Life Group - Leader Guides

We all grow tired of even the best things. It can also be true of our faith. This week, we learned that we must be intentional about keeping our hearts tuned to God. When our faith becomes dry and boring, we must seek Him to find joy in His presence. Let’s learn how to keep our hearts tender and seeking after God.

No matter if they were hurtful (“good-for-nothing”) or exaggerated (“Hey, Princess!”), the labels attributed to us can affect our lives. We live up to them. We see ourselves as our worst critics see us, or we become entitled—just as doting adults taught us to be. The way to break free of labels and live up to God’s best for us is to look to Him for our worth. What does He say about you? Once you know, you can be confident in that identity.

Life is hard and we have difficult tasks ahead of us: finishing the project, healing a relationship, starting a business, even quitting a career to go back to school! This saying is healthy: “We can do hard things.” However, many of us struggle with starting or completing the dreams God has given us. God has a strategy and has supplied all the resources you need to do all He has put in your heart to do.

Much of the stress we have about money and finances comes from fear. Will I have enough? Am I a success? Am I providing for my family and giving them a great life? We need to replace fear with confidence and satisfaction. God is our help and our provider. He never meant for us to handle this pressure. He has a plan to free us from stress. In fact, He will provide all we need for a life that honors Him.

All throughout the Bible, mighty men and women of the Bible have failed, gotten up, and trusted God again. Failure is not the end: it is a wonderful teacher...if you know how to “win at failing.” God’s plan for following Him leads us back to success as we obey His directions.

Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble. He also said that He was sharing this odd bit of news with us so that “in Me you may have peace.” God loves you. He knows your pain, stress, and struggles. Jesus has overcome the world and death, yet we still suffer today. Paul gives us the strategy for releasing those anxieties and fears and focusing on God.

Most of us love being in control. A great many of us also have trust issues. Choosing to trust God instead of handling things ourselves is one way we show that we really love and believe in God. Craig Groeschel writes, “We want God to prove Himself so we can trust Him. God wants us to trust Him so He can prove Himself.”

If you knew Jesus was coming back in two weeks, would you make any changes? Would you ask yourself, “Is my life radically different in every area...because of Jesus?” Let’s evaluate ourselves this week to see if we are totally sold out to God.

Pastor and author Craig Groeschel has defined a Christian Atheist as “someone who calls themselves a Christian but lives like God doesn’t exist.” This week, we are reminded that there is a huge difference in "having it our own way" and living life in full surrender to God and His Word.

We don’t have to face a life-or-death scenario to recognize our own faith as authentic or surface level. The terms “Christian” and “Atheist” are mutually exclusive except when defined by words in one sense and actions in the other. In this series, we will explore what it means to live consistent lives that reflect our professed faith. A Christian Atheist has Christian intentions, knowledge and self-identification that don’t match up with their everyday choices and behavior.