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LIFE Group Lessons
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God Can't Use Me Unless I'm Strong |
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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, October 18, 2006
“God Can’t Use Me Unless I’m Spiritually Strong”
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
During the past week, did you or someone you know make an excuse in order to get out of serving or performing in some capacity? Why do we make excuses?
Have you ever experienced a situation when you felt God was trying to work through you to achieve a great result? (Allow members to share some examples)
Were you willing to proceed in the direction He was leading you or were you defensive to His guidance?
15 Minutes - DIG
Moses is one of the greatest Biblical examples of a man who tried to reason with God to avoid a difficult path of service. Knowing we are all flawed because of sin, why do we believe our excuses to God will persuade Him to ignore the usefulness He sees in us?
Frederick Buechner makes a statement regarding Jesus Christ: “that in this man there is power to turn goats into tigers, to give life to the half-alive, even to the dead.” Using the truth of this statement, why do we allow ourselves to consider we are so flawed that God cannot work wonders through us?
As Christians, we know that God is perfect in every way. He even knows how our days are “fashioned” for us “when as yet there were none of them” (Psalm 139:16).
We cannot begin to comprehend the awesomeness of God’s plans or the importance of our role regarding those plans.
If we are to believe and trust in God completely, then at what point does our self-doubt become a hindrance to our faith? What are some scriptures we can review to support how our faith in God can lead to great achievements through Him?
For example, consider Matthew 17:20 when Jesus said, “I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”
Our decisions, especially poor ones, lead us to lower periods in our lives when we feel God can no longer use us for any positive purposes. We can feel overwhelmed. Even some of the Old Testament prophets were overwhelmed with the direction God was leading them to pursue. Jeremiah was overwhelmed with his perceived inexperience as a youth (Jeremiah 1:6-8). We should not allow feelings of inadequacy to keep us from obeying God’s call.
Have you ever experienced a situation when you avoided doing what was right because you felt you lacked the self-confidence to follow through? If God gives you a job to do, do you believe He will provide you all you need to do it?
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Fleeing from Jezebel, Elijah was experiencing the depths of fatigue and discouragement just after his two great spiritual victories (defeat of the prophets of Baal and the answered prayer for rain). He sat beneath a broom tree and prayed, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life…” (1 Kings 19:4).
Have you ever felt this level of desperation where you wanted God to end your life? How would you overcome this feeling of despair?
When God is beckoning you to follow a path in which you do not feel you are capable you must remember you are not the first and only person to experience self-doubt. It is important, however, to avoid the “excuse” routine. Excuses are born of inadequacies we place on ourselves and a lack of faith that God will be there to provide us with the ability to accomplish His goal.
What assistance can we provide to those we see struggling with self-doubt?
Are there some methods you’re open to receiving from others when you are lacking the self-confidence to proceed in God’s direction?
Envision God’s arms encircling your own as you work in service of the Lord. His hands guide your own and he is whispering into your ear, “Don’t quit. Don’t quit.”
How can having this attitude in the face of overwhelming tasks lead you to be more confident? How can you encourage confidence in others?
Do you ever feel too weak or too flawed to allow God to work through you? If you do, who can you confide these feelings to in order to boost your self-confidence?
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
Take this opportunity of prayer to seek the encouragement from God to overcome the obstacles of self-doubt. Our personal inadequacies need to be laid at the foot of the cross and we need to place our faith in God’s knowledge of our capabilities.
This is the time for the group to encourage one another in their service to God. Any member of the group who is experiencing overwhelming family life problems or occupational distress should feel confident enough to open up for fellow support and possible assistance.
Present these matters of need to the Heavenly Father.
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