MAKING GODLY DECISIONS #1 - Good Just Isn't Good Enough
Life is full of decisions and the quality of our life will be determined by the kind of decisions we make everyday. During this series we'll look at some principles for making decisions that honor God, bring His blessings to our life, and reflect a Godly l
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Grace Church holds a Meet & Greet for those who are newer to Grace Church on the 4th Sunday of each month following the service in CJ's coffee shop. It is a great opportunity to meet the staff and leadership of Grace Church and learn a little more about the church. It also gives us an opportunity to learn a little about you! Contact Leslie Booher if you have any questions ([email protected]).
Pick up a Harmony Study booklet on Sunday after church!
Our Bible Reading Plan for 2026 is a study of the life and ministry of Christ using the harmony of the gospels. The printed booklet, ready for pick up on Sunday, lists all the passages to be studied for the week along with 4 questions you can answer in your personal study or with your H.O.M.E. Group.
Because this is a harmony of the gospels plan, you may want to use a harmony book (for example: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry) but this is not essential to participate in the study.
We are very excited to dig deeply into the Word, to take our time to apply it to our lives and share the life-changing lessons and insights God has revealed to us during our time with Him. If you have any questions, contact Lisa Sterkenburg ([email protected]).
Our Bible Reading Plan for 2026 is a study of the life and ministry of Christ using the harmony of the gospels. The printed booklet, ready for pick up on Sunday, lists all the passages to be studied for the week along with 4 questions you can answer in your personal study or with your H.O.M.E. Group.
Because this is a harmony of the gospels plan, you may want to use a harmony book (for example: The NIV Harmony of the Gospels by Robert L. Thomas and Stanley N. Gundry) but this is not essential to participate in the study.
We are very excited to dig deeply into the Word, to take our time to apply it to our lives and share the life-changing lessons and insights God has revealed to us during our time with Him. If you have any questions, contact Lisa Sterkenburg ([email protected]).
Monday, January 5th - Dylan & Leighanne Fisher
Tuesday, January 6th - Braxton Dykhouse
Wednesday, January 7th - Jenny Krauss, Avery Simons, Willow Petrie
Saturday, January 10th - Belinda Harwood
Tuesday, January 6th - Braxton Dykhouse
Wednesday, January 7th - Jenny Krauss, Avery Simons, Willow Petrie
Saturday, January 10th - Belinda Harwood
Cards
Life is full of decisions. Decisions are an act of the will and they are always influenced by the mind, the emotions, or both. We see this in a few of the first decisions that mankind ever made. Genesis 3:6
Genesis 3:6
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6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.
BSB
The quality of your life will be determined by the kind of decisions you make in life.
All of us have made good and bad decisions or choices. Some of us have made very bad, wrong, and stupid decisions. Our decisions cost us something and have consequences.
All of us have made good and bad decisions or choices. Some of us have made very bad, wrong, and stupid decisions. Our decisions cost us something and have consequences.
As Christians we should seek to make decisions that are Godly (that honor the Lord and are within His will) and not just decisions that are Good (that seem right, benefit us or those we care about, and seem to have few consequences).
God sees the whole picture...past, present, and future of our lives; and He has our best interests in mind. Psalm 32:8
God sees the whole picture...past, present, and future of our lives; and He has our best interests in mind. Psalm 32:8
Psalms 32:8
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8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go; I will give you counsel and watch over you.
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The Bible offers many examples of both good and bad decision-making after Adam & Eve left the Garden of Eden. We just have to be willing to read the Bible!
- Noah making the ark after hearing God’s warning about impending doom.
- Abraham leaving his homeland for a land that he knew nothing about.
- Lot’s wife turning back to see Sodom after being told not to.
- Moses going to Egypt after encountering a “burning bush.”
- David out on his roof top, seeing Bathsheba, and calling her to join him.
- Jesus calling four individuals who responded by dropping their nets.
- Ananias and Sapphira lying to men and God about their financial motives.
- Paul turning his life over to the Lord on the road to Damascus.
- Noah making the ark after hearing God’s warning about impending doom.
- Abraham leaving his homeland for a land that he knew nothing about.
- Lot’s wife turning back to see Sodom after being told not to.
- Moses going to Egypt after encountering a “burning bush.”
- David out on his roof top, seeing Bathsheba, and calling her to join him.
- Jesus calling four individuals who responded by dropping their nets.
- Ananias and Sapphira lying to men and God about their financial motives.
- Paul turning his life over to the Lord on the road to Damascus.
The book of James offers some insight into this subject of decision making.
In James 1:5-8 he points out a common PROBLEM that we all have, give the PRESCRIPTION for the problem, and then leaves us with a wonderful PROMISE.
In James 1:5-8 he points out a common PROBLEM that we all have, give the PRESCRIPTION for the problem, and then leaves us with a wonderful PROMISE.
James 1:5-8
BSB
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
BSB
First: The PROBLEM - We are DOUBTFUL, DOUBLE-MINDED, and "DIZZY."
James 1:7-8
Matthew 7:13-14
Doubt in Greek means to stand separated from oneself. Implies a sort of paralyzing indecision.
Double-minded means "two-souled"...pulled apart in different directions; divided by loyalties and priorities.
Unstable is used to describe a drunk who is staggering about as though he is dizzy...unable to coordinate his mind with the reality that faces him.
The root of the problem is that we don't have a core set of beliefs that guide us. We mix and match a little of what God says, our own feelings, the advice of our friends and family, and pick and choose from the trends and patterns of the culture around us.
Our problem is that we aren't settled on God's way for our life. We keep trying to pick a good way that will allow us to still be in charge of our own life and make us and others happy.
James 1:7-8
Matthew 7:13-14
Doubt in Greek means to stand separated from oneself. Implies a sort of paralyzing indecision.
Double-minded means "two-souled"...pulled apart in different directions; divided by loyalties and priorities.
Unstable is used to describe a drunk who is staggering about as though he is dizzy...unable to coordinate his mind with the reality that faces him.
The root of the problem is that we don't have a core set of beliefs that guide us. We mix and match a little of what God says, our own feelings, the advice of our friends and family, and pick and choose from the trends and patterns of the culture around us.
Our problem is that we aren't settled on God's way for our life. We keep trying to pick a good way that will allow us to still be in charge of our own life and make us and others happy.
James 1:7-8
BSB
7 That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
8 He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
BSB
Matthew 7:13-14
BSB
13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
BSB
Second: The PRESCRIPTION - We need to get GODLY wisdom, not just GOOD wisdom.
James 1:5a
Proverbs 2:6
God alone is all-knowing or Omniscient. As humans we are limited in what we know and our decisions, even with the best of intentions, are colored by our own nature.
We live in a culture that values the gathering of information. But it's also a culture that is impatient and wants instant self-gratification. We generally don't want to spend the time or pay the price to gain wisdom.
Our inherent sin nature wants what it wants and so we settle for what's good for us, even if it isn't Godly or wise.
There are two primary sources to gaining wisdom. God's Word and God's Will...through prayer.
James 1:5a
Proverbs 2:6
God alone is all-knowing or Omniscient. As humans we are limited in what we know and our decisions, even with the best of intentions, are colored by our own nature.
We live in a culture that values the gathering of information. But it's also a culture that is impatient and wants instant self-gratification. We generally don't want to spend the time or pay the price to gain wisdom.
Our inherent sin nature wants what it wants and so we settle for what's good for us, even if it isn't Godly or wise.
There are two primary sources to gaining wisdom. God's Word and God's Will...through prayer.
James 1:5
BSB
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
BSB
Proverbs 2:6
BSB
6 For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
BSB
Third: The PROMISE - We will receive WISDOM when we seek it God's WAY.
James 1:5-6
Ask is an imperative verb in the Greek. Our calling on the Lord for wisdom is not an option, it is mandatory!
In verse 5 we see the character of God:
- He is generous and non-judgmental in nature
- He delights in giving wisdom to us
The Lord expects that we must act upon what we ask for. Belief and faith in the Bible are always active...not passive.
James 1:5-6
Ask is an imperative verb in the Greek. Our calling on the Lord for wisdom is not an option, it is mandatory!
In verse 5 we see the character of God:
- He is generous and non-judgmental in nature
- He delights in giving wisdom to us
The Lord expects that we must act upon what we ask for. Belief and faith in the Bible are always active...not passive.
James 1:5-6
BSB
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
BSB
The implication is clear, if we want to make Godly decisions, then we must ask Him for wisdom, and then do exactly what He shows us to do.
The Bible clearly teaches that our decisions are an act of our will.
Psalm 119:30 [NLT]
The Bible clearly teaches that our decisions are an act of our will.
Psalm 119:30 [NLT]
Psalms 119:30
BSB
30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have set Your ordinances before me.
BSB
Over the next two weeks, we'll look at some principles for making decisions that honor God, bring His blessings to our life, and reflect a Godly lifestyle to others.
