Main Idea: The habit of serving others leads to a powerful life filled with purpose.

Introduction: This week Pastor Zac continued our Atomic Life series with a message on serving. The habit of serving not only benefits those that we serve, but it increases our faith and connection with God as we see how He has given us gifts and purpose for doing His kingdom work.

Discussion Starter: Think of a time when someone did a service for you, such as washing the dishes or changing your tire on the side of the road. How did it feel to be served? Did it motivate you to want to pay it forward and serve someone else?

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures: Mark 10:42-45, 1 Peter 4:7-11

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Mark 10:42-45. Do you have a heart for serving? Do you feel the Holy Spirit pull your attention to certain needs in your community?
2. Read 1 Peter 4:7-11. Verse 10 says “each one has received a special gift.” What gift has God given you to be used for His purposes? If you aren’t sure, think about what talents and passions you have. Pray and ask God to give you insight into how He created you. Sometimes people around you may be able to see your gift better than you can see it yourself.
3. How are you using your gifts and talents to serve God and His kingdom? Do you have a habit of serving? Why should serving be a habit?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read 1 Peter 4:7-11 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Main Idea:
God’s favor working in us and through us makes a difference.

Introduction:
Some of us had never thought about God’s favor in our lives. We have been hearing and reading about favor and how it comes alive. Think about the persons whose stories have been in Pastor Chris’ book “Finding Favor.” These are individuals whose prayer lives are active. Conversations with God are key to finding His favor. Another factor that helps with seeking God and His favor is talking about the search with other Christians in a group setting. Members of a group can help one another find answers through discussions and prayer.

Discussion Starter:
Finding God’s favor can be on a large scale or a small scale. Anytime you have asked God to help you find a parking place close to the building entrance (and have found that place), you have found God’s favor. If you have asked God to show you whether you should take a job that requires moving long distance, His answer is giving you His favor. Has God ever given you an answer to prayer? Share with your group.

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures:  Psalm 90:17, Psalm 5:11, 1 Peter 2:9, Matthew 18:20, John 10:10

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean for God “to confirm the work of your hands?” Have you experienced this confirmation?
2. Share about a time when you felt God’s protection, as in Psalm 5:11.
3. Were there any cliques in your high school? Were you in the “in” group? In 1 Peter 2:9 God calls us a “chosen people,” a “royal priesthood,” a “holy nation.” How does this verse make you feel?
4. Matthew 18:20 and John 10:10 each give a promise of favor. What promises are given? Is a group of three too small? What is your idea of an abundant life?

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Psalm 90:13-17 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Main Idea:  Finding God’s favor is truly important, but there is no favor without faith—and that means we have to trust God even when things are not pleasant.

Introduction:  Bad things happen in the world all the time. Some people are more affected than others, but we are all affected. This Sunday, Pastor Zac talked about God’s favor, and how it’s kind of like an umbrella on a rainy day—the rain is all around us, but whether or not to open the umbrella is a choice. We need to remember that having God’s favor does not always mean that everything is pleasant all the time, or that we never experience pain or loss. But, it does mean that the important things in life are taken care of.

Discussion Starter:  What is a good movie or TV show that you’ve enjoyed lately? What was the “big problem” that really got the story going?

Encounter God

Primary Scriptures:  Matthew 5:11-12, Daniel 3:8-27, Psalm 5

Discussion Questions

1. 1. We definitely want to have God’s favor. But having God’s favor doesn’t mean that this earthly life is going to be problem-free or pain-free. Jesus’ life and death demonstrates this perfectly. In Matthew 5:11, Jesus talks about a blessing that may not seem at all pleasant. In your group, consider these questions: How is it that someone could be blessed and have God’s favor, but at the same time experience such painful things? And why on earth would God’s favor involve being in pain like that?
   2. In Daniel 3:8-27, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were fireproof. This wouldn’t have been very noteworthy if they had been at home eating junk food. Instead, they were publicly standing up against evil (literally — they refused to bow), at the risk of their own lives. They had no promise that God would save their lives. They just knew that it was wrong to bow to anything besides God. Probably there aren’t any people threatening to throw anyone in your group into a literal furnace, but what are the “fires” in your lives? What difficult things try to pressure you away from what you know is right?
   3. Continuing in Daniel 3, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego were immune to the fire—nobody could even smell smoke on them when they came out of the furnace. But, although they were immune to the fire, they were not immune to falling into the furnace. Discuss with your group how you think the three of them told this story to their friends after it happened. Do you think that they focused on how unpleasant that was or how God kept them safe during that time? ? And further, what do you focus on when you talk to others about the difficult parts of your life? Do you view it as an opportunity to talk about how good God is?
   4. God certainly showed favor to David, who trusted in Him. But David, the writer of Psalm 5, was no stranger to God’s correctional punishment. David often found himself in sin and in need of God’s discipline. However, David showed a pattern of repentance when confronted with his sin. He did not want to live in sin, despite finding himself in it frequently. Like Pastor Zac said, it’s not really possible for us to lead our friends and loved ones to a place that we ourselves are not. There is no room for God’s favor if we are valuing something or someone over God. So the question to talk about with your group is this: How have you spent your time this past week? How much time was there spent in prayer, or in Bible reading, or talking to others about Jesus? Also, how much time was spent watching Netflix, or sports?
      

Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Psalm 5 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.

Engaging at Faith Promise:  It’s difficult to engage with people right now because of pandemic precautions. Have your group figure out one way that you can check up on others at Faith Promise. There are many core members who have been unable to attend, and would probably love to hear from a fellow Promisor. Contact your Groups/Missions Pastor to see how your group can reach out to fellow Promisors.

Engaging in Community and the World:  Social media right now is in desperate need of the love of Christ. How can your group, on social media, be the “light of the world” that Jesus talked about in Matthew 5:14? How can your group be the love of God through social media outlets?