DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES HOPEOur &FutureHope Future study number one Copyright ©2013 Lutheran Women’s Missionary League P.O. Box 411993 St. Louis, MO 63141-1993 800-252-LWML (5965) Fax: 314-268-1532 Email: [email protected] Website: www.lwml.org # 68940 DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES HOPE Our Future Hope &study number one A Study of Jeremiah 29:11-12 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come Futureand pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Lesson One - God’s Plans Lesson Two - Prosperity and Protection Lesson Three - Hope and a Future Lesson Four - Call Upon the Name of the Lord Note: Bible references are from the New International Version (NIV), unless otherwise noted. 3 DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES God’s Plans LessonFor I knowOne the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD (Jeremiah 29:11a). Making plans takes up a sizeable portion of our time, doesn’t it? We make plans to travel, attend perfor- mances or shows, outline ministry goals, take family vacations, outline career strategies, and on and on. Each time we enter a new year, the lure of planning every aspect of our lives is tempting. Plans to eat right, exercise more often, stick to a financial budget, engage in more family activities, spend daily time in God’s Word, devote time to regular prayer, and so much more. Making plans is not a bad thing. In fact, careful planning is a necessary step to achieving any long-term goal. But if our plans don’t line up with what God has planned for us, we are in for an arduous journey. At the end of the day, no matter how many lists or plans we’ve created, they will not come to fruition if God has a different plan for us. God knows the plans He has for us. He has the “big picture” so to speak. So how do we discern God’s plans? Take a moment to write out Jeremiah 29:11-12 Now read these verses aloud. These verses are our memory verses for this study. I encourage you to write them on index cards and place them in various locations where you spend the most time. In this first week, we are studying Jeremiah 29:11a, which states: For“ I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD. God has created each and every one of us with a specific plan and purpose. The King James Version of the Bible translates this verse as: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you.” God is the initiator of our relationship with Him. God thinks about us - He thinks towards us. And He has plans for us. He has wired us with every gift and talent we need to accomplish what He created us to accomplish for Him. He knows the plans because He gave us the tools to fulfill them. God knows the plans He has for us. So, if God knows His plans, what else does God know according to Scripture? 4 DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES Isaiah 55:8-9 Psalm 40:5 God knows all plans because He is omniscient. Omniscience means that God fully knows Himself and all things actual and possible – past, present and future. God knows all His works, for He knows His thoughts, and His works agree exactly with His thoughts. He does everything according to the counsel of His will. He knows and sees all things: 1 John 3:20b Job 28:24 Psalm 139:1-3 Psalm 147:5 Romans 11:33-34 Hebrews 4:13 So what does that mean to us as we travel along our Christian journey? All of God’s thoughts and ac- tions are perfectly informed by perfect knowledge, so He is perfectly trustworthy. Pause for a moment and let that sink in. There is no one else who is perfectly trustworthy except God. No one. With that in mind, we can whole- heartedly trust that God’s plans will be for our good and His glory. 5 DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES So how can we discern God’s plans? As we undertake the discovery process, note that Scripture often- times doesn’t refer to our individual situations, but offers us an overview of the relationship that God desires with us. Let’s look at three specific ways that will aid us in discovering God’s plans for our lives: 1) We are guided by God’s Word. The Word of God is the sole norm for faith, life, and practice. It is the precise tool for discernment in all things. The Bible helps us understand the overall way that God relates with us. Understanding this reality as we dig into God’s Word is vital. As we learn more about God’s character and teachings in His Word, the closer we are drawn to God. That knowledge enables and equips us to more accurately discern His direction for us. What does John 14:23 tell us? 2) We are guided by seeking input from those around us. When we need direction and guidance in our lives, our independence can be a sizeable stumbling block. For nearly every decision we face, someone else has faced a similar decision. When God called me to launch a Bible teaching/writing ministry, I sought the wise counsel of trusted Christian friends who were already serving in full-time ministry. They were able to not only confirm that they saw that calling and equipping in my life, but also provided invaluable input and wisdom regarding what to expect, how to effectively manage my time, and resources for sound Biblical interpretation and writing. By opening up and listening to the input of others, I was able to more effectively hear and see where God was directing my path. By listening carefully to the wisdom of Christian counsel and breaking the habit of inde- pendence, the practice of being open to God’s leading became less intimidating. The apostles demonstrated this discipline as they met to figure out how to serve meals to the needy in the growing church. See Acts 6:1-4. 3) We are guided by how God wired us. Much like a house wired for electricity God has wired each of us with certain talents and gifts. If you excel in a certain area or areas, it’s a very good indicator that God has designed you uniquely with a purpose toward that area. When I first began going to church, I wanted to serve in a ministry -- but which one to choose? Having been raised in a musical family and nurtured with a great love for music, I decided to join the choir. Even though I had played flute since fifth grade and loved instrumental music, the only singing I had ever done was singing along with the radio. What I thought would be just an avenue to serve the Lord on Sunday morning turned into a service that I 6 DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES could not have fully imagined. Through singing with the worship team in various capacities at church, God has given me the great privilege to serve newlyweds, grieving families, and those who simply desire to worship God for who He is and what He has done in their lives. The way God has gifted us is a path to realizing God’s unique plan for us: Psalm 139:14 Ephesians 2:10 Self-study and talking with other Christians can often aide in recognizing the gifts and talents that God has bestowed on you to use for His glory. There are many books (some of which contain tests) that can help you discover your gifts. God gives us gifts with a kingdom purpose. Let’s bring this closer to home. Do you know how God has wired you? Take a minute to list the gift(s) that you believe God has given you: How are you currently using those gifts in His kingdom work? Let’s review our Bible memory verses for this study. Write out Jeremiah 29:11-12 once more: Discerning God’s plans for our life isn’t easy. His Word is ‘the’ tool that enables discernment when using the many tools He provides to see the clear picture. God leads us through His Word, input from others, and how He has uniquely wired us. Using those tools to discover God’s plans requires diligence. That diligence is rewarded by a fulfilling fruitful spiritual walk that can make a kingdom difference. 7 DONNA PYLE BIBLE STUDY SERIES Close with prayer: Father, thank You for every good gift You have given me. It is astounding to know that You think toward me, Lord. I pray for a discerning heart to discover and know the plans that You have for my life and a way to use them to point others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Prosperity and Protection Lesson “PlansTwo to prosper you and not to harm you.” (Jeremiah 29:11b Part 1) When I was a child, if I wasn’t nice to someone, didn’t do what I was asked to do, or flat out disobeyed, I have vivid recollections of various grown-ups saying, “God will get you for that.” Whether it was my parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or some other older adult, that phrase stuck with me.