God Planned, Part 3: Not What I Thought

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

What do we do when God says ?

Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

What do we do when doesn’t look the way we thought it would?

Luke 2:7

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

What do we do when God’s plan is full of ?

Luke 1:26-27

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

Small Group Questions

1. What were some of your favorite holiday traditions growing up?
2. Tell us about a time when God’s timeline was different than yours. What did you do in the waiting? How did you keep your faith?
3. How can cultivating a spirit of gratitude help us see God’s hand even when things don’t go as planned?
4. There is inevitably a tension between making plans and surrendering those plans to God. Have you found a way to strike a balance between responsible planning and yielding to God’s perfect plan?
5. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?