Bible Verse: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.” – Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)
Welcome Notes
Welcome, everyone! Today we’re tackling a question that every Christian grapples with: How can we know God’s will for our lives? It’s not always easy to distinguish between God’s voice and our own desires or the well-meaning advice of others. Let’s open with prayer, asking God for wisdom and clarity.
Opening Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for this opportunity to gather together and study Your Word. We ask for Your presence to be with us now, guiding our hearts and minds as we seek to understand Your will for our lives. Help us to be open and teachable, willing to listen and obey. Give us wisdom to discern Your voice amidst the noise and confusion of the world. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Wins for the Week
- Please share a time this week when you felt God’s leading or experienced His peace in a decision.
Talking Points
The Deceitful Heart: Our hearts can be misleading, often leading us toward what we want rather than what God desires for us. (Jeremiah 17:9-10, 2 Timothy 4:3)
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” – Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” – 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT)
Conflicting Messages: Even Spirit-filled believers can misinterpret God’s will, especially when emotions are involved. Paul experienced this when others, also led by the Spirit, advised him against going to Jerusalem. (Acts 20:22-23, Acts 21:4)
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. – Acts 20:22-23 (NLT)
“When we arrived, we found some believers there and stayed with them a week. They kept telling Paul through the Spirit not to go on to Jerusalem.” – Acts 21:4 (NLT)
Clarity Through Commitment: Consistent devotion and a daily practice of listening to God are essential for discerning His will.
The Difficult Path: God’s will doesn’t always align with our comfort. Sometimes, the path of obedience involves hardship and sacrifice. (Acts 9:15-16)
“But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’” – Acts 9:15-16 (NLT)
Surrender and Trust: Ultimately, discerning God’s will requires deep commitment, a willingness to embrace challenges, and a pattern of obedience. (Acts 21:14)
“When he would not be dissuaded, we finally gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.”” – Acts 21:14 (NLT)
Discussion Questions
Jeremiah 17:9-10 & 2 Timothy 4:3 – The Deceitful Heart: How have you experienced the deceitfulness of your own heart in trying to discern God’s will? How can we safeguard against this?
Acts 20:22-23 & Acts 21:4 – Conflicting Messages: Paul received conflicting messages from other believers. How should we handle situations where wise, faithful people give us different advice about God’s will?
Clarity Through Commitment: How can we cultivate a daily habit of listening to God? What are some practical ways to deepen our commitment to Him?
The Difficult Path: In what areas of life are you tempted to take the easy road instead of trusting God’s potentially harder path? How can we prepare ourselves to embrace challenges as part of God’s will?
Acts 9:15-16 – Suffering and God’s Will: This verse says that Paul would suffer for Christ. How does this challenge our understanding of God’s will? How can we reconcile suffering with God’s goodness and plan for our lives?
Acts 21:14 – Surrender and Trust: “When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, ‘The Lord’s will be done.’” What does this verse teach us about surrendering to God’s will, even when we don’t fully understand it?
Practical Steps: What are some practical ways we can test whether something is truly God’s will? How can we involve trusted believers in the discernment process without simply seeking confirmation of our own desires?
Conclusion
- Summary: Discerning God’s will is an ongoing process that requires humility, commitment, and a willingness to embrace challenges. It’s not always easy, and we may encounter conflicting advice or difficult paths. However, by cultivating a deep relationship with God and seeking His guidance through prayer, Scripture, and wise counsel, we can learn to recognize His voice and follow His leading with confidence.
- Life Application Tips:
- Spend daily time in prayer and Scripture.
- Surround yourself with mature believers who can offer wise counsel.
- Be willing to embrace challenges and discomfort as part of God’s plan.
- Trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, even when things are difficult.
Closing Prayer
(A brief prayer for continued guidance, strength, and trust in following God’s will.)
Additional Notes
- For Members: * Reflect on the areas in your life where you need to surrender more fully to God’s will.
- Consider how you can cultivate a deeper commitment to listening to God’s voice.
- Pray for wisdom and discernment in your own decision-making.
- For Leader: * Encourage the group to share personal experiences and struggles with discerning God’s will.
- Facilitate a safe and open environment for discussion.
- Emphasize the importance of prayer and seeking God’s guidance in all things.
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