Purpose #1 "Know and Share the Gospel"
The very first purpose in our spiritual life is to know the true Gospel of Jesus and share this good news with others. What is this Good News? That we were all lost in sin, unable to save ourselves, and so Jesus, full of love and mercy, came to earth and saved us from sin and death! We did nothing to deserve this! Even the faith we have came through God's grace! Throughout the whole growth process that follows, we need to be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others!
Mark 16:15 "And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
The very first purpose in our spiritual life is to know the true Gospel of Jesus and share this good news with others. What is this Good News? That we were all lost in sin, unable to save ourselves, and so Jesus, full of love and mercy, came to earth and saved us from sin and death! We did nothing to deserve this! Even the faith we have came through God's grace! Throughout the whole growth process that follows, we need to be ready to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others!
Mark 16:15 "And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation."
Purpose #2 "Worship Jesus In Spirit and Truth"
The next purpose in the our lives is to understand what it means to worship God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Worship is an every day adoration of and surrender to Jesus as LORD. Worship takes on many expressions. Some of which happen publicly (like in church on a Sunday Morning). Worship, though, is never limited to these expressions. Instead Jesus explained the depth of worship...
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The next purpose in the our lives is to understand what it means to worship God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Worship is an every day adoration of and surrender to Jesus as LORD. Worship takes on many expressions. Some of which happen publicly (like in church on a Sunday Morning). Worship, though, is never limited to these expressions. Instead Jesus explained the depth of worship...
John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Purpose #3 "Grow and Mature in Christ"
The exciting truth is that when we understand the Gospel (Purpose #1) and what true worship is (Purpose #2), and begin to live out these purposes, we will begin to grow in Christ! This part of the spiritual life has confused many Christians. The belief is that after one is saved (by grace alone) it is up to them to make themselves mature. The truth is we did not save ourselves and we cannot perfect ourselves. While we work along side the Holy Spirit to grow and mature, ultimately, it is God that grows us up to be more like Christ!
Galatians 3:2-3 "...Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ...Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"
Philippians 2:12b-13 "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
The exciting truth is that when we understand the Gospel (Purpose #1) and what true worship is (Purpose #2), and begin to live out these purposes, we will begin to grow in Christ! This part of the spiritual life has confused many Christians. The belief is that after one is saved (by grace alone) it is up to them to make themselves mature. The truth is we did not save ourselves and we cannot perfect ourselves. While we work along side the Holy Spirit to grow and mature, ultimately, it is God that grows us up to be more like Christ!
Galatians 3:2-3 "...Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? ...Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?"
Philippians 2:12b-13 "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure."
Purpose #4 "Fellowship With Others Believers"
Our next purpose as a believer is to move outside ourselves, and spend time with other followers of Jesus. Many western church cultures have fallen into the belief and trap of individualism: the belief that we can do this on our own. God created believers to need one another. That is why He likened it to a "body": a whole, made of many united parts that need each other! (1 Cor. 12:14-20)We do not have to live out our lives, struggles and victories, alone. God has given us family to live life with us and encourage us, if we will simply spend time together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Our next purpose as a believer is to move outside ourselves, and spend time with other followers of Jesus. Many western church cultures have fallen into the belief and trap of individualism: the belief that we can do this on our own. God created believers to need one another. That is why He likened it to a "body": a whole, made of many united parts that need each other! (1 Cor. 12:14-20)We do not have to live out our lives, struggles and victories, alone. God has given us family to live life with us and encourage us, if we will simply spend time together.
Hebrews 10:24-25 "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Purpose #5 "Serve Others Inside/Outside the Church"
Purpose #5 is all about looking beyond ourselves to the needs of others. The two greatest commandments (given to us by Jesus) are to love the one true God, and to love others like we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39). How should one love others? The same way Jesus did, serve them. Jesus even said that being a servant should redefine our idea of greatness in this life. We should not want to be great, we should serve others.
Matthew 20:26b-28 "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man (Jesus)* came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
*parenthesis added by author for clarity
Purpose #5 is all about looking beyond ourselves to the needs of others. The two greatest commandments (given to us by Jesus) are to love the one true God, and to love others like we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-39). How should one love others? The same way Jesus did, serve them. Jesus even said that being a servant should redefine our idea of greatness in this life. We should not want to be great, we should serve others.
Matthew 20:26b-28 "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man (Jesus)* came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
*parenthesis added by author for clarity
Purpose #6 "Be On Mission With the Gospel"
The neat thing about these purposes is that we have now come full circle from where we started: the Gospel. The difference with Purpose #6 form #1 is that as mature believers we should be purposefully on mission with the Gospel. What does this mean? Going, intentionally, into our communities, neighborhoods, coffee shops and even globally sharing the Gospel. Jesus said go to your hometown, your neighboring community, the people you hate and the whole world with the great news of salvation!
Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
The neat thing about these purposes is that we have now come full circle from where we started: the Gospel. The difference with Purpose #6 form #1 is that as mature believers we should be purposefully on mission with the Gospel. What does this mean? Going, intentionally, into our communities, neighborhoods, coffee shops and even globally sharing the Gospel. Jesus said go to your hometown, your neighboring community, the people you hate and the whole world with the great news of salvation!
Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
The goal of all of this to to make disciples that make disciples. So as a believer is on this journey, they should be looking to lead a young believer through these purposes as well. Starting with their understanding of the Gospel, and working their way around the circle to help them understand and fully equip them to then take someone else through process.
Disciples Making Disciples
Disciples Making Disciples