40 Days 2023 - Discussion Questions - Week 3
In Mark 8:34, Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. The outcome of our lives is not determined by what we intend to do; it is determined by the choices we actually make. When Jesus calls us to follow Him, He gives us a choice to take steps of faith to follow Him or stay right where we are. This week, we are going to talk about how we can close the gap between our intentions to follow Jesus and our actions.
This week’s memory verses: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NIV
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 ESV
1. Last week’s memory verse was Romans 12:1-2; who can recite it?
2. What stood out to you in Pastor James’ message this week?
3. As you read through the 40 Days devotional this week, what encouraged or challenged you?
What does it mean to follow Christ?
4. Read Luke 9:23 ESV. Notice that Luke added the word “daily.” The outcome of our lives is not determined by what we intend to do; it is determined by the choices we actually make based on those intentions every single day. Why is following Jesus more about the choices we make every day, rather than just a one-time decision?
Align your choices with your intentions to follow Jesus
5. Why is it important to align our choices with Jesus’ direction?
6. What decisions should we make each day to follow Jesus?
7. How have you seen a pattern of choices in your life that prevented you from moving forward in what Jesus is calling you to do?
8. Read Galatians 2:20. Paul is basically saying, “The life I live, I live by faith. I don’t live by what I intended to do for Christ, I live every day by faith, making decisions to follow Christ. I’m making progress, I’m making decisions based on His leading me.” What does it mean to you to live by faith in the Son of God?
9. Read John 5:1-8. Why do you suppose Jesus asked, “Do you want to get well?”
10. Think of your own life, do you want to just stay here with great intentions (to be healed or set free), or do you trust Jesus enough to pick up your mat and follow Him? What would you have to do to demonstrate that you trusted Jesus?
11. Pastor James said something similar to this; ”Our decisions are tested through our determination, and our determination is proven by our decisions. We have to keep both of them together.’ John 5:1-8 teaches and gives some insights into how to close the gap between your intentions (I want to be healed) and making decisions about where God is leading you to be healed. Can you share an example from your life when you had great intentions but made the wrong decisions?
Address the pattern of your choices.
12. If you are not seeing a breakthrough in an area of your life, ask yourself: “Have the pattern of the choices that I am making really done anything to lead me to the place that I am determined to be?” What is an example of a bad pattern of choices? What’s an example of a good pattern of choices?
Another good question to ask yourself is: If I keep doing what I’m doing, will I stay in this place of hurt?
13. If you are not living the way you intend to live, what choices do you need to address to change it?
You have to pick it up to follow.
14. What is Jesus telling you to pick up to follow him (what is your mat)? What is holding you back from making the decision to pick it up and follow Him?
Don’t complicate it; just take a step.
15. What is the one next thing you need to do in following Jesus? Will you do it? Will you do it again? Will you do it again? This is why in Luke, Jesus says, “pick up your cross daily.” Start small. Just keep taking little steps of faith.