Making God-Honoring Decisions in Daily Life
Summary
In our daily lives, we make an astounding number of decisions—about 35,000 each day. While most of these are unconscious, as followers of Jesus, we are called to honor God with every conscious decision we make. This is a daunting task, but thankfully, God provides us with wisdom through Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Today, we explore three ways to make God-honoring decisions, as outlined by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 10.
First, we are encouraged to make decisions for our neighbor's good. Paul reminds us that while we have freedom in Christ, not all actions are beneficial for building up the Kingdom of God. Our decisions should not be self-centered but should consider the well-being of others. This might mean abstaining from certain activities that could cause a fellow believer to stumble, such as avoiding alcohol around someone who struggles with alcoholism or choosing different forms of entertainment to accommodate others' sensitivities.
Second, we are called to make decisions without legalism. Paul warns against creating unnecessary rules that go beyond Scripture, which can lead to self-righteousness and division within the community. Instead, we should live confidently under God's grace, recognizing that everything good in this world is from God and can be enjoyed with thanksgiving. This means not getting caught up in judging ourselves or others based on man-made standards but living in the freedom Christ provides.
Finally, every decision should be made for the glory of God. Whether we eat, drink, or engage in any activity, our primary aim should be to glorify God. This involves being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and ensuring that our actions reflect God's greatness. Paul exemplifies this by building bridges with different groups, always seeking to benefit others and draw them closer to God. By imitating Christ, we can live in a way that consistently honors God.
Key Takeaways:
- Decisions for Neighbor's Good: Our freedom in Christ should be exercised with consideration for others. Decisions should prioritize the well-being of those around us, reflecting Christ's love and sacrifice. This approach helps build up the community and honors God. [03:20]
- Avoiding Legalism: Legalism can lead to self-righteousness and division. Instead, we should embrace the freedom and grace God provides, making decisions based on Scripture and the Holy Spirit's guidance, not man-made rules. [11:41]
- Glorifying God in All Things: Every decision should aim to glorify God. This involves being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and ensuring our actions reflect God's greatness. Our lives should be a testament to His glory. [22:29]
- Building Bridges: Like Paul, we should seek to connect with others, making accommodations to benefit them and draw them closer to God. This reflects Christ's love and helps spread the Gospel. [26:27]
- Imitating Christ: By following Christ's example, we can live in a way that consistently honors God. Jesus made every decision to glorify the Father, and we are called to do the same in our daily lives. [27:27]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:47] - Opening Prayer
- [03:20] - Decisions for Neighbor's Good
- [04:36] - Freedom and Responsibility
- [08:20] - Accommodating Others
- [11:41] - Avoiding Legalism
- [13:13] - Food Sacrificed to Idols
- [16:28] - Living Under Grace
- [18:21] - Sensitivity to the Spirit
- [20:53] - Conclusion of Series
- [22:29] - Glorifying God in All Things
- [23:57] - Avoiding Idolatry
- [26:27] - Building Bridges
- [27:27] - Imitating Christ
- [30:32] - Practical Applications
- [31:42] - Walking the Jesus Way
- [32:40] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
- John 15:13
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 1 Corinthians 10:23, what does Paul say about the lawfulness and helpfulness of actions? How does this relate to the decisions we make? [04:36]
2. What examples were given in the sermon to illustrate making decisions for the good of our neighbors? [08:20]
3. How does Paul address the issue of legalism in 1 Corinthians 10, and what examples does he use to explain this concept? [11:41]
4. What does Paul mean when he says, "do all to the glory of God" in 1 Corinthians 10:31? How is this principle applied in the sermon? [22:29]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of making decisions for our neighbor's good challenge the way we typically make decisions? What might be some modern examples of this principle? [03:20]
2. In what ways can legalism create division within a community, and how does Paul suggest we avoid it? [11:41]
3. How does the idea of glorifying God in all things influence the way we approach everyday decisions, according to the sermon? [22:29]
4. What does it mean to imitate Christ in our decision-making, and how does this relate to building bridges with others? [26:27]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. Did you consider the well-being of others in that decision? How might you approach similar decisions differently in the future? [03:20]
2. Have you ever found yourself creating unnecessary rules in your spiritual life? How can you embrace the freedom and grace that God provides instead? [11:41]
3. Think of a specific area in your life where you struggle to glorify God. What steps can you take to align your actions with the principle of doing all for God's glory? [22:29]
4. How can you actively build bridges with people who have different beliefs or backgrounds, as Paul did? What practical steps can you take this week to connect with someone new? [26:27]
5. Consider a time when you felt convicted by the Holy Spirit about a decision. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [20:53]
6. Identify a decision you are currently facing. How can you ensure that your choice reflects Christ's example and honors God? [27:27]
7. How can you cultivate a habit of seeking God's guidance in your daily decisions, especially the small ones that seem insignificant? [31:42]
Devotional
Day 1: Exercising Freedom with Love
Our freedom in Christ is a precious gift, but it comes with the responsibility to consider the impact of our actions on others. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that while we have the liberty to make choices, not all choices are beneficial for the community of believers. Our decisions should prioritize the well-being of those around us, reflecting Christ's love and sacrifice. This might mean abstaining from certain activities that could cause a fellow believer to stumble, such as avoiding alcohol around someone who struggles with alcoholism or choosing different forms of entertainment to accommodate others' sensitivities. By doing so, we build up the community and honor God. [03:20]
"Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, 'The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.'" (Romans 15:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life might be affected by your choices today? How can you adjust your actions to better support and uplift them?
Day 2: Embracing Grace Over Legalism
Legalism can lead to self-righteousness and division within the community of believers. Paul warns against creating unnecessary rules that go beyond Scripture, which can cause us to judge ourselves and others based on man-made standards. Instead, we are called to live confidently under God's grace, recognizing that everything good in this world is from God and can be enjoyed with thanksgiving. This means making decisions based on Scripture and the Holy Spirit's guidance, not on rigid rules. By embracing the freedom and grace God provides, we can foster unity and love within the body of Christ. [11:41]
"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)
Reflection: Are there any self-imposed rules or judgments you hold that might be hindering your relationship with God or others? How can you embrace God's grace more fully today?
Day 3: Living for God's Glory
Every decision we make should aim to glorify God. Whether we eat, drink, or engage in any activity, our primary aim should be to reflect God's greatness. This involves being sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and ensuring that our actions are a testament to His glory. Paul exemplifies this by building bridges with different groups, always seeking to benefit others and draw them closer to God. By imitating Christ, we can live in a way that consistently honors God and points others to Him. [22:29]
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV)
Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can be more intentional about glorifying God today?
Day 4: Building Bridges with Love
Like Paul, we are called to connect with others, making accommodations to benefit them and draw them closer to God. This reflects Christ's love and helps spread the Gospel. Building bridges involves understanding and respecting the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of those around us, and finding common ground to share the love of Christ. By doing so, we can create opportunities for meaningful conversations and relationships that point others to Jesus. [26:27]
"I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:22-23, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today to build a bridge of understanding and love? How can you show them the love of Christ in a practical way?
Day 5: Imitating Christ in Daily Life
By following Christ's example, we can live in a way that consistently honors God. Jesus made every decision to glorify the Father, and we are called to do the same in our daily lives. This means being intentional about our actions, words, and thoughts, ensuring they align with God's will and purpose. As we strive to imitate Christ, we become more like Him, reflecting His love, grace, and truth to the world around us. [27:27]
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you imitate Christ today in your interactions with others? How can you reflect His love and grace in your daily routine?
Quotes
God, please help us to understand as we walk through Your Word. May Your Holy Spirit come and speak to us to help us to know how to make decisions that are honoring to You. God, we pray all these things in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus and all God's people said, Amen. Amen. Well, like I said, we're going to take a look at decisions. And actually, we've got in our passage today three ways to honor God with every decision of life. Three. Three ways to honor God. I want to share the first way to do that. Number one that the Apostle Paul is going to point out to us is that we need to make decisions for your neighbor's good. Make decisions based on the things that will benefit the people God has put into our lives. [00:02:06] (54 seconds)
Another example that was given over the last few weeks is avoiding alcohol. The Bible doesn't say that drinking alcohol is inherently wrong. It does prohibit drunkenness, but the Bible gives encouragement to us. Hey, if you've got somebody in your life that's struggled with alcoholism in the past, it may not be the best thing to drink around them. Seek to be accommodating. Another example we gave was making your movie choices with your friends, being careful for the sake of those who may struggle with certain forms of content in that entertainment. We also talked about being understandable. [00:07:38] (42 seconds)
using understandable words about God when you're in small group and at church to help those who are new in their faith. You don't need to flex all your theological muscles. It's good to have those things and to dive deep, but we're not trying to look impressive. We're seeking to be accommodating. [00:08:20] (19 seconds)
There's one more way I kind of want to illustrate this, this point of what this looks like. So you guys have probably all seen a boxing ring, okay? I want you to picture a boxing ring, and I don't know exactly how to get in a boxing ring, but I think it's something like that, okay? So you get into this boxing ring, picture it, okay, and there's you and there's another believer. [00:08:39] (21 seconds)
And sometimes a situation will come up and you'll realize that that believer thinks one way about an issue and you think a different way. That, oh, I've got freedom in that area. That's not something the Holy Spirit's convicting me on. And so, Paul, I believe what he's saying is when you're there with another, with another believer, instead of putting up your dukes and getting ready to fight against that believer, don't take that posture. Take the posture of being the one who will come alongside in the corner of the ring where that fellow believer is and be that person that's, you know, wiping the blood off their face, right? And putting the ice pack on there and giving them some encouragement. Because what we're called to do is to come alongside a fellow believer and say, what is it that you need in this time? What is it that you need in this time to thrive spiritually? What that also allows us to do is recognize the opponents that we have in this life is not fellow believers. The opponents that we're fighting against are the... [00:08:59] (61 seconds)
of the world the flesh and the devil hopefully that's a helpful picture that each one of us can recognize when we may come to a conflict like that but i love what jesus says in john chapter 15 john chapter 15 is where jesus shares the ultimate example of looking out for your neighbors good jesus said greater love has no one than this that someone laid down his life for his friends jesus was willing to think about what we need and instead of when jesus could have instead of laying down the law and giving us the punishment that we deserve when we were at enmity with god jesus came to us and said i want to give you what you need that's what it looks like to make [00:10:00] (54 seconds)
Make decisions without adding a bunch of rules over and on top of what Scripture says. So go ahead and write that down in your notes. The second way to make decisions that are honoring to God is to make decisions without legalism. The Apostle Paul was no stranger to the idea of legalism. [00:11:41] (26 seconds)
He was, as I believe is expressed elsewhere in Scripture, Pharisee of Pharisees. He was one not only who came up with these different rules, but who adhered to them so well that he used that to boast. Say, look at me. [00:12:07] (18 seconds)
Look at how great I am. Look at how well I'm following these rules that I made up for myself. [00:12:24] (5 seconds)
And now Paul's come out on the other side and after experiencing God's grace, he says, Making more rules for yourself is not what helps the covenant community of God. I want you to take a look with me at how he talks through this, starting in verse 25. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 25 says this. He gives some examples of how to interact with those people within his culture who were still sacrificing food to idols. [00:12:30] (35 seconds)
He says, He says, He says, [00:13:06] (4 seconds)
So for a lot of us, when we go to the store, we may pick up, you know, maybe they got some packaged meat there and we... [00:13:13] (7 seconds)
probably a lot of us check the expiration date, right? How long is this meat going to last in my fridge? Is it already expired? I wouldn't buy it in that case. That's just fine to do. But what Paul's saying is when you go to the meat market and they've got meat there that may have been already slaughtered, offered to an idol, the idol doesn't do anything with it because the idol actually doesn't exist, then the people take that food to the meat market and it's sold. He says, don't worry about if the meat at the market has been sacrificed to idols. [00:13:14] (37 seconds)
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