THRIVE: A Field Guide to Uncertain Times

Written by Ed Allen
 Sunday, 25 January 2009 09:00

Sermons - THRIVE: A Field Guide to Uncertain Times

thrive - a field guide for uncertain times
mp3

Sermon Notes

Psalm 90

What are the odds?

Interesting odds from Roger Schlaifer's book “What Are the Odds? The Odds On Everything Book”

  1. In car crashes where cell phones are a factor, what are the odds a woman is behind the wheel?
    1. 1 to 1
    2. 2 to 1
    3. 5 to 1
  2. Which of these appliances is most likely to get someone electrocuted?
    1. Air conditioner
    2. Hair dryer
    3. Electric drill
  3. A sleepwalking episode is most likely to last approximately how long?
    1. 60 seconds
    2. 6 minutes
    3. 16 minutes
  4. Based on bankruptcies in New York state, in which industry are you most likely to go bust in the first year?
    1. Plumbing
    2. Trucking
    3. Restaurants
  5. What are the chances that an American woman has asked a man out on a date?
    1. 4 in 10
    2. 6 in 10
    3. 8 in 10
  6. What is the chance an American is at least 100 years old?
    1. 1 in 5,000
    2. 1 in 50,000
    3. 1 in 500,000
  7. What are the chances that someone alive in the world today has never made a phone call?
    1. 2 in 3
    2. 2 in 300
    3. 2 in 3,000
Answers: 1) B; 2) A; 3) B; 4) A; 5) A; 6) A; 7) A

We Live In Uncertain Times. How do you handle uncertainty?

1. Thriving in uncertain times begins with choosing to believe right information about God.

"Lord, you have been our dwelling place …"God is a place of rest and security.
"throughout all generations …"God is constant.
"...You brought forth the earth and the world..."God is the original source.
"Before the mountains were born ... from everlasting to everlasting ..."God is eternal.
"You are God!"God is unchanging.
"You turn men back to dust..."God is sovereign.
"For a thousand years in Your sight are like a day that has just gone by..."God is timeless. He exists outside of time and space.
God is the judge; and a fearsome judge.
God is also a gracious provider.
“The study of God is the most practical project anyone can engage in. Knowing about God is crucially important for the living of our lives. As it would be cruel to an Amazonian tribesman to fly him to London, put him down without explanation in Trafalgar Square and leave him, as one who knew nothing of English or England, to fend for himself, so we are cruel to ourselves if we try to live in this world without knowing about the God whose world it is and who runs it.”
–J.I. Packer from “Knowing God”

2. So, think right thoughts about God.

  • Think right thoughts about God (Philippians 4:4-8)
  • Think right thoughts about God
    • Think about disciplining yourself to think about what is and what should be.
  • Apply those thoughts to your life and circumstances.

Small Group Questions

Opening Question:

Does knowing the mathematical odds about the chance of something bad happening to you or your family help relieve you from worry and fear? Why or why not? Or, what is your initial tendency when you’re unsure of an outcome (e.g., do something, worry, distract yourself, go over mentally all the possibilities, be content, etc.)? How has this been constructive or not constructive in light of the outcome?

  1. What are the uncertainties that you see in your life or the life of your family? In our church? What is your honest expectation at this time about how you’re doing to get through this? How we’re going to get through this?
  2. How do you respond to J.I. Packer’s bold statement, “The study of God is the most practical project anyone can get involved in”? Why do you think this is a surprising, and perhaps unfamiliar, statement for many?
  3. What attributes–qualities or characteristics inherent in someone–of God are addressed in Psalm 90:1-2? What images are invoked to express this, and how does this help quantify or visualize this?
  4. What are the attributes recognized in vv. 3-6? How intentional or active is God in the death of a life? How comfortable is this assertion for you? What difference does this make in the way you view your life?
  5. What are the attributes described in vv. 7-11? What does Moses find so frightening in v. 8? How does he characterize our life and to what does he attribute such characterization?
  6. What is Moses’ conclusion for us, therefore, in v. 12? Read Proverbs 9:10. What does the author insist is necessary to be wise? How would you measure wisdom in light of this in your life?
  7. What is his response to the Lord he’s been encountering in v. 13? How does he see himself and his people, and what does this tell you about his posture as he makes this plea?
  8. What are the things he asks for in vv. 14-17? What characterizes his appeal? To what characteristics of God does he appeal, and how does this strengthen his appeal? Which of the things identified or the characteristics of God do you long to see in your or your family’s life in this time?
  9. What attribute or aspect of God’s character has been most challenged in your life in recent weeks, and what difference has this made practically? How have you responded to this so far? What difference would it make for you to stand firm on the truth of this about God? What is one habit you can commit to in order to stand on this truth, e.g.,
    • affirm it before God each morning,
    • have someone remind you of this each week,
    • read Scriptures that proclaim or elaborate on this,
    • memorize a Scripture that proclaim this,
    • sing a song regularly that declares this, etc.
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