Don Denyes // Rockford Campus // December 1, 2024

SMALL GROUP
DISCUSSION GUIDE

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 12:22–34

REMINDERS

LEADER DEVELOPMENT CLASS (Sundays, 6–7pm – Rockford Campus Room 304)

We’ve had some TERRIFIC LDC’s lately covering the topic of how to navigate Crucial Conversations. Thank you to the Leaders who’ve been able to make it!

Here’s the plan as we move into the holiday season for continuing to grow and learn together:

Dec. 8: OFF – Children’s Christmas Program

Dec. 15: LEADER DEVELOPMENT CHRISTMAS GATHERING

Dec. 22: OFF – Christmas Break

Dec. 29: OFF – New Year’s Break

Jan. 5: Continue Crucial Conversations

TOGETHER IN LIFE

December is here! Many people celebrate Advent in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Is this something you do (or have done)? Why or why not?

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 12:22–34

Note: If you are meeting as a group, we encourage you to read the entire text together out loud.

Anxiety: an Earthly Perspective

Anxiety is an increasingly common problem in the world. It often comes from adopting an earthly perspective to life, letting tomorrow’s potential problems cause trouble today because of how we think about them. Jesus mentioned some common categories: eating, clothing, drinking, and extending your life. Today, marketers, influencers, and other talking heads pile on more invitations to chase after this or be afraid of that.

QUESTIONS

• What are some areas where you see anxiety in the world? Is it something you run into on social media, for example, or the evening news?
• How often do you struggle with feeling anxious? Daily? Weekly? Seasonally?
• What do you tend to do when you feel anxious? Are you more likely to: (A) avoid it by distracting yourself? (B) address the symptoms? or (C) try to get to the root cause?

The Problem with Worry

Don suggested that when we think about worry and anxiety from a biblical perspective, we can see that it’s brainless, useless, harmful, and ultimately godless. These are strong words! But we can see they are true: worry accomplishes nothing good and can be unhealthy physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Don called it “brainless” because it bypasses careful thought and reflection. It ultimately fails to trust God’s goodness and power.

QUESTIONS

• Which of these four categories are easiest for you to agree with? Have you experienced any of them in your life?
• Which ones are harder to accept? Why?
• Is there anything in particular that is causing anxiety in your life lately? Or is there anything you’ve addressed before that keeps coming back?

Focus on the Father

Jesus reminds us that a heavenly perspective can help us let go of worry and anxiety. When we focus on the God who is “grocer to the birds and tailor to the flowers,” we are able to trust Him with both the present and the future. Don summarized the passage this way:

 

QUESTIONS

• Is there anything in your life right now that prevents you from believing that God is good and that He cares about you and for you?
• What kinds of things help you remember God’s goodness and care for you? (They may be from Creation or something man-made.)
  • Consider listening to the song “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” either now or sometime during the week when you can reflect on it.
• Take some time to remember what God has done for you in the past. Which ones really speak to you about His love?

 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

Based on what you have discussed, make a plan for how you will address anxiety the next time it comes up in your life. What will help you keep a heavenly perspective when life tempts you to worry?

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

Take time to pray for one another about any worries and anxieties that were shared in group. Remember to be patient and kind with one another, bearing each other’s burdens. Pray about the things that trigger anxiety and for our hearts as we strive to meet those fears and temptations with a heavenly perspective. Finally, pray that God will give you a special sense of His presence and love in the week ahead.