Highlands Presbyterian Church
LaFayette, Georgia
17 August 2008
Small Group Questions
Acts 13:1-3 "God Still Calling..."
Pastor Travis
1. In what ways do you think that God still speaks to his people? Why do you think so?
2. What does it mean to be led by "live quivers"? Why is this a dangerous thing? Have you ever tried to do this?
3. Do you agree with Pastor Travis's assertion that fasting should still be a part of the Christian life? Why or why not. See Matthew 6:16-18.
4. What are some benefits of fasting?
5. What are the right and wrong ways to fast?
6. As a small group, try to agree on a short period of fasting and prayer some time in the next two weeks. Talk about your fast at your next small group meeting.
Ok, these are the questions to ponder. Number 6 was discussed and agreed that Wednesday will be the day of fasting for the group. The guidelines are:
A. Fasting starts at sundown on Tuesday evening and concludes at sundown on Wednesday.
B. A liquid fast is preferred consisting of water, tea or coffee. Sugars and creamers or milk is discouraged.
C. Some form of focusing on the Lord with Bible reading, scripture memorization, prayer or a combination of all 3 is the goal.
Prayer Requests:
Guy and Amy - Amy, for God to give her strength and peace and understanding. Guy, for God to remove all obstacles for Guy's job and to give Guy peace. Also, pray that Guy and Amy will turn all of their anxieties, hurts, worries, disagreements over to the Lord and that they both allow the Lord to work in their lives to bring about a closeness and love that is stronger than they have ever experienced. Then let them focus also on raising up a godly young man.
Micki - pray that the Lord will continue to work to eradicate the source of pain in Micki's back. The praise is that He has relieved her of a large part of the pain so that she is pain free for a majority of the time. Praise the Lord!
Barbara and Dennis - Please continue to pray for the Lord's blessings with the insurance on Rae's new chair. That He will touch those that have to make the decision's on what and how much is covered. That the insurance would cover 100%.
Billy - Thanks for prayers for Billy and Gabby in strengthening their marriage. Prayer for Billy with continuing growth as husband and father.
Bekah - please pray for Hanna, her job and for her freedom from the things in the past that still trouble her.
Noah - please pray that he will get the jailor position at the Walker County police department.
Mary - please pray for Sadie as she has been faithful in seeking good counsel and taken the difficult path of following that counsel.
Pray that the Lord will reward her faithfulness.
Daniel - please pray for his classmate who is a diabetic.
Laurie - pray for her son Christopher to gain weight and for all his problems to have been cured from his heart surgery.
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6 comments:
Sunset in Chattanooga is at 8:24 PM tonight. The sunset tomorrow is at 8:23 PM. Are you excited about our 23:59 hours of fasting and praying? I am!
Exited...I hadn't thought of that descriptor yet to attach to my fast. My stomach is already grumbling like a spoiled child. But right now I'm listening to Matt Brouwer sing "I Shall Believe" on Pandora and I love Jesus more than food, if only a little.
I just came from a Session meeting where decided to invite God's people to fast for self-examination and repentance as a regular practice before the Lord's Supper. I think I am excited about that.
I love Highlands so very much, my brother elders, all of you in our Small Group, the whole body as we worship on the Lord's Day. Highlands isn't the perfect church - it's made up of people, but it's just about perfect for me.
Wow, that was really sappy.
Soon to be in prayer...
Travis
i think my spoiled child is grumbling louder.
When I finally took the time to pray and reflect on God's word, the verse in the devotional read:Now is the time to seek the Lord till he comes and rains righteousness on us. It's from Hosea 11:14 I think. How appropriate for today. Anyway I have also been reading Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline. Several comments he makes have really opened my eyes to what fasting is all about. THe most enlightening is: Fasting is feasting. We are sustained by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. And lastly fasting helps us keep our balance in life. Too often we allow our body to tell us what to do. By fasting we are in control and should be using those times to worship the Lord. Just some thoughts.
I was excited beforehand- and up until lunchtime today. I didn't think that food would be this tempting during the fast.
We were surprised at how easy it was to be annoyed at each other... It seemed like anything the other was doing was meant for annoying you (it wasn't).
It was good to have time that we felt was pre-dedicated to reading our Bibles- I read through Joel and most of Romans before going to work.
Anyway- yes, fasting was successful, but I think it would have been even more beneficial to us if we'd thought through what we would read/ focus on a little more beforehand.
Miriam, and all,
Fasting is a discipline, just as reading Scripture, prayer, or anything else in the Christian life. As such, we grow in it. I would shudder to think that I would still read the word in the same way I did when I first knew Jesus. This isn't an event, but the beginning of a journey.
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