FAITH AND WORK: A PRACTICAL THEOLOGY OF WORK God Will, Gudiance and Decision Making Part VI
2 Week 8 I. Case Studies II. Lessons Learned Brief Review III. The Doing Paradigm IV. God’s Will and Guidance Today’s Topics: God’s Will and Guidance V. Decision Making And Decision Making VI. Key Resources Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016
3 I Our Negative Case Studies – 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
4 Ia Our Positive 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
5 II. Lessons Learned – Connection of Spiritual/ Personal/and Work Life – 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
6 III “The Doing Paradigm” – Review Simple Complex Easy Hard Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016
7 IV God’s Will, Guidance and Decision Making 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 Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016 How you behave
8 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
9 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
10 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
11 V Making the Decision 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 Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016 a. Accept outcomes; adjust if necessary
VI Key Resources – Books 12 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. R. Paul Stevens . Work Matters: Lessons from Scripture. Wm B. Eerdmans. May 31, 2012. D. 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, Faith and Work: All Saints Presbyterian Church – Spring 2016 1998.
13 Our Continuing Schedule 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
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