Small Group Material

Content and material for small group leaders.

Purpose Driven Life

Small group questions for our series on Rick Warren’s “What On Earth Am I Here For?”

Download the questions for the entire series here:

https://www.mediafire.com/file/uzmpsits9gpnwvb/What_on_Earth_Am_I_Here_For-_Small_Group_Questions.pdf/file

Week One

You Matter to God

  1. Why are you choosing to invest these 40 days to answer the question, “What on earth am I here for?”
  2. Proverbs 16:4 says, “The Lord has made everything for His purpose.” How does the knowledge that you were made for God’s purpose give you a new perspective of why He put you on earth? 
  3. What is holding you back from your purpose? Is there a specific hurt, doubt, circumstance, or other factor that you think keeps you from what God has created you for? 
  4. How does knowing that you were created to spend eternity with God change the way that you spend your short time on earth?
  5. Listen to this quote from Rick Warren: “If you live to be 70 years old, you’re going to live 25,550 days. Don’t you think it is worth just 40 of those days to figure out what you are going to do with the other 25,510?” What do you commit to doing for these 40 days that will help you understand God’s purpose for you and will transform the rest of your life? 

Week Two

You Were Planned for God’s Pleasure

  1. Revelation 4:11 says, “You [God] created all things, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created.” What do you think this verse means when it says that we were created for God’s pleasure? 
  2. In Matthew 6:6, Jesus tells us to pray and spend time with God in secret, or in a “quiet, secluded place.” Do you have a physical place where you can be alone with God and fully focused on Him, away from all distractions? If so, where is it? If not, do you have an idea of where it could be?
  3. How do you think that worship pleases God? What does it mean to be a living sacrifice, or to worship God through every area of your life?
  4. Rick Warren says that “it doesn’t matter what you do, it matters who you do it for.” How can your career, hobbies, or unique gifts from God be acts of worship, even if they feel like normal, day-to-day activities? 
  5. Rick Warren also says that “real worship is a lifestyle.” What changes do you need to make so that your entire life is an act of worship? 

Week Three

You Were Formed for God’s Family

  1. Fellowship is a wonderful thing that God has intended for his people. How have you benefitted from intentional times of fellowship, such as this small group? 
  2. The Lord wants to see us, as His children, share our joys with each other. What is something that God has done in your life recently that we can celebrate together?
  3. On the other hand, Galatians 6:2 tells us to “share each other’s troubles and problems.” How do you help other people when you see them in pain? Do you have any troubles that this group can share with you right now, that you may be encouraged and strengthened through fellowship? 
  4. 1 Corinthians 3:9 says “We are partners living together for God.” What does it mean to be partners with other believers? In what ways do relationships with other believers strengthen your faith? 
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:26 says: “When you conduct your meetings, you should always let everything be done to build up the church family. Whether you share a song of praise, a teaching, a divine revelation, or a tongue and interpretation, let each one contribute what strengthens others.” What God-given gifts can you contribute to our church family?

Week Four

You Were Created to Become Like Christ

  1. God wants you to become like Jesus. What do you believe it means to look like, think like, and even see the world like Jesus does?
  2. Can you think of any stories in the Bible where someone illustrated Christ-like character, or any passages that teach us how to be like Jesus? What can we learn from these verses? 
  3. Romans 8:28 says, “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” God works in allthings to develop our character, even difficult things – have you faced a trial that was used by God to help you have Christ-like character? 
  4. In Matthew 6:12, Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.” Is there someone you need to forgive in order to be more like Christ, or do you have an experience where forgiveness brought you closer to Christ?
  5. What can you commit to focusing on during the next week that will help you to become more like Christ?   Is there a specific characteristic of Christ you commit to pursuing? 

Week Five

You Were Shaped to Serve God

  1. Ephesians 2:10 says, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” What are some specific places or ministries that you believe God created you to serve in? 
  2. Psalm 100:2 teaches to “serve the Lord with gladness.” Do you see service as an obligation or as a gift? How can you have a renewed perspective of gratitude towards opportunities to serve?
  3. When God calls you to serve, are you available to Him, or do you find yourself wanting to shy away from the task? What types of callings do you find more difficult to answer? 
  4. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” What small acts of service can you see as opportunities to serve the Lord and His people, knowing that no act of service is insignificant to God? 
  5. Think of the gifts and talents that God has given you – even things that might seem unrelated to church. What can you do to serve your church family? What can you do to serve your community?

Week Six

You Were Made for a Mission

  1. In Acts 20:24, Paul says, “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.” Can you tell us about a time that you shared the gospel with someone? 
  2. In the Great Commission, Jesus tells us, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-19a). What difficulties do you face when you are sharing the gospel? How do you think we can begin to overcome these struggles by the authority of Jesus so that we can make disciples? 
  3. Think of your hobbies – who do you know that does not know the Lord that you can invite to participate in those hobbies with you to build a relationship with them and show them the love of Christ? 
  4. Mark 16:15 says, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” Where is God calling you to go, whether it is just down the road or on the other side of the globe? How will you answer that call? 
  5. The Bible repeatedly teaches about the importance of caring for those in need. What is one practical thing you can begin to do that would help someone in need? 
  6. As we wrap up this forty day study on having a purpose driven life, do you have a renewed perspective of why God put you on earth and what you are meant to do with your time here?