What You Call Small

LEADERS: During the end of this message, Pastor Steven spoke directly to people who might be considering suicide. If someone you know needs immediate help, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is 1-800-273-8255. If you have any concerns about someone in your group, please notify your eGroup Director or Care Team Leader.

Pastor Steven’s from a small town. Tell the group where you’re from and your favorite or least favorite thing about that place.

If you were giving someone a tour of your hometown, what are some places you would show them where you have fond or important memories?

Which is smaller? Read this list to your group and tell them to vote for the option they think is smaller. Whoever gets the most correct answers wins! (Correct answers are in bold.) France or Madagascar? A swordfish or Lion’s Mane Jellyfish? A Ping Pong ball or golf ball? Planet Venus or Planet Mars? The Dead Sea or the Red Sea? The world’s smallest dog or the world’s smallest cat?

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.

• Have you ever made a small decision or did something you thought was insignificant that later turned out to have a big impact? Share it with the group.

• Read 1 Samuel 16:1-11. In the last verse, Jesse says Samuel still hasn’t met his youngest son, David. They didn’t consider David could be king because he was the smallest. What are some things you’re calling “small” in this season? (What are you living in that seems little to you? e.g., your job, your potential, a relationship, etc.)

• If you were to have a conversation with “Moncks Corner Me” (you from a previous stage of life), how would that past version of you describe the things you’re seeing as small? Where else do you need to be reminded of your original frame of reference? (Are there blessings you’re so used to you don’t even recognize them anymore?)

• Read 1 Samuel 9:15-21. God promoted Saul beyond his picture of himself. What are you living in that you feel you haven’t caught up to yet? (Are there areas where you feel unqualified or out of your depth?)

• We often have two tendencies — we dramatize or downplay. Which are you more likely to do? Why?

• • How is dramatizing or downplaying harmful for you? (How does dramatizing or downplaying turn things God sees as small into big, or things God sees as big into small?)

• God doesn’t need you to be smaller for Him to be big. What are some ways you’re making yourself seem smaller than you are? (e.g., I’m just _____, I’ll never be able to do what they do, the things I’ve been through are holding me back, I don’t deserve that good thing, etc.) How do you need to remember that God is big? (How can God help you overcome those things?)

• Pastor Steven encouraged us to “wait for David.” What’s your David — is there an area where you’re tempted to stop short, rush ahead, or neglect something because you’re tired or frustrated? How can you encourage yourself to wait for David?

• What’s something “small” that’s also important to you? (It could be something in your marriage, a friendship, your job, parenting, etc. — Pastor Steven gave the example of text messages he sends to Holly.) How can you keep a positive attitude about it when others may think it’s small or insignificant?

• Where do you need to do “small” things? Are there any areas where you need to stop doing small things?

What we call small, God might call big. Things like sending an encouraging text message, buying someone’s lunch, or helping out a neighbor can have a much bigger impact than we think. Commit to doing something small each day this week!

Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week.

Father, we are so thankful that You are bigger — bigger than any situation, thought, feeling, or battle we may ever face. Give us eyes to see things like You see them so we can lean into what You call big and let go of what You call small. In Jesus’ name, amen.