Something Good Is Coming From This!
Pastor Steven Furtick
Leader Tip
One of the Conversation Starters below will encourage group members to share their word for 2022 and why they chose it. Let them know they can also go to myword.elevationchurch.org to create graphics with their word to share on social media or use as a background on their phones and computers.
Conversation Starters
Share your word for 2022 and why you chose it.
What’s your favorite Christmas tradition?
How good is your sense of direction? If you’re going somewhere unfamiliar, how likely are you to pull up some kind of navigation app or device?
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
Pastor Steven talked about “back roads.” What does it mean to you to be on a “back road” in life?
Read Matthew 2:19-23. There are blessings on the back roads. Share a blessing God gave you from a time when you went down a back road. (What back roads have you been on this year, and what blessings have you experienced along the way?)
You have to have flexible expectations to have strong faith. How would you define flexible expectations? Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 for how flexible your expectations are. (1 is not flexible at all, 10 is very flexible) (Where do you need flexible expectations right now so your faith can grow?)
Read Exodus 12:35-36. “Don’t leave Egypt without first exiting through the gift shop.” God gave His people such favor that they left captivity with treasures. What good thing is God calling you to take from the hard situation you’re in? How can you take hold of it?
Where are you currently likely to think “can anything good come from this” or “something good will come from this”? What would it look like to change that thought to “something good is coming from this”?
“Stop calling it what people call it — start calling it what God calls it.” What does that mean for you? What are you calling it, and what might God call it? (Are you looking for the right blessings? Is there something you need to start calling good right now, like your community, your school, your family, your household, your finances, your relationships, your opportunities, etc.?)
Sometimes we miss our blessings because we’re looking for something God didn’t promise. (e.g., we’re looking for prosperity when God actually promised peace.) Where have you been looking for the wrong thing and maybe missing the blessing God wants to give you?
Act On It
Something good IS COMING from this. Each day this week, do the exercise Pastor Steven demonstrated to remind yourself of this truth. Say “something good” with your hands out and palms up, followed by “is coming” and pulling your fingers back and forth toward yourself, and end with “from this” and gesture downward, pointing at your feet.Let it remind you to have flexible expectations and to be on the lookout for something God calls good!
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, please give us the faith in the middle of our confusion and disappointment to say, “Something good IS COMING from this.” You are not a God who waits to bless us in the future — You’re a God who stands with us in our present ready to give us treasures in the darkness. We praise You and love You for that. Thank You that Your goodness and mercy follow us. Help us not to miss the blessings You’ve prepared for us on the back roads. In Jesus’ name, amen.