Part 2 – Cleaning Up Your Schedule
Discussion Guide
How you spend your time really matters, whether good, bad or wasted. If we want to add value and honor God, we need to start by evaluating our schedules.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
- In the message, we were asked: “What is it you have a sense of fulfillment around? In your past or in this stage of life?” How does this show in your schedule?
- Read Ephesians 5:16-17. Think of every opportunity you currently have. How can you make the most of every opportunity? What does the passage mean by “the days are evil?” What opposition might you run into?
- Read Matthew 6:32-33. Priorities matter. How is it possible to fit in everything we need? What does God say about managing our needs, wants, and priorities in this verse? How can our schedules reflect fulfillment in worshipping God? What are practical ways we can seek the kingdom of God first?
- Read Mark 12:30-31. What is the most important commandment? Jesus broke love down into four categories in this verse. What are the four categories and which one(s) come most naturally and which might need attention?
- Action Step: After listening to the message, ask yourself: “What do I need to take out of my schedule?” Where do you want to be in a year? Who do you want to be in a year? We reviewed the same questions last week in regard to our friends. How does your intention to declutter your schedule also apply to helping you reach your one year goals? Review the most important commandment and the specific ways we are instructed to love God. Read Luke 10:25-28 this is an account of when Jesus was asked by an expert in the law how to gain eternal life. It turns out the answer was the most important commandment in the law.
Deeper
- Read Luke 10:25-37. The ways we manage our time are directly related to how we behave towards others. After reading the passage, what connects the two? (You might also notice finances – our topic for next week – is also connected!)
- Why do you think the first two people (a priest and a Levite) who saw their “neighbor” decide to pass by? Could it have been that they were in a hurry? Had other priorities? Or no room in their schedules?
- Can you put yourself in their sandals? If you had passed by someone in need what might your reasons be? How can you create margin in your schedule this week to practice loving God with your heart, mind, strength, and soul?