LIVING MY PURPOSE

On the first Sunday of May, I preached on the subject, Finding My Purpose at PPC. Finding my purpose, however, is not enough; we must live them out.

This Sunday I spoke on Living my Purpose Below is my sermon outline. 

LIVING MY PURPOSE

Greg Fernandez Jr.

Phnom Penh Church (PPC)

May 25, 2014

Previous message: FINDING MY PURPOSE

1. You Will Find Your Purpose by Encountering Christ.
2. You Will Find Your Purpose by Knowing the Word of God.
3. You Will Find Your Purpose by Ministering in the area of your giftedness.
4. You Will Find Your Purpose by Joining Christ’s mission in the world.

Today's Message: LIVING MY PURPOSE

Finding your purpose is not enough; you must live them out. In reality, it's not your purpose; it's God's!

Living my purpose is...
1. Becoming what God Created me to be.

—Growth & Character Factor

“From the very beginning God decided that those who came to Him – and He knew who would – should become like His Son...”--Rom. 8:29 (LB)

“God wants us to grow up ... like Christ in everything.” —Eph 4: 15 (Mess)

Living my purpose is...
2. Obeying what God Expects me to do.

—Obedience Factor

“But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” James 1: 22

John Maxwell said, “We are educated way beyond our level of obedience.”

Living my purpose is...

3. Doing what God Calls me to do.

—Doing and Service Factor

“For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” --Ephesians 2: 10 (NIV)

"It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others."--Ephesians 2: 10 (LB)

MY REFLECTION
1. Am I becoming what God made and created me to be?
2. Am I obeying what God commanded and expected me to do?
3. Am I doing what God wired and called me to do? 

MY COMMITMENT
1. I will start living God's purpose for my life.
2. I will develop areas where God's purpose is lacking in my life.
3. I will seek further steps to live out God's purpose for my life.

Click the link below to read my previous outline:

FINDING MY PURPOSE

I Am SECOND Cambodia

Last week I had the privilege of teaching the principle of the I Am S.E.C.O.N.D method of small group, by e3 Partners Ministry, to our Cambodian pastors in our KCC circle. Everyone was excited and was willing to try in their churches and community. I look forward to seeing the result in our next meeting in July this year. If everyone will start a small group based on this method, there will be growth in our churches both numerical and spiritual. 

One of the pastors asked, "Will there be an award to any pastor who will start 10 small groups in the next 3 months"?  One of my friends replied, "Your reward will be in Heaven"? Deep inside of me, I thought there has to be an incentive. I was about to promise a hundred dollars but then I don't have that amount. Nonetheless, I believe there has to be some kind of reward to encourage them.  

I am praying and believing that the churches will be mobilized and will get involve. What difference would it make in the growth the church and the maturity of members if everyone tries this method. 

The principle is simple and easy to follow. The difficult part is actually doing it. 

DNA of the Iam SECOND

There are three simple format of the I am SECOND for small group. 

I Am SECOND Look Back

I Am SECOND, Look Up

I Am SECOND, Look Forward

The strength of this method is seen in the acrostic S.E.C.O.N.D. but also in the commitment of each person in the group to put into the lesson into practice. Not only there is accountability but there is a review during the next meeting. Every week everyone will be asked how have they applied or fulfilled their commitment. In other words, this method is based on obedience not knowledge. 

Five Functions of the Church

Greg B. Fernandez Jr.

Last Thursday, we had a pastors' workshop. One of the topics a covered was the five functions and purposes of the church based on the five purposes of the church by Rick Warren. If you want to view the my PowerPoint presentation, here is the link: Five Functions of the Church

Greg B. Fernandez Jr. based on the Purpose Driven Church by Rick Warren

I challenged the pastors to balance these five purposes in order to build and grow a healthy church.

FINDING MY PURPOSE

Here is my sermon outline I preached today at Phnom Penh Church. Feel free to use it. 

4 STEPS IN FINDING YOUR PURPOSE

Greg Fernandez Jr.

Phnom Penh Church (PPC)

May 4, 2014

Introduction

Why discovering your purpose matters? Life has a meaning when you discover what on earth you are here for. Why are you here? You were created to live forever not on earth but after death. This means life on earth is temporary. While we will live forever in heaven, God will not take us to there the moment we are saved. We are here for a reason. We have purposes to live by and missions to live for while on earth. What shall we do between our salvation and glorification?

This morning, I want to talk to you about How to Find Your Purpose? 
David said,“Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know that I am here for but a moment more. Psalms 39: 4 (TLB)

1. You Will Find Your Purpose by Encountering Christ.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3: 16

“You will find life’s ultimate purpose by experiencing God. Encountering Christ is the bedrock of life with a purpose!

2. You Will Find your Purpose by Knowing the Word of God.

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. (2 Tim 3: 16 MSG)

You will find life’s purpose by knowing the Creator’s manual-the Bible. You will never know the purpose of your life if you do not read, hear, study, and know the Word of God.

I recommend you to read or re-read The Purpose Driven Life (PDL) by Pastor Rick Warren. PDL summarized God’s purposes found in the Bible into five. It’s got 40 lessons to be read for 40 days; 1 lesson a day. The Five Purposes are as follows:

(1) You were Planned for God’s Pleasure.
(2) You were Formed for God’s Family.
(3) You were Created to Become Like Christ.
(4) You were Shaped for Serving God.
(5) You were Made for a Mission.

3. You Will Find Your Purpose by Ministering in the area of your Giftedness.

“Each of you has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well.” 

1 Peter 4: 10 (CEV)

List of Spiritual gift in the Bible: I cor. 12: 1-31; Roman 12: 6-8; Ephesians 4: 11-16

You are commanded to serve by using what you have. The second Great Commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. This describes ministry or service we do for others. is anything you do for others.

Read Day 30-32 in PDL to learn about your SHAPE.

S-spiritual Gifts
H-Heart (Passion)
A-Abilities
P-personality
E-experience

Sometimes, the best way to find your purpose and passion is to stop looking and start doing. Just do it. Start serving. Start doing what you love to do.

4. You Will Find Your Purpose by Joining Christ’s mission in the world.

“In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.” 

John 17: 18 (MSG)

“Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.” Matthew 28: 19-20 (CEV)

God wants you to join Him in fulfilling His purpose for the others and He wants to use you!

In order to find God’s purpose you must have a purpose greater than yourself! Get God’s vision. Dream a dream greater than yours. If you don’t have one, partner with others who have greater dreams and help fulfill that dream for God’s glory.

Conclusion

Jesus said, “If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What could you give to get back your soul?. 

Mark 8: 35-37 (CEV)

All four is important but the rest is meaningless without the first. Encountering Christ is the greatest one of all. It’s possible to know the Bible and not be saved. You can use your all your gift, do humanitarian works and still not be saved. It’s also possible to be pastor and still not be saved.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
1. Have I encountered Christ and experienced His love and forgiveness?
2. Have I trusted Him alone for my salvation?
3. Have I found my purpose for living?

Next Week we will look at How to Live our Purpose. Here is the link to the outline on Living My Purpose

Time to Sign Off Social Media

Signed off FB

Yesterday, I signed off social media, except e-mail and my blog, for forty days of refocusing and resurgence. I will also limit my internet use; only for ministry related research.

Time is very precious and time is closely linked with life. What I do with my time shows what I do with my life and the things I value the most. Because social media is time consuming, unless use it wisely and for ministry, it's worth signing off in order to refocus. Because I can waste, spend or invest my life, I realize must invest on something that  will outlast it. It is important to focus my energy on what is essential and what will last for eternity!

Three things I want to focus on in the next 40 days. My relationship with God, to my family and my church! What matters most in life?  What is God's vision for the church?