In order to exercise we have to leave our chairs, couches, houses, etc. Exercising our faith is no different. Stepping out and trusting the Lord requires us to leave something behind.
Discussion Questions:
- In Genesis 12:1 the Lord instructed Abraham leave his homeland and his people. The Lord won’t always instruct us to leave the area in which we grew up or our families. But, I believe, we all have some patterns we learned as children that we need to leave. What are some unhealthy patterns you learned from family or friends that you have left or that the Lord is currently telling you to leave?
- In Exodus chapter 3, God appears to Moses in a burning bush, and in the sixth chapter of Judges an angel appears to Gideon as he is threshing wheat in a wine press. What are some similarities in the responses of both Moses and Gideon? Can you relate?
- How can an encounter with the Lord reveal our identities and destinies?
- Abraham, Moses, and Gideon all had God-encounters, but in the book of Ruth, Ruth and Naomi both chose to leave on their own accord (Although, I believe these women were being led by the Lord, they were motivated by loss. How can leaving loss (death, divorce, abuse, failures, ect.) lead us to restoration?
- John 4:46-53 tells us that royal official with the sick son “took Jesus at His word” and left to go home to his son. When it comes to our family and friends, how can this man’s faith encourage us?
- In Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37), the Samaritan’s good plans were interrupted for God’s plan as the Samaritan had mercy on a man, who in that culture, would have been someone he would have avoided. Can you give an example of a time when the Lord’s plans involved you leaving your plans and serving someone you would normally have avoided?
- Jesus left his seat of honor to serve by washing his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17.) During this season what would it look like for you to follow his example?
- In Hebrews 12:1-3 Paul encourages us to “throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles” (NKJV). What does this scripture mean to you?
- In John 16:7 Jesus tells his disciples that it is to their advantage that he leaves so the Helper will be sent to them. How do we interact with the Holy Spirit or helper?
Have a blessed week!
Jeannie