Message: “No More Excuses – Trusting God’s Call” from Joe Summers

Joe Summers - May 18, 2025

"No More Excuses – Trusting God's Call"

Lesson Title: "No More Excuses – Trusting God's Call" Objective: To explore how excuses can prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose and how scripture encourages overcoming them with faith and obedience. Scripture: Luke 14:16-24 ________________________________________ Lesson Outline 1. Introduction Excuses can hinder faith, growth, and obedience to God.. • “What are some common excuses people use when avoiding responsibilities?” • How excuses can impact our faith and obedience. • Making excuses is a barrier to God's work in our lives. • Luke 14:16-24 (The Parable of the Great Banquet) – People gave excuses instead of accepting the invitation. 2. Biblical Examples of Excuses • Adam & Eve (Genesis 3:11-13) – Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent instead of taking responsibility. Cain (Genesis 4:9) – He denied knowing where his brother was, avoiding accountability. Saul (1 Samuel 15:19-24) – He justified his disobedience instead of fully obeying God's commands. 3. Overcoming Excuses • Moses (Exodus 3:10-14, 4:1-17) – He doubted his ability and gave multiple excuses, but God reassured him. • Gideon (Judges 6:11-16) – He claimed to be too weak, but God empowered him. • Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:6-8) – He said he was too young, but God called him anyway. 4. Consequences of Making Excuses • Excuses often stem from fear, doubt, or selfishness. • What happens when we trust God instead of making excuses. • Read Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord rather than leaning on our own understanding. 4. How to Overcome Excuses Faith over Fear – Isaiah 41:10 (God strengthens us). • Obedience over Doubt – James 1:22 (Be doers of the Word, not just hearers). • Courage over Comfort – Philippians 4:13 (We can do all things through Christ). • Group Discussion: What personal excuses do we need to surrender to God? 5. Conclusion: Overcoming Excuses Through Faith & Action: • Isaiah 6:8 – “Here am I, send me!” (Instead of saying, “I’m not ready,” Isaiah responded with willingness.) • Romans 12:1-2 – Encourages transformation and a renewed mind instead of being conformed to excuses. • James 4:17 – "Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." • Matthew 25:24-30 – Parable of the talents; the servant who made excuses was rebuked. Strength in God Instead of Excuses: • Philippians 4:13 – We can do all things through Christ’s strength. • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – God’s power is made perfect in weakness; excuses should never limit us. • Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, no need for excuses rooted in fear. 6. Application & Prayer • Where is God calling you, but excuses are holding you back?” • Encourage writing down an excuse and replacing it with a faith-based commitment. • Prayer asking God to remove barriers and strengthen obedience. Fill-in-the-Blank Questions: 1. In Luke 14:16-24, Jesus tells the Parable of the Great ____________, where people made excuses instead of accepting the invitation. 2. Moses told God, "I am slow of __________ and slow of tongue," as an excuse for not leading Israel (Exodus 4:10). 3. Gideon said his family was the __________ in Manasseh and that he was the least in his father’s house (Judges 6:15). 4. Jonah ran away to __________ instead of obeying God’s command to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1:3). 5. Jeremiah said, "I do not know how to __________, for I am only a youth" (Jeremiah 1:6). 6. Saul justified keeping the best livestock instead of fully obeying God, saying he wanted to offer them as __________ (1 Samuel 15:22-24). 7. Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to trust in the __________ with all our heart and lean not on our own understanding. 8. "Whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is __________" (James 4:17). 9. Philippians 4:13 says, "I can do all things through __________ who strengthens me." 10. Adam blamed __________ for his sin, and she blamed the serpent (Genesis 3:12-13). 11. The servant who buried his talent in the ground instead of using it said, "I was __________" (Matthew 25:25). 12. Isaiah responded to God's call saying, "Here am I, __________ me!" (Isaiah 6:8). 13. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My __________ is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 14. The people invited to the banquet in Luke 14 gave excuses such as buying land, trying oxen, and getting __________. 15. Psalm 46:1 declares, "God is our refuge and __________, a very present help in trouble."