Finding Purpose - Part 4 [Notes]

There is a purpose behind everything in life. For Christians, this realization can help sustain us, especially during difficult times. We can find meaning in our work, in our family, and from life itself... We can even find meaning behind the pain and suffering we endure. Join us as we begin a new series called "Finding Purpose," and invite a friend who may benefit from these messages.
Today's Takeaway // We need the church, and the church needs us.
And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. [1] 
- Hebrews 10:24-25 (HCSB)
  [1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (Heb 10:24–25). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.
"People go to church three times in their lives: when they're born, when they're married, and when they die hatched, matched, and dispatched. The first time, they throw water, the second time rice, and the third time dirt."
- Dr. Adrian Rogers
But you are a chosen race, v a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praisese of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.[1]
- 1 Peter 2:9-10 (HCSB)
v 2:9 Or generation, or nation
e 2:9 Or the mighty deeds
[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (1 Pe 2:9–10). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.
We need the church, and the church needs us.
And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ. From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
- Ephesians 4:11-16 (HCSB)
• The work of the Holy Spirit that separates believers in Jesus from the world; at the time of saving faith in Jesus, the believer is made a saint; therefore, all believers are saints. The believer participates with the Spirit in a process of transformation that continues until glorification. The goal of sanctification is progressive conformity to the image of Jesus Christ.
1. We need to be trained for effective ministry.
"And He (Jesus) personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ."
– Ephesians 4:11-12 (HCSB)
2. We need others to help us grow up spiritually.
And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature man with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
– Ephesians 4:11-13 (HCSB)
3. We need to be protected from doctrinal error.
Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.
– Ephesians 4:14 (HCSB)
  1. We need to be trained for effective ministry.
  2. We need others to help us grow up spiritually.
  3. We need to be protected from doctrinal error.
4. We need to experience the love of Christ through others.
But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into Him who is the head—Christ.
– Ephesians 4:15 (HCSB)
Paul stated positively that by speaking the truth in love (lit., “truthing in love,” which has the idea of maintaining truth in love in both speech and life) believers may grow up into Him with reference to all things. [1] 
[1] Hoehner, H. W. (1985). Ephesians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 635). Victor Books.
…I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know the Messiah’s love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
- Ephesians 3:17b-19 (HCSB)
  • We need to help others grow spiritually.
  1. We need to be trained for effective ministry.
  2. We need others to help us grow up spiritually.
  3. We need to be protected from doctrinal error.
  4. We need to experience the love of Christ through others…
  5. We need to help others grow up spiritually.
For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body—so also is Christ. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed each one of the parts in one body just as He wanted. Now there are many parts, yet one body. So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” Or again, the head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!"[1]
– 1 Corinthians 12:12, 17-18, 20-21(HCSB)
[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (1 Co 12:12–21). (2009). Holman Bible Publishers.
From Him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part.
- Ephesians 4:16 (HCSB)
We need the church, and the church needs us.

  1. We need to be trained for effective ministry.
  2. We need others to help us grow up spiritually.
  3. We need to be protected from doctrinal error.
  4. We need to experience the love of Christ through others.
  5. We need to help others grow up spiritually.

Discussion Questions //

  1. What do you think most people in our society think about church?  Do you think most people view it as something that is relevant to their lives?  Explain your answer.
  2. Why do you think the church may not be as relevant to many people as it once was?  How can the church maintain its relevance?
  3. Read Ephesians 4:11-16.  Based on these verses, what are some of the benefits of being properly connected with a church family?
  4. Read Hebrews 10:24-25.  Our vision at Chestnut Ridge Church is “to be an inviting church that leads people into a growing relationship with God and others.” Why are relationships with other believers so important to our spiritual growth? Can you think of examples where others have helped you grow spiritually?
  5. How might you apply tonight’s lesson to your life?

Devotional //

Get More From the Message | Each week, a new devotional will be available. This devotional is based on the previous Sunday's message, and it aims to take the message further and help you dive deeper into the topic. You can find the devotionals at the link, or sign up to receive weekly emails.

Catch Up //

You can watch or listen to past messages online!
Posted in

Recent

Archive

 2023

Categories

Tags

1 Timothy 4:3-4 1 corinthians 13 3 tips Abraham Barb Bible Christ centered friendships Christ-centered friendships Christ Control David Deuteronomy 31:8 Elijah Gideon God's Word God's faithfulness God's will God\'s Word God\'s will God\\\'s will God\\\\\\\'s will Gods Word Gods voice Gods will God Good Samaritan Isaac Isaiah 41 James 1:22 James 4:14 Jesus is coming Jesus Jonathan Josiah Live at Peace Matthew 26:38-39 Old Testament Paul Philippians 2 Psalms Romans 6:9 Saul Savior Scripture Significant Others Talented Word of God You Say a mother's prayer a mother\'s prayer a mothers prayer abandon abby conner absolute truth acts 1:8 acts 2:42-47 acts adam and eve adam etris adam adulteror advent alls well that ends well andrew archer andrew angels sing anger anguish anxiety apostles appreciation archer arch are you prepared art of neighboring attributes austin michels austin authorities authority baptism barabbas barb banhart barb barnhart barnhart be a friend be still be strong and courageous be transformed beauty from ashes becoming fearless believers believe betrayal better neighbors better be brandy gibson brandy broken bronze serpant bruce lane bruce cancel culture cancel care carols celebrate others christian life christianity christian christmas with the ridge christmas church defined church design church circles cleaning the temple clinging to jesus colossians 1:13 community compassion concentric circles conflict connection courage created for community crisis in israel cross crowd crucifixion cultivate the soil daughter death debt delaney deuteronomy 31:6 devotional devotion disagreement discernment do not fear doers don't panic don\'t panic do early church easter sunday easter elderly empathy encouragement end times endurance ephesians 3:14-23 ephesians5:21 eternal impact eternal king eternal life eternal security eternity etris exhausted extended family face to face faithful in the small things faithfulness faith family famous last words father fear less series fear less fearless fear foretold forgiveness forgiven forgive forgiving forsaken foundation four tips free from sin freedom freely given free friendships friendship friends friend garden of gethsemane generosity generous get ready getting along gibson gifts give thanks gloria good enough good friday good works gospel government grace and truth grace hill grace grateful gratitude great commission greed grief grieve with others groups haring he has come he will be called heart heaven hell helping hill holy monday holy saturday holy tuesday holy wednesday holy week homecoming hondruas honduras hope huggins ian young ian identity immovable in all things in christ inspired invitation israel jamie huggins jamie jill wargo jill john 8:1-11 john 8:10-11 john josh rhodes josh joy judas judgemental judgement judge katie lemley katie key relationships kim sheets kim kingdom of heaven king kinsman redeemer know the truth la ceiba lamb of God lane last supper legacy lemley life light of the world light listening live generously living intentionally living water logos love one another love loyalty luke 10:42 luke 23:34 made new manna marriage martha matthew 22:37-39 matthew 23:24 matthew 6:3-4 maundy thursday mediator melissa parker melissa mercy michelle lemley michelle trimmer michelle michels mission trip missions money morality moses neighbor new family new year new o holy night ourselves overcome evil with good palm sunday parables parable parenting parents parent parker passover lamb passover path of life peacemaker peace people of god people perfecter perfector perserverance perseverance persistence philippians 4:6-7 philippians pioneer point of church point possessions power of the past pray like paul prayer life prayer plan prayer pray prepare promises of God provision psalm 139 purpose quality time race read reconciliation recreated redeemed redeemer redemption rejoice relationship with God relationships relationship relative truth religion religious leaders remember response resurrection retaliation return revenge rhodes riches roger sealey roger role model romans 12:12 romans 12:15 romans rules sacrifice salvation sealey second coming secure seek the truth selfish separation sermon on the mount serve Jesus serve others serve serving others serving set free shame share the gospel share the truth sharing the good news sheep and goats sheets signs sing sin social media sower speaking the truth speak spiritual gifts spiritual leaders spiritual relationships spring cleaning stand firm stillness still strained straining out gnats and swallowing camels strength submit substitutionary atonement support surrender take time talents tender heart thankfulness thanksgiving thanks the dishonest manager the good samaritan the lost coin the lost sheep the lost son the parables of jesus the persistent widow the plot the point of church the primary purpose of the church the prodigal son the purpose of the church the rich fool the sheep and goats the sower the talents the ten virgins the two foundations the wedding banquet the word of God the word through thick and thin throught thick and thin tim haring tim transformation treasure tribulation triggered trimmer trustworthy truth about people truth is truth matters truthiness truth two foundations two lies and the truth ukraine unbelievers uncertainty unclean victorious victory volunteer wargo wealth wedding feast weep what's the point? what\'s the point? what\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\'s the point? what\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s the point? whats the point whatsthepoint when we pray who am i who i am who we are work worry wronged you are forgiven young