Conversation Starters
Looking for a way to get the group talking? Try one of these conversation starters.
“Watch what happens when you worship.” Go around and share what your favorite Elevation Worship song is right now, and why.
Pastor Rich talked about his family’s hectic plane ride from Miami to Tel Aviv. Share your craziest, or funniest, travel story with your eGroup.
Sermon Reflection
Help transition the group to the discussion with one of these questions.
What stood out to you from this week’s message?
What from the message encouraged you/challenged you the most?
Sermon Discussion
Select 1-2 themes from the sermon to discuss with your eGroup.
Read Mark 6:45-56. Pastor Rich gave us three points to consider about his message:
Storms make you realize you’re not in control.
Storms give way to new revelations.
Storms create the perfect stage for an audacious response.
Storms make you realize you’re not in control. We can’t control the storm, but we can still prepare our spiritual foundation so that when storms do come, our foundation is steady.
Share a time when a past storm revealed to you the truth that you’re not in control of your life.
When you have gone through a storm, what has been your ‘go-to’ way to focus on God, instead of the fact that you’re not in control? (Are you someone who goes to prayer? Listens to worship music? etc.)
When the disciples were in the storm, Jesus didn’t tell them to “take control.” He told them to “take courage.” What would it practically look like for you this week to “take courage” when storms come? (Examples: memorize a verse, start your day in prayer, spend time in worship, etc.)
Storms give way to new revelations. Although Jesus had just performed a great miracle, the disciples had already forgotten. It took a storm for them to realize that Jesus is the son of God.
Share a time when (choose 1):
You’ve learned something new about God’s character from walking through a storm in your life. What did you learn?
You witnessed someone else “worshiping through their storm”? What kind of impact did that have on you?
How can understanding that “storms give us new revelations” help us have a better perspective when we go through them?
What moment in your life do you look back on as a reminder of how faithful God is?
“Our faith suffers when we forget.” What are tangible ways you can keep reminding yourself of God’s past miracles and faithfulness in your life? (Examples: getting a coffee cup to remind you of something, writing a verse as your screensaver, etc.)
Storms create the perfect stage for an audacious response. Pastor Rich encouraged us that “problems make way for miracles.” But he also reminded us that “if you want to get TO the other side, you’re going to have to go THROUGH the storm.”
Share a time God brought you through a storm to the other side.
Sometimes we don’t see Him, but He sees us. Where can you start to see God moving now, even in the midst of your storms? How might this be creating a stage for God to do a miracle?
How can God use your current storm, or past storms, as a way to use you to impact others around you for His glory?
“God moves suddenly for those who pursue him patiently over time.” Choose a new way that you are going to start pursuing God patiently throughout your week. (Examples: start praying daily, begin a new reading plan, start serving, etc.)
Activating Faith
Challenge your group to keep activating their faith. Make this a part of your eGroup time or send this activity to them after you meet.
Read Isaiah 43:2. Then write down some of the things you’re walking through right now — struggles and challenges you’re currently facing. Now write down Isaiah 43:2 underneath that list. Spend some time giving your struggles over to God and allowing him to remind you that whatever you’re walking through, he’s walking through it with you. Revisit that list every couple of weeks. Next to each thing you wrote down, write about where you’ve seen God move in it, as a reminder to hold on to. Continue to pray in faith over the areas you are still expecting God to move in.
Bonus activity: bring notecards and have everyone write down Isaiah 43:2 on a notecard. Then encourage your group to tape it up in a place where they will see it everyday this week.
Prayer
Close out your group with prayer using one of these options:
An Interactive Prayer
Get into pairs and share with one another some current storms you’re walking through. As someone with an outside perspective, share where you can see Jesus in the midst of their storm. Pray for one another, that you will each keep your eyes on Jesus and that God will get the glory on the other side of the storm.
A Guided Prayer
Dear God, thank you that I am never alone. Even if I can’t see you in the midst of my storm, you can always see me. Remind me that you’re working in every hardship and situation. Help me keep my focus on you and remind me of all the ways you’ve been faithful to me in the past. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Additional Resources
Want to help your group go deeper after you meet? Send them one of these resources that relates to the sermon topic.
Listen to Wait On You by Elevation Worship and Maverick City for encouragement that God is working in the waiting.
Watch “God’s Got Your Back” from Pastor Steven as a reminder not to let what you’re walking into distract you from the fact that God is walking with you.
Watch this meditation video from Pastor Holly with scriptures to encourage you when you’re feeling hopeless about a current circumstance or the future.