Clarify Your Purpose!

The Purpose Clarifier Worksheet is a companion to Chapter 19 of Churchwork. The article below is a condensed version or Chapter 19. After reading Chapter 19 or the article below, scroll to the bottom to download the worksheet

Purpose is not found in what we dream about; purpose is found in what we do each and every day. God’s purpose for our lives is tangible and obtainable. He wants us to walk in our purpose now. Ultimately, purpose is found at the intersection of our calling, our constitution, and our context. Our calling is God’s claim on our life. Our constitution consists of the unique things which make us who we are including our talents, resources, education, obligations, and relationships. Our context is the location and ministry circumstances in which we find ourselves. ​
Though the ultimate fulfillment of our calling may unfold over time until we reach our fullest potential, our purpose is not on hold, awaiting the arrival of perfect circumstances; rather, our purpose is to live out our calling in our current contextthrough our constitution. When we do so, we are living in our purpose. Purpose is about today!

Calling
Calling is not a mysterious game of hide-and-seek we play with God. God desires that we know His will for our lives. (See Ephesians 5:10; Colossians 1:9; 4:12.) Many times people ask, “What is my gift?” while trying to discern God’s will. While this is a legitimate question, and there are many tools available to assist in this quest, this often is not the primary question. The better question might be, “What are my opportunities?” What needs to be done but is going undone in my immediate context? Instead of only searching for what we think will fulfill us, we should consider the needs of the church and seek to make the church whole. It sounds overly simplistic, but if there are things which need to be done and you can do them, be faithful in these opportunities.
We also can look for patterns as opportunities come to us. If you frequently have an opportunity to encourage people, you are probably an encourager. If you frequently have an opportunity to provide clarity and direction, you are probably a leader. If you find yourself explaining Scripture to others, you may be a teacher. I operate from the premise that our calling has a remarkable resemblance to our opportunities.
Our calling frequently is more clearly seen in hindsight. As we reflect over our past opportunities and the ways in which we have served the kingdom, we can see our how our calling has been shaped. As you reflect on the past, consider: What do I enjoy doing? What energized me? What am I good at? How has God used me in the past? When do I feel most fulfilled? What have trusted leaders affirmed about my calling? These are the dots on the page. When we connect them, we can see our calling more clearly.

Constitution
Calling is only one element in discerning our purpose. The next is our constitution—our personal makeup including our gifting, our temperament, our family circumstances, and the countless things which are permanently attached to us which make us who we are. The same call of God can fall on two different people and be manifested in two entirely different ways.
A person’s constitution has as much to do with finding purpose as does the call of God. The call of God is not a generic, universal, one-size-fits-all call. It is a call that is answered through our circumstances, our gifting, our relationships, and through all the factors which make us who we are. The same call of God may manifest itself differently in different phases of our lives. Ignoring these factors and considering God’s call in an abstract or ideal way is unhelpful and may lead to frustration. We are responsible for the call of God as it comes to us, not how it may come to someone else. The fundamental question is this: What does God’s call look like in my life?

Context
Context is the third factor in finding purpose. God’s call is lived out in a specific location. Perhaps one of the most pressing questions is simply this: How can I fulfill the will of God in this location? No place or ministry is perfect and demanding such is unfair. It also is unhelpful to make comparisons to other ministry contexts.
Our context, like our constitution, is an interpretive filter for our calling. We may not be able to minister in the same way in two different contexts. Our calling must be adapted to the context in which we find ourselves. One context may require an entrepreneurial effort. Another context may require an approach that is more heavily oriented towards maintenance. Whatever the context, bloom where you are planted! At least for this season, this is the context in which your calling will be lived out. And although it may have its shortcomings, it also has great advantages. Take the opportunity to learn from both the strengths and weaknesses of your current ministry context. Take good notes of what you like and what you do not like. You may need them someday!

Download Purpose Clarifier Worksheet
Purpose is found when our calling is incarnated through our constitution in a specific context. Our purpose is to live out our calling using our God-given resources in our God-assigned location, even if it is a less-than-ideal situation. Purpose is about today! Download the Purpose Clarifier Worksheet and clarify your purpose today!