Staying Power

• What’s something you’ve started but haven’t finished?

• Pastor Steven loves the Rocky movies. What’s your favorite movie series?

• What’s the best way to enjoy a thunderstorm? (e.g., take a nap, watch a movie, read a book, sit at a window and watch the storm, etc.)

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.

• What’s something you stuck with as a kid, and now you’re really glad you did? What are some things that helped you have staying power? (Why did you want to stick with it?)

• In general, how do you want to have staying power in your life? Share 2-3 things you want to be known for. (e.g., having integrity, being a hard worker, supporting others, making an impact, etc.) Are there any things making it difficult to have staying power in those areas?

• Read Acts 27:20-25. The people sailing with Paul lost hope. In the past week, how have you stopped trusting God or faced a storm that made you lose hope? (Storms don’t have to be big, life-changing events! A storm can be as simple as waking up one morning with anxiety that you can’t explain.)

• • What disappointments or distractions are taking your eyes off God and trusting Him?

• We can’t control the first storm, but sometimes our decisions in a storm can create a second storm. How have you experienced that? What did you learn?

• Share some things you’re depending on to help you get through your storm. Are there any things you’re depending on that are dangerous? (e.g., people, habits, mindsets, etc.)

• Read 1 Samuel 17:32-37. What you go through doesn’t determine where you end up — it’s who you listen to. David didn’t listen to Goliath’s threats, and he also didn’t listen to Saul’s doubts. How do you identify (or not) with him? Who or what are you listening to? (If you’re listening to yourself, are you speaking wisdom or worry? Gratitude or grumbling? Blame or faith?)

• Being careful about who he listened to gave David staying power. The same principle gave Paul power to stay with the ship. Talk about some “ropes” you need to cut and how they can help you stay with the ship.

• Patience is an important ingredient in faith, and believing for fruit on the other side of the storm can help us have patience. How do you need more patience? What fruit can you believe for on the other side of the storm to help you have patience?

• Take a few minutes to celebrate: share about a storm you stayed in and how God moved through it. (Encourage group members to write down the things God did in their lives because they stayed with the ship.)

Stay praising. Each day this week, find something in your life to be encouraged about even though there’s a storm around it, and give God praise for it. (e.g., I’m feeling lonely because I’m at home so much, but thank God I’ve got good friends. I’m struggling in my finances a bit, but thank God I’ve got food on the table.)

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 for being bigger than every storm and for being faithful to walk through them with us. Give us the faith to stay where You’re calling us to remain, and the perspective to see You working all things for the good. In Jesus’ name, amen.