Living in the Goodness of God

“The Lord is my shepherd ... He leads me in the right paths.” Psalm 23:1, 3

Life is full of decisions: What job? What school? Which friends? Decisions can be stressful

because they all have consequences, but God wants to lead us in the right paths using his Word in the Bible as a roadmap and his Spirit as our personal guide. God’s will for us may seem hidden because we often look for the wrong things and let the wrong influences lead us. Here we will discuss how to stop being led by the world and start being led by God’s Spirit and his Word.

Open your group with a prayer.

This is only a guide – select the points you want to discuss.

“Do not let anyone lead you the wrong way.

Christ is righteous.

So to be like Christ a person must do what is right.”

1 John 3:7 (NCV)

Peer pressure can lead us the wrong way and cause us to miss God’s plan. Share a time when you felt peer pressure took precedence over doing what was right, or a time when you rejected peer pressure, and describe the outcome.
We must not follow friends who are not led by God, so why does God want us to have non-believers as friends? “You may feel you’re on the right road and still end up dead.” Proverbs 14:12 (CEV)
We can experience anger, depression, or panic in real and intense ways, though these feelings are temporary. What actions can we take to prevent ourselves from making rash choices in the midst of an intense emotion?
“We’ve all strayed away like sheep! We have left God’s paths to follow our own.”
Isaiah 53:6 (LB)
How might your life goals or your daily routine change if you spent more time studying God’s Lord or seeking the leading of God’s Spirit starting in the morning and continuing throughout the day?
We know that God’s will is found in his Word and his will never contradicts his Word. What are some reasons that people may forget to search Scripture during difficult times? “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT)
Share a time when you prayed for direction and God answered unmistakably through your daily devotion or Scripture you heard in church, or through something you heard on the radio or from a fellow Christian.

Diving Deeper

(Optional)

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

God does not want his people to follow the crowd. What is an example of following culture instead of following God’s Word, or an example of loving the current culture but hating people? “Never look to psychics ... or fortune telling or the stars. People who do these things are doing evil and God hates it.” Deuteronomy 18:10
Why would people consult psychics or horoscopes instead of relying on God and following his Word? “God does speak ... even though people may not understand it.” Job 13:14 (NCV)
We must listen for God’s response, but we often do not want to wait. How do we “listen”? What is an example?

Review any assignments or commitments made during your previous meeting.

Sermon Discussion Guide Leader Notes

Suggestions for This Week’s Study

Icebreaker

Name feelings that advertisers or commercials try to evoke to get people to buy their products.

Goal

Help group members understand that life is a series of choices and that God wants to lead us in the right paths; therefore, we must stop being led by the world and start being led by God’s Spirit and his Word.

Pray

Thank you, Lord, for being a good shepherd and making a way for us when it seems like there is no way out of a problem. Thank you for meeting our needs when we are worried,

restoring our souls when we feel empty, and giving us rest when we feel stressed. Lord, we want to be led by you. Holy Spirit, help us to be aware of the things or people that prevent us from being led by you. Jesus, give us the wisdom and strength to follow your ways found in your Word. Help us to ask in faith for all our needs at all times. Father, help us to listen to your response for the directions of our lives throughout each of our days.