Key Thought: If we feel far from God, it is because we have let ourselves drift away from Him. God has not moved. He is waiting for us to reconnect with Him.
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
• What happens in our lives when we spend time with God and attending church?
•Name distractions that crop up to keep us from studying the Word or attending Church.
Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.
• How does justifying a life of living in sin pull us away from the wholeness God offers?
•When we consider the desire to show a fake spiritual life, why do we need to address pride first?
Start sharing. Choose questions that create openness.
• What are ways you have benefited by changing the company you keep from negative influences to positive ones?
• How has being part of this LifeGroup blessed you?
•When we feel far from God, what steps should we take to draw closer to Him?
Start praying. Be bold, and pray with power.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, for opening our eyes to the risk of drifting apart from you. You never change. Your promise always holds true. It is us who go astray, and we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to keep us close to Your presence. We desire closeness with You, Lord. We commit to spending time with You every day. We promise to put You first above the world, above temptations, above pleasure. Help us live genuine lives for You and Your glory-not our own. We pray all this in your Son’s precious and holy name. Amen.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
• Forget about faking a spiritual front. Share something you need help with and ask the group to pray over you.
•Establish a time every day when you will connect with God through prayer, silence, and study of scripture. The goal is to connect with the Lord. Share this with your life group and/or your accountability partner in the group and hold each other to it.
Scriptures
“O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1 NLT
“I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.” Psalm 63:2 NLT
“Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.” Psalm 92:13 NKJV
“Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character.’” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NIV
“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 NLT
“...but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15 NIV
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16 NIV
“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Isaiah 29:13 NIV