING THE DISCUSSION.
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• The point is, each item can be used for a variety of things, but it is still most effective when it’s fulfilling the exact purpose for which it was designed. The same is true for us: we are most effective—and satisfied—when we are fulfilling the exact purpose for which God created and designed us. Do you know what your purpose is?
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NOTES
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LET’S TALK (15 MINUTES)
That video asked seven important questions—and asked them quickly!—so you’ll find them here. First, a quick stop at the memory verse: We are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ~ Ephesians 2:10 NASB This verse means—among other things—that you were created on purpose for a purpose! The challenge lies in the process of discovering what that purpose is. What are those good works that God has prepared beforehand for you to accomplish? What’s your purpose? There is no surefire guaranteed-or-your-money-back formula for identifying the purpose for which we were created, but God does give us clues. In fact, these seven questions may offer clues that will help you discover your God-given purpose. Let’s get started. Take a minute or two to review these seven questions.
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Question #1 – What would you do with your life if you knew you couldn’t fail? When it comes to the pursuit of your purpose, the most devastating thing that could happen is not failure. The most devastating thing that could happen is to become successful at the wrong thing. Question #2 – What in life bothers you the most? Sex trafficking? Addiction? Homelessness? Biblical illiteracy? Young couples struggling in their marriage? Empty seats in church? People not knowing how to handle their money? The reason it bothers you may very well be because God created you to fix it. Question #3 – What would you do with your life if you knew that your family would support your dream? Sometimes we don’t pursue our true purpose because we wouldn’t—or we think IF YOUR GROUP IS we wouldn’t— have the support of the NEW, WELCOME people closest to us. Question #4 – What would you do with your life if you knew that you wouldn’t have to face the pain of dealing with your past? Know that God will give you all that you need to overcome your past so that you can walk in your purpose. Question #5 – How have the struggles you’ve endured impacted your life? What God’s brought you through is often a clue as to what God is calling you to do.
NEWCOMERS. INTRODUCE EVERYONE— YOU MAY EVEN WANT TO HAVE NAMETAGS FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING.
Question #6 – What are you naturally passionate about? What do you spend your time thinking about, journaling about, talking about, reading about, watching, or listening to? Your God-given passion is a clue that will help lead you to your purpose. I often say it this way “Your gifts + Your Passion = Your Purpose.” Question #7 – What would you do with your life if money weren’t an issue? Sometimes we allow limited resources to put limits on our purpose. I believe that if it’s God’s will, it’s God’s bill. Think about a time when—if ever—you saw or experienced God’s working out His plan despite what looked like inadequate resources. May the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand with five loaves of bread and two fish encourage you (Matthew 14:15-21)!
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1. Which one of these seven questions do you find most challenging? Tell us why.
2. If you could choose which question to talk more about, which one would it be? Explain your choice.
3. Which one of these questions reminds you of someone you
know—or know of—who is clearly living out his/her purpose? In a sentence or two, describe what that person is doing. Maybe, for instance, you know of a long-married couple who comes alongside young marrieds to listen to the heartache, to talk about the struggles, and to pray.
4. Which of these questions does God seem to be using to stir you to action? to help you look at your life from a different perspective? to encourage you to take a step of faith? What will you do in response? Be specific about the what and the when.
If you lean into the Lord, He will lead you through this process of discovering your purpose. And leaning into the Lord can be easier in community.
5. What comes easily for you that doesn’t come as easily for your friends or family?
That question is important because we often take for granted the things that we already do really well. We assume that it comes easily for others too, but not everybody can work with computers, people, money, or business the way you can. Not everyone can draw or take photographs like you can. What do you make look easy? Get input from others in this group. And don’t take what you already do well for granted. That giftedness offers another clue that will help lead you to your purpose.
6. What role is prayer taking in your search for your specific purpose in life—or what role would you like it to be taking?
7.
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Pastor Travis shared this observation: “If you’ve discovered your purpose and you find that it’s something you can accomplish without God’s help, you haven’t discovered your purpose yet.” Do you agree? Why or why not? Explain.
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LET’S GO DEEPER (OPTIONAL 15 MINUTES)
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8. Read Psalm 63:1-5. • What do these verses—especially verse 1—reveal about the psalmist’s heart? • Why is seeking God key to discovering His purpose for our lives? • According to this passage, what does the psalmist find satisfying and a source of joy? • What commentary does Psalm 63:1-5 offer on this statement by Pastor Travis? “Don’t confuse success with purpose because it’s possible to be successful and miserable.”
9. Read Matthew 25:32-40. • This parable of the sheep and the goats is found in Jesus’ answer to His disciples’ request to tell them more about the end times. What might have surprised the disciples about whom the King blessed? • Who are some of the—literally and symbolically— hungry, thirsty, lonely, unclothed, sick, and imprisoned people in our community and our world today? • What impact might this realization—this parable— have on our efforts to discover the purpose God has for us? • Pastor Travis offered this insight: “Life is too short and too precious for you to spend the rest of your life trying to pursue a career when you could be fulfilling your purpose.” What, if anything, do you hear the Lord saying to you as you read those words? • James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you” (NLT). Close this time you’ve spent with your Lord asking Him for wisdom and guidance as you seek to discern His will and His purpose for your life.
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LET'S PRAY (10 MINUTES)
Again, it’s not by accident that we are sharing these five weeks. Our sovereign God has called each of us to be here. May we encourage each other to expect to hear from God in a life-changing way. May we also encourage each other by praying for whatever is going on in our lives. We can close with this prayer: Thank You, gracious Lord, for today’s reminder that You created each one of us on purpose and for a purpose. We are grateful that You’ve called us to love You and to be blessed by knowing You as King, Father, and Shepherd. We want to serve You well in the specific capacity You have designed us for. Please help us not miss the clues You put in our paths, clues that will enable us to discover our life purpose. Once we do, may we fulfill that purpose for Your great glory. Amen.
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ONE MORE THING. AT THE END OF EACH SESSION, YOU’LL FIND A VERSE AND A QUESTION TO REFLECT ON FOR EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. WHEN YOU MAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THE DAILY VERSE, EXPECT TO HEAR FROM GOD AS YOU CONSIDER HIS PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE.
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LET’S WALK WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
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DAY 1 If You Couldn’t Fail… I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Isaiah 41:13 Reflect: What promises do you find in this verse? Pray those promises in connection to your search for your purpose.
DAY 2 From Bothersome to Purposeful “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Reflect: When have you seen someone respond in a purposeful and fulfilling way to a need or societal ill that bothered him/her? Think about something that bothers you. What legitimately helpful response might you offer?
DAY 3 Your Heavenly Father’s Support Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, LORD. Psalm 27:10-11 Reflect: Realistically, what might be the cost of pursuing your dream without your family’s support? And, realistically, what might be the cost of not pursuing that dream out of concern that you would upset your family?
DAY 4 God Doesn’t Waste Pain “I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.” Joel 2:25 Reflect: When have you seen—or even experienced—some good coming out of pain? Why is dealing with the past important for your future?
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DAY 5 Struggles Are Not for Naught “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener…. Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2 Reflect: Why is it helpful to see life’s struggles as God’s pruning? Identify one or two character traits that have been sharpened because of your struggles.
DAY 6 Passion and Purpose You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:13-14 Reflect: Why is it significant to you that you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God Himself? What are some of the passions He has woven into you?
DAY 7 Jehovah-Jireh, “God Provides” “As soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” Joshua 3:13 Reflect: If you have a strong sense of your life purpose and if money weren’t a concern, what would be the first step into the water, the first step you would take toward fulfilling that God-given purpose? What waters might your faithful God part for you when you take that step?
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NOTES
LET’S HIDE GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEARTS
We are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ~ Ephesians 2:10 NASB
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SESSION TWO
Discovering Your Purpose —Part 2 WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4
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WELCOME (5 MINUTES)
WELCOME BACK TO WALKING IN YOUR PURPOSE!
LET'S OPEN WITH A PRAYER.
Before we look at the second part of our topic Discovering Your Purpose, share any new thoughts about your purpose that came to mind this week after the opening session or as you considered the daily Bible verses.
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LET'S GET STARTED
Maybe this is a statement of the obvious, but in the pursuit of your purpose, you will encounter resistance. It’s vital that you recognize this fact, or else you run the risk of misinterpreting that resistance as God saying no. Or you’ll begin doubting that you heard God right in the first place, and you’ll be tempted to turn back.
(10 MINUTES)
LET'S LEARN
Listen closely: You’ll never discover—much less fulfill— your purpose if you change your direction every time you encounter difficulty.
(15 MINUTES) WE DO ENCOUNTER OBSTACLES AS WE SEEK TO IDENTIF Y GOD’S PURPOSE FOR US AND TO FULFILL THAT PURPOSE. IN THE VIDEO DISCOVERING YOUR PURPOSE, PART 2, PASTOR TRAVIS WILL TALK ABOUT SEVEN OF THE BIGGEST OBSTACLES.
1. What are some reasons that we encounter difficulties and face challenges as we try to walk with the Lord and live for Him? 2. What person in the Bible encountered difficulties and faced challenges as he/she tried to walk with the Lord and live for Him? Yes, that’s a trick question. Pretty much everyone, right?
USE THE SPACE PROVIDED ON PAGE 41 FOR NOTES, QUESTIONS, AND COMMENTS YOU WANT TO BRING UP DURING THE DISCUSSION.
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LET’S TALK (15 MINUTES)
As said in the video, you will never discover—much less fulfill—your purpose if you change your direction every time you encounter difficulty. Seven obstacles to pursuing your purpose in life are listed here. Obstacle #1: Fear The pursuit of your purpose will require courage. At times walking in your purpose will demand that you take risks. You will feel fear as you pursue your purpose. But the God who is for you is greater than the fear coming against you. Obstacle #2: Lack If you focus on the money you don’t have, the time you don’t have, the family support you don’t have, the experience or education you don’t have, you’ll miss what you do have—the promises of God! Wherever God gives vision, He also supplies the provision.
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Obstacle #3: A Limiting Mind-Set If you think small, you’ll dream small. Sometimes the reason we experience so little is because we expect so little. Stop telling yourself why you can’t fulfill your God-given purpose. Don’t let yourself dream any more small dreams. Think bigger! Obstacle #4: Limited Exposure We can’t expect to get new revelation in the same old comfortable environment. So keep exposing yourself to new experiences, relationships, and ideas that will challenge you to grow and become the version of you that God has always desired you to become. Obstacle #5: Unforgiveness If you’re serious about pursuing your purpose, you need to get serious about forgiving whoever it is that hurt you so you can move forward. Your purpose is far too great to allow your past to keep you from your future. Obstacle #6: Toxic Relationships
YOUR PURPOSE IS FAR TOO GREAT TO ALLOW YOUR PAST TO KEEP YOU FROM YOUR FUTURE.
Don’t let a fear of being alone trap you into keeping unhealthy relationships around you. In fact, sometimes before God can bring the right people into our lives, we first have to be willing to let go of the wrong people. Obstacle #7: Indecision Indecision is purpose paralysis. If you wait for every unanswered question to be answered before you decide to take a step of faith towards your purpose, you’ll never take that step of faith. Your circumstances do not need to be perfect for you to begin pursuing your purpose.
1. Which obstacle, if any, have you accepted as a fact of life rather than as an obstacle to be overcome? And what would overcoming require?
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2. Which obstacle has been most real to you this week? Why do you think it’s the one that has been especially intimidating?
3. What truths do—or could—help you stand strong and move forward despite the obstacle(s) you find in your path?
4. Maybe you’ve heard it said, “Some of my worst problems I’ve
never had.” (You may need to read that twice.) Unpack that together… Share a personal example of this truth… And discuss ways to stop worrying because worrying can keep us stuck.
5. The source is not known, but apparently the experience has been
around for generations: “The first step is the hardest.” Why do you think the first step of a project, the first step toward change, or the first step toward a goal is often the hardest? Discuss what can be done to make that first step less difficult.
In the first session when we also addressed discovering your purpose, we saw that whatever social ill especially bothers us may be key to determining God’s plan for your life. Perhaps you are passionate about—for instance—sex trafficking, addiction, homelessness, biblical illiteracy, young couples struggling in their marriage, empty seats in church, or people not knowing how to handle their money. The list is endless, but Pastor Travis proclaimed that you are the solution to a problem.
6. About what particular social ill or need are you passionate? What might God want you to do to help remedy that specific situation? What God-given abilities, skills, and experience align with your possible work in this field?
7.
If you truly want to be fulfilled—if you truly want to make a difference with your life—then become that solution to a problem you care about. What obstacles stand in your way? What would overcoming those obstacles require?
8. Why does it matter to you that God created us not for success but for significance?
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LET’S GO DEEPER (OPTIONAL 15 MINUTES)
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9. Read Joshua 3:9-17. • The end of their exodus from slavery in Egypt has ended. The children of Israel—God’s chosen people—are about to enter the Promised Land. What predicament do they face? • What sounds crazy about God’s instructions, spoken by Joshua in verse 8? in verse 13? Note, too, the conditions of the Jordan at this time of year. • In response to what human action did God stop the flow of the waters? What did that action indicate? • Why do you think it’s significant that God responded as “their feet touched the water’s edge” rather than when the priests had waded in up to their knees? What is the metaphorical significance of that for you and me? In other words, what do we have to do sometimes before we see God act in our lives?
10. Read Matthew 14:22-33. • Set the scene by answering these questions: Who? What? When? Where? • Why were the disciples terrified? • Yet what was Peter’s reaction? And how did that work out for him? • What do you think could have kept Peter walking on the water? • What encouragement for our pursuit of our life purpose does this scene from Matthew 4 have for us?
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LET'S PRAY (10 MINUTES)
Now we are going to share with each other (or in two smaller groups) prayer requests for this week. Remember that everything talked about and prayed for is absolutely confidential. Someone can close with this prayer: Almighty God, good and gracious God, each of us wants to discern Your purpose for our lives. Thank You for pointing out obstacles—and please help us overcome them. And thank You for truths illustrated in Your holy Word. Help us not only believe in Your faithfulness; please also help us to put our toe in the water so we can watch You act on our behalf. And help us keep our eyes on Jesus so we can walk through life’s storms in order to fulfill the purpose You call us to. Amen.
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LET’S WALK WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
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DAY 1 “Fear Not!” “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 ESV Reflect: Sometimes our fears shrink when we talk or write about them. So, somewhere, write a letter to God about what your greatest fears are… and praise Him for being far bigger than those fears.
DAY 2 Faith or Facts? Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 NKJV Reflect: As Pastor Travis said, when it comes to God’s promises, faith trumps facts. Think of a time when what God did in your life trumped the circumstances. What lack is God asking you to trust Him for now?
DAY 3 Immeasurably Powerful, Immeasurably Good [God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20 Reflect: Take a moment right now to thank God for a time—or two or three—when He did indeed do far more for you than you could have asked or imagined. Now consider if you are factoring that truth into your thoughts and dreams for your future—and if not, why not.
DAY 4 “Come!” “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once [Simon Peter and Andrew] left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:19-20 Reflect: The first thing Jesus did when He called His disciples was to call them out of their familiar environments and into new experiences and relationships. Think about how rooted you are right now and the pros and cons of staying right where you are.
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DAY 5 Identifying the Weights Lay aside every weight...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 Reflect: Sometimes we need a person who knows us well to help us see ourselves more clearly. If you’re not sure what may be holding you back—unforgiveness, guilt, or something else—ask a trusted friend or family member. And, yes, ask God to reveal to you anything that is weighing you down.
DAY 6 Friend or Foe? Bad company corrupts good morals. 1 Corinthians 15:33 NASB Reflect: What current relationship—if any—may be holding you back from moving forward in pursuit of your purpose? Think about why you are staying in that relationship and the cost of doing so.
DAY 7 Just Do It! Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Ecclesiastes 11:4 NLT Reflect: When has your making no decision actually proven to be your making a no decision? Consider on what fronts today, if any, you are hesitating to make a decision. What might you actually be saying no to as you try to make a decision? What guidance does God seem to be giving you?
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Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ~ James 1:2-4
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SESSION THREE
Developing Your Purpose WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. ~ Psalm 138:8 ESV
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WELCOME (5 MINUTES)
WELCOME BACK TO WALKING IN YOUR PURPOSE!
LET'S OPEN WITH A PRAYER.
We’ve opened with prayer. Now it’s time to brag. Which obstacle— fear, lack, a limited mind-set, limited exposure, unforgiveness, toxic relationships, or indecision— did you tackle this week? What progress did you make toward overcoming it? A single baby step counts—and remember that the first step’s the hardest!
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LET'S GET STARTED
That said, let’s briefly go around the circle.
(10 MINUTES) MAYBE YOU READ THE TITLE OF THIS SESSION—“DEVELOPING YOUR PURPOSE”—AND THOUGHT, “I’M STILL NOT SURE WHAT MY PURPOSE IS!” AND THAT’S OK.
If you haven’t quite honed in on your purpose, think of yourself as being in the… pre-development stage of developing your purpose. (That sounds pretty purposeful, doesn’t it?) And what happens in this predevelopment stage? You can be sure that God is working in the background, preparing you for your purpose. And He’s been doing so for a while. Every high and low, every mistake you’ve made, every time you’ve been hurt, every time you experienced success—God has been using all of it to prepare you for all that He has for you.
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1. Please share your current thoughts about what God’s specific purpose for you is. At the same time, let us know one or two moments when He helped clarify this for you. 2. Now, if you’re in the pre-development stage, remember two things: there’s no judgment here, and every step—no matter its size—counts. Perhaps you made progress by narrowing down possibilities you’d been considering. If that’s the case, please let us know which options are no longer in the running and why. 3. This week’s Bible verse is on page 56. What do you appreciate about David’s declaration in Psalm 138? If you know anything about David’s life, comment on the significance of his confident words here.
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LET'S LEARN (15 MINUTES) IT’S TIME TO WATCH THE VIDEO DEVELOPING YOUR PURPOSE. USE THE SPACE/ LINES PROVIDED ON PAGE 63 FOR NOTES, QUESTIONS, AND COMMENTS YOU WANT TO BRING UP DURING THE DISCUSSION.
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LET’S TALK (15 MINUTES)
Your purpose has to be fed and nurtured, and the video addressed three of the most important ways you can do that: We Develop Our Purpose Through Relationships Simply put, you can’t develop yourself… by yourself. You have to build relationships. You (and I) need—first and foremost—a relationship with Jesus. We also benefit from mentors, coaches, teachers, and friends who challenge us to become everything God created each one of us to become. (If you want a mentor, know that you will have to initiate that relationship.) We Develop Our Purpose Through Exposure Be intentional about exposing yourself to new and bigger environments because, typically, we rise no higher than the highest level of purpose we’re exposed to. Expose yourself to the kind of environments directly connected to your purpose. Exposing yourself to new places and new ways to approach a task will help to change the way you think about the possibilities of your purpose.
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We Develop Our Purpose Through Investment The most important investment you can make is in yourself. Why? You can’t give to other what you yourself don’t have. You can’t offer encouragement when you’re discouraged. You can’t offer compassion or patience or joy or… when you’re empty. Also invest in yourself by reading relevant books, listening to podcasts, going to conferences, taking classes, and caring for your body (eating, sleeping, and exercising).
1. Which of these three ways to develop your purpose surprised you? seemed to be just for you? challenged you in a big way? Explain your reactions as best you can and comment on what action you will take as a result.
2. What relationship has been
especially key to your growth, specifically to your growing understanding of your giftedness, your passions, and your skills? This week send that person a thank-you note.
YOU (AND I) NEED—FIRST AND FOREMOST—A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.
3. Describe a person rising no higher in life than the highest level of
purpose to which he/she was exposed—and plan a field trip for yourself to a bigger environment that is directly connected to your purpose.
4. Let’s discuss investing in yourself. Why is that important? What are
some of the dangers of failing to do so? What, if anything, keeps you from investing in yourself either in general or in certain ways?
Remember Pastor Travis’s challenge to you to create a growth plan? Here are the instructions—and accepting his challenge will definitely help you develop your purpose. • First, write down the names of a few people you’re going to build a relationship with. • Then make of list of environments you want to expose yourself to,
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environments that are related to your purpose. • Last, write down three specific ways you are going to invest in yourself in the next 30 days.
One of the questions we often ask ourselves as we are developing our purpose is “When is a door going to open so I can start walking in my purpose?” That’s a normal and natural question, but we need to be careful. This question can quickly become a distraction that, over time, can breed resentment. Before you know it, you could be so consumed with God opening a door that you forsake your own development. When it comes to the pursuit of your purpose, the doors of opportunity are out of your control. So here’s the pastor’s advice: Don’t worry about doors. Focus on development and let God take care of the doors.
5. We can be so consumed with God opening a door that we forsake our own development. Discuss exactly what that development is or could be. What can we do to keep in balance seeking God and developing our purpose?
6. Be assured, God is working in and around you to prepare you for
your purpose whether or not you’re aware of it. After all, with God, waiting time is never wasted time. When have you recognized the value of waiting? What good has come out of a season of waiting? Be specific.
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During his discussion of developing our purpose through relationships, Pastor Travis offered this important exhortation: “Don’t just look for someone who can speak into your life. Look for opportunities to be that person in someone else’s life as well.” Why is this wise counsel? Who might you come alongside with encouragement and prayer? God will show you if you ask.
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LET’S GO DEEPER (OPTIONAL 15 MINUTES)
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8. Read John 15:4-6. • What does this metaphorical description of Jesus and His followers suggest about the importance of our investing in our relationship with Jesus? • What is the result of our abiding in Jesus? What do these verses suggest about the purpose of our doing so? • What does this passage say to you about the purpose you are discovering and developing? • In what ways are we able to abide in Jesus Christ? Be specific.
9. Read Proverbs 4:7. • What instruction do we find here? • What does the verb get say about what our role is and how demanding it is? • If you read the New International Version, you read, “Though it cost all you have, get understanding.” What does the writer of Proverbs want us to understand? Why is such understanding so valuable? • What sources of knowledge and understanding will you turn to as you fulfill your God-given purpose?
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LET'S PRAY (10 MINUTES)
In addition to praying that we will recognize our purpose, that we will know how to develop it, and that we will know when and where to fulfill it—for God’s glory—we also want to address the daily issues of life. Remember that everything talked about and prayed for is absolutely confidential.
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LET’S WALK WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
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DAY 1 Relationships Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 ESV Reflect: Thank God for your relationships with people who aren’t afraid to speak truth to you in love, however many sparks may fly initially. Thank God that they love you too much to remain silent.
DAY 2 Exposure The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Psalm 19:1 ESV Reflect: Consider the vastness of the sky—and the greater vastness of our glorious God. What encouragement do you find in developing your purpose through exposure to other parts and aspects of God’s big world?
DAY 3 Investment 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. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Reflect: Ponder the amazing truth that God’s very Spirit dwells within you. What impact does or could that truth have on how you live today?
DAY 4 Doors and Development You are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. Psalm 31:3 ESV Reflect: Think about the value of trusting God to open the right doors at the right time as He guides you into His purpose for you.
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DAY 5 Perfect Timing For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven…He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ESV Reflect: Look back over your life and note two or three times when you clearly saw the perfection of God’s timing… and be encouraged especially if you are in a season of waiting.
DAY 6 I run with purpose in every step. 1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT Reflect: Identify a time when you could have said this about yourself and list in your mind two or three things you can do that might help you be purposeful in your everyday life.
DAY 7 Waiting Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 ESV Reflect: Consider specific aspects of character building that God can do while we wait. What work on your character has He done during your various seasons of waiting?
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The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. ~ Psalm 138:8 ESV
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SESSION FOUR
Protecting Your Purpose WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~ Proverbs 4:23
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WELCOME (5 MINUTES)
WELCOME BACK TO WALKING IN YOUR PURPOSE!
LET'S OPEN WITH A PRAYER.
Before we move on to the topic of Session 4—“Protecting Your Purpose”—think about what you did this past week to develop or sharpen your purpose. Maybe you accepted Pastor Travis’s challenge and wrote out a growth plan. Maybe you chose to develop your purpose through a mentoring relationship, through exposure to a new and bigger environment that aligns to your sense of purpose, or through an investment in yourself. What specifically did you do? And—although it may not yet be evident—in what way or to what degree did that action contribute to your sense of purpose?
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Three words are key to Session #4. Let’s define these three words, how—if at all—we react to them emotionally, and what— if anything—comes to mind when we hear them.
LET'S GET STARTED
1. First, pride. What is pride? What does being proud or prideful look like?… If you have any emotional reaction, is it positive or negative? If your reaction is negative, what are its roots?... What comes to mind when you hear either the word pride?
(10 MINUTES)
LET'S LEARN (15 MINUTES) IT’S TIME TO WATCH THE VIDEO PROTECTING YOUR PURPOSE. USE THE SPACE/ LINES PROVIDED ON PAGE 85 FOR NOTES, QUESTIONS, AND COMMENTS YOU WANT TO BRING UP DURING THE DISCUSSION.
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2. The next word is boundaries. What are boundaries? What are some examples of boundaries?... If you have any emotional reaction to that concept, is it positive or negative? If your reaction is negative, what are its roots?... What comes to mind when you hear the word boundaries? 3. Finally, the most benign of the words: distractions. What might be the connection between distractions and developing and protecting one’s purpose?... If you have any emotional reaction to the thought of distractions, is it positive or negative? If your reaction is negative, what are its roots?... What comes to mind when you hear the word distraction?
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LET’S TALK (15 MINUTES)
Early in the video we hear that purpose protection begins with subtraction, and pride is one of the first attitudes we need to subtract from our lives. Pride is to purpose what cancer is to the body. Pride is also the only disease known to man where everyone knows that it’s there except for the one who has it.
1. What are some other attitudes and ideas that we need to subtract
from our lives so that our purpose is not impacted by their poison? Why does it make sense that pride would be one of the first traits to go? Since we are often blind to our own pride, spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal your pride. You might even consider asking a close friend.
Also essential to protecting our purposes is the establishment of boundaries in three key areas of our lives. After all, Satan can only gain access to the areas of our lives where we have not established clear boundaries. If we are serious about protecting our purpose, then strong boundaries around our heart, around our mind, and around our time are essential.
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1. What do healthy boundaries around our hearts keep out? Why are
these boundaries around our hearts important to people who are married and people who are single? What do healthy boundaries around our hearts mean for our discovering and our living out God’s purpose for us?
2. Why are healthy boundaries around our mind important? What would the enemy be able to do in our minds if we lack good boundaries? What do healthy boundaries around our minds mean for our discovering and our living out God’s purpose for us?
3. What factors make it difficult to have healthy boundaries around our
time? Why do you struggle—if you do—to protect your time? In what ways can Satan interfere?
Satan tailors attractive distractions to our own personal weaknesses, but a couple general distractions are issues for all of us.
4. Two of the most common distractions that keep people from walking in their purpose are living to please people (we need to learn to say not) and entertainment gluttony (think “screen time”). What can we do to stand strong against those distractions? Which of those two is tougher for you to avoid? Why do you think that is?
Often, right before God opens a door that will allow you to fulfill your purpose, the enemy will offer you a false path that seems to also allow you to fulfill your purpose. If you looked at Matthew 4:1-11 just now, you saw that Jesus experienced exactly that: right before Jesus started His earthly ministry, Satan presented Him with a counterfeit opportunity to gain fame, fortune, and validation.
5. In the video we heard about The 3 Cs of Counterfeit Purpose: cash,
comfort, and convenience. Discuss how each of those can derail us from our purpose… and, after that, how each can interfere with the make-us-more-like-Jesus work God wants to do in our hearts.oblem.
6. What are ways we can stand strong against The 3 Cs, against the
appeal of cash, comfort, and convenience? Brainstorm together. Then, acknowledge to yourself or aloud to the group which of The 3 Cs you most struggle with.
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7. Read 2 Kings 5:1-14,
an Old Testament story that may be new to some of us.
• Who are the four people we meet in the opening five verses? What problem has them talking to one another? • Who proposes a cure for Naaman’s leprosy—and what is that proposal? • Who is able to help Naaman—and what is Naaman instructed to do? • Describe Naaman’s response. What did his pride almost cost him? When has your pride cost you something? Ask God to show you if you are currently at risk of losing something because of your pride. All of us tend to be blind to our pride, so we need the Lord to show us so we can relinquish and live humble before our Creator.
8. Read Matthew 4:1-11. • Here, in the ESV, Satan is called the tempter. What are other names for him? Making a list will help you recognize his work in our lives. • Why did Satan tempt Jesus? And—for the Bible scholars among us—why do you think the Spirit Himself led Jesus into that wilderness? • Describe Satan’s strategy. More specifically, what words did he speak? What shortcuts and therefore counterfeits to Jesus’ glorious destiny did Satan propose? • Apart from being the Son of God, why was Jesus able to stand strong against Satan’s temptations? Are you able to follow Jesus’ example? If not, what will you do to become more prepared?
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LET'S PRAY (10 MINUTES)
In addition to praying for one another to determine and develop our God-given purposes, we also need to pray against our being deceived and attracted to counterfeit purposes. Let’s ask God to keep all of us from being derailed by counterfeit purposes that can be quite appealing.
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LET’S WALK WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
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DAY 1 On Guard! Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23 Reflect: Take a few minutes to think through the connection between your actions and your heart… between the words you speak and your heart… between the decisions you make and your heart… and, basically, between “everything you do” and your heart.
DAY 2 Conquering We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB Reflect: Consider, first, why it is important to take our thoughts captive rather than letting them run wild. Second, review what you do—or could do—to take every single one of your thoughts captive. Imagine the benefits of being able to do so.
DAY 3 In Focus Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT Reflect: List those activities and disciplines you can do in order to better “fix your thoughts” on God-honoring things.
DAY 4 Numbering Our Days Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4 Reflect: It may be overused and trite, but… what would you do differently today if you knew it was your last on this planet? How, if at all, does your hypothetical plan reflect your sense of God’s purpose for you?
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DAY 5 Living to Please… If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 ESV Reflect: Be honest with yourself as you reflect on times and situations when you live to please men rather than God. Think about the feelings you are left with…. Then consider the opposite—those times and situations when you live to please God and how you feel when you do.
DAY 6 Rhetorical—and Reassuring God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 NASB Reflect: Life is difficult. Jesus Himself told us we would experience trials and face tribulations. Explain the promise of Romans 8:31 in light of that reality. If you know anything about Paul’s life (he wrote the book of Romans), when do you think he needed to remind himself of this reassuring truth?
DAY 7 God’s Grace God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6 NASB Reflect: To plumb the riches of this verse, think through the meaning of the proud, grace, and the humble. Explain, too, why God acts as He does toward the proud… and toward the humble.
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LET’S HIDE GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEARTS Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. ~ Proverbs 4:23
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SESSION FIVE
Redeeming Your Purpose WEEKLY MEMORY VERSE “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” ~ Joel 2:25 NKJV
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WELCOME (5 MINUTES)
WELCOME BACK TO WALKING IN YOUR PURPOSE!
LET'S OPEN WITH A PRAYER.
What has been a highlight for you up until this point? The discussions, videos, prayer times, or daily devotionals? Why have they been significant.
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LET'S GET STARTED
1. What redemptive work of the Lord do you see in the lives of these people of the Bible? Job, Lazarus, The woman caught in the act of adultery, The crucified Jesus, Saul who became Paul.
(10 MINUTES)
Do you feel like it’s too late for you to finally discover and then start living out your specific God-given purpose? Maybe you’re convinced that you’ve made too many mistakes, you’ve taken the wrong path too many times, you’ve burned too many bridges, or you’ve waited too long to get serious about living a life that honors God. If any of that is true about you, I have good news for you…
2. As those five accounts indicate, God did—and continues to do today— some of His best work after it seems too late. Think about a time in your own life—or in the life of someone you know—when God has done something amazing after… after you didn’t get the promotion, you didn’t get accepted in the college you desperately wanted to attend, you had to file bankruptcy, your injury meant no more playing the sport you loved, or… your situation may be unique. Our God truly is a God who redeems—not only souls from sin, but also life paths from our missteps.
We serve—and we are loved by— a redeeming God. Our all-powerful, all-wise, and always good God knows how to redeem the time we’ve lost, the mistakes we’ve made, and the bridges we’ve burned.
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LET'S LEARN (15 MINUTES) IT’S TIME TO WATCH THE VIDEO REDEEMING YOUR PURPOSE. USE THE SPACE/ LINES PROVIDED ON PAGE 105 FOR NOTES, QUESTIONS, AND COMMENTS YOU WANT TO BRING UP DURING THE DISCUSSION.
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LET’S TALK (15 MINUTES)
God doesn’t let an apparent lost cause remain lost. Instead, working in partnership with Him, we can experience a fresh start, discover our purpose, and live a life that honors and glorifies Him. So let’s look at the 5 Steps Toward Redeeming Your Purpose: Get back to the One who gave you purpose. When you seek Jesus, He will bless you with wisdom, insights, and guidance to help you get back on track whether you’re discovering, developing, or ready to live out your purpose. Start telling yourself a new story. For good or for bad, the story you tell yourself will shape the way you see yourself. So choose to believe such truths as you’re not too old. It’s not too hard. Your purpose is your purpose. Refuse to tell yourself stories of doubt, fear, and defeat. After all, you’re more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37), and since God is for you, who can stand against you? (8:31).
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Get back to doing what you know God created you to do. In Revelation 2:5 (NLT) the risen Lord said to the church at Ephesus, “Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.” It’s not too late to get back to doing what you know God created you to do. Loving Him and loving others are at the top of the list. Find someone or somewhere to serve. While you’re in this process of cooperating with God as He redeems your purpose, find a way to help someone else walk in his/her purpose. Or get plugged into a ministry team at church. Join a life group. Find somewhere to volunteer and make a difference in someone else’s life. Don’t be afraid to start small. Don’t wait for perfect circumstances to reengage your purpose. Perfection is the enemy of progress. You don’t have to have the best to give your best. Just get started.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET BACK TO DOING WHAT YOU KNOW GOD CREATED YOU TO DO. LOVING HIM AND LOVING OTHERS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST.
1. Why do some people—perhaps
share your own story—get off track when it comes to fulfilling their God-given purpose? What does returning to God look like for some people? (What did it look like for you?) And what is happening internally when a person returns to God?
2. Before we start telling ourselves a new story—a true story—about the
direction our lives can to, let’s clean out the old and the untrue. What are some of the specific negative and/or untrue statements you tell yourselves about your life, your value, and your future? Next to each statement write out some of the truths that counter the lies and that comprise your new story.
3. When—if ever—have had the opportunity to serve someone with
compassion and empathy because you have gone through the same kind of hurt and loss? In what ways was that experience redemptive? Put differently, what good did God enable to come from the bad times in your life?
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4. When has your perfectionism been an enemy of your progress? Be specific about the perfect circumstances you were waiting for… and about the forward movement or personal growth that ceased as you waited.
The fact that there’s still breath in your lungs is proof that you still have divine purpose. It’s not too late for you to do the work God has for you, for you to discover and develop His purpose for you. • When Joseph was thrown into Potiphar’s prison, it looked like it was too late. • When Abraham and Sarah were too old to have children, it looked like it was too late. • When Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb, it looked like it was too late. But it wasn’t in any of those cases. And the reason? Because we serve a redeeming God who is able to create new things out of nothing.
5. Look again at this statement: “The fact that there’s still breath in
your lungs is proof that you still have divine purpose.” What came to mind when you first heard or read these words? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
6. Figuratively speaking, what prison have you been in? When has an expected or desired blessing looked like an impossible dream? In both cases, what new things did God create in your life?
7.
This truth sounds a bit like a riddle: God doesn’t need what you don’t have to accomplish His will for your life. What veiled rebuke do you find in that sentence? What reassurance do you personally find in this statement?
8. You’d be shocked at what God can do if you’d just started working with the little that you’ve got. God will bless the little. Tell of a time you’ve seen or—ideally—experienced this truth. Why is this encouraging today?
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9. Read Numbers 13:25-33. The Israelites had wandered in the desert for forty years. According to the Lord’s instruction, Moses sent some spies into the Promised Land to spy out this land of Canaan. • What was the spies report after their forty-day reconnaissance mission? • What counterpoint to the spies report did Caleb offer? • When have you felt the hopelessness that the group of spies felt? Whom, if anyone, did God send to be a Caleb in your life? What was your response? Did you act? Why or why not? • The spies Moses had sent into the Promised Land were telling themselves the wrong story—“We seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them” (Numbers 13:33 ESV)—and they talked themselves right out of the promises of God. The story you tell yourself will shape the way you see yourself. Ask God to help you see what story you are telling yourself and what impact it is having on your sense of purpose, your passion for Him, and your hope for the future.
10. Read Romans 4:13, 16-25. • We’re going to unpack some theology here. According to verses 13 and 23, on what basis did God fulfill for Abraham His promise of offspring as numerous as the stars in the sky? • What about Abraham’s circumstances required him to trust God to finally give him a child? See verse 19. • What can we do to stay strong in our belief that God will “do what he had promised” (v. 21 ESV) • Abraham’s faith was “counted to him as righteousness” (v. 22 ESV). Why is this important for us to recognize? In other words, in what does God want us to place our faith?
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LET'S PRAY (10 MINUTES)
Share prayer requests. Open the time of prayer with thanks to God for what He has taught you in this series. We’ll close by asking Him to bless us with the ability to keep our eyes on Him and to truly walk in our God-given purpose.
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LET’S WALK WITH GOD THROUGHOUT THE WEEK
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DAY 1 Unreasonable Hope Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping. Romans 4:17-18 NLT Reflect: Perhaps you have experienced a time when “there was no reason for hope.” Did you —like Abraham—keep hoping anyway? Why or why not?
DAY 2 Wholehearted “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 Reflect: Consider the ways you seek God. Which of those will you see to do more wholeheartedly this week?
DAY 3 Just Ask! If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5 NIV Reflect: We can ask God for wisdom, and He will provide. Consider what difference this truth makes in your life—and thank God!
DAY 4 Do Unto Others He who waters will also be watered himself. Proverbs 11:25 NKJV Reflect: Think of a time when you felt blessed as you were serving and blessing someone else. What does this divine economy reveal about the God we love?
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DAY 5 The Lord’s Purpose Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 ESV Reflect: Explain why this truth may be frustrating… as well as encouraging. List a handful of adjectives describing God’s purpose for His children.
DAY 6 Faithful Fulfillment The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands. Psalm 138:8 ESV Reflect: Consider how the truth of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His purpose for you might help you be faithful to fulfill your God-given purpose.
DAY 7 I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV Reflect: Think back over these past four weeks. Identify some of the good work God has begun in your life. Thank Him for that—and look forward to how He will keep His Philippians 1:6 promise to you.
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NOTES
LET’S HIDE GOD’S WORD IN OUR HEARTS “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten.” ~ Joel 2:25 NKJV
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APPENDICES RESOURCES TO MAKE YOUR LIFE GROUP EXPERIENCE EVEN BETTER!
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT DO WE DO ON THE FIRST NIGHT OF OUR GROUP?
Have a party! A “get to know you” coffee, dinner, or dessert is a great way to launch a new study. You may want to review the Life Group agreement (pages 124-125) and share the names of a few friends you can invite to join you. But most importantly, have fun before your study time begins. WHERE DO WE FIND NEW MEMBERS FOR OUR GROUP?
This can be troubling, especially for new groups that have only a few people or for existing groups that lose a few people along the way. We encourage you to pray with your group and then brainstorm a list of people from work, church, your neighborhood, your children’s school, family, the gym, and so forth. Then have each group member invite several of the people on his or her list. Another good strategy is to ask church leaders to make an announcement or allow a bulletin insert. No matter how you find members, it’s vital that you stay on the lookout for new people to join your group. All groups tend to go through healthy attrition—the result of moves, releasing new leaders, ministry opportunities, and so forth—and if the group gets too small, it could be at risk of shutting down. If you and your group stay open, you’ll be amazed at the people God sends your way. The next person just might become a friend for life. You never know! HOW LONG WILL THIS GROUP MEET?
Most groups meet weekly for at least their first six weeks, but every other week can work as well. We strongly recommend that the group meet for the first six months on a weekly basis if at all possible. This allows for continuity, and if people miss a meeting they aren’t gone for a whole month. At the end of this study, each group member may decide if he or she wants to continue on for another study. Some groups launch relationships for years to come, and others are stepping-stones into another group experience. Either way, enjoy the journey. CAN WE DO THIS STUDY ON OUR OWN?
Absolutely! This may sound crazy, but one of the best ways to do this study
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is not with a full house but with a few friends. You may choose to gather with another couple who would enjoy some relational time (perhaps going to the movies or having a quiet dinner) and then walking through this study. Jesus will be with you even if there are only two of you (Matthew 18:20). WHAT IF THIS GROUP IS NOT WORKING FOR US?
You’re not alone! This could be the result of a personality conflict, life stage difference, geographical distance, level of spiritual maturity, or any number of things. Relax. Pray for God’s direction, and at the end of this six-week study, decide whether to continue with this group or find another. You don’t typically buy the first car you look at or marry the first person you date, and the same goes with a group. However, don’t bail out before the six weeks are up—God might have something to teach you. Also, don’t run from conflict or prejudge people before you have given them a chance. God is still working in your life, too! WHO IS THE LEADER?
Most groups have an official leader. But ideally, the group will mature and members will rotate the leadership of meetings. We have discovered that healthy groups rotate hosts/leaders and homes on a regular basis. This model ensures that all members grow, give their unique contribution, and develop their gifts. This study guide and the Holy Spirit can keep things on track even when you rotate leaders. Christ has promised to be in your midst as you gather. Ultimately, God is your leader each step of the way. HOW DO WE HANDLE THE CHILDCARE NEEDS IN OUR GROUP?
Very carefully. Seriously, this can be a sensitive issue. We suggest that you empower the group to openly brainstorm solutions. You may try one option that works for a while and then adjust over time. Our favorite approach is for adults to meet in the living room or dining room and to share the cost of a babysitter (or two) who can watch the kids in a different part of the house. This way, parents don’t have to be away from their children all evening when their children are too young to be left at home. A second option is to use one home for the kids and a second home (close by or a phone call away) for the adults. A third idea is to rotate the responsibility of providing a lesson or care for the children either in the same home or in another home nearby. This can be an incredible blessing for kids. Finally, the most common solution is to decide that you need to have a night to invest in your spiritual lives individually or as a couple and to make your own arrangements for childcare. No matter what decision the group makes, the best approach is to dialogue openly about both the problem and the solution. A P P E N D I C E S
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LIFE GROUP AGREEMENT OUR PURPOSE
To provide a predictable environment where participants experience authentic community and spiritual growth.
OUR VALUES
Group Attendance Give priority to the group meeting. We will call or email if we will be late or absent. (Completing the Group Calendar on page 126 will minimize this issue.)
Safe Environment Create a safe place where people can be heard and feel loved. (Please, no quick answers, snap judgments, or simple fixes.)
Respect Differences Be gentle and gracious to fellow group members with different spiritual maturity, personal opinions, temperaments, or “imperfections.� We are all works in progress.
Confidentiality Keep anything that is shared strictly confidential and within the group, and to avoid sharing improper information about those outside the group.
Encouragement for Growth Be not just takers but givers of life. We want to spiritually multiply our life by serving others with our God-given gifts.
Shared Ownership Remember that every member is a minister and to ensure that each attender will share a small team role or responsibility over time.
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Rotating Hosts/Leaders and Homes Encourage different people to host the group in their homes and to rotate the responsibility of facilitating each meeting. (See the Group Calendar on page 126.)
OUR EXPECTATIONS
• Refreshments/mealtimes • Childcare
• When we will meet (day of week)
• Where we will meet (place)
• We will begin at (time) and end at • We will do our best to have some or all of us attend a worship service together. Our primary worship service time will be
• Date of this agreement
• Date we will review this agreement again
• Who (other than the leader) will review this agreement at the end of this study
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GROUP CALENDAR Planning and calendaring can help ensure the greatest participation at every meeting. At the end of each meeting, review this calendar. Be sure to include a regular rotation of host homes and leaders, and don’t forget birthdays, socials, church events, holidays, and mission/ministry projects.
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SPIRITUAL PARTNERS Briefly check in each week and write down your personal plans and progress targets for the next week (or even for the next few weeks). This could be done before or after the meeting, on the phone, through an e-mail message, or even in person from time to time.
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MEMORY VERSES
CLIP AND REVIEW
SESSION ONE We are [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10 NASB)
SESSION TWO Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4 NIV)
SESSION THREE The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. (Psalm 138:8 ESV)
SESSION FOUR Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)
SESSION FIVE I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. (Joel 2:25 NKJV)
CLIP AND REVIEW THE MEMORY VERSES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS PAGE.
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LIFE GROUP LEADERS Key resources to help your leadership experience be the best it can be.
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HOSTING AN OPEN HOUSE If you’re starting a new group, try planning an “open house” before your first formal group meeting. Even if you have only two to four core members, it’s a great way to break the ice and to consider prayerfully who else might be open to joining you over the next few weeks. You can also use this kick-off meeting to hand out study guides, spend some time getting to know each other, discuss each person’s expectations for the group and briefly pray for each other. A simple meal or good desserts always make a kick-off meeting more fun. After people introduce themselves and share how they ended up being at the meeting (you can play a game to see who has the wildest story!), have everyone respond to a few icebreaker questions:
• What is your favorite family vacation? • What is one thing you love about your church/our community? • What are three things about your life growing up that most people here don’t know?
Next, ask everyone to tell what he or she hopes to get out of the study. You might want to review the Life-Group Agreement and talk about each person’s expectations and priorities. Finally, set an open chair (maybe two) in the center of your group and explain that it represents someone who would enjoy or benefit from this group but who isn’t here yet. Ask people to pray about inviting someone to join the group over the next few weeks. Hand out postcards and have everyone write an invitation or two. Don’t worry about ending up with too many people; you can always have one discussion circle in the living room and another in the dining room after you watch the lesson. Each group could then report prayer requests and progress at the end of the session. You can skip this kick-off meeting if your time is limited, but you’ll experience a huge benefit if you take the time to connect with each other in this way.
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LEADING FOR THE FIRST TIME SWEATY PALMS ARE A HEALTHY SIGN.
The Bible says God is gracious to the humble. Remember who is in control; the time to worry is when you’re not worried. Those who are soft in heart (and sweaty palmed) are those whom God is sure to speak through. SEEK SUPPORT.
Ask your leader, co-leader, or close friend to pray for you and prepare with you before the session. Walking through the study will help you anticipate potentially difficult questions and discussion topics. BRING YOUR UNIQUENESS TO THE STUDY.
Lean into who you are and how God wants you to uniquely lead the study. PREPARE. PREPARE. PREPARE.
Go through the session several times. If you are using the DVD, listen to the teaching segment and Leadership Lifter. Consider writing in a journal or fasting for a day to prepare yourself for what God wants to do. Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare. ASK FOR FEEDBACK SO YOU CAN GROW.
Perhaps in an email or on cards handed out at the study, have everyone write down three things you did well and one thing you could improve on. Don’t get defensive. Instead, show an openness to learn and grow. PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER LAUNCHING A NEW GROUP.
This doesn’t need to happen overnight, but God’s heart is for this to take place over time. Not all Christians are called to be leaders or teachers, but we are all called to be “shepherds” of a few someday. SHARE WITH YOUR GROUP WHAT GOD IS DOING IN YOUR HEART.
God is searching for those whose hearts are fully his. Share your trials and victories. We promise that people will relate. PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER WHOM YOU WOULD LIKE TO PASS THE BATON TO NEXT WEEK.
It’s only fair. God is ready for the next member of your group to go on the faith journey you just traveled. Make it fun, and expect God to do the rest.
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LEADERSHIP TRAINING 101 Congratulations! You have responded to the call to help shepherd Jesus’ flock. There are few other tasks in the family of God that surpass the contribution you will be making. As you prepare to lead, whether it is one session or the entire series, here are a few thoughts to keep in mind. We encourage you to read these and review them with each new discussion leader before he or she leads. 1. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
God knows everything about you, and He knew that you would be asked to lead your group. Remember that it is common for all good leaders to feel that they are not ready to lead. Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah and Timothy were all reluctant to lead. God promises, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Whether you are leading for one evening, for several weeks, or for a lifetime, you will be blessed as you serve. 2. DON’T TRY TO DO IT ALONE.
Pray right now for God to help you build a healthy leadership team. If you can enlist a co-leader to help you lead the group, you will find your experience to be much richer. This is your chance to involve as many people as you can in building a healthy group. All you have to do is call and ask people to help. You’ll probably be surprised at the response. 3. JUST BE YOURSELF.
If you won’t be you, who will? God wants you to use your unique gifts and temperament. Don’t try to do things exactly like another leader; do them in a way that fits you! Just admit it when you don’t have an answer, and apologize when you make a mistake. Your group will love you for it, and you’ll sleep better at night! 4. PREPARE FOR YOUR MEETING AHEAD OF TIME.
Review the session and the leader’s notes, and write down your responses to each question. Pay special attention to exercises that ask group members to do something other than engage in discussion. These exercises will help your group live what the Bible teaches, not just talk about it. Be sure you understand how an exercise works, and bring any necessary supplies (such as paper and pens) to your meeting. If the exercise employs one of the items in the appendix, be sure to look over that item so you’ll know how it works. Finally, review “Outline for Each Session” so you’ll remember the purpose of
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each section in the study. 5. PRAY FOR YOUR GROUP MEMBERS BY NAME.
Before you begin your session, go around the room in your mind and pray for each member by name. You may want to review the prayer list at least once a week. Ask God to use your time together to touch the heart of every person uniquely. Expect God to lead you to whomever He wants you to encourage or challenge in a special way. If you listen, God will surely lead! 6. WHEN YOU ASK A QUESTION, BE PATIENT.
Someone will eventually respond. Sometimes people need a moment or two of silence to think about the question. Keep in mind, if silence doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else. After someone responds, affirm the response with a simple “thanks” or “good job.” Then ask, “How about somebody else?” or “Would someone who hasn’t shared like to add anything?” Be sensitive to new people or reluctant members who aren’t ready to say, pray or do anything. If you give them a safe setting, they will blossom over time. 7. PROVIDE TRANSITIONS BETWEEN QUESTIONS.
When guiding the discussion, always read aloud the transitional paragraphs and the questions. Ask the group if anyone would like to read the paragraph or Bible passage. Don’t call on anyone, but ask for a volunteer, and then be patient until someone begins. Be sure to thank the person who reads aloud. 8. BREAK UP INTO SMALLER GROUPS EACH WEEK, OR THEY WON’T STAY.
If your group has more than seven people, we strongly encourage you to have the group gather sometimes in discussion circles of three or four people during the Hear God’s Story or Change Your Story sections of the study. With a greater opportunity to talk in a small circle, people will connect more with the study, apply more quickly what they’re learning and ultimately get more out of it. A small circle also encourages a quiet person to participate and tends to minimize the effects of a more vocal or dominant member. It can also help people feel more loved in your group. When you gather again at the end of the section, you can have one person summarize the highlights from each circle. Small circles are also helpful during prayer time. People who are unaccustomed to praying aloud will feel more comfortable trying it with just two or three others. Also, prayer requests won’t take as much time, so circles will have more time to actually pray. When you gather back with the whole group, you can have one person from each circle briefly update everyone on
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the prayer requests. People are more willing to pray in small circles if they know that the whole group will hear all the prayer requests. 9. ROTATE FACILITATORS WEEKLY.
At the end of each meeting, ask the group who should lead the following week. Let the group help select your weekly facilitator. You may be perfectly capable of leading each time, but you will help others grow in their faith and gifts if you give them opportunities to lead. You can use the Life Group calendar to fill in the names of all meeting leaders at once if you prefer. 10. ONE FINAL CHALLENGE (FOR NEW OR FIRST-TIME LEADERS):
Before your first opportunity to lead, look up each of the five passages listed below. Read each one as a devotional exercise to help yourself develop a shepherd’s heart. Trust us on this one. If you do this, you will be more than ready for your first meeting. Matthew 9:36 1 Peter 5:2-4 Psalm 23 Ezekiel 34:11-16 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12
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Name
Phone
COMMUNITY GROUP ROSTER
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We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:10 NASB YOU WERE CREATED ON PURPOSE WITH PURPOSE Sometimes the challenge isn’t knowing that you have a purpose. It’s the process of discovering what that purpose is and how to walk in it that can feel mysterious and a little bit intimidating at times. You may find yourself asking “What are those good works that God prepared beforehand for me to accomplish?” If you’ve ever asked yourself questions like that, don’t feel bad because you’re not alone. There are millions of people just like you asking the same questions. WALK IN YOUR PURPOSE We invite you to join us for this 5-session video study that will help you discover, develop, protect and redeem your purpose.
Travis Hall serves as the Lead Pastor of Life Church International, a dynamic and diverse congregation in Metro Atlanta. He holds his Bachelors of Science degree in Leadership and Administration and has 14 years of ministry experience, 4 years serving as a Youth Pastor and 10 serving as the Lead Pastor of a thriving multicultural congregation. From University Campuses to Local congregations Travis is a conference speaker who’s passionate about investing in leaders and helping people discover, develop, and protect their God given purpose. He’s currently wrapping up his first book project 7 Deadly Thoughts and he engages weekly with a community of growing leaders on his blog cultivatemypurpose.com. He resides in Atlanta with his wife Tina and their 4 children.