Small Group Guide

September 7

Application Questions:

1. Fear of Man or Fear of God?

  • Prov. 29:25 — “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
    Am I more concerned about what people think of me than what God thinks of me?

2. Future Anxiety Check

  • Matt. 6:34 — “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”
    What specific future fears am I holding onto instead of entrusting them to the Lord?

3. Plans in Pencil

  • James 4:15 — “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
    Do I make my plans in pencil, ready to let God’s eraser change them?

4. Prepared to Move?

  • Neh. 2:7–8 — Nehemiah had plans ready if God opened the door.
    If God opened the door tomorrow, would I be ready—or would I need to scramble?

5. Idle Faith or Active Faith?

  • Phil. 2:19 — Paul hoped in the Lord but still made preparation.
    Do I confuse trusting God with doing nothing? Am I preparing faithfully while I wait?

6. Letting Go of Control

  • Acts 16:6–7 — The Spirit redirected Paul’s plans.
    Am I willing to accept God’s redirection when my good plans are interrupted?

7. Submitting to Sovereignty

  • Prov. 16:9 — “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.”
    Do I truly believe God’s detours are part of His perfect plan?

8. Trust in Trial

  • Job 1:21 — “The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
    When God erases my plans through loss or suffering, do I still worship Him?

9. Courage Over Fear

  • 2 Tim. 1:7 — “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
    Am I allowing fear, insecurity, or shame to keep me from obeying God?

10. Daily Surrender

  • Ps. 37:5 — “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
    Each day, do I commit my future, my family, my work, and my health to the Lord—or do I cling to control?

Outline:

Title: Planning without Fear
Text: Philippians 2:19–24

Introduction:

  • Timothy as an example of genuine concern, but also one who struggled with fear and insecurity.

  • Like Timothy, we often wrestle with the fear of man and anxieties about the future.

Main Points:

  1. Trusting your future to the Lord means you can plan while you wait for open doors (v. 19, 23).

    • Paul makes plans in pencil, preparing for when God opens the door.

    • Faith is not laziness.

  2. Trusting your future to the Lord means you hold your plans loosely (v. 19).

    • Paul’s hope is “in the Lord Jesus.”

    • We must submit our plans to God’s will.

  3. Trusting your future to the Lord means you submit to His sovereignty (vv. 23–24).

    • God directs steps even when our plans are erased.

    • True trust submits to God’s wisdom, even in suffering.

Conclusion:

  • Like Timothy, we may struggle with fear and insecurity, but we can overcome it by trusting our future to Christ as Lord.

  • Our pencil plans must always bow to God’s sovereign eraser.