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Road Trip Week 4: ETA

SERIES TITLE

Road Trip Week 4: ETA

SERIES OVERVIEW

Do you remember that EPIC road trip? It was the one with a great playlist, roadside diners, and unforgettable memories. When you’re on the road, you can expect twists and turns, flat tires, and empty gas tanks. If you’re going to make it to your final destination, you’re going to need a good GPS because life is full of unexpected turns and detours. We need someone reliable to guide us. 

SERMON TITLE

ETA

WEEKEND IN REVIEW

God’s will is much more about WHO we are becoming rather than what we do or where we go. Rather than focusing on “FINDING God’s will” our focus needs to be on FOLLOWING His voice. God longs for us to desire HIM more than just His answers for our lives. When we are not delighting ourselves in the Lord, it is very easy for us to deceive ourselves into believing our self-focused passions are in line with God’s will and as a result, we can end up far off course. This weekend’s message provided us with some wise filters to prevent us from confusing our self-focused passions with God’s plans and purposes.  

WARM UP

Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are a few potential questions to get the conversation going. 

  • One of the themes from this entire series is this quote from Mike Breaux: “God longs for us to desire HIM more than just His answers for our lives.”  Why do you think this is the case?  What could be wrong with wanting His answers to our questions?
           
  •  What does Psalm 37:4 (NIV) teach us about the prerequisite to God blessing us with the desires of our heart? 

  • What kinds of things could a person do that would be expressions of “Delighting oneself in the Lord?”  
DISCUSSion

Select 5-6 questions from the list below to guide your discussion time. 

  • What do you think it means to wait actively and live dependently? 
      1. Share an example of “waiting actively.”

         

      2. Share an example of “living dependently.” 
  • Write a paraphrase of this point in Mike Breaux’s message. “If you are pursuing His PERSON, then GO WISELY and pursue your PASSIONS.” (i.e., How would you put this in your own words?) 
  • What is the first and primary “filter” that we need to run our plans and passions through to see if they line up with God’s desires?    Psalm 119:105 MSG, Hebrews 4:12 (NCV)
Application
  • When you are trying to discern God’s voice and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, which of the following situations would you consider the 3 most serious red flags that should cause you to pause?  Which circumstance would be an immediate “No!” for you? Which would you continue to pray about? 
        1. Saying “yes” to a new role, location, or opportunity would result in lower pay and fewer benefits.  

        2. Multiple Christian friends don’t endorse what you believe is God’s will. 

        3. Rather than calling you to greater service and sacrifice, the action or direction you are proposing involves fame, popularity, promotion, or elevated status. 

        4. Family members are not at peace with your pursuit of this passion.  

        5. The new work/role/assignment is not a good fit for your spiritual gifts or natural abilities? 

        6. The new leadership you would be working for has a reputation for being “shady,” cutting corners, and sometimes lacking in integrity. 

        7. The opportunity is a good one, the compensation is good, and the responsibilities are a good fit, but you don’t feel God has “released” you from the call to be and contribute where you are. 
  •  Who in your life could be in your inner circle of people you could go to for wise, biblical, and godly advice to help you discern if your plans were in line with God’s will and purposes?  Identify 3 specific people: What could you do to deepen and strengthen these relationships? 
wrap up | prayer

Share prayer requests and spend time praying for each other.