This sermon is based on Romans 8: 28, 31-35 NRSV

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose… What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ³³ Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”                       

Questions to consider: 

What is your biggest concern right now?

What was your biggest concern or fear a year ago?  Has that resolved?

Sermon notes: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves?

The Ten Commandments

1.You shall have no other gods before me

2.You shall not make a graven image of God

3.You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain

4.Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy

5.Honor your father and mother

6.You shall not murder

7.You shall not commit adultery

8.You shall not steal

9.You shall not bear false witness

10.You shall not covet anything of your neighbor’s, not their spouse, not their stuff and not those who serve them.

1. “God helps those who help themselves” is not in the Bible.

^“0 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat.”¹¹ We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. ¹² Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat.”      2 Thessalonians 3:10-12  New Revised Standard Version

2.God helps those who help themselves is not in the Bible.  But the concept that we are to work and pray is.

^“27 True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties…”       James 1:27 Common English Version

3.Scripture does encourage us to help others: which means God does help those who cannot help themselves.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no on may boast.”  Ephesians 2: 8-9 NRSV

4.Sometimes we cannot help ourselves not because we are poor or destitute or lack resources, but because we have been captured by habits, hang-ups or hurts that prevent us from reaching our full potential as God’s children.

Scriptures

Don’t be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you can figure out what God’s will is—what is good and pleasing and mature.

Romans 12:2 Common English Bible (CEB) version

Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God;                    

Colossians 1:9-10  CEB

 Sermon Notes

1.   Problems with God scripting our every move include:

• Is God responsible for all the bad things that happen. Then God is not loving, merciful and just as the Bible says.
• What is the purpose of life?  Robots doing exactly what God asks them to do for millions of years is not much of a purpose
• If God has planned everything we do why is evil frowned upon?

2.   The Plan: What if the “Plan” is more that you and I will be in collaboration with God in creating the script that is our life?  God’s will is always that we make the faithful choice.

3.   When people collaborate with God amazing God-incidences do happen.