Inward Prayer

Small Group Questions:

1. Read 1 Peter 2: 9-17. What can we learn about our identity, purpose, and why am I here?’
2. How does it make you feel that you were made for God’s glory? How does that play out in your life?
3. The Bible is clear that Jesus promises us ‘life to the full’…. what do those 4 words mean to you?
4. Where in your life can you daily suggest God’s presence?
5. If this life can not only be used for God’s glory but prepare you for eternity… how prepared do you feel?
6. Fill in the sentence in your own words: I (NAME) am on this Earth to (YOUR OWN WORDS).

Outward Prayer

Week 4 Why Am I Here?

THE MAIN POINT

You were made for God’s glory!
Your presence should daily suggest God’s presence.

THE BIBLE

Isaiah 43:6-7, 1 Peter 2:9-17

THE CONTEXT

Why are we on earth? What’s our purpose? What is the meaning of life? How do we know if this is where we’re supposed to be?

Though the Bible urges us to follow God’s plan for our lives (Joshua 22:5), discovering God’s plan can seem like a huge task. At times we might wish we had a detailed road map to follow that would outline every major decision of our lives. But such a map, if it existed, would stand in the way of faith and daily dependency on God.

So what is God’s plan for you? The Bible outlines several things that reveal his plan for all his children: God desires that you love him (Deuteronomy 6:5), obey him (Deuteronomy 6:24), grow in faith (1 Thessalonians 4:3), develop gifts to serve the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-7), do good works for others (Ephesians 2:10), remain sexually pure (1 Thessalonians 4:3), remain free from the love of money (Hebrews 13:5) and share the good news of Jesus with others (Matthew 28:18 – 20). Though you may be seeking guidance on where the next step on your life journey should lead, you can be certain that God’s Word will never lead you away from these things.

You can discern more about God’s plan through the reading of the Bible, through the wise counsel of others, and through stewardship and development of your God-given gifts. Above all else, be faithful in prayer as you present your questions to God and depend on Him to direct you. He’s promised to lead you in the right direction: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.’ ” (Isaiah 30:21).

THE CORE

As you prepare the core of the message using personal story and questions, keep in mind these points:

• God does everything that he does — everything that he does — in order to display his glory for the enjoyment of all those who find in Christ their highest treasure. Isaiah 43:6–7: “Bring my sons from far away, and my daughters from the ends of the earth — everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.” Beyond the shadow of a doubt, there is a reason why you were made: You were made for God’s glory!
• So what does it mean to glorify God? Think of the analogy of a telescope and a microscope because the words magnify and glorify have a very similar meaning biblically. Paul says, “My aim is to magnify Jesus Christ” (see Philippians 1:20). That’s the same as glorifying Jesus Christ. How ambiguous the word magnify is. Does it mean magnify God like a microscope magnifies or like a telescope magnifies? A microscope makes little teeny things look bigger than they are, and a telescope makes gigantic things that to the naked eye look little to look more like what they really are. Now, which way are you called upon to magnify God? The answer is like a telescope, not a microscope. God is not small, or insignificant and we must make him appear bigger than he is… rather God is bigger and more grandeur than words can even comprehend.
• You are on planet Earth to put a telescope to the eye of the world. That’s why you exist. By your words, your actions, the way you work, the way you worship, and the way you handle your things in life, everyone should read off of your life, “God is great.” That’s why you exist.

THE APPLICATION

As you prepare the application, challenge and/or encouragement, keep in mind these points:

• Teenage years are one of the most formative seasons of life. Friendships are built, faith is made personal, decisions are made, dating begins, big life choices like school and career are decided on… so be aware of the students who are asking life’s big questions and their context.
• The Bible is clear that God has good plans for our life as Jesus describes in John 10:10 “life to the full.” Share a story of the difference in living ‘life to the full’ as you hope it would be as opposed to what ‘life to the full’ looks like in God’s kingdom.
• If we are made for God’s glory, that our presence in people’s lives should daily suggest God’s presence, means that what we do, where we study, where we work, who we are friends with doesn’t actually matter as much as we may think it does. It’s how we live in those places. Loving others like God loves us.
• Eventually, most people will consider the reality of eternity. Those that recognize that life continues after death will have to wonder what impact their present life will have on their eternal life. Hopefully, some will come to see that the decisions and actions of our lives determine the place of our eternal existence. In other words, life prepares us for eternity – for good or bad. This, too, is part of our purpose.