Too Grown To Give Up
Pastor Steven Furtick
Leader Tip
Pastor Steven talked about the importance of not giving up. If someone in your group is feeling like giving up and needs help, reach out to your eGroup Director or Care Team Leader.
Conversation Starters
Play some well-known songs for your group and see who’s the fastest to guess the titles!Share a funny story about how someone tricked you when you were younger.As a kid, what’s something you treasured that you thought was worth a lot, but it actually wasn’t?
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
What’s something you quit when you were younger, and now you wish you hadn’t? (Then share something you didn’t quit, and you’re glad/proud that you didn’t.)
We’re all tempted to give up or quit on things that God calls us to. What is God calling you to in this season? (Where are you tempted to quit? Why? Quitting doesn’t have to be physical things — we might be tempted to quit caring about something, to quit believing in someone, to quit growing ourselves, etc.)
Go deeper. Read Matthew 4:1-4. Jesus was literally tempted to quit here — to listen to the devil and end His fast. There are two important things we can note: One, Jesus refused because He was completely submitted to God’s will and timing. Two, He didn’t stay silent and disagree in His mind; He answered with God’s Word. Thinking about where you’re tempted to quit, how can you use Jesus’ strategy to help you? (How can you align yourself with God’s will and use His word?)
Childlike faith can help us to not give up, but sometimes we confuse childlike faith with childish faith. Talk about some other ways we can separate childlike faith from childish faith. Where have you been practicing childish faith? (Where do you need to grow in childlike faith? Share a time when you did have strong childlike faith.)
God might be waiting for us to outgrow the things we are asking Him to remove. What is God calling you to outgrow? (Are there things you are asking Him to change or remove in this season?) Talk about some things you’ve successfully outgrown and the challenges you faced.
Read Hebrews 11:23-27. Moses chose what he would be defined by. When others are controlling us, we need to grow up. How much weight do you give to others’ opinions? (Where can that be a good thing and a bad thing?) Where are some areas where you’re taking your cues from culture?
Tell the group where you’re most tempted to give up in this season. Pastor Steven encouraged us with this statement: “Don’t quit; shift.” What would it look like for you to shift into a new approach or way of doing things?
Act On It
You’re too grown to give up. Pre-decide now what you’re going to do when you face the temptation to give up this week.
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 for the strength and direction you provide when we want to quit. We’re not asking You to take away our struggles — we’re asking You to give us the faith that can only come from You to persevere in the middle of the struggle. Help us to not quit on our callings and to choose Your will over our comfort. In Jesus’ name, amen.