Resources > Bible Studies 40 Minutes of Purpose-The Study Posted by Rev. Jeff Dixon, Senior Equipping Minister, Covenant Community Church on Jul 19, 2004, 10:54

These are the notes that were used in the Bible study 40 Minutes of Purpose...taught by Jeff Dixon on a Sunday event called..."40 Minutes of Purpose"

The notes are offered just as they are, they have not been cleaned up, edited, or tweaked to make them more readable in this version on-line. They are copied directly from the notes that day. To hear how they were illustrated and personalized for the event make sure you watch or listen to the Worship Live event.

40 Minutes of Purpose

The most basic question everyone faces in life is Why am I here? What is my purpose? Self-help books suggest that people should look within, at their own desires and dreams, but I want to suggest to you that the place to look for these answers must be with God and his eternal purposes for each life.

Real meaning and significance comes from understanding and fulfilling God’s purposes for putting us on earth.

There is a book that many people have read called The Purpose Drive Life written by Rick Warren. It is a devotional book…The Christian culture and marketing gurus have embraced the book and the idea. Churches across America are hosting conferences and spending thousands of dollars on events called 40 Days of Purpose….

The ministry of CCC has been teaching people to be purpose driven before anyone else was talking about being purpose driven. Before there were churches putting up signs saying, “we are a purpose driven church” …here at CCC we were already a church driven with a purpose

Over the history of this place you have heard time and again that we are to be a people with purpose and are to live life with a passion….

So we have decided to discover in 40 minutes what others are taking 40 days to figure out….

The clock is running….there is a lot to do…..lets start

Define Purpose (Webster’s)…That which a person sets before themselves as an object, aim, or goal to be reached or accomplished…an outcome that is intended and guides your actions….

 Purpose in 3 Simple Steps

July 1776 is a time that changed history and impacted every single person in this room

It was in Philadelphia that a group of men gathered together to put their name on a document that was unusual and unique….

                The declaration of Independence is the only founding document of any nation that openly recognizes God as the creator of all men and that our rights for freedom as individuals are based on rights granted by Him….

Often this is forgotten in the day and age we live in

“We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”

“We therefore publish and declare that these United Colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states….and for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor”

They signed their names….it worked

It cost them… some their lives, their families, their fortunes, their friends…

But the goal was independence….

There was a strong sense of purpose and commitment to what they were trying to achieve….and the reason that they could pursue it so strongly is because they believed it was God breathed…. (that is what they wrote)

Purpose!

If the founding fathers of this nation had not had it…we would not exist

If things are going to happen and be accomplished…it happens become someone taps into a sense of purpose

What is the most important thing?

What did Jesus say was the most important thing to do?

The Great Commandment

Jesus was asked this very question, “Teacher what is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it…Love your neighbor as yourself…”

(The great commandment…Matthew 22:34-40)

If you are going to discover your purpose then you must decide

I am going to do the things that God says are most important…

Love God…Love Others

If you do that then you have taken the first two steps to having a life driven by purpose

Step One…Love the Lord

Step Two…Love Others

If you are willing to do those two things…to commit ourselves then something else will happen

The Great Calling

The great calling…Matthew 28:19-20

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Make disciples…. baptizing (sharing Christ) and teaching (sharing Christ)   

As people come to be disciples of Jesus they change and the world changes

Jesus tells them…teach them to do what I have told you, taught you and showed you…. change the world

Step Three…Change the World

In three steps we have discovered the purpose of your life

Are you ready?

Our Purpose: Touch and change the world with the love of Jesus

                This is our purpose as a church

                This is our purpose as believers

                                It is Biblically based, Biblically mandated, and there is no getting around it…..

Staying in Step on Purpose

I have given you three steps of purpose

So how do you stay in step?

That is a great question and the only place I know to get the answer is again to go back to the word of God and find out how this original group of purpose driven (Touching and changing the world people did it)

Acts 2:42-47

⁴²They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ^?43? Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. ⁴⁴All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. 

Stay in Step with Real Worship…

(v42…they were learning)

(v.43…they were filled with awe….)

                Awe..that word in the Greek is one that notes that you are filled with a reverence and understanding of something…in this case God

(v.46…every day they met in the temple courts)

(.47..praising God)

We were planned for God’s pleasure, so your first purpose is to offer real worship.

Stay in Step with Real Fellowship

(v.42…devoted themselves to the fellowship)

(v.44…they were together and had everything in common)

(v.46…they met together at the temple, they shared meals together)

                Together….not just in proximity, but in heart, they were connected

We were formed for God’s family, so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship.

Stay in Step with Real Discipleship

(v.42…they devoted themselves to the disciples teaching)

                In other words they were learning and growing

We were created to become like Christ, so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship.

Stay in Step with Real Ministry

(v.44 &45…they were sharing….touching…impacting)

We were shaped for serving God, so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry.

These are the ways that they were able to stay in step

And then able to do the three steps that are the purpose of any believers life

You can discover your purpose in 40 minutes….but it something you live out every single day of your life….

So now the question is WILL YOU DO IT?!?