Discovering God’s Will Pearls for building lay ministry

Starting Point 99% of finding God’s will is wanting God’s will Jeremiah 29:13 99% of finding God’s will is wanting God’s will Jeremiah 29:13 It is our business to seek God’s will with all our heart. It is God’s business to show us what that is. Proverbs 3:5-6 It is our business to seek God’s will with all our heart. It is God’s business to show us what that is. Proverbs 3:5-6

Moses and the burning bush

Some Tips God wants your heart more than he wants your work. God wants your heart more than he wants your work. It is not your business to fret a great deal over finding which direction God wants you to step. It is not your business to fret a great deal over finding which direction God wants you to step.

Your business 4 parts: 4 parts: to desire, to seek, to trust, to obey.

“All that lies in your power is the direction of your will….The important question is not how much you enjoy religion, but whether you will what God wills.” “All that lies in your power is the direction of your will….The important question is not how much you enjoy religion, but whether you will what God wills.” Fenelon: Spiritual Letters

Mother Teresa “Whatever I do, I will never refuse you anything Jesus.”

Our Part Desire Desire Seek Seek Step Step Abide Abide Trust Trust Persevere Persevere

God’s Part The Plan The Plan Getting Us in the Plan Getting Us in the Plan The Power The Power The Success The Success The Glory The Glory

Destination Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked. Alice came to a fork in the road. "Which road do I take?" she asked. "Where do you want to go?" responded the Cheshire cat. "I don't know," Alice answered. "Then," said the cat, "it doesn't matter." ~Lewis Carroll

Foundational Purpose “That your community may rise up and meet you, such that the lost will come home to you, the broken will be made whole in you and that you may be glorified” “That your community may rise up and meet you, such that the lost will come home to you, the broken will be made whole in you and that you may be glorified”

Ministry Plan Make connections Make connections Resources Resources Pathways of service: “We need to break out of our molds. We need to divorce ourselves from our old habits. We need to be more creative in how people can be involved.” Dr. Keith Parks Pathways of service: “We need to break out of our molds. We need to divorce ourselves from our old habits. We need to be more creative in how people can be involved.” Dr. Keith Parks Devotion Devotion

It’s all about relationships It’s all about relationships –Voice –Trust –Accountability

Communication: a Four Step Process Warn: tell them you’re going to tell them Warn: tell them you’re going to tell them Tell: tell them Tell: tell them Relate: make it personal Relate: make it personal Remind them again Remind them again

Time: the monster on our backs No matter how much time there is, it is fully committed. There is none left to incorporate new activities without letting go of something else good. No matter how much time there is, it is fully committed. There is none left to incorporate new activities without letting go of something else good.

Entanglement Most of us cannot add ministry without Most of us cannot add ministry without –simplifying our lifestyles “We, as followers of Christ, too often find ourselves in the thick of thin things.” “We, as followers of Christ, too often find ourselves in the thick of thin things.” –Dr. David Stancil

Cooperate Work and cooperate with others. We cannot do the task alone.

Missions is Key Bringing His Lost Children Home to Him Bringing His Lost Children Home to Him Making the Broken Whole in Him Making the Broken Whole in Him Transforming the Vision, Character and Life Goals Transforming the Vision, Character and Life Goals Missions is more about what God would do in you than through you. Nell Green

There is no transformation without sacrifice “The thing that hinders God’s work (most) is not sin, but other claims which are right, but which at a certain point in their rightness conflict with the claims of Christ.” “The thing that hinders God’s work (most) is not sin, but other claims which are right, but which at a certain point in their rightness conflict with the claims of Christ.”  Oswald Chambers

It Takes Surrender Surrender Surrender –All I am, all I have, all my dreams, all my plans, all those I love

“That your community may rise up and meet you, and pour themselves out for you so that the lost will come home to you, the broken will be made whole in you and that you may be glorified.” “That your community may rise up and meet you, and pour themselves out for you so that the lost will come home to you, the broken will be made whole in you and that you may be glorified.”

Slide show presentation and script by Dr. Al Weir and edited by Rev. Nell Green for church use. All rights reserved.