Lean In // 5 minutes
What are some things you’ve held onto for too long?
Sample answers may include…
- Clothes
- Haircut
- Old love notes
- Relationships
- Grudges
- Makeup
Look Down // 10 minutes
Read Luke 5:33-39
What do you learn about the Pharisees?
Sample answers may include…
- They are critical of Jesus and his disciples for not fasting/praying enough
- They don’t see the disciples of Jesus as on their level
- They equate holiness to an outward, measurable expression and something to be gained through systematic effort and self discipline
What do you learn about Jesus?
Sample answers may include…
- Celebration is important
- There’s no reason to fast for what is already present
- Fasting has it’s place
- The new thing doesn’t fit in the old model
- It’s hard to adapt to the new thing when the old seems fine or familiar
Look Out // 10 minutes
What are the points in life where change becomes necessary?
Sample answers may include…
- Health reasons
- Financial hardship
- Relocating for a new job, or school
- Getting married
- When your engaged in abusive situations, i.e. relationships, substance abuse
Why do people struggle to make changes?
Sample answers my include…
- The old way is familiar, comfortable
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of failure
Look In // 20 minutes
What have been some turning points in your life that required change?
What obstacles did you have to overcome in making that change?
What new thing might God be calling you to?
What would you need to let go of in order to embrace that new thing?
Leader Note: Often the obstacles of the past repeat themselves over and over again when we are faced with new opportunities or challenged with change. Whatever is holding us back may be tied in someway to a stronghold (control, fear) that has grown over time. Remind your group of the stronghold experience in Rooted and the power that is found in Jesus name to break any lie of the enemy.
Live It Out // 5 minutes
What would change in you if you embraced that new thing?
How would others be impacted?
Prayer: Prayer for continued honesty and courage in evaluating where we’ve held onto the pains and even successes of the past, which have caused us to be timid or even lazy for the new things God has. Pray for faith to trust that God has good things for us beyond what we could imagine.