MEETING AGENDA
- OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
- GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
- ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
- TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
- GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
- CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.
WHO ARE YOU RELYING ON?
TODAY’S PASSAGE:
2 Corinthians 1:8-16 (NLT) 8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. 11 And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. 12 We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God-given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you. 13 Our letters have been straightforward, and there is nothing written between the lines and nothing you can’t understand. I hope someday you will fully understand us, 14 even if you don’t understand us now. Then on the day when the Lord Jesus returns, you will be proud of us in the same way we are proud of you. 15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
- Every person will come to the end of their strength and resources at some point, and the Apostle Paul was no exception to this rule.
- Jesus also warned us that we would face trouble.
John 16:33 (NIV) – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
- Jesus assured us that we would face trouble, but He also assured us that we would not have to face it alone.
- When we face trouble, we have a choice to make. Will we rely on ourselves? Or will we rely on God?
- Paul recognized that the trouble he was facing was far beyond his own ability (v. 8).
- When he came to the end of his abilities, he learned that God is able to do exceedingly more than we can ever ask, think or imagine!
Ephesians 3:20 (NLT) – Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.
- If we rely solely on ourselves, we will never learn to rely on God.
- When we learn to rely on God, we will find that He always comes through!
- When we rely on God, we have access to His wisdom, favor and unlimited resources.
- When we rely only on our own strength, we only have access to our limited resources.
- Paul learned to rely on God in one of his life’s most difficult moments (v. 8-9), but he also regularly depended on God to help him disciple others (v. 12-13).
- Paul did not rely on his own wisdom, but intentionally chose to rely on God’s grace and wisdom.
1 Corinthians 2:4 (NLT) – And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.
- We need to learn to rely on God’s wisdom in our ministry to others too!
- When we put our faith and trust in God, He will respond generously and show us exactly what we need to do!
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.