What does God want for your future? How can you get there?
AN EVALUATION:
Start with an understanding of who you are and where you are now.
Which soil are you?
Matthew 13:19-23
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
- Some of us have a hardened heart. We have been walked on. We haven’t heard from God in a long time. We don’t want to hear from God.
- Some of us have a shallow faith. Our faith is based entirely on our circumstances and how we feel at the time.
- Some of us have been distracted by temptations we keep falling back into over and over.
- Some of us are in a good place. We are seeing change in our lives and change in the ones we care about, and it’s happening through us!
- Some of us see a glimpse of more than one. We are seeing God do good things or even great things and we are on the edge of falling back into darkness.
Wherever you are, Jesus pointed us towards becoming fruitful – transformed by God and helping others transform. We have the opportunity to become fruitful!
Overview of the Parable of the Soils (Matthew 13:1-23)
Soils Skills
1. Hardened > Vulnerable Receptive (Overcoming Silence)
2. Shallow > Deep Tenacious (Overcoming Trials)
3. Thorny > Clear Intentional (Overcoming Temptations)
Desolate > 4. Fruitful Proactive (Overcoming Rebellion)
THE PROCESS:
Key Question #1: What is God calling you to do?
(Big Picture and Next Steps)
Consider the following as you write down ideas of what God is calling you (Big Picture and Next Steps):
- “When we delight ourselves in God, He gives us the desires of our heart.” – Psalm 37:4
- What does God want you to do for the world? This is different than what we want God to do for us. Give him all of your desires, and ask Him to give back to you what is His best.
- You can tell God is speaking when your idea is selfless, takes courage, and consistent with His character.
Examples of Big Picture types of callings:
- Become a doctor, a pastor, an entrepreneur, etc.
- To get married
- To have a healthy marriage
- To become a healthy person.
- Become a parent
- Overcome an addiction
Examples of Next Steps types of callings (Next Steps are specific, short-term, but also part of the Big Picture calling God has for your life):
- Complete a particular project
- Heal a particular relationship
- Go through the 12 Steps
- Lose 20 pounds
Write down what God is calling you towards:
Do you see a theme? Choose one and then answer the following in light of that particular calling.
Key Question #2: What trials have kept you from your calling?
(Events, People, Fears, etc.)
Write down the things that have happened to you that have slowed you down:
Key Question #3: What temptations have kept you from your calling
(Struggles, Generational Sins, etc.)
Write down the things that you have done that have derailed you or distracted you from your calling:
Key Question #4: What sacrifices do you need to make to live out your calling?
Consider the following:
- Some of us lack the courage to do something new. Some of us lack the character to stay and work on improving what we have.
- Stop overcommitting. Being committed to many things means you aren’t really committed to anything.
- If you aren’t taking care of yourself now, you won’t be able to take care of others later.
Write down what you need to stop doing or start doing to make progress:
Choose one or two others to keep you accountable with these new behaviors. Ideally one person should be modeling for you what you want to become and the type of person you want to become and the other person is someone who needs your help in making progress in their own life.
A PERSPECTIVE FOR CHRIST-FOLLOWERS TO MAKE PROGRESS:
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who *loved me and ^gave himself for me.
What helps us move forward:
- Remember Whose You Are and For Whom You Live.
- Remember All He’s Done For You – let gratitude motivate your progress.
Consider: in what ways has God loved you and given to you in such a way that helps you become who He created you to be?
*How has God shown His love for you today? this past week? this past year? across the course of your life?
^How has God provided for you today? this past week? this past year? across the course of your life?
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
RESOURCES:
- “The Dirty Truth: Becoming Who We Were Created to Be (An Overview)“
- A Fruitful Life (E-book and Special Offer)
- Q&A on Hearing God & Making Decisions with Vince Marotte and Eric Bryant on Gateway’s Coffee Talk
- An Overview of Post-Christian Ministry (seminary credit possible for this weekend course)
- www.futureme.org to set spiritual goals and email yourself in the future.
