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Oftentimes it is hard to discern the difference between God’s plan and mine. To seek the Lord’s leading takes some diligent effort.
Main Points or Ideas:
2 Samuel 2:1-3:1 — the story of two men, one who sought out what the Lord wanted and the other who followed his own agenda
When we seek the Lords leading…
We ask for His direction (vs. 1).
Scripture
Jeremiah 33:3
James 4
1 John 5
Isaiah 55
2 Chronicles 7
The only way to determine where God wants you is to seek His leading.
We wait for His perfect timing (vs. 1).
We can make plans but we have to depend on God’s perfect will.
Do you make plans now?
If we wait on the Lord, He will renew our strength.
If you press ahead or His timing you might miss his direction.
We desire His exact placement (vs. 1).
We obey His specific instructions (vs. 2-3).
God says “go” and David gets up and follows in obedience.
It’s not about your plans and desires, it’s about God’s plans and desires.
If God is leading, we have no right to wait, we need to go.
We submit to His prescribed process (vs. 4).
He takes what God has given Him in that moment.
He patiently waits for God.
Sometimes we get in the mistaken mindset of needing to “help” God move along with the process.
We acknowledge His faithful servants (vs. 4-7).
That’s what happens when we listen to the Lord’s leading.
When we pursue our own plans…
We ignore the Lord’s authority (vs. 8-11).
You never see Abner asking or seeking the Lord for anything.
“What am I going to do about this?” “What is my solution to this situation?”
The first response must always be asking what the Lord would have you to do, rather than just doing it yourself.
We push our own agenda (vs. 8-9).
Scripture
1 Corinthians 10
Philippians 2
When we push our own agenda, we are not seeking the Lord’s plan in our life.
We set our own parameters (vs. 9).
Rather than aligning my own plan with His, I set my own parameters.
Then I hope that He’ll accept mine and go along with my plan.
We settle for second best (vs. 10-11).
We create destructive conflicts (vs. 12-32).
When you want what you want when you want it, the whole thing is bound to fall apart.
These conflicts come when we ignore God’s leading in our lives.
We seal our own fate (3:1).
Ultimately our plans will fail, because we are limited.
We cannot see God’s ultimate plan.
Which of these plans defines your life? Are you following after God or are you pushing your own agenda?
Conclusion:
Which of these plans defines your life? Are you following after God or are you pushing your own agenda?
Oftentimes it is hard to discern the difference between God’s plan and mine. To seek the Lord’s leading takes some diligent effort.
Scripture Text(s)
Main Text: 2 Samuel 2:1-3:1
Supplemental Texts: Jeremiah 33:3; James 4; 1 John 5; Isaiah 55; 2 Chronicles 7; 1 Corinthians 10; Philippians 2
Main Points or Ideas
2 Samuel 2:1-3:1 — the story of two men, one who sought out what the Lord wanted and the other who followed his own agenda
When we seek the Lords leading…
We ask for His direction (vs. 1).
We wait for His perfect timing (vs. 1).
We desire His exact placement (vs. 1).
We obey His specific instructions (vs. 2-3).
We submit to His prescribed process (vs. 4).
We acknowledge His faithful servants (vs. 4-7).
That’s what happens when we listen to the Lord’s leading.
When we pursue our own plans…
We ignore the Lord’s authority (vs. 8-11).
We push our own agenda (vs. 8-9).
We set our own parameters (vs. 9).
We settle for second best (vs. 10-11).
We create destructive conflicts (vs. 12-32).
We seal our own fate (3:1).
Conclusion
Which of these plans defines your life? Are you following after God or are you pushing your own agenda?
Thanksgiving acknowledges what God has done and is something that is very costly.
Scripture Texts
Psalm 100; Ephesians 2:15; Hebrews 7 and 10:8-11; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Revelation 5
Main Points or Ideas
The first time “thanksgiving” was used is in Leviticus 7. It means “to acknowledge what God has done.” Showing thanks to God was something very costly to them.
This passage calls them to acknowledge what God has done and acknowledge His goodness.
The Lord remains faithful. The Lord remains good.
Examples:
The time of the judges
The time of the kings
The exodus from Egypt
Ephesians 2:15
Those who had been originally far off, are now allowed to enter His presence through the salvation given to us through Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 7 and 10:8-11
Under the law only the priest could enter the holy place, but now through Jesus we can enter with confidence we can enter into the holy place.
Because God is faithful, we can draw near to God and enter His presence with thanksgiving.
When we now identify with Christ, we also identify with His suffering and being rejected by the world.
1 Peter 2:9-10
We are a chosen race for God’s own possession.
The reason God did this is so that you can proclaim His excellence.
We can joyfully shout His excellence.
Revelation 5
We were once strangers but God has now made us His own people.
Now is the time for us to show our thanks to God by giving Him something that matters and costs.
Our comforts and careers
The fruits of our labor
We can make these sacrifices with confidence because God is faithful.
Conclusion
Pastors have responsibility for their children.
Scripture Texts
Titus 1:5-9; Ezekiel 18, Acts 20:28-29; Proverbs 22:24; 25:28; Romans 14:21
Main Points or Ideas
Conclusion
Build these character qualities in your life. Be committed to being blameless. If God blesses you with children, be engaged parents.
In this sermon, Pastor Jason Blunk shares powerful insights from Romans 8, offering believers reassurance of God’s enduring presence and love, even through suffering and trials. He highlights the purpose God has in allowing hardship, using it to mold believers into the likeness of Christ. Pastor Blunk encourages listeners to stay anchored in faith, grounded in the truth that God’s love is unwavering and that ultimate victory is secure in Christ.
Scripture Passage
Romans 8
Main Points or Ideas
Conclusion
Pastor Blunk closes by urging believers to remain steadfast in the truth of God’s Word, trusting in His love and sovereignty even in difficult times. He encourages the audience to rely on their faith as an anchor and reminds them that God’s love and purpose are constants, providing strength and hope amid life’s trials.
Description
Pastor Jason Reynolds emphasizes the transformative power of the gospel, highlighting that salvation isn't about becoming a better person but being made completely new through Christ.
He stresses the importance of truly loving the gospel and how it compels believers to share it with others. He also shares examples of how his church experienced renewal by embracing the gospel, encouraging students to pursue the same passionate commitment.
Scripture Passage
Ephesians 2:1-10
Main Points or Ideas
Spiritual Death and Life in Christ
Total Transformation
God’s Grace in the Future
Living Out the Gospel
A Call to Action
Conclusion
Pastor Jason encourages listeners to grasp the depth of God's love and the purpose of the gospel, challenging them to let the gospel influence their lives, studies, and future ministries. He concludes with an invitation to embrace the gospel fully, to love it deeply, and to carry its message unwaveringly.
Joe Baldwin dives into Ephesians 6 and the essential spiritual armor Christians must wear to stand strong against the enemy. Using personal experiences and boxing metaphors, he highlights the importance of truth, righteousness, faith, and the Word of God in daily spiritual battles. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their walk with Christ, make right choices, and equip themselves with the gospel to protect their hearts and minds.
Main Points or Ideas
Dr. Dennis Wilkening emphasizes the importance of making God-honoring decisions. Drawing lessons from the life of Saul, he discusses the pitfalls of acting without prayer, the need for spiritual integrity, and how to evaluate decisions in light of faith and obedience.
Main Points or Ideas
Dr. Alan Cole delivered a message on the importance of diligence, contrasting laziness with skillful, dedicated work for God. Using the metaphor of a neglected field in Proverbs 24, he emphasized the need for hard work and commitment in all we do, especially as Christians preparing to serve in ministry or other fields. Dr. Cole challenged listeners to develop "skilled hands" and a "pure heart" to bring glory to God and avoid the trap of laziness.
Scripture Passages
Proverbs 24:30-34, Proverbs 22:29
Main Points or Ideas
Conclusion
Dr. Cole concluded with an encouragement to pursue excellence and hard work in all aspects of life, seeing these as acts of worship and service to God. He prayed for strength and commitment for his audience to uphold these values, aiming to glorify God with their efforts.
Pastor Tim Capon presents a powerful message from Romans 12:1, urging believers to offer themselves fully to God as a living sacrifice. He emphasizes that surrendering to God isn’t just a one-time act but a continual decision to live out our faith in daily life. Pastor Capon reflects on the mercies of God and how they compel us to devote our lives to His service, sharing personal anecdotes of transformation through discipleship and obedience.
Scripture Passage
Romans 12:1
Main Points or Ideas
Settling Our Relationship with God
Setting Our Rudder in Surrender
The Mercies of God as Motivation
Total Surrender as True Worship
Conclusion
Pastor Capon calls for a life fully yielded to God, urging believers to commit all they are and have to God as a reasonable response to His mercy. Through personal surrender and allowing God’s transformative work, believers can fulfill His will and experience the joy and fulfillment of living a life of obedience and purpose.
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