Recognizing God's Voice in Our Lives
Summary
In this sermon, I discussed the importance of recognizing and understanding the ways in which God communicates with us. I emphasized that God speaks to us in various ways, but we often fail to recognize His voice. I highlighted the significance of the Bible as a primary source of God's teachings and messages. I also stressed the role of godly friends and family as channels through which God often speaks to us. I encouraged the congregation to be receptive to these channels and to be aware of the presence of God in their lives.
Key Takeaways:
- God communicates with us in various ways, but we often fail to recognize His voice [ 25:13]
- The Bible is a primary source of God's teachings and messages [ 24:38]
- Godly friends and family are important channels through which God speaks to us [ 31:20]
- We should be receptive to these channels and be aware of God's presence in our lives [ 32:22]
- Worship and fellowship are important aspects of our relationship with God [ 51:47]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 4:11-12 [14:48]
2. 2 Timothy 2:2-4 [30:48]
3. Proverbs 12:26 [31:52]
Observation Questions:
1. What are the gifts that Christ gave to the church according to Ephesians 4:11-12?
2. In 2 Timothy 2:2-4, what does Paul instruct Timothy to do with the word of God?
3. What does Proverbs 12:26 say about the advice given by the godly and the wicked?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Ephesians 4:11-12 relate to the role of teachers in the church?
2. What does 2 Timothy 2:2-4 suggest about the importance of teaching sound doctrine?
3. How does Proverbs 12:26 inform our understanding of the influence of godly and ungodly friends?
Application Questions:
1. How can you use your gifts to serve the church, as mentioned in Ephesians 4:11-12?
2. In what ways can you ensure that you are teaching or sharing the word of God accurately, as instructed in 2 Timothy 2:2-4?
3. Can you identify a time when you received godly advice from a friend or family member? How did it impact your life?
4. Are there people in your life who might be leading you astray, as warned in Proverbs 12:26? How can you handle this situation?
5. How can you be a source of godly advice to your friends and family?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Prayer
Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with God. It is through prayer that God reveals what He needs us to do, prepares us for His work, and sends us to further His kingdom. Just like David, we have the ability to be searched, broken, and sent by God through prayer ([15:21]).
Psalm 139:23-24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Reflection: Reflect on your prayer life. How can you incorporate the prayers of 'search me', 'break me', and 'send me' into your daily prayers?
Day 2: The Importance of the Bible
God speaks to us primarily through the Bible. It is through reading, studying, and memorizing the scriptures that we grow in our faith and understand God's will for our lives ([25:46]).
2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness."
Reflection: How can you make reading the Bible a daily habit? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of the scriptures?
Day 3: The Significance of Communion
Communion is a time to remember Jesus's sacrifice for us. It is a reminder of the ways God has given us to pray, heal, and act. It is also a time to thank God for making us available to be used by Him for His kingdom ([16:38]).
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 - "And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.' In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.'"
Reflection: How does participating in communion deepen your understanding of Jesus's sacrifice? How does it inspire you to serve God's kingdom?
Day 4: The Role of Godly Friends and Family
God often speaks to us through our godly friends and family. These are the people who love us enough to tell us the truth and point out things we may not see on our own ([31:20]).
Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."
Reflection: Who are the godly friends and family in your life that God uses to speak to you? How can you be that person for someone else?
Day 5: The Importance of Godly Teaching
God speaks to us through godly teaching. However, it is important to discern whether the teaching aligns with the Bible. If it doesn't, it is not the gift of teaching ([30:48]).
2 Timothy 4:3-4 - "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."
Reflection: How do you discern whether a teaching is godly? How can you ensure that your own teaching aligns with the Bible?
Quotes
1. "There is no trust without truth and there is no truth without trust. You're never going to tell somebody the truth unless they trust you and vice versa. God wants to use you to help others to grow and God will speak through you, but it's going to take courage." - 32:51
2. "God does want to talk to us. In fact, the Bible is full of examples of God talking to people. If God didn't talk to people then we wouldn't have the Bible because God spoke to the people who wrote the Bible. He told them what to put into the Bible and that's exactly what they did." - 24:38
3. "You are so good to me. You hear my broken heart, my Father in heaven. You are beautiful, my sweet sweet song." - 05:28
4. "Will you trust me with that financial problem? Will you trust me with that dream? Will you trust me with that hurt that's in your heart? Will you trust me with that stress? Will you trust me with that loneliness? Will you trust me with your dreams? Will you trust me with your ambitions?" - 44:53
5. "Sometimes in the silence, your faith is being tested. The silence of God is just like a teacher who is silent during a test. God has prepared you, God knows that you're ready for the test that you're taking. He's silent during the test, so be faithful to the very end." - 45:57
Chatbot
-
I'm an AI bot trained only on this specific sermon. Do you have any questions about it?