Pre-Decide – When You Want to Give Up

(Message 5) Do you feel overwhelmed? Have you been tempted to throw in the towel and give up? Then you’ll want to be sure to hear this message, “Pre-Decide – When You Want to Give Up” #GCPreDecide

The quality of our decisions determines the quality of our lives.

When faced with ________,

I have pre-decided to ________.

When I commit, I won’t quit. I am a finisher.

Instead of accepting the process, we abandon the process.

FINISH WHAT YOU’VE STARTED

If I’m not dead, I’m not done!

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Key Scripture:

Matthew 26:39 (NLT)

39 He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Matthew 26:42 (NLT)

42 Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.”

John 19:30 (NLT)

30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

2 Timothy 4:5 (NLT)

5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.

Romans 8:11 (NLT)

11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.

Discuss a time when you completed something, or didn’t quit, even when you really wanted to give up.

Start sharing. These questions are to help get your group thinking and to create openness.

Read Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42 and John 19:30. What is the importance of Jesus’ commitment to the completion of the Father’s will?
“When I commit, I won’t quit. I am a finisher”. In what types of situations have those statements been true in your life? In what types of situations have they not been true? Is there a pattern?
What were the impacts to yourself and to others when you’ve given up? How about the impacts when you’ve persevered and completed something?
Discuss the difference between giving up on something and changing your mind.
Read 2 Timothy 4:5, Romans 8:11, and Philippians 1:6. What is Paul trying to tell his audience in each of these passages? What changes can you choose to make that will help you finish in a way that will bring resolution at the same that it brings glory to God in your life and/or the lives of others?
When faced with _______, I have pre-decided to ________. Does filling in those blanks cause you to pause and consider, or can you think of answers immediately? Pray as you consider your life right now and allow God to show you His answers for those blanks. Fill in or adjust accordingly.

Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.

Use the fill in the blank exercise above to pre-decide, to cultivate commitment to one practice you know will help you carry out the ministry God has given you.

Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.

Pray over your decision making and obedience to God’s will for your life. Ask Him to help your small group to hold each other accountable, to help each other run the race well.

Start digging. For further study.