FINDING GOD IN THE DETOURS

When facing the detours:

1. Push Through

Acts 21:10-11 (NLT) – “Several days later a man named Agabus, who also had the gift of prophecy, arrived from Judea. He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, ‘The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.

Acts 21:12-13 (NLT) – “When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But he said, ‘Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.’”

2 Timothy 2:9 (NLT) – “And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the Word of God cannot be chained.”

 

2. Don’t Let The World Define You

Colossians 3:10-11 (NLT) – “Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.”

 

3. Step Into Leadership

Acts 27:10 (NLT) – “’Men,’ he said, ‘I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.’”

Acts 27:21-22 (NLT) – “No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.’”

 

4. Be an Agent of Hope

Acts 27: 33-36 (NLT) – “Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. ‘You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,’ he said. ‘Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.’”

Acts 27: 35-36 (NLT) – “Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat.”

Romans 8:28 (NLT) – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.”

“Paul could look at a bleak situation and anticipate good to come out.” – Ajith Fernando

Acts 28:7-9 (NLT) – “Near the shore where we landed was an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and treated us kindly for three days.”

Acts 28:8-9 (NLT) – “As it happened, Publius’s father was ill with fever and dysentery. Paul went in and prayed for him, and laying his hands on him, he healed him. Then all the other sick people on the island came and were healed.”

Acts 28:15 (NLT) – “The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.”

Acts 28:30-31 (NIV) – “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!”

 

Discussion Questions:

1. Share of a time when you faced a detour.

2. Share your first response. Did you start out in a negative place?

3. Have you ever taken that detour to the Lord and found a larger perspective that you can press forward toward?

4. Can you think of a time when you have seen the world or circumstances define you (or someone else)?

5. Can you think of a place God may be inviting you to step into increased leadership, or to speak out in some way?

6. Take time to talk about how to grow in the skill of anticipating the goodness of God even in terrible life detours.

7. Do you speak hope into detour situations?

8. Do you have people in your life who speak hope into you?