Ephesians 2:10 - Living on Purpose

Getting Out of the Stands

Greetings to everyone here today and to those of you joining us online. It is a real privilege to handle the Word of God with you. We’ve been in a series looking at foundational practices—what it looks like to follow Jesus and how we do that in community. We’ve talked about embracing the gospel, sharing your story, pursuing community, and experiencing freedom.

I want to give a quick shoutout to Jordan Hogue. Didn’t he do a great job last week? I’m so grateful for his leadership and the way he pastors our teenagers. Please keep him and the 600 students and counselors in your prayers this week; they are up at Hume Lake for the entire week, and we are praying the Lord does amazing things as they get away and experience Him in community.

Today, we are talking about purpose. In a previous life, I was a high school football coach. I loved it. I loved the players, the team aspect, and our coaching staff. And of course, you love Friday night lights—the gathering, the competition, the giving it your all. But there was one thing I didn’t love: the parents.

I have to admit, I didn’t always like the parents because there were always those “armchair quarterbacks” in the stands. There were the dads who played in the twenties with leather helmets and thought they knew everything we should be doing. There were the mamas who believed little Johnny should be the starting quarterback even though he couldn’t throw the ball fifteen yards. One season, we had a group of dads who had a “hot sports opinion” about everything. They were so critical that our wives didn’t even want to go to the games anymore.

But then, one summer, a parent named Ron came to us. He said, “Hey, do you mind if I join the coaching staff? I’ve got some experience, and I just want to contribute.” We said yes. Ron became “Coach Ron.” He jumped in with both feet, coaching the JV wide receivers. He discovered our philosophy and why we did what we did. He went to every meeting and every practice.

About halfway through the season, he went back up into the bleachers and told all those other dads to be quiet. He told them, “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” He became our biggest advocate. He even kept coaching for five years after his boys graduated. I called him this week to make sure I had the story right, and he told me, “I loved the part I got to play. I loved being part of what God was doing in that program.”

I share that because the keynote of this message is this: the Christian life is not a spectator sport. We get to participate and partner with God to live out His purpose for our lives.

A Masterpiece in Progress

When you think of the word “purpose,” what comes to mind? Maybe you think of destiny or fate. Maybe you feel like Loki from Marvel, “burdened with glorious purpose” but unsure what it is. The world tells us purpose is about achievement, the right job, or making money. Or, as scientific evolution might suggest, maybe there is no purpose at all—we’re just stardust.

Those views leave us confused and hopeless. But the Westminster Catechism says: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” As Christians, we believe our purpose is much greater and more eternal. Let’s look at Ephesians 2:10. I’d like to invite you all to stand as we read this verse together corporately.

Ephesians 2:10 (NASB)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Paul wrote this while sitting in a jail cell in Rome. He had likely been imprisoned for five years. That is a vital reminder: purpose is not based on your circumstances. You can be in a cell and still be living out God’s purpose.

To understand verse 10, you have to look at the verses leading up to it. Paul explains that we were dead in our sins—“all dead,” as they say in The Princess Bride. We were enslaved to the flesh and condemned to wrath. But then come the two most important words in the Bible: “But God.” God resurrects us. He offers a free gift of grace. We take no credit for our salvation; there will be no peacocks in heaven boasting about how they got there. We are completely dependent on His grace.

Because we have embraced the gospel, Paul says we are now His “workmanship.” The Greek word there is poema, where we get our word “poem.” It denotes a creative work of art—a masterpiece. Think of Beethoven’s Fifth, a Monet painting, or a Shakespearean sonnet. When you encounter them, you are inspired.

Paul is saying that you are a thing of God’s making. You are His masterpiece. While every human being is created in the image of God with dignity and worth, Paul is talking about something even deeper here: being “created in Christ Jesus.”

Genesis 1:27 (NASB)

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Psalms 139:14 (NASB)

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

As Christians, we should never self-loathe or degrade ourselves. You should wake up every morning and say, “I am God’s masterpiece.” I don’t mean that in a narcissistic, Instagram-filter way. I mean your identity is rooted in what Christ has done. You were saved by God and masterfully designed by God for a purpose.

Prepared Beforehand

If we are masterpieces, what were we created for? Paul says “good works.” Now, we have to be careful. These aren’t works of the law or works of the flesh. These are works of faithfulness that are the fruit of our salvation, not the root. As John Calvin said, “It is faith alone that justifies, but faith that justifies can never be alone.”

James 2:17 (NASB)

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, [being] by itself.

Matthew 5:16 (NASB)

’Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Colossians 1:10 (NASB)

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please [Him] in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Titus 2:14 (NASB)

who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

These works were “prepared beforehand.” That means they were prearranged or ordained. This blew me away this week: in eternity past, before the world was created, God fashioned good works for you to walk into. He is so specific and intentional that He was thinking about your path before the universe existed.

He tells us to “walk” in them. Walking is just one step in front of the other. It’s a manner of life. We used to walk in sin; now we walk in the purpose God set up for us. We are participants and partners with God.

Universal and Unique Purposes

So, what are these good works? Is there a test or a class to figure them out? First, there are general purposes that apply to every Christian. We are all called to the Great Commandment: to love God and love our neighbor. We are all called to seek the Kingdom first. And we are all called to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB)

‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’ And He said to him, ’‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ ’This is the great and foremost commandment. ’The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ ‘On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.’

Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

’But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Romans 8:29 (NASB)

For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

We can ask ourselves: Do my actions demonstrate peace, justice, and joy? Am I becoming more like Jesus? These works can be done anywhere—where you live, work, and play. You don’t have to be a “paid professional Christian.” You walk out these works in your neighborhood, your office, and your hobbies.

But there are also specific things God has prepared for you. Paul identified himself specifically as a servant and an apostle. God told Ananias that Paul was a “chosen instrument” to reach the Gentiles and kings.

Romans 1:1 (NASB)

Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called [as] an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Acts 9:15 (NASB)

But the Lord said to him, ’Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

Discovering Your Sweet Spot

To help you find those specific works, we use a tool at The Well that looks at four circles: Experiences, Passions, Spiritual Gifts, and Personality.

First, consider your Experiences. What is your background? Your education? Your successes and your traumas? God doesn’t waste anything. Second, look at your Passions. What fires you up? What keeps you awake at night? As Eric Liddell said in Chariots of Fire, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure.” Third, identify your Spiritual Gifts. What has the Holy Spirit given you to build up the church? Is it teaching, serving, or encouragement? Finally, look at your Personality. Are you a thinker or a feeler? Are you a catalyzer or a harmonizer?

Where these four circles intersect is your “sweet spot.” Look at Paul: He was a Pharisee (Experience) who was passionate about the Gospel (Passion). He was gifted in teaching and leadership (Gifts) and had a persistent, bold personality (Personality). God used all of that—including his tent-making skills—to plant churches and reach the world.

Examine, Experiment, and Evaluate

How do you apply this? I want to give you three “Es.”

First, Examine. Ask yourself what God has hardwired you for. If you aren’t sure, ask the people who know you best—your spouse, your life group. Ask them, “What do you see in me?”

Second, Experiment. Don’t stay in the stands like Coach Ron; get on the field. Try things. Step out in faith. You’ll see some doors open and some doors close. You’ll find things where you say, “That’s me,” and others where you say, “That’s definitely not me.”

Third, Evaluate. See what brings joy and fulfillment. Ask for honest feedback. This is a process; you have to play the long game. I am still discovering things about how God made me, even now.

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Church, remember: the Christian life is not a spectator sport. What an honor that God has created us for good works and set them before us in eternity past. I want to live a life of purpose, like King David.

Acts 13:36 (NASB)

’For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;

David served God’s purpose in his own generation. I want to fulfill my purpose, and I want that for us as a church. Our lives matter because God says they matter. When our days are done—and we have no guarantee when that will be—we want to stand before our Savior and hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.”

Let’s participate with God. Let’s be His workmanship on display. Let’s pray.

Father, thank You for reminding us who we are in Christ. Thank You that we are Your masterpieces, created with a reason to live. It’s not just about the corporate ladder or accumulating things; it’s about putting the gospel on display. Help us by Your Holy Spirit. We need Your Word to guide us and each other to lock arms. May we bring glory to Your name. Amen.