Podcast Summary

Podcast: Church of the Highlands – Sunday Messages – Audio
Episode: Made-For-This Ministry
Date: January 25, 2026
Speaker: Founding Pastor Chris Hodges ("PC")
Theme: Discovering and Living God’s Unique Purpose for Your Life

Episode Overview

This special Sunday message, delivered by founding pastor Chris Hodges (“PC”), centers on discovering and stepping into the unique, God-given purpose that every individual has. Reflecting on the church’s 25th anniversary, PC encourages listeners to move beyond mere spectatorship into active ministry—emphasizing that fulfillment, joy, and impact flow when believers live out their calling, both individually and together as the "Dream Team."

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrating 25 Years & the Dream Team Culture

• Highlands marks 25 years as a church, celebrating God’s faithfulness (see [00:01]).
• The “Dream Team” is celebrated as the backbone of the church’s ministry—ordinary people serving with joy (see [00:56]).

2. Series Context: Seek First

• The message concludes the “Seek First” series, rooted in Matthew 6:33:
  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
  • Purpose is best found when God is truly first. (see [01:49])

3. Finding Purpose Brings Fulfillment

• Life often feels out of place until we find our God-given assignment or “portion.”

• Fulfillment is not just provision or tangible blessing, but peace, joy, and meaning that endure hardships (see [04:00]).

• Quote:

  “He not only gives you those things—provision and blessing—but he also gives you things that you cannot see or touch or feel... your fulfillment, your peace, your joy.” – PC [03:23]

4. Psalm 16 Model: God Assigns Each a Portion

• PC unpacks Psalm 16:
  • Everyone receives a unique “portion” or assignment from God.
  • True satisfaction comes when we embrace our God-given “boundary lines.”
  • Each person’s assignment is distinct, non-transferable, and “pleasant” when discovered (see [06:04]).
  • Not coveting another’s portion leads to contentment.

5. The Path of Life at Highlands

• The path:

  1. Know God (relationship, not religion)
  2. Find Freedom (deal with issues—everyone has them)
  3. Discover Purpose (see what your life is for)
  4. Make a Difference (your purpose blesses others, too)

• Quote:

  “God has a very unique and specific purpose for your life. And it’s unlike the person you’re sitting next to right now.” – PC [12:29]

• Stat: 87% of Christians never discover or live out their purpose ([12:45]).

6. The Dream Team Origin Story

• The Dream Team began as the “Launch Team”—34 people dreaming together with a “blank page” ([18:46]).
• After a first exclusive celebration dinner, a church member challenged exclusivity, leading PC to open the Dream Team to everyone ([22:32]).
• 22,000+ people now serve on Dream Teams at Highlands, but the goal is all members involved.

7. Barriers to Serving and Purpose

• Why don’t more people step into ministry?

  1. Unaware of needs—“It looks like you have everything covered.”
  2. Tried it and didn’t like it; passions and callings change as faith develops
  3. Serving out of obligation, not desire (story of Sherry avoiding nursery duty because she didn’t like kids; PC insists on passion-matched serving) ([27:27]).
  4. The biggest: “You don’t see yourself as God does.”

• Quote:

  “We don’t have a ‘serve just because you’re here’… We want you to find the thing you actually get excited about doing.” – PC [28:37]

8. A Biblical Theology: Every Christian is a Minister

• Contrasts Old Testament (ministry of priests only) with New Testament (every believer called to ministry) ([31:15]).

• Highlights the “priesthood of all believers” (Martin Luther)—not only pastors are called ([35:39]).

• Every person in the body of Christ is both “unique” and “necessary.” The church is incomplete when one part does not function ([40:13]).

• No “A-list” or “B-list” Christians; each role is vital.

• Quote:

  “You’re not one in a million. You’re one of a kind. There’s not this A-list, B-list type of Christian. No, no, no. God’s called all of us to make a difference in this world.” – PC [42:10]

9. Stepping into Your “Made for This” Moment

• The deep fulfillment and joy comes from realizing, “I was made for this.”

• God uses imperfect people; development often happens as you serve, not before ([47:00]).

• Key Verse:
  Psalm 139 – “You knit me together in my mother’s womb... all the days ordained for me were written in your book.” ([48:33])

• New Testament Echo:
  John 15 – “It is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit… I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” ([50:31])

• Quote:

  “I want you to go bear fruit… and it actually proves you’re a real disciple when you’re a Christian who bears fruit… This is what’s missing for a lot of you. You don’t have any joy, and it certainly isn’t complete.” – PC [51:10]

10. Invitation & Practical Steps

• PC lays out four levels of engagement (adapted from Rick Warren):
  1. Crowd – “Come see.” No pressure, just visit.
  2. Congregation – “Come belong.” Accept Christ, join the family (membership).
  3. Committed – “Come grow.” Join small groups for discipleship and life change.
  4. Core (Dream Team) – “Come be who you were created to be.”
• Invitation: Start Growth Track next Sunday and join the Dream Team.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• “God has an assignment for you, a portion. There’s something for you to have, and some of you haven’t discovered it … Studies say that more than 87% of Christians in America live and die and never discover it.”
  – PC ([12:29]-[12:47])

• “We don’t have a ‘serve just because you’re here’… We want you to find the thing you actually get excited about doing.”
  – PC ([28:37])

• “From the beginning of this church 25 years ago, I kept preaching this message that God wants to use every single one of us, that the best ideas of this church wouldn’t come from me. They’re inside of you.”
  – PC ([36:49])

• “You’re not one in a million. You’re one of a kind. … The devil will tell you, ‘Oh, you’re just one in a million people.’ And you’re not one in a million. You’re one of a kind.”
  – PC ([42:10])

• “Every one of you has a place where you’ll say, ‘I was made for this.’ … There’s nothing like it. When you found it, stepped into it ... I want this for you so badly.”
  – PC ([46:12])

• “I've told you this so that … my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. … This is what’s missing for a lot of you. You don’t have any joy, and it certainly isn’t complete.”
  – PC ([51:10])

Important Timestamps

• [00:01] – Host welcomes church, introduces the Dream Team, and Founding Pastor “PC”
• [01:49] – PC greets campuses, introduces the “Seek First” series and purpose theme
• [06:04] – Explanation of everyone’s unique “portion” (Psalm 16)
• [12:29] – The assignment: finding and living your unique purpose
• [18:46] – Origin story of the Highlands Dream Team
• [27:27] – Why some don’t serve; Sherry’s story and serving by passion
• [31:15] – Moving from Old Testament priesthood to New Testament “everyone’s a minister”
• [35:39] – The “priesthood of all believers” and church history context
• [42:10] – Dispel myth of spiritual hierarchy—every gift matters
• [46:12] – Made-for-this moment—living in God’s purpose brings joy
• [51:10] – Joy is found in bearing fruit, not just in attendance
• [53:50] – Four levels of engagement and Growth Track invitation
• [55:30] – Closing prayer and call to commit to Christ

Takeaways for Listeners

• Every Christian has a unique, God-ordained purpose that brings fulfillment, joy, and eternal impact.
• Ministry is not reserved for a select few; everyone is invited and needed.
• Serving in line with your passions and gifts (not obligation) is both the most effective and most satisfying.
• If you haven’t discovered or stepped into your purpose, your next best step is to join the Growth Track and the Dream Team at Highlands—or find a similar path in your community.

This episode invites everyone—no matter background or previous experience—to take a step toward living the life they were truly made for, both in service to others and in fellowship with God.