GROWTH QUESTION #1
Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?
MAKE YOUR life COUNT
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.
GROWTH QUESTION #2
What did you learn from this week’s sermon?
GROWTH QUESTION #3
What was your most important accomplishment this week?
James 4:13-17 (NLT) - 13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.
introduction
Today, we are going to look at how to get the most out of life. There are three important steps we must take to make our life count!
step #1
MAKE PLANS BUT DEPEND ON GOD!
James 4:13 (NLT) - Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.”
Faith isn’t anti-planning; it’s pro-God-in-the-plan.
Planning is not a sin—but self-confidence without God is.
The wise include God is their planning.
Many plans fail because they lack God-in-the-plan not because they lack skill or intelligence.
If we will include God in our planning, He promises to show us the best path to take.
Psalm 32:8 (NLT) - The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”
God's plan is the best plan, and the only plan that is guaranteed to work.
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
What is one area where you have been relying more on yourself than on God?
step #2
TRUST GOD COMPLETELY!
James 4:14a (NLT) - How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow?
We need to trust God because life is full of uncertainties.
This verse emphasizes human ignorance and the limits of human knowledge.
We do not know what will happen tomorrow.
Life is uncertain, but God can be trusted at all times.
We can trust that God is always ready to help us in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (ERV) - God is our protection and source of strength. He is always ready to help us in times of trouble.
We can trust that God is leading us to success.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (TLB) - Trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. 6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
We can trust that God will work it all out for our good.
Romans 8:28 (AMP) - And we know with great confidence that God who is deeply concerned about us causes all things to work together as a plan for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
It isn’t always all good, but with God, all of it will work out for my good.
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
Has God ever helped you through an uncertain time before? What did it look like?
step #3
MAKE THE MOST OF TODAY!
James 4:14b (NLT) - Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
Life is short. The truth is that our lives here on earth are temporary.
Those that make the most of life live with an awareness of how short it is.
Life is too short to spend it on addictions, grudges, worry, or a selfish and sinful life.
Don’t just live for the moment, live for eternity.
Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT) 4 “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. 5 You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”
Make the most of today by giving your life to Christ!
Real living begins the moment we give up our self-centered, Godless, sinful, prideful, self-destructive, lustful, empty life to follow Jesus.
Mark 8:35-37 (CEV) 35 If you want to save your life, you will destroy it. But if you give up your life for me and for the good news, you will save it. 36 What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? 37 What could you give to get back your soul?
INTERACTIVE QUESTION
What is taking up time in your life without adding real value?
CLOSING QUESTION
What is one thing you learned today that you can apply to your life this week?
GIVING
Giving God our best unleashes His abundant provision, filling our lives with blessings that overflow and reflect His generosity.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (NLT)
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.
PRAY
QUESTION #1
Who are you praying for to be saved?
QUESTION #2
Who can you invite to the next meeting?
QUESTION #3
What are your prayer requests?