The Scrolls is a weekly Bible study written by pastors and other leaders at Central Bible Church, based on that week’s sermon topic. Use The Scrolls as a personal Bible study tool, for family devotions, and for small group discussions. You can read part of it below. The downloadable PDF also includes discussion questions, more in-depth commentary, end notes, and a kids’ page designed for families to study the topic together. This lesson goes with the sermon "Counted Worthy."
The Life Purpose creed defines the Core Belief in individual terms. As a Christian, “I believe,” “I am a steward,” “I have been redeemed” for the purpose of glorifying God through my participation in his kingdom purposes. The New Testament, of course, commands believers to glorify God. In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, the apostle writes: “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (6:19b-20, ESV), and later in the same letter, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (10:31, ESV).
The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines the Core Belief in collective terms, tying its meaning to glorifying God generally. To the question, “What is the chief end of man?” the catechism answers, “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” According to the catechism, this is the life purpose of all human beings. As a proof text for the first part, the catechism offers Psalm 86:8-10 (ESV), “There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. 9 All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. 10 For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.” And for the second part it offers Ps 144:15 (ESV), “Blessed,” or happy, “are the people whose God is the Lord!” God, the author and creator of life, created us to worship him, to glorify him in all things! But there is more here. By glorifying God, we find that we actually enjoy him. We find fellowship and communion with our heavenly Father that is eternal in scope. This is our true contentment! Being created to glorify God doesn't just benefit God (not that God could be enriched or benefit from us!). No, rather, we find that we, the created finite beings, are the ones who benefit infinitely. Of course, glorifying God and enjoying him forever is not possible apart from a relationship to him by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Life Purpose is a Core Belief, but belief is made manifest, that is, becomes evident in behavior. Behavior doesn’t lie; it tells the truth about belief. When Moses struck the rock rather than speaking to it, God condemned him for his unbelief. In the wilderness, “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 ‘Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals’” (Dt 20:7-8, NKJV). However, “Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, ‘Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?’ 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them’” (vv. 10-12).
My point is simple. It’s one thing to affirm belief in the Core Competency Life Purpose; it’s quite another to faithfully express that belief in one’s daily behavior. In my own case, regretfully I find that what matters most to me in life often isn’t what matters most to God, and what matters most to God for my life often isn’t what matters most to me. Subordinating my many priorities in life to his one priority for me is my greatest challenge spiritually speaking. The good news is there is hope for me and for you, too, if you find yourself in the same boat. As one unnamed writer observes: “Paul's statements in 1 Corinthians 10 are indeed challenging to us. Whatever we do, do all to the glory of God. How miserably we fail at this. But here is the hope of the gospel: Having been robed in the righteousness of Christ, having been brought back into fellowship with God, we can, through the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, truly strive to do all things to the glory of God” (“Westminster Shorter Catechism Q&A #1,” proclamationpca.com/blog/2015/1/9/westminster-shorter-catechism-qa-1).
Central Message of the Text:
God will make you worthy of his calling as you seek to do good prompted by faith, so that when Jesus comes to reign, he will be glorified in you and you in him.
Family Talk:
When my oldest son turned four, he had to answer questions about opposites for his well check. The doctor would say things like, “cold,” “big,” “inside,” and my son would have to respond with the opposite, “hot,” “small,” “outside.” When the doctor said, “If Mommy is a woman, then Daddy is a…” my son responded vehemently with, “HERO!” Dads, you are indeed our heroes! You’re larger than life, tougher than anyone other dad on the planet and the best “tickle monster” around. Your strong arms fiercely protect and gently serve your family well. You’re the best playmate when kids are preschoolers, goofiest board game opponent when they’re preteens and most solid source of wisdom as they turn into adults. We know that being a dad isn’t always easy but you make it look effortless. We are praying for you today and always that God would continue to change and mold you to look more like Jesus and equip you to be what He’s called you to be. We pray your faith continues to grow and that you would glorify God and honor Him with your words and actions. Whether you’re a techy IT dad, construction worker, or middle manager living in cube city, we pray you’re fulfilled at work and that you have opportunities to speak biblical truth to those around you. We pray you continue to lead your family well and “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’” (Isaiah 30:21). Press on, dads. We love you and want to celebrate you this week!