Synopsis: Stupid decisions lead to bad outcomes. It is inevitable, we mess up. But if we are to live life to the fullest, we must take risks. So how do we recover when we make a bad decision? Own it, confess it to God. Repent, change direction, don’t keep doing the same thing. Then know your weaknesses and don’t hang out with those who will encourage that same bad behavior. You create transparency. Ask what would happen if everyone saw your decisions. Finally, make the exchange Jesus offers. His grace for our messes.

Synopsis: If we can define and refine how we make good decisions, we can become good risk takers. But what do we do when we work the “process,” but the potential outcomes are still a little unclear. We want to look today at the golden buzzer for good decisions and the poison bill for bad decisions. As we said it is imperative to invite God into our decision making. Then there are propositions to think through as we work toward and make a decision. The golden buzzer (Phil. 2:3) takes interest in others as well. Focus on others rather than yourself. The poison pill is just the opposite, make it all about you (James 4:6).

Synopsis: God gave Joseph the privilege and responsibility of serving as the earthly father — parent, provider, protector, teacher — of his Son, Jesus. A challenging and sacred calling that required great sacrifice and great trust and reliance on God. The men who father us are given the same privilege and responsibility– fathering God’s children on earth. Also a sacred calling that requires great sacrifice and great trust and reliance on God.

Synopsis: If you are going to grow, you must be willing to take risks. However, can you limit your risk? It is a skill you can learn. It begins with inviting God into the process. If we do, He promises to guide us. Today we will learn a way to deal with four propositions that help us better understand potential outcomes. Desire, opportunity, power, and expectation. Proverbs 13:16 tells us “Wise people think before they act; fools don’t.” Proverbs 14:8 says, “The prudent understand where they are going, but fools deceive themselves.”

Synopsis: We are constantly making decisions. What role am I going to play as dad in my kid’s life? Is it republican, democrat or independent? How much will I let God into the details of my life? Yet we never know who or what hangs in the balance of our decision. But our decision does determine the direct and the quality of our lives. Bad decision affects us but they also can affect others. Think about you own family, parents, and grandparents; if they would have made different decisions, how would that have impacted you? Truth is we can’t look down the line and ever know how our decision will affect others. All decisions have consequences, all have risks. We never reach our potential unless we are willing to take risks. Farmers who watch for perfect weather will never plant a crop (Solomon) and will never have a harvest. Jesus told a story about taking risks. In the end Jesus tells us that all of us must take on responsibility and assume risk if we are to harvest the potential He has for us.

Synopsis: Grace is the most incredible gift we can ever receive. We can’t buy it or earn it, it is a free gift. But grace is not something we get to put on a shelf for display. God has a plan for our lives and he gives us grace so he can lean on it in our lives to mold us and shape us and to impact the lives of others. He wants us to understand we are his son and daughter.