Welcome to Bible Study

1. Welcome to Bible Study Greetings Song Leaning on The Everlasting Arm Opening Prayer Song

2. What Drives Your Life?

3. Connection • Thomas Carlyle said “The person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder – a waif, a nothing, a no one.”

4. Everyone’s life is driven by something • What drives your life?

5. Many people are driven by guilt • They spend their entire lives running from regrets and hiding their shame. • We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be hostage of it. • Psalm 32:1 “Blessed is he (or she) whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.”

6. Many people are driven by resentment and anger • They hold on to hurts and never get over them. Instead of releasing their pain through forgiveness, they rehearse it over and over in their minds. • Your past is past, nothing will change it.

7. Philippians 3:12-14 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

8. Driven by Resentment and Anger During the Civil War in America, there is the story of the lady complained to General Robert Lee. She said, look at what those Yankee Union soldiers did to my oak tree! The limbs and trunk are ruined, she continued as Lee listened. She waited for him to scold the Union with harsh words, or at lease sympathize with her. Lee paused, and said, “Cut it down, my dear madam, and forget about it.”

9. Many people are driven by fear. • Joel 2:21 Be not afraid, O land; be glad and rejoice. Surely the LORD has done great things. • 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

10. Many people are driven by materialism • Possessions only provide temporary happiness. • Real security can only be found in that which can never be taken from you – Your relationship with God.

11. Luke 16:13 • (NIV) "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." • (NAS) “…You cannot serve God and wealth." • (KJV) “…Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

12. THE BENEFITS OF PURPOSE-DRIVEN LIVING

13. Knowing your purpose gives meaning to your life and it simplifies your life. • Isaiah 26:3 • (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. • (KJV) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

14. Knowing your purpose motivates your life and prepares you for eternity. You were not put on earth to be remembered. You were put here to prepare for eternity.

15. The Final ExamRomans 14:10-12 • 10 You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. • 11 It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’” • 12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.

16. Thinking About My Purpose • Point to Ponder: Living on purpose is the path to peace. • Verse to Remember: Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” (NLT) • Question to Consider: What would my family and friends say is the driving force of my life? What do I want it to be?

17. Review Study Guide andClosing Prayer

18. 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