Do you have control issues? At its core, when we try to control others (God included) we are demonstrating our lack of trust. Work through the following questions on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or family around the dinner table and talk through your answers
Discussion Questions
1. In what ways have you been the victim of someone with control issues? Have there been any times when you struggled to trust others? If so what happened?
2. Have there been any times in your life when you struggled to trust God? If so, what happened?
3. Have there been times in your life that you asked God for something that you were later glad you did not receive? In other words, have you seen good come out of something that at first you wished had never happened?
4. In the message, Eric asked: “Are we telling God what to do for us or are we asking God to show us what He wants to do in us and through us?” Are there any areas in your life that you need to switch from telling God what to do to asking Him for guidance?
5. In the message, Eric asked: “Are we waiting for someone to do a miracle for us or are we willing to do the small things no matter how humbling to experience the miraculous?” In what small ways is God calling you to be faithful that you have been avoiding or struggling to do?
6. If you were one of the speakers during the Confessions series, what would you share? What is keeping you from being at your best. What is keeping you from fully trusting God?
Key Scriptures
28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. 39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. (Matthew 10:28-31, 38-39 NLT and MSG)
Digging Deeper
1. Spiritual Outcomes: Trusting God, Faithfulness, Self Feeding
For further study and reflection, go to the Life Group website to take the Discern Assessment and learn more becoming proficient in the spiritual outcomes:
- Discern Assessments – http://lifegroup.gatewaychurch.com/discern/
- Trusting God – http://lifegroup.gatewaychurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Trust-God-Discern-Bible-Study.pdf
- Faithfulness – http://lifegroup.gatewaychurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Faithfulness-Discern-Bible-Study.pdf
- Self-Feeding – http://lifegroup.gatewaychurch.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Self-feeding-Discern-Bible-Study.pdf
2. To discover your core values, shadow mission, and your God-given identity, consider:
- http://braveheartintensiveonline.com/ (for men)
- http://destinyprojectonline.com/ (for women)
- Enneagram Assessment (free) – includes the positives and the drawbacks of your personality
3. For Eric’ free resource A Fruitful Life Becoming Who You Were Created to Be or go to www.ericbryant.org.
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