"It's better to obey than to sacrifice."
"You may be in the middle of a battle, but victory comes at the foot of the altar."
-Pastor Bil Cornelius
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
● What is one positive thing that happened to you this week?
● If you could have a theme song, what song would you choose?
● What’s your biggest pet peeve?
● What is your favorite (fiction or non-fiction) book?
Start thinking. Ask a thoughtful question.
● What is communion? Why is it important?
● How is reverent fear of the Lord different from what we normally think fear is?
● What are some obstacles that can keep us from obeying God?
● We tend to think of obedience as giving up freedom. How is obedience to the Lord liberating?
Start Sharing. Choose questions that create openness.
● What is something you’re holding onto that you need to surrender to God?
● How do you feel when you ask someone to do something, and they don't follow through?
● What are some simple things you can do to walk in obedience this week?
● Have you ever made your faith more complicated than it needs to be? What did you do to simplify it?
● How have you found freedom from following God’s path?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
"Dear Jesus, help me to find freedom in You. Help me to not overcomplicate my relationship with You. Let my joy be found in You and You alone. Amen."
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
● Find time in your week to stop and intentionally worship God.
● When you wake up in the morning ask God to give you strength and peace.
● Make it a part of your routine every morning to wake up a few minutes earlier and immediately connect with God in prayer.
Scriptures
Scriptures
“That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. But God kept them from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?” They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.” “What things?” Jesus asked. “The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago. “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.” Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. By this time, they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So, he went home with them. As they sat down to eat, he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared! They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?”
Luke 24:13-32 NLT
“Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.”
James 1:7-9 NLT
“My house is a house of prayer…”
Matthew 21:13 NIV
“Obedience is better than sacrifice...”
Samuel 15:22
“As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying “Take it, for this is my body. And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them, and they all drank from it. And he said to them, “This is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice for many.”
Mark 14:22-24 NLT
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12 NLT
“The lord disciplines those he loves.”
Proverbs 3:12 NLT