Opening
Take turns sharing when you have given up comfort or safety to follow Jesus. What was the fruit of that decision? If you can, name times that you have seen each other step out in obedience.
Overview
Giving up can have negative connotations in our culture and with good reason. There are things that we should not quit. But for people who follow Jesus there are also many times when we should give up. We should give up comfort, safety, and control. A core action of Christian maturity and strength is to regularly tell God that we give up our own ways and wills for God’s will.
This is hard to do. Instead we remain immature and powerless because our will triumphs over God’s will, because our fears supersede God’s faithfulness, or because our “truth” violates God’s truth. Jesus shows us how to move through the things we face in life. Jesus is open about the state of his heart and mind. He confronts human resistance to God’s will and He prays for God’s purposes to triumph.
Discussion Questions
- Is God asking you to give up something? Can you be open with God about the state of your mind and heart when facing that call?
- Do comfort and safety become priorities in certain seasons of your life?
Practice
John 12 23 Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. 27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”
Read the passage out loud slowly a couple of times and then give people time to share what part of the passage stood out to them and what invitation God is extending to them. Make space for people to be open about the state of their heart and mind about that invitation. Pray over each other, requesting Spirit-empowered courage and obedience in each situation.
If there is time, have a discussion about what it takes to move from asking “save me from this hour” to “bring glory to Your name.”
Closing
Make space for individual and group prayers of surrender. If you would like, feel free to use this prayer from a church father, Ignatius of Loyola.
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
My memory, my understanding
And my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace.
That is enough for me.
Amen.
