Key Thought: Your environment will either ruin you or it will build you.
Key Quote
“The world will consume you. Instead, let God fill you.” Pastor Bil Cornelius
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
Out of the beach, somewhere snowy, in a desert, or in the mountains, which one is your favorite? Why?
Ever set the mood in a room before? Why did environment matter?
What is the best environment for you to read? Relax? Pray?
What is your favorite thing about your work environment?
Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.
What are different ways you see people adapt without conforming to their environment?
How do people get involved in the wrong friendships? Why is it so easy to start hanging out with the wrong people?
What environment should a LifeGroup provide to help newcomers connect?
How does setting, or environment, help someone succeed or fail?
Start sharing. Choose questions that create openness.
Are you in compromise with your closest friendships? Are they helping you do more for Jesus or slowing you down?
Are you scared to be despised? Would you say that you are bold in your faith?
What are the top 3 things you are consuming? If you did a time audit, what 3 things take up the most of your time?
Who is someone close to you who pushes and encourages you to live closer to God?
Start praying. Be bold, and pray with power.
Dear Jesus, we want to live in a healthy environment that pushes us closer to you. Thank You for not leaving us stuck where we are. We’re grateful that You gave us this church and LifeGroup to help us grow the way you designed. In your name we pray, Amen.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a LifeGroup, commit to doing so this week and get in touch with your LifeGroups Pastor.
Invite someone God has put on your heart to At the Movies.
Write down a list of your 3-4 closest friends, and go through each one to see whether they are pushing you closer or further away from Jesus. If they are pushing you further away, commit to breaking off the closeness of that relationship.
Identify whether the things you are consuming are good for your spirit, and if they aren’t, replace them with something that is.
Scriptures
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men of Judah’s royal family and other noble families, who had been brought to Babylon as captives. “Select only strong, healthy, and good-looking young men,” he said. “Make sure they are well versed in every branch of learning, are gifted with knowledge and good judgment, and are suited to serve in the royal palace. Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon.” The king assigned them a daily ration of food and wine from his own kitchens. They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. Daniel 1:3-5 NLT Daniel 1:6-7 NLT: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were four of the young men chosen, all from the tribe of Judah. The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names:
But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods…Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water…see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” ...At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king…God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams. When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar..no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Daniel 1:8,12-18 NLT
