Sermon Central
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His Mission - Our Mission Series
Contributed by Elena Bogdan on Apr 18, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: Defining our mission, or reason for being, as individuals and as a church, is the first step toward living a fulfilled life in Christ. How can we discover our God given mission and where can we look for the answer? What was Christ’s mission statement?
“HIS MISSION – OUR MISSION”
By Rev. ELENA BOGDAN
Introduction:
- Video clip: interview of people on the street about their purpose in life, their reason for being.
- What would you answer? Have you thought about it? What is your reason for being? What is our reason for being as a church?
Ill.1. Last summer I have been working on our mission statement with our staff, and it was an awesome experience. We looked at our reason for being as individuals, and our reason for being as a church. I believe that was a turning point in our lives and our ministry in Romania.
Quote: H. Rick Warren in His Book “The Purpose Driven Life” says,
“Philosophy is an important subject and has its uses, but when it comes to determining the purpose of life, even the wisest philosophers are just guessing.
Dr. Hugh Moorhead, a philosophy professor at Northwestern Illinois University, once wrote to 250 of the best-known philosophers, scientists, writers, and intellectuals in the world, asking them, “What is the meaning of life?” He then published their responses in a book. Some offered their best guesses, some admitted that they just made up a purpose for life, and others were honest enough to say they were clueless. In fact, a number of famous intellectuals asked Professor Moorhead to write back and tell them if he discovered the purpose of life”.
I. OUR MISSION ON EARTH
You are not an accident. Even before the universe was created, it was God’s intention that we be brought into this world for His purposes. These purposes go far beyond the few years that we live on earth. We were made for eternity.
A. How can you find your Purpose?
1. Where shall we look for the answer?
Self-help books often suggest that we try to discover the meaning and purpose of our life by looking within ourselves.
Others say, no. “That is the wrong place to start. You must begin with God, your Creator, and his reasons for creating you. You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense” (Dick Warren).
So, whom should you listen to? Where should you look for the answer? Well, that depends on where is God to you? Is He up there? Or is He in here? The Bible says that those of us, who received Christ as our Lord and Savior, have been born by the Spirit of God, who came inside of us. He leads us, and teaches, us and comforts us, and convicts us. He communes with us. In one word, He talks to us. He talks to us constantly. So, whether you look up there or in here, what is important is that you talk with God. Then, how is He going to answer is up to Him. You may see the answer out there or in here; that’s a matter of how each of us is wired by God.
Ill.1. A few weeks ago, when I was praying for God’s vision for our ministry in Romania, I asked the Lord: “Lord, what do You want to see happen in Severin?” Instantly, I saw in the spirit a beautiful church building in one of the populated areas of Severin, and I knew deep down, in here, the rest of God’s answer. The picture I saw was out there, but the answer came from in here. That is the place where the Holy Spirit communes with our spirit and, when we dialogue with God, that’s where the dialogue takes place. At least, that is my experience.
Now, some people may experience God differently, and that’s ok. We are all wired differently, and God is both able and willing to talk with everyone of us in on our own “language”.
So, I believe it’s ok to look inside for the answer, because I strongly believe that God has written our reason for being deep in our hearts. In fact, I believe He carved the answer in on hearts. And He carved it so deeply, that the only way we would ever be fulfilled is to fully fill our God given purpose in life. That’s our mission. That’s our destiny.
2. How can you find what that purpose or mission is?
a) Well, if you are not a follower of Christ yet, I would suggest that you start by asking and seeking the answer to questions such as “What is the meaning of life? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is the life all about?” No matter where you start your search for answers, if you truly seek for truth with all your heart, you will find it – and you will find it in Christ. Because that’s where the answer is… I was on that journey… I sought for those answers… And, the only answer that satisfied my heart and put an end to my search is Jesus Christ.
