Connect20-25 minutes
Connect with your group about life this past week and then discuss the following questions.
- Have you ever heard of "easter eggs" hidden in popular culture? Do you have any favorites?
Also take time to reflect on your action steps last week:
- If you chose to reflect on God’s faithfulness, share some examples with the group.
- If you chose to watch the A&Q video, share something in the video that was helpful or a question you are still wondering about.
Learn5-7 minutes
You will watch a short clip of the message from this series to set up your group discussion. The full version of the message is also available
online to reference before or after your group meeting.
Discuss20-30 minutes
- What was your biggest takeaway from the service or clip? Did you have any a-ha moments, questions, or struggles with the story?
- What "easter eggs" or "hyperlinks" do you see in the story of Isaac and Abraham?
- During service, Greg talked about testifying to God's provision. People had the opportunity to share their stories, such as God saving a marriage, bringing new friendships, or providing hope in dark times. Do you have any personal examples of when God has come through for you?
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Read Matthew 6:25-34 aloud, (you may even want to read a couple times with different bible versions) then discuss:
- What do Jesus’ words in this passage teach you about God’s provision?
- What keeps you from trusting in God with your needs?
- On a scale from 1-10, how are you at trusting God these days?
- What steps will you take to seek after Jesus and trust Him this week?
Pray10-15 minutes
Ask for prayer requests and then you may opt to pray the following prayer.
Almighty God, we know You are the Name above all names and You alone are in control. Sometimes life gets confusing and messy and, honestly, leaves us wondering if You are still there or if You really care. In those moments, remind us of Your goodness and Your faithfulness. Bring to mind the times You have shown up in our lives when we didn't deserve it and remind us that You really are in control and that You really do care.
Grant us Your peace to walk through the ups and downs of life with You knowing that You will not abandon us. Show us that one step we can take to trust You just a little bit more and give us the strength and faith to take that step. We need You and we are depending on You to, once again, show up. We know we can't live this life without You.
So we pray now, in the powerful, healing, comforting name of Jesus. Amen.
Action Steps5-10 minutes
Between now and next week, here are some suggestions for action steps.
Attend the Weekend Service: Note any takeaways, next steps, or reflections in your Peak Experiences notebook. These will help you prepare to participate in your small group, and your small group will benefit from your insights and questions as you learn together.
Other Practical Action Steps: Select one of these practical steps to commit to this week and bring your reflections with you next week.
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Memorize Scripture:
We know that the Bible is how God speaks to us. When we are having doubts or going through a hard time, one of the best things we can do is to remind ourselves of truth. We can arm ourselves with truth by memorizing scripture. Take time this week to memorize Matthew 6:31-34. Try writing this scripture on a notecard or sticky note where you can see it often. Try memorizing the first sentence for a day, then the next day say the first line and add the second line. Keep adding a line until you can say the whole scripture by heart.
- Watch an A&Q video: "Is it okay to question God?" We see countless examples in the Bible where people wrestled with God. Take a few minutes to reflect on questions you have for God. Where do you wrestle?