Bible Study Notes 9/12/2023

Word Alive!

Bible Study ©2023

End of Summer Series:

Dare to Dream and Grow Your Faith!

Concord Baptist Church of Boston in Milton

Conley Hughes, Jr., Senior Pastor

Tuesday, 12 Sept. 2023 Lesson 6, Part 1

Rick Warren, Created to Dream, © 2023

Quiet Time: Rick Warren, “Dream,” 89-101

Upending Dead Ends – Just like delays confront us in life, there are moments when we will feel we’ve reached a dead end. Our plans and aspirations may seem, at least temporarily, they aren’t going anywhere. The road to better things in life is not always a straight or continuous line. There are twists; turns; and for sure, dead ends when things seem to be going nowhere. As people of faith, we should see a dead end, as yet another opportunity for God to demonstrate His power. A road block in plans may be a beneficial delay; a pause, to consider who is really in charge of our destiny. Then too, what may seem to be an insurmountable task, may really be an opportunity to experience far better than we imagined. Persons who were excited about following Jesus, must have felt they were approaching a dead end, when Jesus warned them that personal sacrifices were necessary to attain the best possible with Him. God’s faithful people in the Scriptures, encountered what may have seemed to them a dead end, which offered little hope for something better. Jesus told His followers, and others who thought they would follow Him; many things are impossible in our human way of thinking; but with God there is always possibility. (Read, Luke 18:26-30, NLT). Pastor Rick Warren advises: “When you face a dead end, don’t focus on what you can’t do; focus on what God can do.” Our focus often is gauged in the wrong direction. We are living in an era with far more distractions, that perhaps civilization ever has known. It is our faith that should provide our directional signals in navigating life’s circumstances. We should avoid allowing too many distractions to take us off course in life. Sometimes we make the mistake of focusing only on our immediate issues, and our attention is deflected away from God. After God led the Israelites out of bondage, away from their Egyptian captors they rejoiced. It was not long before they heard the sound of chariot wheels coming toward them. The people realized they were trapped. There was no place to go. No one could imagine a sea opening before them; nor less, walking on dry ground at the bottom of the sea. In their panic, the people blamed Moses, their deliverer for leading them to a dead end. Moses challenged them to focus on God, who would deliver them. (Read, Exodus 14:10-11; 13-14, NLT). if it were not for our faith, we would be tempted to always feel betrayed by God. This is true, especially when we’re called upon to sacrifice what was promised to us, then abruptly taken away. Abraham was challenged to sacrifice his son of promise, but he did so, not knowing exactly why or where on the mountain Isaac would breathe his last breath, did not allow the uncertain trial to eclipse his faith in God. It is our faith that gives us assurance in life’s uncertain moments.

Key Idea:

What We Believe!

1. When you face a dead end, don’t focus on what you can’t do; focus on what God can do.

Key Verses:

Luke 18:26-30, NLT “Those who heard this said, “Then who in the world can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Peter said, “We left our homes to follow you.” “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, and will have eternal life in the world to come.”

Ex. 14:10-11;13-14, NLT “As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Genesis 22:2, NLT “Take your son, your only son – yes Isaac, whom you love so much – and go the land of Moriah, Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

Hebrews 11:1-2, NLT “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Through their faith the people in days of old earned a good reputation.”