The Bible guides our fellowship in all that we do. The Bible is our compass and lamp unto our path.
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Forgiveness is hard for each of us but it can never happen without Love.
Read MoreI would like to thank you for being a part of the Jinan International Christian Fellowship family whether you are presently in Jinan or some where around the globe. I would like to encourage you to reach out to us if you are in need of spiritual guidance or just feel like you need someone to chat with. Often times we may feel that we are in this battle all alone but we are not. It is important that you find a prayer partner with whom you can share both your cares and joys. I once read that sharing a problem cuts it in half and sharing joys doubles the pleasure,
Please read or listen to the sermons being presented on this site and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask or comment and we will be sure to reply as soon as possible.
May God richly bless you as the students here in Jinan get ready for the start of the new school term. Again do not be a stranger… Just reach out to us.
Blessings
Pastor Joe
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CloseSermon: Praying for Direction Basic Sermon Information Sermon Theme: Praying for God’s Direction in Every Season of Life Duration: 45 minutes (structured opening, exposition, application, altar call, closing) Main Scripture (Core Text): Proverbs 3:5–6 (NKJV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Old Testament Supporting Scriptures • Psalm 25:4–5: “Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; all day long I wait for You.” • Isaiah 30:21: “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.” • Psalm 143:8: “Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.” New Testament Supporting Scriptures • James 1:5–6: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.” • John 16:13: “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” • Luke 22:42: “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” • Philippians 4:6–7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to you God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Lesson Objectives By the end of this sermon, every believer will be able to: 1. Understand God’s promise of guidance: Recognize that God actively desires to lead His children, and directional uncertainty is not a failure of God, but a call to intentional prayer and trust. 2. Identify biblical barriers to direction: Discern how self-reliance, doubt, impatience, and unsubmitted will block God’s guidance in daily life. 3. Practice biblical prayer for direction: Master the simple, scriptural pattern of trusting fully, surrendering completely, asking faithfully, and waiting patiently for God’s leading. 4. Walk in obedient alignment: Commit to acknowledging God in every decision, big or small, and live in confidence of God’s directed paths. Sermon Outline & Manuscript 1. Opening & Life is full of crossroads. We face decisions about careers, relationships, family moves, financial choices, spiritual steps, and even daily priorities. Every single day, we wonder: Which way should I go? What choice is right? What is God’s will for me? Many believers live in unnecessary confusion. They think God’s direction is hidden, rare, or only for “super spiritual” Christians. But the Bible tells a different story. God is a guiding God. He does not leave His children wandering in the dark. The problem is not that God refuses to lead us—it is that we often fail to pray for direction in His biblical way. Today, through God’s Word from both the Old and New Testaments, we will learn how to pray for clear, certain, God-given direction. Our anchor verse, Proverbs 3:5–6, is the foundation of every godly decision and every guided step of faith. Read Main Scripture: Proverbs 3:5–6 2. The Old Testament Pattern of Praying for Direction The Old Testament is filled with faithful men and women who faced uncertainty and learned to cry out to God for guidance. Their prayers give us a timeless model for our own lives. First, look at Psalm 25:4–5. David was a king, a warrior, and a leader, yet he never trusted his own wisdom. His prayer is humble and specific: Show me Your ways, teach me Your paths, guide me in Your truth. David understood a vital truth: our ways are not God’s ways. Our limited human perspective cannot see the future, the consequences of our choices, or God’s perfect plan. True direction starts with admitting our blindness and asking God to reveal His way. Second, Isaiah 30:21 gives us a precious promise: God’s voice will guide us constantly. He does not guide us only once in a lifetime. He speaks in our daily choices, our turning points, our small and big decisions. The problem is not that God is silent, but that we are often too busy, too self-reliant, or too anxious to listen. Third, Psalm 143:8 teaches us to seek God’s direction daily. David prayed for God’s guidance every morning. Direction is not a one-time answer; it is a daily walk with God. When we begin each day by surrendering our plans and asking for His leading, we position ourselves to walk in His perfect path all day long. Old Testament Key Takeaway: God’s direction is for the humble, trusting, seeking heart. Self-reliance blinds us; prayerful dependence opens our eyes to God’s perfect leading. 3. The New Testament Standard for Godly Direction (12 minutes) The New Testament elevates our understanding of divine direction through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit. We no longer follow external signs alone—we have the Spirit of God living inside us to guide us into all truth. James 1:5–6 is the definitive New Testament verse for wisdom and direction. God gives wisdom generously and without reproach. He never grows tired of us asking for guidance. But there is one condition: we must ask in faith, without doubting. Doubt keeps us from receiving God’s direction because it relies on our own reasoning instead of God’s faithfulness. When we doubt, we remain tossed by life’s winds and never settle into God’s perfect plan. John 16:13 reveals our permanent guide: the Holy Spirit. The world offers confusing advice, social media offers conflicting opinions, and our flesh offers selfish desires. But the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth. He will never lead us contrary to God’s Word. Prayer for direction is ultimately inviting the Holy Spirit to rule our choices, correct our mistakes, and order our steps. Luke 22:42 shows us Jesus’ ultimate prayer of direction. In His darkest hour, Jesus surrendered His own will to the Father’s will. All true godly direction begins with surrender. We cannot receive God’s path if we are clinging to our own plans, our own timeline, or our own desires. Prayer for direction is not asking God to bless our way—it is asking God to show us His way. Philippians 4:6–7 adds peace as the confirmation of God’s direction. When we pray with thanksgiving and surrender our anxiety, God’s supernatural peace guards our hearts and minds. That unexplainable peace is God’s internal confirmation that we are walking in His directed path. New Testament Key Takeaway: Believers have immediate, constant access to God’s wisdom through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Direction comes through faithful asking, full surrender, and Spirit-led obedience. 4. Three Barriers to Receiving God’s Direction (8 minutes) Why do so many believers struggle to hear God’s direction? The Bible identifies three common barriers: First: Leaning on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). We trust our logic, our experience, our feelings, or others’ opinions more than we trust God. Human understanding is limited and fallen; it will always lead us astray without God’s guidance. Second: Unwillingness to surrender your will. Many of us pray for direction with a hidden agenda: we want God to confirm what we already want. Surrender means letting go of our preferences and choosing God’s plan regardless of cost or comfort. Third: Doubt and impatience. We ask God for direction but then rush ahead in our own timing, or doubt that He will answer. God’s guidance often comes step by step, not all at once. Faith waits, trusts, and obeys one step at a time. 5. How to Pray for Direction (Practical Application, 5 minutes) Use this simple, biblical prayer pattern for every decision: 1. Surrender fully: “Lord, I lay down my plans, my understanding, and my desires.” 2. Ask faithfully: “Grant me Your wisdom and make Your path clear.” (James 1:5) 3. Acknowledge Him completely: “I acknowledge You in this choice, and I trust You to direct my steps.” (Proverbs 3:6) 4. Wait and obey: Submit to the Holy Spirit’s leading and walk in the peace He provides. 6. Sermon Summary God desires to lead every believer in every season of life, and prayer is His ordained way for us to receive His clear direction. The Old Testament establishes that God guides the humble, seeking heart that renounces self-reliance and cries out for His paths. The New Testament confirms that through Jesus’ surrender and the indwelling Holy Spirit, we have constant access to God’s generous wisdom and truth. The greatest barriers to divine direction are leaning on human understanding, clinging to personal will, and doubting God’s faithful provision. When we pray in full surrender, unwavering faith, and daily dependence, God promises to direct our paths, guide our steps, and confirm His will through supernatural peace. Praying for direction is not a last-resort practice for confusing moments; it is a daily lifestyle of trusting God above all human wisdom, ensuring every area of our lives aligns with His perfect purpose.
| Sermon: Praying for Direction | Joe Summers | August 16, 2026 | Watch | ||
| Why are you Here | Joe Summers | July 5, 2026 | Watch | ||
| Called to Lead: Serving with Humility, | Joe Summers | June 14, 2026 | Watch | ||
| Resisting Temptations | Joe Summers | June 7, 2026 | Watch | ||
| Here I am send me | Joe Summers | May 31, 2026 | Watch |
Church News
You have reached the website for Jinan International Christian Fellowship. We are a group of foreigners who come together to worship and praise the Lord. We meet each Sunday afternoon at San… which is located…. . In compliance with Chinese law only those individuals with foreign passports or their spouses can worship with us.
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Click here for a summary of the lesson from Sunday June 1, 2025. https://jinanicf.com/sunday-sermon-summary/
