Are you living on autopilot, shaped more by the rhythms around you than the ones you choose? In a world where most habits are set for us, we often end up shaped by patterns that drain us rather than give life. This week, we’ll explore the ancient rhythm of living by Scripture. We’ll see how God’s Word brings the stability, clarity, and nourishment our souls need. And we’ll discover how inviting Jesus into even one disordered area can open the way to healthier, life-giving rhythms. Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view the Leader Guide for this week, click here. To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before beginning, take a quiet moment and pray for God’s direction of your time together Introduction Last week, we finished our Milestones series, and we were invited to allow our relationship with God to shape our identity and meaning in life. How did that go this week? This week, we’re talking about finding “spiritual rhythms” in our lives, like prayer, Bible reading, sharing our faith, and worship. God wants us to have these kinds of rhythms, forming us into the people God created us to be. Connect What is one routine you follow almost automatically? Do prefer predictability or flexibility? Why do you prefer this?What habit has helped you feel grounded? When has one left you feeling drained? Opening We all live by rhythms – some we choose, some we inherit, and some that just seem to happen to us. Think of your calendar, when and what you eat, your bedtime, or how you manage your money. Sometimes rhythms help us become who God created us to be while others may quietly shape us in unhealthy ways. Jesus invites us into intentional rhythms rooted in God’s Word. This leads us to our Main Idea for this week We should build intentional spiritual rhythms that are rooted in God’s word. Unpack Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses. You’ll notice this week that we’re reading one passage at a time and answering a few questions before reading another passage of scripture. Read Joshua 1:7–9 In this passage, the importance of hearing from God is shown as Joshua is stepping into becoming the new leader of God’s people following the death of Moses. How do you think God’s words would have impacted Joshua in that moment? How might reading this passage be connected to courage in your life? Where in your life do you feel most in need of guidance right now? How might reading passages of scripture like this shape that area of your life? Read James 1:22–25 In this passage, James, a leader in early Christianity, writes about the importance of not just reading the Bible but doing what God says. What difference do you see between reading the Bible and living it? What is James trying to communicate with this mirror illustration? Has anything you’ve learned about Jesus reshaped one of your habits or daily rhythms, or are there areas that Jesus needs to shape? Read Isaiah 55:10–11 This passage was written by a Hebrew prophet describing the benefit that God’s word brings to our lives. How is God’s word described in terms of growth and nourishment? Where in your life does it feel like the ground is dry or growth has stalled? Where might you need fresh renewal from God? What does this suggest about how knowing Jesus can change us over time? Discovery & Application This is a new reflection section we’ll be using throughout this series. Take a few minutes to consider what these passages reveal and how they invite you to respond. What do these passages reveal about who God is? What do these passages reveal about us/others? What do these passages invite/inspire you to think/feel/do? Action Step Choose one area of your life and intentionally invite Jesus into it through regular time in God’s word this week. Think of a normal rhythm in your life, like work, friendships, school, or personal time ,that Jesus would like to be more a part of. How could you invite him in? What is one idea that comes to mind that you can do? Here are some examples: Notice where “doing” has replaced “being.” Try reading a short Bible passage before starting your day or before bed. You have a strained relationship. Bring that to God in prayer and look for biblical wisdom about forgiveness or patience. Busyness and hurriedness define you. Take regular short breaks throughout the day and during those breaks, slowly read a short Bible passage and reflect on it, or take a walk and talk to God. If you don’t have a physical Bible, Journey would love to give you one! Please ...
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