Listening for God's Direction: A Call to Action

 

Summary

In today's message, I explored the profound responsibility we have as followers of Christ to listen for God's direction and discern His voice amidst the many voices that clamor for our attention. I emphasized that our listening should not be for our own benefit, for any institution, or for self-gratification, but rather, it should be attuned to God's will and purpose for our lives and our community.

I drew from the example of Moses, who prepared the people for the coming of a prophet greater than himself—Jesus. Moses' role was not only to lead but also to create space for the one who was to come. This is a model for us as seasoned leaders in the faith; we are to use our authority not to control but to make room for others, to nurture growth, and to anticipate the future work of God within the body of Christ.

I also discussed the importance of applying the wisdom of Scripture to our lives, which involves actively seeking God's guidance through prayer and thanksgiving. This active participation with God and His people is essential for navigating the complexities of life. Our purpose as a church is not to be a social club but to respond to the needs of the world, to build one another up in love and faith, and to be a beacon of hope in our communities.

I shared a personal story from our outreach hub, the Beacon Center, where we were able to provide immediate help to a family in crisis. This story illustrated the power of God to answer prayers and the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community.

Finally, I reminded us that as Methodists, we are on a journey to perfection, seeking more of God in our lives each day. We are called to listen for God's direction and to be serious about the responsibilities that come with our calling, as the consequences of not following God's will are dire.

Key Takeaways:

- Listening for God's direction requires discernment to distinguish between distractions and divine guidance. It is through prayer, experience, and Scripture that we can align ourselves with God's will, ensuring that our actions and decisions are rooted in a deep understanding of His purpose for us and our community. [37:07]

- Leadership within the church is not about wielding control but about creating space for others to grow and contribute. Seasoned leaders should mentor and empower the next generation, ensuring that the church remains dynamic and responsive to the movement of the Holy Spirit. [38:43]

- Our engagement with the world should not be passive. We are called to actively discern God's will in the face of life's complexities and to respond with action that embodies the love and justice of Christ. This is the essence of our purpose as a church—to be agents of transformation in the world. [39:27]

- The story of Moses preparing the way for Jesus teaches us about the importance of legacy and preparation. As believers, we have a responsibility to pave the way for future generations, helping them to recognize and embrace the work of God in their own lives. [31:06]

- Our faith is not just for personal edification but is meant to be shared and demonstrated through service. The story of providing shelter for a family in need exemplifies how our faith in action can make tangible differences in people's lives, reflecting the love and provision of God. [11:51]

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Deuteronomy 18:15-20: "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: 'If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.' Then the Lord replied to me: 'They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.'"

#### Observation Questions
1. What was Moses' role in preparing the people for the coming of a prophet greater than himself? ([31:06])
2. According to the sermon, what are the key elements involved in discerning God's direction? ([37:07])
3. How did the pastor illustrate the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus in the community? ([11:51])
4. What does the passage in Deuteronomy 18:15-20 say about the consequences of not heeding the words of the prophet?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does Moses' preparation for Jesus serve as a model for leadership within the church today? ([31:06])
2. What does it mean to actively seek God's guidance through prayer and thanksgiving, and how does this help in navigating life's complexities? ([37:07])
3. In what ways can seasoned leaders in the church create space for others to grow and contribute, according to the sermon? ([38:43])
4. How does the story of providing shelter for a family in need exemplify the church's role in responding to the needs of the world? ([11:51])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to discern God's direction amidst many distractions. What steps did you take to ensure you were listening to God's voice? ([37:07])
2. How can you, as a seasoned leader or member of the church, mentor and empower the next generation to ensure the church remains dynamic and responsive to the Holy Spirit? ([38:43])
3. Think about a complex situation you are currently facing. How can you actively seek God's guidance through prayer and thanksgiving to navigate this situation? ([37:07])
4. In what ways can you and your small group be more proactive in responding to the needs of your community, embodying the love and justice of Christ? ([39:27])
5. How can you help pave the way for future generations to recognize and embrace the work of God in their lives, similar to how Moses prepared the way for Jesus? ([31:06])
6. Identify a specific need in your community that your small group can address. What steps can you take this week to be the hands and feet of Jesus in that situation? ([11:51])
7. Reflect on the concept of being on a journey to perfection as Methodists. What is one area in your life where you can seek more of God this week, and how will you go about it? ([32:30])

Devotional

Day 1: Discerning Divine Direction
Discernment is a critical aspect of a believer's life, requiring one to sift through the myriad of voices and distractions to hear the voice of God. It is not a passive activity but an active pursuit, where prayer, experience, and Scripture guide one towards aligning with God's will. This alignment ensures that decisions and actions are not merely based on personal desires or societal pressures but are rooted in a profound understanding of God's purpose for both the individual and the community. The process of discernment is not about seeking personal benefit but about seeking to fulfill God's plan and to serve others in love and faithfulness. [37:07]

"Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long." - Psalm 25:4-5

Reflection: How can you incorporate a daily practice of discernment to better recognize God's guidance in your life?

Day 2: Empowering Leadership
True leadership within the church is characterized by the ability to create space for others to grow and contribute. It is not about maintaining control but about mentoring and empowering the next generation. This approach ensures that the church remains dynamic and responsive to the Holy Spirit's movement. Leaders are called to nurture growth and anticipate the future work of God within the body of Christ, much like Moses who prepared the way for Jesus, setting an example for how to pave the way for future generations. [38:43]

"And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also." - 2 Timothy 2:2

Reflection: In what ways can you create opportunities for others to step into their calling and serve within your community?

Day 3: Active Faith in a Complex World
The call to follow Christ is a call to action, not passivity. Believers are urged to actively discern God's will in the face of life's complexities and to respond with actions that embody the love and justice of Christ. This active participation is the essence of the church's purpose—to be agents of transformation in the world, responding to the needs around us and building one another up in love and faith. [39:27]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." - James 1:22

Reflection: What is one tangible way you can respond to a need in your community this week as an expression of your faith?

Day 4: Legacy and Preparation
The story of Moses preparing the way for Jesus teaches the importance of legacy and preparation in faith. Believers have a responsibility to pave the way for future generations, helping them to recognize and embrace the work of God in their own lives. This involves being mindful of the legacy one leaves behind and ensuring that it points others to Christ. [31:06]

"Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you." - Deuteronomy 32:7

Reflection: How can you contribute to a legacy that encourages and equips others to follow God's calling?

Day 5: Faith in Action Through Service
Faith is not meant to be kept to oneself but is to be demonstrated through service to others. The story of providing shelter for a family in need at the Beacon Center exemplifies how faith in action can make tangible differences in people's lives, reflecting the love and provision of God. This service is a direct reflection of the love and compassion that Jesus showed and is a vital aspect of living out one's faith. [11:51]

"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." - 1 John 3:18

Reflection: What is one act of service you can commit to this week that will demonstrate your faith to those around you?

Quotes

1) "Moses is calling us to be listeners for God not for self not for institution but from God...it's something about when we begin to discern the prophetic voices that are in the midst of our community because then we can distinguish those who are true and those who are false." [37:07] (Download clip | Download cropped clip | )

2) "God's direction does not come through osmosis of just standing there. God's Direction comes from an active participation with God and God's people." [37:59] (Download clip | | )

3) "Those who are seasoned leaders should be speaking to create room for those who are to come...those who have authority in spaces should not be using that authority to use control of the space but they should be using that Authority and that responsibility to create room." [38:43] (Download clip | Download cropped clip | )

4) "We discern God's will not only for our lives but for our church in the midst of that problem because if not then what's our purpose of being here if our purpose is not to respond to the complexities of this world." [39:27] (Download clip | Download cropped clip | Download captioned clip)

5) "As Methodist we believe that we are on a journey to Perfection...we believe that each day we try to live in a way where we are not working our way in but we are seeking more of God in our lives so that we can be who God has called us to be." [32:30] (Download clip | Download cropped clip | )

6) "The passage of the text says that that is serious business...the text ends with saying the prophet shall die...I don't want to be physically dead, I don't want to be financially dead, I don't want to be spiritually dead." [33:04] (Download clip | | )

7) "Moses understands that he must speak to the masses to create room for Jesus...we have the same responsibility to help others to see what is to come within the body of Christ." [31:06] (Download clip | Download cropped clip | Download captioned clip)

8) "After 3 hours and 17 minutes...you can stand when others expect you to fall and I'm proud to report today that after 3 hours and 17 minutes we are not just practicing Christians that sit in the Pew on Sunday morning but we actually follow that Bible." [11:51] (Download clip | | )

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?