分类: Lent

March 23, 2025

3/24/2025

CONTENTMENT IN THE WILDERNESS: WE HAVE EVERYTHING WE NEED
Icebreaker
Share about a time you received a hand-me-down or something secondhand. What did you feel in that moment—grateful, disappointed, content?

Study Questions

Read Philippians 4:10–14.
What do you notice about Paul’s tone and mindset as he writes from prison? How does he frame his gratitude and contentment?
Look at verse 12.
Paul says he “learned the secret of being content.” Why do you think contentment needs to be learned? What does this tell us about spiritual maturity?
Explore verse 13.
How does the context of this passage reshape the meaning of this verse? What's the difference between the misunderstood statement, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” and the more accurately translated statement, "I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength"?
Read Psalm 23.
How does this psalm reflect the idea that contentment is rooted in who God is? Which phrase in Psalm 23 most speaks to your heart right now?
Read Habakkuk 3:17–19.
What stands out to you in Habakkuk’s response to crisis? How does this passage deepen our understanding of rejoicing even in seasons of lack?

Application Questions

What are some areas of life where you’re currently feeling discontent? Are these longings good, misplaced, or a mixture of both?
In what ways have you seen God meet your needs in past seasons—especially in times of difficulty or uncertainty?
Paul, the Psalmist, and Habakkuk all testify to God’s sufficiency. What would it look like for you to daily practice contentment through gratitude?
Reflect on the idea that contentment is not about detachment, but about trust in Christ. How does this reshape how you engage with pain, longing, or uncertainty?

Prayer
Take turns sharing one longing or area of discontent with your group. Then, as a group or in pairs, use this structure to form a simple prayer together:

Name the longing: “Lord, I long for ___.”
Add a faith statement: “…and I know this is something you long for too” or “and I’m learning to be content through your strength.”
Close with gratitude: “Thank you that I have everything I need in you.”

Close your time praying for one another by name, asking for Christ’s strength, God’s peace, and the gift of growing contentment.

March 16, 2025

3/16/2025

Walking through the Wilderness

Icebreaker
Did you grow up observing or otherwise encountering Lent? If so, what do you remember about that? Or what was something that you or your family would do on a regular (daily, weekly, monthly or annual) basis? What memories of that do you have?

Discussion

Have someone read Ephesians 1:15-23 outloud while everyone else listens quietly for references to each person of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then read it through a second time, slowly, having the others in the group stop (interrupt) the reading whenever they see a reference to a person of the Trinity and say what person they are seeing.
Then, consider each person of the Trinity, in turn, summarizing and discussing their unique role as expressed in this passage.
Did you uncover, or appreciate in a new way, any aspect of the character or nature of God?
List and summarize the blessings in this passage.
What do those blessings express about the character and nature of God?

Application

Given your uniquenesses and individuality, at this moment in your life, what thing or things can you do to best participate in knowing God and in experiencing the blessings described here?
Again, given your uniquenesses and individuality, at this moment in your life, where might you experience "wilderness difficulty"? Where might you need sacrifice, commitment, self-discipline to do those things that might lead to knowing and experiencing God?
In what ways do other people help you learn and grow in your faith and understanding? Is it formal studying? Or supportive fellowship? Or learning from teachers, authors, or others via books, podcasts, online content? Maybe all of the above? Give specific examples of each, where possible.

Prayer
Ask people if they have any prayer requests. Then pray for each other's spiritual growth based on the above discussion and each other's prayer requests.

March 9, 2025

3/12/2025

Faith in the Wilderness

Icebreaker
What's a "guilty pleasure" of yours that usually proves too tempting to pass up?
Discussion

Review Matthew 4:1-3. Why do you think "the tempter" waits until after Jesus has already fasted 40 days to begin his tests?
Review Matthew 4:5-7. Why do you think it was important for Jesus not to "put God to the test" in this way?
What is it that finally drives Satan away from Jesus during this encounter?

Application

Which of the tempter's three tests would you find easiest (and hardest) to overcome?
What impresses you most about the way Jesus responds to the tests?
What challenges you most about Jesus' responses?
How are you personally inspired or convicted by this passage of Jesus overcoming tests and temptations?

Prayer
Take prayer requests from everyone, then pray about the above discussion and any prayer requests.

March 23, 2025

March 16, 2025

Walking through the Wilderness

March 9, 2025

Faith in the Wilderness

ABOUT

CATEGORIES