During the weekend message, we were reminded that we human beings like control, whether it is control over small things, like the steering wheel or the remote control, or much larger things in life. The truth is, as much as we strive to gain control of as much as we can, we are most certainly not in control. Our all-powerful and all-knowing God is in control of everything, and that is a very, very good thing. Because He is in control, you can stop striving for control and find peace in Him instead.
What kind of front-seat passenger are you? Why?
1. Read Romans 8:10-13. How does the finality of Paul’s language about our old lives before we came to know Christ impact how you think about the way you live your day-to-day life as a Christ follower? Why?
Romans 8:10-13 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.
2. What does this passage of Scripture reveal about the power of the Holy Spirit, living within all Christ followers? How might this teaching give Christ followers encouragement as they think about the life in the Spirit they have been given?
3. What is the result of letting go of control and living according to the power of the Holy Spirit, and how have you experienced that truth from Scripture to be true in your own life?
4. Read Proverbs 19:21. When was a time when you were forced to recognize the truth from this passage of Scripture as you tried to hold on to control and make plans? How does this passage of Scripture give you hope, even amidst the reminder it brings that we are not in control?
Proverbs 19:21 You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
1. Do you find it easy or difficult to let go of trying to be in control? Why?
2. How has God proven Himself to be in control at a time in your life when you could not see evidence that He was at work?
3. What is an area of your life that you need to stop trying to control and trust that God’s power is at work in your life?
Now that you have acknowledged an area that you need to stop trying to control and instead trust that God’s power is at work, think about one step you can take to stop grasping for control. Share that step with your group. After everyone has shared, pray together. Ask God to help each one of you as you seek to stop grasping for control and to trust Him instead.
Throughout our Bible study today, we have talked about the importance of letting go of control of our lives and letting the Spirit guide us. For the next few minutes, let’s talk about what letting go of control practically looks like for followers of Christ. As we turn to Scripture, we will see three ways we can practice letting go of the metaphorical steering wheel of our lives and letting the Spirit guide us: Stop living for our own comfort, start living for an audience of one, and stop building our own earthly kingdoms.
One of the main reasons we seek to have control is that, for many of us, control is equivalent to being comfortable. When we feel in control, we feel a sense of comfort, believing we will not be surprised or caught off guard by anything because we are in the driver’s seat. If we want to let go of control, we have to stop living for our own comfort and trust God, the one who is actually in control over everything. When we stop making our own comfort a priority, we can let go of control of our lives and trust God through any circumstance we walk through.
1. Read Luke 9:23-27.
Luke 9:23-27 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels. 27 I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God.”
2. How is Jesus’ teaching from this passage of Scripture countercultural from the way the rest of the world thinks?
3. What is the danger of living solely for our own comfort, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. Which one of the verses do you think is the main point of Jesus’ teaching in this passage of Scripture? Why?
We cannot let go of control while at the same time living for the approval and opinions of others, nor can we let go of control if our biggest priority is to live to please ourselves. In order to let go of control, we have to re-focus our priorities. We have to choose to live for God alone, living for Him, an audience of one. As we focus on living for God alone, we will find our grip on the steering wheel of our lives loosening because our aim is to please no one but Him.
1. Read 2nd Corinthians 5:9-10.
2nd Corinthians 5:9-10 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
2. How does the truth from this passage of Scripture motivate you to let go of control and live for God alone?
3. What things of this world distract us from having the same mindset as Paul in this passage of Scripture?
4. What is one thing that is either distracting or threatening to distract you from having the mindset of Paul in this passage of Scripture?
Perhaps one of the biggest hindrances to letting go of control and letting the Spirit lead is the desire to build our own little kingdoms here on this earth. If we try to do everything in our power to make names for ourselves, we will not be able to let go of control. Instead, we will find ourselves constantly striving and never satisfied. If we, on the other hand, understand our purpose is to build the Kingdom of God instead of our own earthly kingdoms, which will never last, we will gladly trust God to be in control.
1. Read Philippians 3:17-21.
Philippians 3:17-21 Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. 18 For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. 20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. 21 He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control.
2. Compare the two different destinations described in this passage of Scripture.
3. Why is living for this world and building our own kingdoms ultimately an unwise way of living, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How does focusing on being “citizens of heaven” and living for Christ’s kingdom impact our concept of who is in control?
Divide up into groups of two or three and answer this question: Which of the three areas do you need to focus on as you seek to let go of control this week: letting go of comfort, living for an audience of one, or building God’s kingdom instead of your own? After everyone has shared, pray together. Pray that God would give each one of you the courage and wisdom to grow in that area and help you all let go of control and trust the Spirit’s guidance in your lives.
©2026 Sagebrush Church
