“How can I really know God’s will?” | Shawn Williams

Main message: This sermon introduces a series on discerning God's will, teaching that God's will is not wholly hidden but revealed in layers — sovereign, moral, permissive, and personal — and giving practical guidance for how to recognize and live in each layer.

Key points:

• Deuteronomy 29 distinguishes "secret things" from "things that are revealed" — we shouldn't assume God is hiding his will from us.
• God's word and God's voice never conflict; knowing God's heart (through Scripture and relationship) makes discerning his will easier.
• God's will is layered: sovereign (God is in control and redeems history), moral (clear ethical commands and who we are called to be), permissive (God allows hardship in a fallen world but can use it for good), and personal (how God guides each believer).
• Practical responses: trust God's sovereign control, obey his moral commands, accept and find purpose in permitted hardships, and cultivate relationship (silence, Scripture, godly counsel, small groups) to hear God's personal guidance.
• Invitation to repent/surrender to God's revealed will (2 Peter) and to pursue practices (Bible engagement, godly community) that make God's voice clearer.

Scriptures mentioned: Deuteronomy 29, Genesis 1–3, Ephesians 1, Daniel 3, Romans 8, Proverbs 3:5–6, 2 Peter 3:9