September 29, 2019 Sermon Notes and Slides

Sermon Notes & Slides

Trust in the Lord

Proverbs 2
Tony Chute, Interim Pastor

Overview: The book of Proverbs provides instruction on how to make good and godly decisions in the various circumstances of life. Since our knowledge of God’s will in various circumstances is often limited, we need to be able to actually make decisions without fully knowing if our decision is the right one. By God’s grace, we are able to chart a basic path which can give us added confidence to make such decisions. This path includes committing ourselves to doing what we know God to be God’s will; asking the Lord to give us insight and clarity; seeking godly advice from other believers; and patiently waiting on the Lord. Ultimately, however, we must trust the Lord whether we know the way forward or not. This command to trust the Lord is based upon His goodness and sovereignty, both of which are demonstrated throughout Scripture and evident in our own lives.

01. Knowing God is more important than knowing the outcome in a particular situation; therefore, seek the favor of the Lord before seeking favors from the Lord.

02. Loving God is more important than loving our circumstances in a particular situation; therefore accept discipline from the Lord as a means of discipleship in the Lord.

Questions For Discussion & Discovery
1. What examples of God’s goodness, faithfulness and sovereignty can you recall from Scripture? In what ways do you find comfort from these texts when you are otherwise uncertain about a decision you need to make?

2. Why is it important for us to rehearse the works of the Lord in our own lives? How is our collective worship enhanced when we share these stories about God’s faithfulness towards us?

3. Have you ever made a decision based on what you believed was God’s will for you, only to discover that life became much harder than before? If so, how did you process the decision in hindsight?

4. Do you find encouragement in the fact that God disciplines his children? How does Scripture demonstrate the discipline of the Lord as a means by which He corrects our character and shapes our thinking?

5. Why is it important to do what we know the Lord wants us to do during the times when we are questioning what the Lord may be calling us to do in the future? Which of the two do you find harder—b – knowing God’s will or not knowing God’s will?

For Further Reading: Thomas Watson, All Things for Good (first published in 1663 as Divine Cordial; Banner of Truth edition, 1986).