Why Am I Here?

Second of Three(What Am I Doing?)

What do you think of…

• When asked that question?• When trying to answer that question?• Do you remember when you first pondered

that question?– Adolescent– Young adult– Adult

• What did you come away with? Different answers?

One needs something to believe in,

something for which one can have whole-hearted

enthusiasm. One needs to feel

that one's life has meaning, that one is needed in this

world.Hannah Senesh

Purpose

• Definition: the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.

• Thus…. Why Am I Here• What is your purpose…• Do you have one…• How do you find it…• Does it find you…• Can you have more than one…• Is there a main purpose and then a bunch of others

Why is purpose a good thing…

• Purpose makes your life easier. It flows. You are in control.

• You no longer get caught up in life. One that tugs and pulls you this way, then another.

• The good in finding your purpose is that once you begin doing, begin living, begin fulfilling it--everything you need begins to appear in your life.

Proverbs 19:21

• Proverbs 19:21– Many are the plans in a man's heart,

but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.• Proverbs 20:5– The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters,

but a man of understanding draws them out.

What do you think…

• The next few slides will have a statement…• I’m looking for reactions, thoughts, etc.• What do you believe• What do you expect• Do you feel the same way.

It is by following your heart, your passion and

love, that allows the ills of life--the worries, fears--to disappear and be replaced with joy, happiness, and

satisfaction.

Finally, you listen to your heart.

You realize that it is your passion and love

that directs you to your purpose in life.

Interestingly, it has nothing to do with making the most

money, what others expect from you, or what is

fashionable and popular.

It has nothing to do with the majority of what was written

on our walls by otherwise well-meaning parents, teachers, ministers, counselors, et al.

Long forgotten writings deeply buried in our unconscious mind that now and again

break loose just often enough to sabotage our happiness

and success.

That can, if allowed, prevent us from fulfilling our life

purpose.

Have you found your purpose?

• If not, have you thought about it?• It doesn’t have to be something overwhelming• It can be something very simple• Can you have more than one purpose?• Should there be a main purpose?

1 Peter 2:21

• To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

• What do you take from this?

So you are in…

• How often do we lose track of or forget…• How do we get back on track?• How do you figure out that your purpose may

have changed?• Can it change?

Concerned…

• “Even worse, all this talk about living a life of purpose all too easily takes our focus off of Christ and puts it back onto ourselves.”

• Hmmm….• We have such a problem with “self”• Takes constant evaluation• We need to be willing to “check” each other

Why are you here?

Self-reflection

God has a purpose

• Do you believe that God has a purpose for everyone?

• If so, how do you fulfill that purpose?• It’s up to you • How do you sustain…

Why are we here?

Group reflection

Does God have a purpose for us?

• As a Church what does God want us to do?• How do we determine what that is?• How do we get the “we” to agree?• Can you fulfill your purpose and fulfill our

purpose?

WMUMC

• So much opportunity• So much expectation• So much “purpose”?• How do we address it• How do we approach it• How do we begin

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do

not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body… If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are

many parts, but one body… If one part suffers, every part suffers with it;…

1 Corinthians 12:1-26

What’s my purpose

• ‘I do a lot of ministry and service. I see more and more lost people. Out of all the volunteers I work with I’m almost always the only Christian. It’s hard to get help ministering because It seems a lot of the Christians I know running around trying to find their “purpose”.’

Now you are the body of Christ,

and each one of you is a part of it.

1 Corinthians 12:27

Thoughts…

• “I think If you serve in faith and trust God to lead you don’t have to sit up nights wondering about purpose.

• It’s impossible to know all the plans God has for you anyway.

• Gods done so much in my life that doesn’t make sense to me and I never saw It coming.

• I don’t think any Christian serves a single purpose anyway.

• Everything serves Gods purpose, good or bad.”