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•   Song - vs. 1 & 2Song - vs. 1 & 2

•   Opening PrayerOpening Prayer

•   Song - vs. 3Song - vs. 3

•   ConnectionConnection

It All Starts with God It All Starts with God Colossians 1:15-17 Colossians 1:15-17

1515 He is the image of the He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. all creation. 1616 For by him all For by him all things were created: things in things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him all things were created by him and for him. and for him. 1717 He is before all He is before all things, and in him all things hold things, and in him all things hold together. together.

Prison Letters from Prison Letters from Caesarea Caesarea AD 57-60AD 57-60Colossians Ephesians Philemon Colossians Ephesians Philemon

God’s PurposeGod’s PurposeIf you want toIf you want toknow why you know why you were placed were placed on this planet, on this planet, you must you must begin with begin with God. You God. You were born by were born by his purpose his purpose and for his and for his purpose. purpose.

Along a main inland road from Ephesus to the Euphrates River, Colossae shared the beauty of the Lycus Valley.

Question Question

Who do we begin with God to Who do we begin with God to know why we were put here on know why we were put here on earth?earth?

We Begin with GodWe Begin with God• A man got lost in the mountains. When he A man got lost in the mountains. When he

stopped to ask for directions to the campsite, stopped to ask for directions to the campsite, he was told, "You can't get there from here. he was told, "You can't get there from here. You must start from the other side of the You must start from the other side of the mountain!" mountain!"

• So, you must begin with God, your Creator. It is So, you must begin with God, your Creator. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, and our identity, our meaning, our purpose, and our destiny. destiny.

Romans 8:6 Compare & Romans 8:6 Compare & ContrastContrast• NIV - The mind of sinful man is death, NIV - The mind of sinful man is death,

but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;and peace;

• NLT - So letting your sinful nature control NLT - So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. peace.

The easiest way to discover the The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it. The same is the creator of it. The same is true for discovering your life's true for discovering your life's purpose: purpose:

Ask God.Ask God.

Ephesians 1:11Ephesians 1:11 Furthermore, because we are united Furthermore, because we are united

with Christwith Christ, we have received an , we have received an inheritance inheritance from God, for he chose from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to everything work out according to his his planplan. .

InsightsInsights

• 1. You discover your identity and 1. You discover your identity and purpose through a relationship with purpose through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ.

• 2. God was thinking of you long 2. God was thinking of you long before you ever thought about Him.before you ever thought about Him.

• 3. The purpose of your life fits into a 3. The purpose of your life fits into a much larger, cosmic purpose that God much larger, cosmic purpose that God has designed for eternity. has designed for eternity.

Thinking About My Thinking About My PurposePurpose

• Point to Ponder:Point to Ponder: It's not about me. It's not about me.• Verse to Remember:Verse to Remember: Colossians Colossians

1:16b "… all things were created by 1:16b "… all things were created by him and for him."him and for him."

• Question to Consider:Question to Consider: In spite of In spite of all the advertising around me, how all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself? about living for God, not myself?

Closing PrayerClosing Prayer

ResourcesResources• The Purpose Driven LifeThe Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren by Rick Warren• The Purpose Driven LifeThe Purpose Driven Life will guide will guide

you to greatness - through living the you to greatness - through living the Great Commandment and the Great Great Commandment and the Great Commission.Commission. Billy Graham Billy Graham

• The Holy BibleThe Holy Bible• Inspirational ThoughtsInspirational Thoughts