To consider our purpose in life and how do we fit into the grand scheme of things
Stuff needs
Magnetic sticky tape (you can buy this in most craft shops) or large
magnets
Card board stars (for the magnetic tape)
Compass
Table / board
Fellowship Of The Rings video
Talk Introduction
Tonight we are going to talk about purpose
Why are we here?
What is the purpose of our life?
These are big questions that have no easy answers...
Going to start by watching a clip from The Fellowship of the Rings...
In this scene, Frodo and the others have to make a hard decision...
[The Fellowship of the Rings]
1 hr 22 - 1 hr 28 (6 mins) - Frodo decides to take the ring to the
cracks of doom
The middle bit
In the clip we have just seen, Frodo accepts what seems to be an
impossible mission...to take the ring in to the Cracks of doom to destroy
it...
Why do you think he accepts the mission?
He doesn't know how or why, but it like he knows that this is something
he has to do
Some people would call this 'fate' or 'destiny'...
The idea that certain things are just supposed to happen
Do you believe in 'fate' or 'destiny'?
The Bible says in Psalm 139 "You saw my bones being formed as I took shape in my mother's body.
When I was put together there, you saw my body as it was formed.
All the days planned for me where written in your book before I was one day
old."
What do you think that means?
We are also told we have choices...
Luke 9:23 "Jesus said to all of them, 'If people want to follow me, they must give up
the things they want. They must be willing to give up their lives daily to
follow me. Those who want to save their lives will give up their lives. But
those who give up their lives for me will have true life"
How do you think this fits in with the idea that 'All the days
planned for me where written in your book before I was one day old.'?
Have you, like Frodo, ever agreed to do something because it feels like
the right thing to do?
Speak to people...'gut instinct'
What happened? / How did it work out?
Have you ever felt that God has told you to do something?
[Have you ever done something that you know to be wrong? ]
Where do you think your life is heading?
Where do you think you will be in 5, 10, 15 years time?
Have you ever thought about what God might want for your life?
How do you think we discover God's plan for us?
Some think you just need to go where God is at work and you just "join
in"
Pray / reflect
"Push doors"
Does it have to be something "Christian"?
We often assume it has to be something "Christian", or even something
we'll hate!
What do you think God purpose / plan is for all of us...for the world?
There are many different opinions about this...most would say...we are
here to:
Worship God
Get to know and love God
To be Loved by God
We are here to help God work with his mission...
Matthew 28:19 - 20 "...go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptise them in the
name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey
everything that I have taught you, and I will be with you always, even until
the end of this age"
And that verse reminds us that while we are doing God's work he will
always be with us...
In the film, Frodo sets out on this quest, and he is not sure how it's
going to work out
But he has people with him to help and support him
Who, in your life, helps you to find your way forward?
Conclusion
[Set up a table with compass in the middle]
To close, I'd like us to spend a few moments thinking about where God
wants us to be...
That's not easy because there are many distractions in life that can steer
us off course and keep us from hearing God's voice
On this table we have a compass.
Because a compass always points north, people use it to find their way
In the same way, the Bible tells us that God should be our 'compass', our
'north'...and will help us to find 'our way'
However, sometimes our lives end up heading in a different direction
altogether...we get lost / distracted by things...we leave God behind
[Demonstrate this by placing the magnets on the table and moving them
around. This will cause the compass needle to move]
I want you to think for a moment...
What are the things that distract you? What causes you to loose your way?
In your own time, I like you to take a magnet, and write down those things
that distract you / cause you to loose your way... (the star's a stuck to the
magnetic tape)
