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God has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

WHAT IS GOD'S ETERNAL PLAN?

1. EVERYTHING STARTS WITH GOD  

For everything comes from God alone. Everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory.        Romans 11:36 (TLB)

The Lord has made everything for his own purpose. Proverbs 16:4 (GW)

Everything, absolutely everything … got started in him and finds its purpose in him.       Colossians 1:16 (MSG)

2. GOD IS LOVE

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God … Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love!  1 John 4:7a–8 (NIV)

3. GOD LOVED YOU BEFORE HE MADE THE UNIVERSE

Long before he laid down earth's foundations, HE HAD US IN MIND, and had settled on us as the focus of his love.                                                                                          Ephesians 1:4 (MSG)

God decided to give us life through his Word of truth so that we might be the most important of all of his creation!  James 1:18 (NCV)

I'm your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born!               Isaiah 44:2 (CEV)

4. GOD WANTED A FAMILY HE COULD LOVE FOREVER

God has always known who his chosen ones would be. He had decided to let them become like his Son, so that his Son would be the first of MANY children.               Romans 8:29 (CEV)

5. GOD'S FAMILY IS THE CHURCH

God's family is the church of the living God.1 Timothy 3:15b (GW)

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall on my knees and pray to the Father of the great family of God—some already in heaven and some here on earth.        Ephesians 3:14–15 (TLB)

6. THE CHURCH IS THE ONLY THING IN THE UNIVERSE THAT'S GOING TO LAST FOREVER

This world and everything in it is passing away, but those who do the will of God are going to live forever.1 John 2:17 (GNT)

In his boundless mercy God has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family. And now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3b (TLB)

No eye has ever seen, and no ear has ever heard, and no mind has ever imagined the wonderful things that God has prepared for those who love him!        1 Corinthians 2:9 (GW)

7. JESUS DIED FOR US TO  MAKE THIS PLAN POSSIBLE

Jesus died for us so that … we can live together with him.              1 Thessalonians 5:10 (NIV)

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for … part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.                     Ephesians 1:11–12 (MSG)

This is the plan: At the right time, God will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth!Ephesians 1:10 (NLT)

8. JESUS IS WAITING TO RETURN FOR TWO REASONS:
HE WANTS MORE PEOPLE IN HIS FAMILY

The Lord is not being slow about his promise to return … Instead he is being patient. He doesn't want anyone to be lost, and he wants all people to repent and turn to him.    2 Peter 3:9

HE WANTS US TO PRACTICE 5 PURPOSES
GOD HAS 5 PURPOSES
FOR YOUR LIFE ON EARTH

1. GOD PLANNED ME FOR HIS PLEASURE

For you (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.Revelation 4:11b (NLT)

The Lord takes pleasure in his people.Psalm 149:4 (GNT)

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment!"Matthew 22:37–38 (NIV)

1st Purpose on Earth: LEARN TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD

I don't want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don't want your offerings—I want you to know me!Hosea 6:6 (TLB)

The Bible calls this WORSHIP

Some people have missed the most important thing in life—they don't know God.  1 Timothy 6:21 (TLB)

"People who don't know God are always worrying."                                     Matthew 6:32 (CEV)

ACTION PLAN: Worship is not just meant to be singing songs on Sunday morning. We can practice worship every hour of every day. This week, set a reminder on your phone for each hour to stop whatever you are doing and spend thirty seconds thanking God for whatever is on your heart.

2. GOD FORMED ME FOR HIS FAMILY              

(God's) unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure.                 Ephesians 1:5 (NLT)

God … has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God's own family.Peter 1:3 (TLB)

That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.1 Timothy 3:15b (NCV)

LOVE your spiritual family!1 Peter 2:17 (MSG)

2nd Purpose on Earth: LEARN TO LOVE GOD'S FAMILY
The Bible calls this FELLOWSHIP
We belong to each other and each needs all the others.Romans 12:5b (TLB)

3. GOD CREATED ME TO BECOME LIKE CHRIST

From the very beginning God decided that those who came to him—and all along he knew who would—SHOULD BECOME LIKE HIS SON.  Romans 8:29 (TLB)

We look at God's Son and see … God's original purpose in everything created.Colossians 1:15 (MSG)

In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.Philippians 2:5 (NCV)

As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.2 Corinthians 3:18b (TLB)

3rd Purpose on Earth: LEARN TO GROW TO MATURITY
The Bible calls this DISCIPLESHIP

"[Some people have] such shallow soil of character that when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it."Mark 4:17 (MSG)

ACTION PLAN: Discipleship begins with spending time with God. If you are not already doing a quiet time, start by committing five minutes each day at a regular time to reading from Scripture and praying. If you already do a quiet time, challenge yourself to spend a few more minutes in prayer, meditating on God's word and listening to His will for you.

4. GOD SHAPED ME TO SERVE HIM

You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.     Psalm 139:13 (MSG)

            SPIRITUAL GIFTS
            HEART
            ATTITUDE        
            PERSONALITY          
            EXPERIENCES          

God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.Ephesians 2:10 (NCV)

ACTION PLAN: One of the best ways to start letting God use you is by serving. If you're not sure where you can be used within your shape, take this ministry quiz (saddleback.com/connect/ministries/ministry-quiz) or attend Class 301 (saddleback.com/events/class) to learn about how the skills and gifts God gave you can work within ministry. If you aren't already serving in a ministry, use this link (saddleback.com/connect/ministries) to help you find a home in one of our many ministries!

4th Purpose on Earth: LEARN TO SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS                                    
The Bible calls this MINISTRY

5. GOD MADE ME FOR A MISSION

"In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world."John 17:18 (MSG)

Through Christ, God made peace between us and himself, and God gave us the work of telling everyone about the peace we can have with him … So we have been sent to speak for Christ!2 Corinthians 5:18b, 20b (NCV)

The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me—to tell people the Good News about God's grace.Acts 20:24b (NCV)

Jesus said, "Go EVERYWHERE in the world, and tell EVERYONE the Good News!"Mark 16:15 (NCV)

5th Purpose on Earth: LEARN TO BRINNG OTHERS TO JESUS
The Bible calls this EVANGELISM
A CHURCH FAMILY WILL HELP ME
• Center my life around God
(worship)
• Connect my life to his eternal family
(fellowship)
• Cultivate my life with spiritual growth
(discipleship)
• Contribute something back with my life
(ministry)
• Communicate my life message
(mission)