Russian author Leo Tolstoy once wrote, “My question was the simplest of questions…. ‘What will come of my whole life? Why should I live, why wish for anything, or do anything?’” This question echoes in every human heart: What’s my purpose? Why am I here? While philosophers may debate the greatest question of life, believers in Jesus don’t have to wonder about their purpose. As we continue our “Who We Are” series, we discover the fourth dimension of the cross-shaped life: we haven’t just been born into this world; we’ve been sent into it. Just as Jesus wasn’t merely born but sent with divine purpose, we too are commissioned with the same mission: to seek and save the lost. When Jesus told His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21, NIV), He revealed our ultimate calling.

The great 19th century evangelist, Dwight L. Moody said, “The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves.” This is the essence of the cross-shaped life we're exploring in our “Who We Are” series. While our culture often measures success by what we accumulate or achieve, Jesus demonstrates a radically different measure of greatness. As He declares, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45, NIV). The One who deserved to be served came to serve us! Today, we discover that service isn’t just something we do; it’s central to who we are as Christ-followers. It’s not an optional add-on to the Christian life but an essential expression of a life transformed by the Gospel.

Are you who you’re supposed to be, and are you what you’re supposed to be? While “Christian” appears only three times in the entire Bible, “disciple” shows up 269 times. In the first century, being a disciple wasn’t just about learning information; it meant becoming an apprentice who followed someone, watched how they lived, and grew to become like them. In other words, there’s a profound difference between deciding to become a disciple and living as a disciple. Our mission at Cross Pointe is “pointing people to Jesus and inspiring them to live the cross-shaped life.” As Jesus clearly states three times in Luke 14, “You cannot be my disciple” unless you’re willing to meet certain requirements. It doesn’t cost anything to become a disciple. It will cost you everything to be a disciple. Let’s take a look at what that means.

Everyone worships something. Well-known novelist David Foster Wallace said, “Everyone worships. The only choice we get is what to worship.” Some worship money, fame, or success. Whatever controls your thoughts and behavior is what you worship. Jesus has a life-changing conversation about worship with an unlikely person—a Samaritan woman with a troubled past. In that encounter, Jesus makes a revolutionary declaration: “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:24, NIV). Most remarkably, Jesus reveals the one thing God actively seeks from us—our worship. As we begin our “Who We Are” series, we discover that worship isn’t just what we do; it’s who we are called to be as we point people to Jesus and inspire them to live the cross-shaped life.

One of the greatest aspects of the Bible is that it tells the stories of real faith of real people—both their successes and failures. Throughout "The God Life" series, we've studied Elijah, a man just like us, showing not just how to live but how to exit this life God's way. Now, Elijah knew exactly when his final day would come. And he’s not the only one who had this intel. His successor, Elisha, also knew. And Elijah sowed into the next generation until his final moment on earth.

For most of us, we don't know which day will be our last, but we all will eventually exit this life for the next one. As Dr. Adrian Rogers once told me after I completed my term as president of the Southern Baptist Convention, pointing to the exit door, "James, do you see the sign over that door? It says, 'Exit.' Well, that is exactly what you are right now—an 'Ex-It.'" One day, we'll all be an "ex-it," and we need to make sure we exit right. The greatest legacy you will leave is a life well lived.

In the aftermath of any tragedy, we face this reality: Evil is real and rampant. There is no place on this planet that is evil-free. As one author wrote, "I will never understand those who can read the headlines every day and then assert that people are basically good ... Evil is woven into the fabric of humanity." Throughout our study of Elijah, we've seen him facing or fleeing evil, but always returning to fight it, because that’s what it means to live the God life. And it’s not to be confused with the good life. While the good life might avoid evil, ignore it, or let others deal with it, those living the God life don't have that option.

Now, as we near the close of Elijah's story, we find him confronting Ahaziah, the son of Ahab and Jezebel. Though Elijah might have hoped for retirement after the deaths of Ahab and Jezebel, evil continued through their son. And one central truth emerges: When you look up to God, you'll stand out from the crowd and often be told to stand down. But when you stand with God, He gives you the power to stand tall and strong in Him.

When someone commits a crime, we want that person "brought to justice" because justice is a divine desire. While we often say "God is love," His most fundamental attribute is holiness. Because God is both holy and loving, He must also be just. In a world where money, bribes, and sometimes crooked judges allow criminals to go free, we're learning through Elijah's story that there is a God who is just, and justice will always be served. Even in Elijah’s time in history, when the people of God worshipped idols and ignored the prophets, God consistently reveals His Word and holds them to account.

As Dr. R.G. Lee famously preached in "Payday Someday," because God is just, justice is a must. From one of the most important chapters in the Bible, observe God’s justice in action in the life of King Ahab, learning to revere and expect this aspect of God’s character to be revealed to us and to the world.

There are three special days that give Christianity center stage around the world: Christmas Day points to a cradle, Good Friday points to a cross, and Easter points to a cave. Without Easter, the other two days would be meaningless.

Our world is filled with thousands of religions, but only four are built on personalities rather than philosophies. Judaism's Abraham, Buddhism's Buddha, and Islam's Mohammed all died and remain dead. But Jesus Christ did something no other religious leader has done; He rose from the dead.

Christianity traces its beginning to one single event—the resurrection. Mark 16:1–8 tells us about that first Easter morning, when grieving women discovered the news that would change human history: "He has risen! He is not here." That empty tomb gives us hope for our lives now and for eternity.