Here are the notes and study guide from Sunday's sermon.
Objective: To stop trying to control our future and experience the peace that comes from trusting God.
1. Achieving greatness always requires that we leave
The life of faith is a life of leaving. God is always trying to get us to leave where we are to take us to where He wants us to be.
If God has an incredible future for His honor and for His glory, why don’t people leave where they are?
A. We live by faith and not by sight.
For we live by believing and not by seeing. -2 Corinthians 5:7
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. –Hebrews 11:8
B. People have a fear of failure.
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” -Genesis 3:1
C. People don’t trust God with their future.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. –Matthew 6:25-34
2. When God says leave, He always gives, gives you a promise.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. -Genesis 12:1-4
We don’t leave for two reasons.
A. We are not aware of the promises of God
B. We have forgot the promises of God
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28
Objective: To stop trying to control our future and experience the peace that comes from trusting God.
1. Achieving greatness always requires that we leave
The life of faith is a life of leaving. God is always trying to get us to leave where we are to take us to where He wants us to be.
If God has an incredible future for His honor and for His glory, why don’t people leave where they are?
A. We live by faith and not by sight.
For we live by believing and not by seeing. -2 Corinthians 5:7
It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. –Hebrews 11:8
B. People have a fear of failure.
The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” -Genesis 3:1
C. People don’t trust God with their future.
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. –Matthew 6:25-34
2. When God says leave, He always gives, gives you a promise.
The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. -Genesis 12:1-4
We don’t leave for two reasons.
A. We are not aware of the promises of God
B. We have forgot the promises of God
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28
Questions and Reflections for individual and group study
Reflect:
What do the people around you seem to worry about the most concerning
their future?
How have you seen others try to control their future?
Describe a time when things felt out of control and God met your needs.
How does God meeting your needs in the past affect your view of the
future?
Describe issue(s) you are facing where Jesus is saying, “Don’t be afraid.
Just trust me.”
Pray:
Ask God to take control of any area where you are worried about the future. Ask Him to replace your worry with His peace.
Apply:
1. What is one fear that you can ask the Lord to help you face this week?
2. With what concrete action can you show your faith in the Lord this week?
What do the people around you seem to worry about the most concerning
their future?
How have you seen others try to control their future?
Describe a time when things felt out of control and God met your needs.
How does God meeting your needs in the past affect your view of the
future?
Describe issue(s) you are facing where Jesus is saying, “Don’t be afraid.
Just trust me.”
Pray:
Ask God to take control of any area where you are worried about the future. Ask Him to replace your worry with His peace.
Apply:
1. What is one fear that you can ask the Lord to help you face this week?
2. With what concrete action can you show your faith in the Lord this week?
No comments:
Post a Comment