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Welcome to Bible Study. Greetings Song - vs. 1 & 2 Opening Prayer Song - vs. 3 Connection. It All Starts with God . Colossians 1:15-17
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Welcome to Bible Study Greetings Song - vs. 1 & 2 Opening Prayer Song - vs. 3 Connection
It All Starts with God Colossians 1:15-17 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Prison Letters from Caesarea AD 57-60 Colossians Ephesians Philemon
God’s Purpose If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. Along a main inland road from Ephesus to the Euphrates River, Colossae shared the beauty of the Lycus Valley.
Question Who do we begin with God to know why we were put here on earth?
We Begin with God • A man got lost in the mountains. When he stopped to ask for directions to the campsite, he was told, "You can't get there from here. You must start from the other side of the mountain!" • So, you must begin with God, your Creator. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, and our destiny.
Romans 8:6 Compare & Contrast • NIV - The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; • NLT - So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life's purpose: Ask God.
Ephesians 1:11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.
Insights • 1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. • 2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him. • 3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity.
Thinking About My Purpose • Point to Ponder: It's not about me. • Verse to Remember: Colossians 1:16b "… all things were created by him and for him." • Question to Consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?
Resources • The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren • The Purpose Driven Life will guide you to greatness - through living the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Billy Graham • The Holy Bible • Inspirational Thoughts