God's Will | First Word, Last Word, God's Word: God’s Will - Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else - Part 1

Springcreek Church - Garland, TX Podcast

FIRST WORD, LAST WORD, GOD’S WORD
God’s Will: Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else - Part 1
Springcreek Church | Senior Pastor Keith Stewart
November 20, 2022
God’s will is easy to understand. There is no clearer articulation of the will of God than the one God has left us in His word. So before we can begin to explore how God might be leading us, we must begin with what we know.
SERIES: God’s Will: Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else
Our lives are shaped by hundreds of decisions we make each and every day. For the most part, God and what He desires barely even enters into our daily decision-making process. But on occasion, when the implications of a decision are huge, we wonder, “What would God have me do? If there’s a master plan, am I following it?” We need a discernment process for the will of God.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1.) Although we would like to see the grand plan for our lives, God usually guides us one step at a time. The light He gives us is enough to illuminate the path immediately in front of us – for the next step. Why do you think God does it this way? Has this ever happened to you? Describe what that was like and what was the result.
2.) With God, who we are always takes priority over what we do. This means, regardless of our circumstances, the drudgery of our job, the joylessness of our marriage, the discontent we have with where we live, what God is most concerned with is the person we’re becoming. This is why the emphasis of Scripture is about the will of God as expressed for all believers, that we are to love our neighbors as ourselves, seek justice, practice gentleness, love our enemies, care for the poor, and let our light shine. This is the will of God that applies to us all. Take some time as a group to share your experiences with the revealed will of God in the Bible. How does knowing and living His revealed help you with matters where you are uncertain as to what God might have you do?
3.) Obedience to God’s known will is tied to loving God. Jesus Himself asks, how can you call me Lord, Lord (a term of endearment and loving connection) and yet not do what He asked them to do? How is this understanding different from what you might have experienced or heard other Christians say? Why are those who tie obedience to a sense of duty or willpower mistaken?
4.) Pastor Keith said, “Maybe the will of God is about who I am and how I live regardless of whom I marry, what I do for a living, or where I happen to call home. And maybe if our emphasis was on being the sort of person who lives God’s will regardless of my circumstances, then maybe we wouldn’t have so many miserable people who think because life is hard, life is difficult, then I must have missed the will of God and married the wrong person or chose the wrong profession or went to the wrong city.” Take some time to unpack this as a group. Explain your thoughts and experiences to the group in regard to this. How often have you seen people scapegoat onto having missed the will of God simply because their marriage, job, or place where they live is not working well or is very unfulfilling?
5.) God knew all our problems before He made the plan. So many people give up hope because they feel they are past being used by God because of some choice they made along the way (as if God didn’t know that would happen). So because He knew it, He’s already worked it into the plan. You’re still on plan “A” and you don’t have to settle for a life of mediocrity or being sidelined for the rest of your life. What will you let God do in your life today? What’s your next right step? Of all the things God has declared in His word as His will, where is He growing you right now?
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