You Don’t Have To
Pastor Steven Furtick
Sermon Highlights
You don’t have to. You get to.
We can get so caught up in the “how” that we miss the power of “Who.”
Mary went from “how” to “let it be.”
Gabriel didn’t say how, he just said Who – The answer to your “how” is a “Who.”
If you were afraid when it was in front of you, you should praise God when it’s behind you.
Don’t try to sustain something that you didn’t even start.
If you start giving God the credit, He’ll start taking all the stress.
Scripture
Luke 1:26-41 - Jesus’ birth foretold
Philippians 2:5-10 - Jesus humbled Himself
Luke 10:42 - Jesus teaches Martha
Sermon Discussion
Conversation Starter
Christmas services are next week! Share your favorite part of the Christmas season (maybe a family tradition, a Christmas movie, Christmas music, Christmas at Elevation, etc.).
eGroup Highlights
What’s your highlight from this week’s sermon?
Discussion Questions
“You don’t have to. You get to.” What’s something in your life that can feel like you have to do it, but it’s actually something you once prayed for the chance to get to do?
“Don’t try to sustain something that you didn’t even start.” Who in our eGroup has reminded you to lean on God when you’ve tried to sustain something yourself?
Additional Questions
“Mary went from ‘how’ to ‘let it be.’” What are some practical ways to shift from worrying about how something will get done and trust God with it instead?
“If you were afraid when it was in front of you, you should praise God when it’s behind you.” What’s something that you’re grateful God brought you through?
Prayer Prompt
Ask this question to your eGroup and include it as part of your closing prayer:
Pastor Steven said that “God knows how, and you don’t have to. The help will come.”
Ask your eGroup: Where do you need to surrender the “how” to God this week?
Pray that each member would be released from the pressure of "having to" and would embrace the joy of "getting to” this Christmas. Ask God to make each member aware of His presence, peace, and joy as the Holy Spirit guides and empowers them this week.