Sermon Response Guide
PRIMARY SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 16:1-3, 9, 33 ESV
1 The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.
9 The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.
Key Points
- When it comes to making wise decisions, we cannot simply look in, but we must look out and look up.
- Often our purposes and plans don’t take God’s purposes and plans into account.
- God desires to guide us to the destiny God has for us.
- God’s will for all our lives is for us to become more like Christ.
- If we’re going to find our way in life, we need people who can offer us wise counsel to walk with us.
Memory Verse
Ask God to write this word on your heart this week:
“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
-Proverbs 16:9 ESV
Questions for Reflection
Take time to reflect and respond to these questions on your own in the presence of the Holy Spirit, or with trusted friends or family members:
1: What decision are you wrestling with today?
2: When it comes to that decision, have you looked in?
· If so, what have you found in your search within?
3: Have you looked out?
· If so, what wisdom have you received by looking out to a trusted community of counselors?
4: Have you looked up?
· If so, how has looking to the example of Jesus and the eternal purposes of God freed you to walk in wisdom?
5: How would you explain the difference between our plans and our ways?
· What keeps you from committing your plans to the Lord?
· What keeps you from committing your ways to the Lord?
6: What do you think it means to say God’s will is a canyon, not an invisible tight rope we walk?
· How does this truth spark renewed hope within you today?
7: Read Romans 8:28-29 from the Amplified Bible below and write down what specific truth(s) the Holy Spirit illuminates for you. Then, answer the question that follows.
“And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose. For those whom He foreknew [and loved and chose beforehand], He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son [and ultimately share in his complete sanctification], so that He would be the firstborn [the most beloved and honored] among many believers.”
· How might the decision you’re facing make you more – or less – like Jesus?
8: In light of the decision you’re facing and the truth you recognized today, what next step of trust is God inviting you to take this week?
Pray
Lord, we confess our hearts are deceitful, but we struggle to remember our hearts are deceitful above all things. Above all? Help us, Lord. We need your wisdom, and we desire your guidance. Lead and guide us – for all our days, in all our ways – may we follow you by your grace.
