FAITH AND WORK: A PRACTICAL THEOLOGY OF WORK God Will, Gudiance and - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

FAITH AND WORK:

A PRACTICAL THEOLOGY OF WORK

God Will, Gudiance and Decision Making Part VI

I. Case Studies II. Lessons Learned

• III. The Doing Paradigm
• IV. God’s Will and Guidance

V. Decision Making

• VI. Key Resources

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

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Week 8

Today’s Topics: God’s Will and Guidance And Decision Making Brief Review

• A. Three Men
• 1. Saul – Review
• 2. David
• 3. Solomon
• B. Elements of their Failure
• 1. Chosen
• 2. Called
• 3. Blessed/Equipped by God
• 4. Had a Skill set, expertise
• 5. Their Flaws/Sin
• 6. The Consequences

a. For them b. For others

• C. Results

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

3 I Our Negative Case Studies – Review

• A. The Men
• 1. Daniel
• 2. Nehemiah
• B. Elements of the Success
• A. Chosen by
• B. Called to
• C. Blessed/Equipped by God
• D. Their Skill set, expertise
• E. The Difference Between them and Negative examples

F. Difficulties

• G. Consequences

a. For them

• b. For others
• C. Results

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

4 Ia Our Positive Case Studies – Review

• A. Calling Doesn’t = Without Error or Unable to make mistakes
• 1. Starting well is only 10%
• B. Ignoring God’s clear guidance

to disaster every time

• C. There is a relationship between life experience and task to which one is called
• D. It’s “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”
• 1. Inherently a long haul – Hebrews 12:1-6
• 2. It’s the other 90%
• E. And . . . Your learning?

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

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• II. Lessons Learned – Connection of Spiritual/

Personal/and Work Life – Review

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

6 III “The Doing Paradigm” – Review

Simple Complex Easy Hard

• A. God’s Will – Understanding Guidance
• 1. Why The Word is Primary
• a. Col. 1:9; 1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 2:14-15
• b. John 1:1, Heb 1:2
• 2. Three primary concerns
• a. It is hidden, how do I find it?
• b. Can I miss it; I don’t have a “sign”
• c. What about circumstances?
• 3. How it became an issue
• 4. Importance of Theology

What you pray ------------------ What you believe Shapes How you behave

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

7 IV God’s Will, Guidance and Decision Making

• B. God’s Will – What is “Normal” Guidance?
• 1. Begin with His Word and Commands

a. Can be voices or visions, but seldom b. It’s more than God speaking, it’s the Word, insights, Counsel, etc.

• 2. Aligned with God’s Covenant/Promises
• 3. There is a Context – It’s about others and bigger issues
• 4. Still needs to to be tested
• 5. Gideon’s fleece is not an appropriate example

a. He already knew God’s plan b. It was one time c. It was God’s grace to an immature believer

• C. God’s Will – Why It’s Important to Understand How Guidance:
• 1. To encourage us and minimize discouragement
• 2. To Understand Christ’s Purpose – Eph 5:25-27; Col 1:21-22
• 3. To Enjoy our lives – Col 1:9-14

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

8 IV God’s Will, Guidance and Decision Making

• D. God’s Will – Principles of Guidance
• 1. There is a Plan
• 2. Scripture and Commands – He’s revealed much
• 3. Relationship – The mind of Christ?
• 4. Action – Make a choice; act; adjust
• E. God’s Will – Seeking
• 1. My Expectations about God’s Will

a. Called to Maturity – interdependence – Col 1:28 b. Reality of Freedom and Constraint

• 2. My Reasons?

a. My Motivation for Seeking God’s Will b. He knows our heart – Matt 10:26

• 3. Checking the “gas gauge”

a. God knows our hearts – 1 Chron 28:9; 1 Samuel 16:7; Acts 15:8

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

9 IV God’s Will, Guidance and Decision Making

• F. God’s Will – Some Potential the Pitfalls
• 1. Seeking a special sign or circumstance
• 2. Unwillingness to:

a. To think b. Think ahead c. Take advice d. Check oneself e. Discount personal magnetism f. Wait on God

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

10 IV God’s Will, Guidance and Decision Making

• A. Foundational Considerations – Three Checks
• 1. Check Your Relationship with God
• a. Sin can block guidance; It is Simple but Hard to repair if bad
• 2. Check the Word for Principles
• a. His general will is revealed
• 3. Check your path
• a. Decisions are often incremental – the small choices matter
• B. Action Steps – Five Actions
• 1. Consult God/Pray
• a. Invest some time, Arrow prayers
• 2. Counsel – To Whom are You Talking?
• a. God, Counsel
• 3. Consider – Potential Impact on Others
• a. Thinking ahead
• 4. Chose – Decide Your Action
• a. Act
• 5. Live with It
• a. Accept outcomes; adjust if necessary

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

11 V Making the Decision

• I. Theology of Work

A. Richard H. Bainton. Christendom: A Short History of Christianity and Its Impact on Western Civiliation Vol 1. Harper Collins. 1966. B. Darrell Cosden. The Heavenly Good of Earthly Work. Henderson Publishers. 2006. C.

• Fr. Robert A. Sirico. The Entrepreneurial Vocation. Acton Institute. 2001.

D.

• R. Paul Stevens. Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture. Wm B. Eerdmans. May 31, 2012.

E. Miroslav Volf. Work in the Spirit: Toward a Theology of Work. Wipf & Stock Pub; Reprint edition (April 27, 2001).

• II. Guidance/Decision Making

A. Gary Friesen. Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional

• View. Multnomah Press. 1980.

B.

• W. Phillip Keller. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Zondervan. April 29, 2007

C. J.I. Packer. Knowing God. Thou Our Guide. Chapter 20. IVP Press. 1977 D. J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom. God's Will: Finding Guidance for Everyday Decisions. Baker Book House. 2012 E. Jerry Sittser. The Will of God as a Way of Life: How to Make Every Decision with Peace and

• Confidence. Zondervan 2004.

F. Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God, HarperCollins, 1998.

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

12 VI Key Resources – Books

• A. Past Materials
• 1. Posted on All Saints
• a. Grow; Resources For Faith and Work
• B. Next week
• 1. Josh Returns and Completes His Discussion on Creativity
• C. Spring Break – March
• D. Return after Easter

Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016

13 Our Continuing Schedule