Perhaps...

TO START

Begin this week by filling one another in on your Christmas exploits. Have each group member answer one of the following prompts (let members pick which one):

  1. Tell the group about a moment in the last couple weeks when you felt truly loved.

  2. Tell the group about something that started off not so great this holiday season but ended really well. 

  3. Tell the group about something that surprised you this Christmas (or New Year).

TO DISCUSS

Were you familiar with the story we considered on Sunday? What did you find interesting/confusing/convicting?

For most of the sermon we keyed in on what Jonathan says in 1 Samuel 14:6. What was it? Do you remember? (Look it up if you don’t)

  • Justin called Jonathan’s words “open-handed optimistic faith.” What does that mean? 

  • We divided this verse into two parts: “I wonder if” and “I know that.” 

    • What do you wonder if God will do? AND What do you KNOW God will do? (Make two long lists)

On Sunday we said, “You have no idea what God will do… if you decide this is the year you stop assuming He won’t and start realizing that PERHAPS He will.”

  • What have you given up hoping for? What are you refusing to imagine because asking God to entertain your vision seems too risky?

  • Have you ever prayed for something you didn’t know for sure that God would do? How does it feel to pray perhaps prayers? Tell about a time God answered a perhaps prayer. Tell about a time He didn’t.

How do you generally respond to uncertainty? Do you usually think of uncertainty as a roadblock? Or do you think of uncertainty as a springboard? 

  • How might it change your life to shift your perspective and see uncertainty as possibility? Think of a practical example.

Can you think of other moments in scripture when a servant of God throws out an idea to see if God will consider it? (Try to find the “Hey God! What about this?” moments)

TO READ

Read Ephesians 3:20. 

  • According to this verse, Who is God and what is He capable of?

  • If God can do more than we can imagine, why don’t we use our imaginations more?

  • Would you say you practice imagination as a spiritual discipline? If not, why? And if so, shares some examples of what it looks like for you. 

  • How might we make imagination a more integral part of living our faith?

TO PRAY

What’s your perhaps (or one of your perhapses)? Where do you think God might work if you’d have the vision and courage to step out in faith? Share with the group. 

Tonight, let’s pray for one another’s holy ambitions, asking God to use us, perhaps in these specific ways. 

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