WELCOME
“To take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth.”—Ephesians 4:22–24
When God gives you a new heart, He also gives you a new purpose and, through His Holy Spirit, new power to walk out that purpose with boldness, confidence and conviction. You can do anything God calls you to do, but you can’t do it alone!
WARM-UP
Can you think of a time when you or someone you know used an object in a way it wasn’t designed for? For example, sometimes someone will use an old toothbrush to scrub tile or a floor in a very small area. Have you ever “re-purposed” something like that?
WORKOUT
NEW PURPOSE
After Jesus was raised from the dead, He spent the next 40 days teaching the disciples and preparing them for the future. In what we now call the Great Commission, Jesus plainly laid out this new purpose for the believers:
“Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” —Matthew 28:18–20a
As an athlete, your new purpose might be to use your sport as a way to reflect how Christ has changed your life or to share the Gospel with teammates, coaches, and others within your sphere of influence.
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” —Matthew 5:16
WRAP-UP
Q: What do you think having a new purpose might look like in your life?
Q: What are some things that can keep us from embracing our new purpose?
Remember what Matthew 28:18 said, “Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.” It is God who ultimately gives us a new purpose. If He gives you a new purpose, it is good for you and will bring glory to Him when we do it.
That purpose is to share the Gospel, the good news of Jesus, with others through our actions and words. Also, we are to walk with Christ and get to know Him as much as we can.
“He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” —2 Timothy 1:9
If you are being renewed in Christ, then you are called with a holy calling. Think about that this week.
(Pray and break the huddle)