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A Ridiculous Reality

Discussion Guide

Conversation Starters

  • Pastor Jabin said it was 118 degrees in Las Vegas the day before he came to Charlotte. What’s your ideal summer weather?
  • What’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever eaten?
  • Choose your Goliath. You’ve got to play against a professional sports superstar. Who do you choose? (e.g., playing football against Tom Brady, tennis against Serena Williams, basketball against LeBron James, baseball against Mike Trout, soccer against Carli Lloyd, etc.)

Review

Ask eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.

Make It Personal

  • David versus Goliath is a “ridiculous” story — a young boy with no experience as a soldier defeats a powerful, seasoned, 9-foot-tall warrior. What’s your favorite “ridiculous” story in the Bible? Why?
  • Pastor Jabin said “It’s only ridiculous until it becomes miraculous.” Share a time when you experienced this. (Is there a time when you faced a giant and God worked a miracle through it? When did you do something that seemed ridiculous, but God came through and turned it into a miracle?)
Read 1 Samuel 17:32-34. When we lean into the ridiculous, we can experience the miraculous. Pastor Jabin said that having a “ridiculous reality” requires choosing three things:
  • Courage over worry — God didn’t answer prayers in the Bible with miracles, but with instructions. (e.g., Noah and the ark, Abraham’s journey, Namaan’s cure, etc.) Why do you think God does this? Has God ever answered one of your prayers with instructions? (Is He instructing you to do something now?)
    • What are some areas of your life where you deal with worry? Talk about what it would look like to choose courage instead in those situations. How often do you let fear dictate the decisions you make?
  • Faith over facts — Read 1 Samuel 17:33. Where are you struggling to see faith over facts? (What are the facts? What do you need to believe in faith?)
    • What problems or situations do you need to look at differently? Be specific with how your perspective needs to shift.
  • God’s Word over man’s opinion — In 1 Samuel 17:33, Saul calls David a boy, but in Acts 13:22, God calls him a man. What are the Saul-like voices around and within you saying? Talk about the influence they’re having on you.
    • How/where are you prioritizing God’s Word over man’s opinion? (How do you need to push back against the voices you’re hearing around and within you?)
  • “Goliath” in Hebrew means to uncover or reveal. Talk about how a past Goliath revealed something in you. What are some giants you are facing right now — what are they revealing about yourself and about God?

Act On It

Which do you need to focus on this week: courage over worry, faith over facts, or God’s Word over man’s opinion? Tell your group one thing you’re going to do to put it into practice.

Prayer Requests And Prayer

Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week. 
Father, thank You that even when we don’t choose a battle, You’re still with us giving us instructions and victory. We open ourselves for You to do inside us all You have in mind — give us the wisdom and strength to choose courage over worry, faith over facts, and your Word over man’s opinion. In Jesus’ name, amen.