🌍 What is God’s Sovereignty and Why Does It Matter?

✨ Sovereignty = Control ✨

God is in control of all things, and nothing controls him. 🛡️

💔 But it hurts down here.

A God who is in control of all things can feel almost harder to wrestle with than a God who’s doing his best on any given day. 🤔

For God to be all-powerful and good, while we have a world this messy, is a real problem every religion has to confront.🤯

👑 As a sovereign God, He could, with just a blink, send anyone who would ever make this world worse straight to hell.

Then, he’d have a perfectly ordered creation where nothing bad ever happened.

❤️ But, that’s not love.

Instead, we find Him dwelling in the midst of creation. 🌱

✝️ He climbed down into this pit, suffered on the cross, and died for you.

God’s sovereignty is a gift because he uses it in mercy to save and to forgive. 🎁

We don’t need to control God because He’s already merciful and good. ✅

There’s a bajillion things wrong, and he hates it, too. That’s why He died on the cross, taking the world upon Himself. 🌍

God doesn’t use His sovereignty to bully us (like we would) but to die for us. 💔➡️❤️

He was not coerced. He did it willingly. ✨

Even when things seem messy, know that He’s not hiding or abandoning you. 🕊

He’s right where He’s promised to be — in control and for your good.

Contributor Rev. Harrison Goodman is the Higher Things Content Executive.

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Short answer: Maybe. 🧐

It depends on the specific church, their activities, their beliefs, and what they’ll be teaching. This is why having discernment is so important. 🛡️

It's not necessarily a bad thing to go, but it’s wise to stay aware of what’s being taught there. You might encounter beliefs or teachings that don’t align with your own or even some that aren’t biblical. 📖❗

❓ So, what would be a deal breaker?

If the group expects you to participate in activities or affirm beliefs that go against your faith or that are sinful, that’s a red flag. 🚩 (Remember, attending some events might imply that you support them.)

Understanding Different Types of Churches ⛪

Churches that teach beliefs contrary to yours. ❌

Other confessional Lutheran churches. ✅

Churches that are somewhere in the middle – Here is where discernment is key. ⚖️

💪 How do you grow your discernment muscle?

▶️Study the Bible. 📚 This helps you recognize errors when you see them.

▶️Study the Small Catechism. 📜 Use it to compare foundational Lutheran theology with what you hear in other places. It’s a solid guide to help you know if a teaching aligns with your beliefs.

What’s the purpose of a youth group, anyway? 🤔

To guide youth in transitioning from childhood to adulthood in the church. 👶➡️👨‍🎓

To give practical skills, like running a meeting. 🗂️

To deepen understanding of the Christian faith. ✝️

To provide opportunities for service work. 🤲

To create a space for fellowship with others. 👫

Contributor Chris Brademeyer is Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Oakes, ND.

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❓How Do We Know If God Is Telling Us to Do Something in Our Life? 🤔

The Simple Answer: Is it in the Bible? 📖

Let’s dig a bit deeper . . . 🚜

📜 God’s Law: God instructs us through His Word. If what you believe God is telling you goes against the Bible, it’s not from Him. (See Gal. 1:8)

🐺 Looks Can Be Deceiving: We can’t base the truth of something on how good it looks or sounds because Paul says that the devil disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor 11:14)

💔 Feelings Can Mislead: We can’t rely on our emotions for truth, as Jesus says that evil things come from the heart. (Matt. 15:19)

❓ What about the “Messy Middle” where God seems quiet or unspecific? Questions like: Where should I go to college? Who should I marry? Where should I live?

🗣️ God Speaks to Us in Two Ways:

1️⃣ The Mediate Way – through means such as the Bible, church, or your pastor.

2️⃣ The Immediate Way – direct communication, like prophecies where God speaks directly (e.g., to Abraham).

📏 Testing the Validity of Immediate Prophecy:

>> 📜 Does it align with God’s Word?

>> ✨ Can the prophet perform a miracle? (In the Bible, genuine prophecy is often accompanied by miracles.)

⚠️ Note: The devil can do miracles, but he cannot teach in accordance with God’s will.

🔍 Reasons Someone Might Misinterpret God’s Voice:

>> 🛍️ It’s something they deeply desire.

>> 🙈 They want to avoid responsibility for their actions.

>> 📜 They’re seeking justification for something they want to do.

💡 Remember: God’s will for us always aligns with His Word, not just our wishes.

Contributor Amelia is a college student and HT’s assistant webmaster.

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