The Man in the Mirror – Ch 5, Purpose: Why Do I Exist? (2/9/2008)

The Man in the Mirror, Solving the 24 Problems Men Face: Chapter 5 – Purpose: Why Do I Exist?

The Big Idea:  We will feel most alive, most useful,and most significant when we are doing what God created us to do.

Philippians 2:13, Acts 17:26, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11

1. We will feel most alive, most useful, and most significant when we are doing what God created us to do. AGREE/DISAGREE. What makes you feel most alive, most useful, and most significant?

2. According to today’s texts, who shapes our personal life purpose and how? What is our part according to
1Peter4:10?

3. Is there a single sentence or thought that captures the essence of your personal life purpose? If so, please share it. What might be some of the benefits to you from completing the How to Develop a Written Life Purpose Statement exercise?

PURPOSE OUTLINE

I. Eternal Purpose

God’s eternal purpose for us is eternal life.

II. Earthly Purpose

God’s earthly purpose for us is to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.

A. Universal Earthly Purpose

There is a sense in which all men are alike, and God gives all men the same universal purposes. The Bible reveals four universal purposes or, if you prefer, one purpose with four parts—two which relate to relationships and two which relate to tasks:

1. The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37): To love God

2. The Royal Commandment (John 13:34-35): To love one another

3. The Great Commission (Matthew 18:1-20): To build the kingdom

4. The Cultural Mandate (Genesis 1:28): To tend the culture

B. Personal Life Purpose

There is also a sense in which each of us is unique, and God gives each of us a different personal life purpose (Philippians 2:13, Acts 17:26, Ephesians 2:10, 1 Peter 4:10-11). Like a fingerprint, our life purpose is a one-of-a-kind set of marching orders that combines the four universal purposes to which God calls all men. That unique combination draws from our spiritual gifts, natural abilities, acquired competencies, assigned times and places, roles, deeds, service, love, and the Spirit—all of which issue from Jesus Christ.

Video Study:  Click here to see Patrick Morely teach this chapter (Running time 41 mins, 05 secs)

- Courtesy of www.ManInTheMirror.org, where audio versions and downloads of these studies are available too!

The Man in the Mirror – Ch 4, Significance:The Search for Meaning and Purpose (2/9/2008)

The Man in the Mirror, Solving the 24 Problems Men Face: Chapter 4 – The Search for Meaning and Purpose

The Big Idea:  A Man’s most innate need is his need to be significant – to find meaning and purpose.

Ecclesiastes 3:10-14; Acts 17:24-28; John 15:5, Ephesians 1:11-23

1.  How do you keep score? At the end of the day, how do you measure whether or not in has been a “significant” day?

2.  A man’s most innate need is his need to be significant—to find meaning and purpose. The difference in men is in how they go about satisfying their need to be significant. What is the biblical path to significance according to today’s verses (above)?

3.  Do you need to make any adjustments and, if so, what will you think and/or do differently?

Video Study:  Click here to see Patrick Morely teach this chapter (Running time 35 mins, 55 secs)

- Courtesy of www.ManInTheMirror.org, where audio versions and downloads of these studies are available too!

The Man in the Mirror – Ch 3, Biblical Christian or Cultural Christian? (1/26/2008)

The Man in the Mirror, Solving the 24 Problems Men Face: Chapter 3 – Biblical Christian or Cultural Christian?

The Big Idea: To be a Cultural Christian is to love this life more than the next life.

1 John 2:14-15, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, Matthew 13:12-23, Revelation 2:2-5 & 3:15-20

1. Today the following picture of a cultural Christian was presented:

• He loves the world and the things of this world
• He is attached to things
• He produces limited fruit
• He has lost his first love
• He is lukewarm
• He reads his Bible for comfort, but his Forbes for direction
• He follows the God he underlines in his Bible
• He is a Christian on his own terms
• He seeks the God he wants

How prevalent do you think these characteristics are among Christian men you know personally?

2. How do men become cultural Christians?

3. Are you a biblical Christian or a cultural Christian, and why? If you have been a cultural Christian, did you pray the prayer constructed from Revelation 2:5 and 3:19,20?

Video Study:  Click here to see Patrick Morely teach this chapter (Running time 40 mins, 54 secs)

- Courtesy of www.ManInTheMirror.org, where audio versions and downloads of these studies are available too!

The Man in the Mirror – Ch 2, Leading an Unexamined Life (1/26/2008)

The Man in the Mirror, Solving the 24 Problems Men Face: Chapter 2 – Leading an Unexamined Life

The Big Idea: The unavoidable result of an unexamined life is to end up Christian in spirit but secular in practice.

Colossians 2:8, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 13:5

1. Most men have not carefully chiseled their worldview by a scrupulous search for truth and obedience to God.—an estimated 105 million of 113 million men in the U.S. alone. They have succumbed to the threat mentioned in Colossians 2:8. As a result, many men are Christian in spirit but secular in practice. How do you see this playing out in the circles where you run?

2. What does it mean to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” as mentioned in Romans12:2?

3. How well are you “synced” up with Christ? How often do you sync? Are you satisfied with the results? Is there anything you want to do differently?

Video Study:  Click here to see Patrick Morely teach this chapter (Running time 41 mins, 38 secs)

- Courtesy of www.ManInTheMirror.org, where audio versions and downloads of these studies are available too!

The Man in the Mirror – Ch 1, The Rat Race (1/12/2008)

The Man in the Mirror, Solving the 24 Problems Men Face: Chapter 1, the Rat Race

The Big Idea:  The rat race is the conflict between who I am created to be, and who I am tempted to be.

Galatians 5:7, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Matthew 23:12, Hebrews 12:1-3

1.  Which rat trap tempts you the most, and why?

2.  In The Message, a paraphrased version of the Bible, Matthew 23:12b reads, “If you are content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.” Is contentment hard or easy for you, and why? Do you worry that your life will count and, if so, how does this verse speak to you? Would memorizing it be helpful? If so, consider underlining it and put it where you will see it several times a day.

3.  Of the ways we can get out of the rat race mentioned today, which one most resonates with you. Explain your answer.

Video Study: Click here to see and hear Patrick Morley teach this chapter (Running time 41 mins, 34 secs)

- Courtesy of www.ManInTheMirror.org where audio versions and downloads on these studies are available too!