Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Craft Your 5-Year Plan

Introduction:

Goal for 2024: I will - ___

How to Craft Your 5-Year Plan (James 4:13-17)

  1. You need to know what you Don't Know . (Jas 4:13-14)
    1. You don't know what is going to Happen tomorrow. (Jas 4:14a)

      Proverbs 27:1 - Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

    2. You don't know if you will Have a tomorrow. (Jas 4:14b)
  2. You need to stop the Self-Confidence . (Jas 4:15-16)

    Numbers 20:10-12 - Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, "Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?" And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them."

  3. You need to do whatever God says - ASAP . (Jas 4:17)
  4. You need to acknowledge God has the Final Say . (Jas 4:15)

    Acts 18:21 - I will return to you again if God wills.

    1 Corinthians 4:19 - I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills.

    1 Corinthians 16:5-7 - I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

    Philippians 1:20 - as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANK
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Small Group Discussion
Read James 4:13-17

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. Did you make a 2024 New Year’s Resolution? What are some resolutions you made in the past?

  3. Is James saying it is wrong to make plans? Why or why not?

  4. Explain why making plans apart from God is “arrogant” and “evil” (Jas 4:16). Why is this such a serious sin?

  5. Is there anything you know God wants you to do, but you’ve been putting it off? What is keeping you from obeying God today?

Breakout
Pray for one another to make your 2024 plans in the way that acknowledges God in all things.