Have you ever heard someone talk about finding and following God’s will for your life? If you’ve spent much time around church at all, chances are you have! And when you did, you probably found yourself thinking one of two things: What in the world does that even mean? Or, How do I know what God’s will is? Finding and following God’s will seems like one of those things only super-committed Christians or really important church leaders have figured out. But the truth is that God has big things He hopes and wants for all of us, and you don’t have to be a Christian for 10 years or work at a church to figure out what those things are. Because of Jesus, we all not only have the ability to understand what God wants for our lives, but also the power to accomplish it. As we look one more time to the book of Hebrews this week, we’ll see that with Jesus’ help we can access God’s will for our lives and understand how He has uniquely equipped each one of us to live it out every day.

Share a high and a low from the past week.

What are some of the first things that come to mind (positive or negative) when you hear someone talking about God’s will for your life?
In what ways can the idea of God’s will for your life seem confusing or unclear?

You were equipped to do God’s will. What are some of the things that you believe you were “equipped” with?
How do you think someone figures out God’s will for their life?
How do you think the way God has wired you fits into His will for your life?
The same God that raised Jesus from the dead has given you all access to Him right now. How could that affect the way you approach your life?
What’s one way you could use your intelligence, personality, and words to love and help other people?

We thank you, God, for coming to us as a neighbor, a stranger, an immigrant, binding our wounds and carrying us to safety, so that we might love you with all our heart, soul, and mind, and welcome the stranger, loving our neighbor as ourselves.

Have you ever been tempted by something? Maybe you’ve been trying to watch what you eat, but then suddenly you find yourself in front of a giant bowl of ice cream that seemed to be calling your name. Maybe you’ve stumbled upon the Christmas presents hidden in your parents’ room and found yourself fighting the urge to open them early. Or maybe you’ve found yourself facing a temptation with bigger consequences, like gossip, cheating, or lying. Big or small, we all know what temptation feels like. We know what it feels like to face something we know we shouldn’t do, yet still want to do it. And if we’re being honest, most of us would probably admit that we’ve given in to that temptation because we simply couldn’t take it any more. Our willpower just ran out. So what do we do? How do we stop giving in and saying yes when we feel like we don’t have the power to say no? Believe it or not, Jesus himself knows exactly what it’s like to face temptation. He knows how we feel. As we look at the way Jesus handled temptation, we’ll see that we have all access to His help as we stand our ground against temptation.

Share a high and a low from the past week.

Define temptation. What are some examples of things that could tempt someone?
What are some of the worst parts of giving in to temptation?
Why do we sometimes give in to temptation even though…
     …we know we shouldn’t?
     …we know we’ll feel guilty afterwards?
What are some excuses people make when they give in to temptation?

Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 

Romans 8:11 NLT 
The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. 

What are some benefits you experience when you resist temptation?
What does it look like to take your temptation to Jesus?
How can you enlist the help of other people when you feel tempted?

O God our Father, we thank you that today you have called us to worship you and learn of you. You alone know our needs. Satisfy them with your unchanging love. In your presence may we find comfort in sorrow, guidance in perplexity, strength to meet temptation, grace to overcome the fascination of disobedience, and courage to face up to the hostility of this rebellious world. Above all, may we meet Jesus and go out from our worship indwelt by his spirit. This prayer we ask to your glory and in his name. Amen.