Pastor Matt reminded us about the importance of bringing our big decisions to people we trust in the Body of Christ in order to get a better sense of the Holy Spirit's leading in our choices.
MY STORY
How do you go about making important decisions? Whose input do you seek, if anyone's?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO HEAR?
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter:
The brothers, both the apostles and the elders, to the brothers who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greetings. Since we have heard that some persons have gone out from us and troubled you with words, unsettling your minds, although we gave them no instructions, it has seemed good to us, having come to one accord, to choose men and send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We have therefore sent Judas and Silas, who themselves will tell you the same things by word of mouth. For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. (Acts 15:22-29)
Identify the decisions here that were made by a group of believers who were in agreement.
What does it mean to include the Holy Spirit in the decision- making process?
Why is there power and safety with church leaders who are accountable to one another and to members of the congregation?
What does God want us to hear? Based on the passage and the questions above, what "takeaways" do you think God has revealed to you?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO?
Pastor Matt said … "There are four things that separate the church from the world …
(1) We are sold out for racial justice.
(2) We are deeply concerned about the poor and the marginalized.
(3) We are committed to the idea that sex was designed by God.
(4) We are for life, and speak up for the powerless and vulnerable.
How are these four things reflected in your own values, and to what degree?
What are God-honoring ways to respond to taking part of a vote made by a group—and being on the losing side?
When can you count on a clear "yes" or "no" from God when it comes to decision-making? What do you do when God's approval is less clear?
Why is there power in including the Body of Christ when making important decisions—even personal ones?
What does God want us to do? Flowing out of our reading and interpretation, what action does this passage or the Spirit's leading, call us to?
WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO?
When's the last time you heard words that were unsettling to you, and troubled you? What was your response?
What big decisions are coming up for which it would be wise to run them by some mature believers you trust?
What does God want ME to do? What is the personal application and action step God is calling you, personally, toward?
Message Notes
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