Keep Dreaming (Part 2): Sensing A Dream

TO START

This week, we continued our 4-week series on the power, the necessity and the possibility of dreaming as children of the God who dreams. At the end of worship this week, we were invited to answer the second dream prompt for the series which is the question for y’all to encounter together to begin group.

  • What dream is personally stirring inside of you? What’s an energy you haven’t quite put into words? What’s a desire that's been lying dormant for a while? (If folks are willing, write these down)

TO DISCUSS

To start the message, Zane pointed us to the way that we struggle often to use our unique gift of imagination. We become disappointed by what something isn’t instead of dreaming about what that something could be or what that something could lead to (i.e., Zane’s lawnmower story).

  • Why do you think you might tend to dwell on the negatives of something/the deficiencies of something rather than the possibilities of something? If you don’t, how did you become more of a visionary?

Before going further, let’s jump into a story that might begin to help us to sense what’s possible with God… Read Genesis 37:1-18

In Zane’s sermon, he points out that Joseph, much like his father, doesn't come from a dream scenario but even in the midst of the mess, there is deep potential and energy pouring out of Joseph that could not be more obvious in Joseph’s words in Genesis 37… 

  • Why do you think he revealed his dream to his brothers when it so clearly portrays Joseph as superior over the rest of his family? Do you think Joseph should have shared his dream this early in his life? If so, how? 

  • Have you ever had a feeling like this? Where energy flows out of you? Where before you know it, you’ve gone off on a long rant or day-dreamed about something? When’s the last time this has happened to you?

Furthermore, Zane also points us to the fact that sometimes in dreams like Joseph’s, it’s hard to tell if this dream is God given or God working through Jacob’s dream because our desires make it hard to tell where we stop and where God starts… This is important because as Zane mentioned, “what’s beautiful about dreams is [dreams] tend to lead us to explore ourselves and God”. And at times, this process is exhausting and requires perseverance. 

  • How often do you let your dreams/cherished desires lead you to explore yourself and God? Do you tend to muffle your dreams more than to explore them? What dreams do you need to persevere in?

  • And when you do dream, when you evaluate your desires, which of the following do you tend to see your desires coming out? Do you walk through life looking to feel at home in your own skin (tuning fork), to reach a certain state of being (snuggie), or to find a path/destination in which you feel like you should be on (vehicle)?

Near the close of the message, Zane points us to the words of Dorthy Greco as we consider God's dreams are for the blessing and flourishing of us all.  She writes, “Though some of us are more susceptible to magical thinking, we all need to recognize the difference between dreams and fantasies. Dreams help us envision real possibilities [with God] because they are connected to our potential and gifts. Fantasies funnel us into cul-de-sacs because they appeal to our pride [and our own accomplishments]” 

  • Do you tend to dream or to fantasize more in your day to day life? Sensing real possibilities with God or funneling yourself into cul-de-sacs of pride?

TO CLOSE

We want to encourage you to pray over the dreams that are stirring inside the life of your group (consider having different willing group members to pray over one another’s dreams that are stirring up inside)

And then close with this prayer:

Lord, may you illuminate our tired and weary hearts.

Show us what’s possible in a world where everything feels impossible right now

Empower us to dream together. 

In Jesus’ name. 

Amen. 

Matt DeLano