PURPOSE & CALLING

By Stephan Musembi
AIU-CU Chairman.

Sermon Outline:
I. Cultural Obsession with “Purpose”.
II. Problem: Purpose widely used but poorly defined.
III. Definition of purpose.
IV. Purpose modelled by Jesus and the Chief end of Man.

Purpose!

We’ve all heard the word before. In catchy slogans like:

• Walking in Purpose
• Living in purpose.
• Purpose driven life.
• Purpose is gravity for the soul.
We heard it in famous quotes by famous people like:

• Vince Lombardi, football player and coach – Success demands singleness of purpose.
• Catherine Pulsifer – we all have a purpose in life, and when you find yours, you’ll know
it.
• Edric Prim – Our lives matter. No matter what people tell you otherwise. God created
everything for a purpose. – Check your pulse and see if your dream is still beating.

The late Dr. Myles Munroe said that purpose is the core reason for existence, finding it is life’s
greatest pursuit, and without it, life lacks meaning, leading to wasted potential. The tragedy isn’t
death but a life without a purpose. Purpose makes life possible and not necessarily easy.

A cultural obsession?
Clearly culture has been obsessed with Purpose for the longest time. It been the thing handed down
through oral tradition, a burden passed from fathers to sons, from mothers to daughters, from
generation to generation. It’s been embedded in company mission statements and vision boards.
It’s been tied to professions and jobs. It’s been the motivation behind movements, and the axis
point of revolutions. From being divinely inspired to be discovered in premodern era, to its being
self-inspired to be invented in the enlightment era. It later would be defined by jobs in the industry
era, the thing one does, to what it presently is today, inspired by human emotions.
So, what precisely is purpose?
Philosophically – Purpose is the end (telos) toward which a being or action is directed. Aristotle
highlighted on the fact that nothing is fully understood until its final cause is known – that for the
sake of which it exists.

However, in modern Philosophy the idea fractured, and existentialists relocated purpose from
objective reality into subjective reality. Purpose becomes something one creates rather than
something one discovered.

Anthropologically – Purpose is defined as the organizing narrative that gives coherence to

human identity, behavior and destiny. It answers the question: “who am I in the story I belong
to?”

In Organizational Theory – Purpose is the clearly articulated reason for existence that aligns
people, decisions, and resources toward a shared outcome. Mission statements, Vison casting,
and core values exist because people do not give sustained efforts to tasks, they do not
understand or believe in.

Purpose - is a consciously apprehended end that organizes meaning, directs action, and justifies
sustained commitment.

Purpose is “A consciously apprehended end…

meaning it requires awareness; you must perceive an end and recognize it as worth aiming at.
Understanding where the trajectory of your life is headed towards. Aristotle would call this ‘Telos’
– “That for the sake of which”.

Jesus had a conscious apprehension of his purpose; of why he came to earth.

21
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many
things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
Matthew 16:21.

Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be
that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem Luke 13:33

He uses the Modal Verb “Must” because He had conviction concerning His purpose.

• Luke 19:10 “For the son of man came to seek and save the lost” – Salvation as a pursuit of
the sinner. God is actively involved in Salvation.
• Mark 10:45 “For even the son of man came not be served but to serve, and to give his life
ransom for many”.
• Luke 5:32, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
Jesus understood his purpose (The reason for which he came) intimately. And in John 3:17, he
points us to understand, Purpose originates from God. “For God did not send his son into the world
to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him”

Paul had a clear understanding of this fact. He knew for what purpose he was created and what He
was called to. He says this very well in:

Galatians 1:15-16 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me
by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the
Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.

Paul introduces two critical things in understanding purpose:

1. “Set Apart”.

He introduces the concept of “Holiness – Being set apart for God special intention”. He makes
it clear that He was set apart by God before he was born. So, he was not just stumbling into
life hoping to ne made useful or relevant for a course. God had already predetermined his
purpose on earth and more importantly in the kingdom of God which is generational and
eternal. Supersedes time and space. This means our actions in God can have a cosmic effect
that cascades through generations. That is why we cannot afford to carry ourselves lightly. We
can be nonchalant with our actions and words. I am guilty of that.

2. “Called me by His grace”

He introduces the subject of calling. The root word for call here is the word Kletos stemming
from the verb Kaleo (to call), which also happens to be the same root work that is used in Matt
16:18 for ekklesia (‘ek’ meaning “out of” and Kaleo meaning to “call”). He is not referring to
a simple invitation to come, but a divine appointment for a specific purpose. It is receiving
authority from God to operate in a specific area. So, it answers the question of “How”.

If purpose answers the question of “Why” then Calling answers the question of “How”.

• Purpose: So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1
Corinthians 10:31.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who
are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to
be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many
brothers. Romans 8:28-29.
• Calling: who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because
of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began 2
Timothy 1:9
Purpose “Organizes meaning”
When you are cognizant of your purpose in God, then it becomes the hermeneutical lens through
which you look at life. You begin to interpret your life through that purpose.

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall
never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a
hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of
man.” Matthew 16:22-23.

Notice that Peter pulled him to the side to rebuke. More often than not, the destructive voice of the
enemy in our lives comes in the most intimate ways. They come with in subtle ways and private
ways. “The serpent slithering in the garden to whisper to Eve. Tempting Jesus in isolation in the
wilderness”. In all these occasions the enemy came not in a loud display of his opposition, but in
subtle beguilement. The voices of loved one, fathers or mothers, lovers, BFFs, esteemed leaders
and even men of God. He understands that convictions are intimate and so he intimately infiltrates
them to sway and derail you.

Jesus’ response was layered with a courageous and faithful defense of his convictions. He
understood and believed in the purpose that God had called him for. He called peter a “hindrance”
because he had set mind on the things of man, other than God. 5 For those who live according to
the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set
their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5. If we are not vigilant, our flesh will become
a hindrance to our calling. Our purpose cannot be focused on the gratification of your flesh. We
must maintain a resolve to fight our flesh and bring into submission. 27 But I discipline my body
and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become
disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27.

Our lives must be interpreted in light of the end (Purpose) God has for us.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and
He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be
their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,
“Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I
will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall
inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part
in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:3-8
Purpose “Directs action”
Purpose not only explains life, it demands behavior. It will shape decisions, priorities, sacrifices,
and risk. Purpose moves the will.
1
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a
high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the
sun, and his clothes became white as light. Matthew 17:1-2
What drives Jesus as he rebukes Peter, was the same thing that drove him to take the same Peter
to the mountain. Let me talk to a generation that takes offense so easily. Rather than receive open
rebuke, we get offended by every bit of criticism. We make God’s mission for our lives so person
we become the very barrier to its execution. Ananias was feeling some type of way about Saul
before he Paul.
3
Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he
has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind
all who call on Your name.”

Acts 9:13-14

But he understood that the mission was greater than his personal feelings.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before
Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer
for My name’s sake.”
17
And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that
you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 9:15-17
In a 2025 survey, it was discovered that a staggering 97% of Gen Z reported feeling mentally
overwhelmed. While social media offers space for emotional expression and community, it also
acts as a paradox that often fails to provide real support. While others have fallen into a
performance culture where we conjure emotions that fit into our situations. Others have gone into
emotional minimalism, choosing not to share their feelings, which is in itself an emotional
decision motivated by emotional scarring. We need “Authentic” in our lives. Something that will
withstand the test of time. Something that will last. We need “Real”, and it doesn’t get any realer
than Jesus.

Our actions cannot be motivated by our feelings because our feelings can fail us and are vulnerable
to manipulation, damage and corruption, especially if they are not filtered through our God given
purposes. Like Jesus as he fell in tears and dread before his final hours, sweating blood and feeling
that the cup was too painful to bare, surrender to the will of God and so equally, God is calling us
to do the same. We must believe in the purpose of He has called us and surrender with courage and
conviction.

Purpose “Justifies sustained commitment”.

And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision,
until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” 10 And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the
scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore
all things. 12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did
to him whatever they pleased. So also, the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” 13
Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Matthew 17:9-13
True purpose will explain why someone continues when reward is delayed, when cost is high, and
when alternatives exist. This is why people will suffer for purpose but rarely suffer for comfort.
Pleasure justifies repetition. Duty justifies obedience. Purpose justifies endurance.

This is why Jesus kept going despite the horror of the cross. This is why Paul continued to preach
despite enduring so much.
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater
labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I
received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods.
Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on
frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people,
danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from
false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often
without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on
me of my anxiety for all the churches

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

THE CHIEF END OF MAN.

Purpose will keep you consistent in obedience. More than your blind service, God want you to
understand the hope to which you have been called. The purpose of your existence is to know Him
and delight in His existence. The chief end of man is as is stated in the Westminster Catechism of
1647 is “to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever”.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour
has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you
John 17:1
Your life’s purpose is to glorify God, but a Holy God cannot be glorified by an unholy people;
actually, He makes this command of us, be holy as I am holy. A true revelation or encounter of
Him is not complete without the realization of our utter sinfulness in the light of His glory. That is
why the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross is so important. Through His sacrifice and the
shedding of His blood we, an unholy people, can become holy and can therefore live for the glory
of the Holy God. But it begins with believing in Him.

if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9.

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of
God, John 1:12

Will you receive Him tonight?!