Welcome to week two of our new series, Correcting Spiritual Drift. This week’s conversation centers around three opportunities that help us not only survive, but to thrive spiritually in a time of drought.
SHARE LIFE
Building healthy and life-giving relationships.
Updates
What has been new or challenging in your life since last time the group met? Spend 20–30 minutes checking in with each other.
Share Part of Your Story
What was one of your favorite things to do when you look back on your childhood?
Care
What are some life situations your group should help each other through? How would your group be able to help? Are any of those going on right now?
PURSUE GOD
Taking next steps toward Christ together.
Have someone read 1 Kings 17:1-16 aloud. Who are the main characters? What do you see God doing? Is there anything else that is interesting to you?
Heart Exposure
The drought is a direct confrontation with Baal. How is the drought suppose to undermine Baal worship? What do you think it would’ve been like to live in Israel during this time?
We may not experience a literal drought, but we all go through times of drought in our own lives. A drought is an opportunity to find out what is going on in our heart. How do you think a drought exposes what is going on in our heart? Where have you seen this in your own life?
When something is taken from us—whether through retirement, another person’s decision, misfortune or a physical limitation—there is an opportunity to assess its place in our life. Have you ever felt like something you lost led you to question your identity a bit? Is there something right now that would cause you to question your identity if you lost it? What’s a tangible step you can take to purposefully give that to God every day this week?
There is a difference between legitimate sorrow caused by the loss of a job, dream, relationship, etc. and finding yourself sitting in a space that says, says, “I’ve lost everything,” “I now have nothing” or “I’m a nobody now.” What’s the difference between the two? How can the latter be a sign that we’ve placed our hope in something other than God?
A mature person moves through the passage of deep disappointment and sadness while clinging to God on the other side, without feeling like everything is lost. Who have you seen do this well? Why do you think they could do it well? How can you do it well in your life?
Daily Provision
God sends Elijah to the Kerith Ravine. How does God provide for Elijah there?
It is within the heart of God to provide. What are some ways you have seen God provide physical needs in your life?
God’s provision isn’t limited to the physical. He provides things like discernment, wisdom, patience and peace. How have you seen God provide things like that when you needed them?
One of the best ways to start our day is to invite God into it and ask him to give us what we need for that day. How do you do this in your life? Is it something you return to throughout the day? How could you make it a more significant part of your day?
Radical Generosity
Elijah goes to Zeraphath to stay with a widow. What does the widow say when he asks her for some bread? What are some emotions the widow is likely experiencing? How hard do you think it would be for her to give him the bread?
The widow trusts God. Pastor Jeff Manion talked about the cycle of trust. We give something generously. It isn’t ours anymore. God provides our needs. What do you think about the cycle of trust?
The hard thing about being generous is that once we give something away, it is no longer ours. Fear often hampers our generosity. How do you think fear impacts generosity? What are some fears that have the potential to impact your generosity?
Fear can also influence other areas of trust. It requires trust for one spouse to move toward a spouse who is cold. It takes trust to forgive someone you don’t want to forgive. How do things like that require you to trust God? How can you take a step to trust God more this week?
Today’s conversation was about three opportunities that help us thrive in a drought—heart exposure, daily provision and radical generosity. Where do you feel like you need to make a change based on the discussion? What’s one small tangible thing you can start doing this week to make that change?
INVEST IN OTHERS
Valuing people outside the group and outside the faith.
Discuss how you and your group can better engage the people in your life outside your small group.
Group Growth
This March, the Invest in Others section looks at relational investments. We should be investing and showing God’s love to those who do not know Jesus. Who is someone you want to invest in that does not know Jesus? How can your group be praying for you and that relationship?
Download a printable PDF here.