Life Group Study – Week Of 04/18

Life Group Study – Week of 04/18

Just For Fun… But Related To Today’s Discussion

QUESTION: Describe the most tired moment you can remember having. What was it and how did you feel?

My Story

QUESTION: Have you had a time in your life when God renewed your strength to make it through the challenges you were facing? What helped you recover strength and make it through?

This Is God’s Word: Our Key Passage From “Renewed Strength”

Isaiah 40:28–31 (NKJV)

28   Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. 29   He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. 30   Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, 31   But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

My Message Highlight From “Renewed Strength”

QUESTION: Pastor Gregg’s message on Renewed Strength was such a great follow up to last week’s message, The Strength of Weakness. What was your most significant thought or takeaway from this week’s message?

Let’s Go Deeper Into This Weeks Message 

1. Pastor Gregg reminded us that out strength will fail and that we need God’s strength.

Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall…

Question: The Bible is very clear: All human strength will fail. What are the benefits of accepting that truth about others? About ourselves?

2. This week’s message reminded us of God’s availability and willingness to provide the strength we need.

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Question: Dependence on God (waiting on Him) is a requirement for accessing his resources and strength. And yet waiting upon Him does not look like staying in bed, depressed. Practically speaking, what might waiting upon the Lord look like?  

3. Pastor Gregg shared 3 examples of God using the Eagle as a description of His strength in our spiritual journey:

Exodus 19:4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.

Deuteronomy 32:10–12 10   “He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. 11   As an eagle stirs up its nest,Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, 12   So the Lord alone led him…

Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles

Question: Which of these 3 examples of God’s strength most ministers to you right now?Why?  

Question: Exodus 19:4 speaks of God’s deliverance of Israel from enslavement to the Egyptians (You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself). How is the same description relevant to the deliverance Jesus provides through the cross?

4. Scripture often compares our journey with God to a race or a walk (They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint). Let’s look at the Apostle Paul’s words when his death was getting close and he was reflecting on his journey:

2 Timothy 4:6–8 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved his appearing.

Question: What does this passage reveal that makes it clear that we are doing more than ‘just making it thorough’ the difficult times in life? What do we have to look forward to?

Question: We see above how Paul wanted to be remembered, though he faced MANY difficult times. Reflect on Pauls words, then take a moment to imagine this scenario: You have passed away, and some of those you love are spending time together after your funeral, reflecting on YOUR race/walk—your LIFE. What would you want them to say about you—and where is God in that?

Let’s Pray