This study guide was produced by Keswick Ministries. Keswick Ministries hosts a Convention for 3 weeks each summer in the English Lake District. They also run year-round teaching and training events and produce digital and printed resources. The central vision of Keswick Ministries is to see the people of God equipped, encouraged and refreshed to love and live for Christ in his world. We hope you are blessed by this series.

Getting Started

‘Where is God? What is going on?’
When we look around and see morality unravelling, looming crises
caused by climate change, broken political systems and a rise in the
persecution of Christians, it can feel as if the world is spiralling out
of control. Even our own personal circumstances can leave us feeling
disheartened and fearful.
Unsurprisingly, the Bible says, ‘Do not fear.’ God invites us to trust
him because, despite appearances, he is in control and working out his
purposes. He calls us to lift our eyes from our surroundings and gaze on
him; to see in Scripture the panoramic view of God’s eternal plan. Today,
regardless of the news headlines or our own personal difficulties, we can
be grateful for God’s sovereignty and that he allows us to play a part in his
larger purposes.

From the Bible – Colossians 1:15–23

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he
is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn
from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the
supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on
earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed
on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behaviour. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight,
without blemish and free from accusation – 23 if you continue in your
faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in
the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been
proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have
become a servant.

Discussion Points

• Is there anything going on in the world, or in your own life,
  that makes you question whether God is at work and in control?
  Be specific here.
• Colossians 1:15–23 praises Christ, and was probably an early
  worship song. According to verses 15–20, what is God’s purpose
  for Christ?
• Look at verse 22. What is God’s purpose for us?
• How do we fulfil God’s purpose for us (verse 23)?

Nothing makes us more grateful than having a clear sense of our mission
in life. None of us can stand the idea that we are just taking up space on
the planet. Our souls yearn to believe that we were created for a purpose, and we want to know what that purpose is. We want to know what we are called to do with life.

(Craig Barnes, The Pastor as Minor Poet, p. 64)

• In what practical ways can we express gratitude to God for including
  us in his purposes? For some examples, see the following passages:
  • Matthew 28:18–20
  • Ephesians 2:10
  • 2 Corinthians 9:7, 12–13.
• Why should we be grateful for the church? What part does it play
  in fulfilling God’s purposes? Look at Ephesians 3:7–11.
• What is Jesus’ ultimate purpose? See John 12:27–28.
• Why can we be grateful to God, even when it seems that his
  purposes have been derailed? Look at following passages:
  • Acts 4:23–28
  • Daniel 4:34–35
  • Isaiah 46:9–10

Personal Application

• How does being grateful that God is working out his purposes affect
  our response in the following scenarios?
  (a) When we worry that our children will not become Christians.
  (b) When we fear for our job security.
  (c) When we see that, in politics and culture, Christians are
  increasingly being marginalized and sometimes even criminalized.
  (d) When we grieve for the loss of a loved one.
• In what ways is your gratitude bringing glory to God?

Prayer Time

Consider the gifts and responsibilities that God has given you, as well as
the context in which he has placed you. What specific part does God want
you to play in fulfilling his purposes? What opportunities do you have to
bring him glory? Pray through your answers and ask God to help you fulfil
his purposes, so that, like King David, you serve ‘God’s purpose in [your]
own generation’ (Acts 13:36).