Love as a Way of Life



Study Series: The Power of Purpose Author: Michael CattLesson Title: “The Power of Purpose” (pp. 120-130)August 9, 2020Session 10The main point of this lesson is: Living a life of purpose calls for being intentional in how we live.Focus on this goal: To help adults identify areas in their lives where they will live more intentionally.Key Bible Passage: Philippians 1:18-21Before the SessionBring a small piece of chain and printed news articles or other information about how Christians are being persecuted in the world today. (Step 2)During the SessionStep 1. Introduction / Discussion StarterAsk participants if they use a “to-do” list for their daily lives. Lead learners to briefly describe how they keep their to-do lists and how such lists help them to stay focused and be intentional. State that this session will help identify areas where all people can live more intentionally.Step 2. Day One – Everyone Wants a Purpose, Part 1Call on a volunteer to read Philippians 1:18-21. Explain that this study of Philippians focuses on words of Paul. They are words of purposeful living. Guide learners to consider Paul’s life before and through his conversion experience (Acts 8:3; 9:1-19; 22:6-12). Ask learners to identify Paul’s purpose in life. Explain that circumstances never derailed Paul from following God’s plan. Perhaps as Paul was in prison, he sensed his life on earth would end soon, causing him to stay focused on his purpose. Tell learners to share their responses to the question in Day One, activity 1 (p. 121). Ask: How can we live our lives each day with such an urgent sense of purpose?Step 3. Day Two – Everybody Wants a Purpose, Part 2Write Philippians 1:21 on the board or other large writing surface, leaving blanks for some key words. Challenge learners to fill in the missing words, then read the verse in unison. Encourage learners to memorize the verse in the coming week. State that those twelve words, in effect, were Paul’s epitaph he penned himself before his death. Invite learners to share their self-written epitaphs (Day Two, activity 1, p. 122). Ask: If that is what you want your epitaph to be, what changes, if any, do you need to begin making in your life today? Ask learners how many times they have moved in their lives. Direct their focus to their final “move,” a move to their eternal home in heaven. Lead learners to list several adjectives describing their temporary homes on earth. Repeat the process describing their eternal homes in heaven.Step 4. Day Three – Conviction, Not Convenience, Part 1Ask participants to quickly list several conveniences they enjoyed that morning, such as warming something in the microwave, adjusting the temperature of their homes, starting a car by pushing a button. Read the author’s first sentence of Day Three (p. 124): “Purpose has nothing to do with convenience; it has everything to do with convictions.” Lead a discussion of whether learners agree or disagree with that statement. State that convictions demand that we do not compartmentalize our spiritual life from our “everyday” life. The author calls such compartmentalizing “one of the most damaging philosophies … today” (p.?125). Call on volunteers to suggest steps to avoid compartmentalizing their faith (Day Three, activity 1, p. 125).Step 5. Day Four – Conviction, Not Convenience, Part 2Invite volunteers to contribute what they learned about persecution of Christians in the world (Day Four, activity 1, p. 127). Summarize the news articles or other information you found to emphasize the extent of Christian persecution in the world. State that those who are being persecuted for their faith know what it means to be “all in” in their Christian faith. Ask: How do you define “all in” in terms of faith? Display the piece of chain you brought to class and say: We can be chained to the world, or we can be chained to Christ. Organize the class into smaller groups and instruct each group to identify at least one Scripture that focuses on total commitment to Christ and one idea of how Christians can rid themselves of being slaves to circumstances, feelings, and events but can instead be slaves to Christ.Step 6. Day Five – Preparing for Death with a PurposeRead or sing the words of the chorus of the hymn, “Because He Lives” (Baptist Hymnal, 2008, number 449). Ask: When you think about your future—when you think about your death—what are your emotions? State that Paul was prepared to face death because of his confident assurance in Christ. Read Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7. Ask rhetorically, have you fought the good fight? If not, what would it take for you to begin that fight or to fight more mightily? Lead learners to discuss what they have learned from others about facing death with a sense of peace and purpose (Day?Five, activity 2, p. 130).Step 7. Live Out the LessonRead the opening anonymous quote in this week’s session: “The two greatest days in a person’s life are the day he was born and the day he finds out why he was born” (p. 120). Lead learners to bow their heads and reflect on why they were born. Close in prayer, asking that God strengthen all learners to live their lives more intentionally for Christ. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download