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Over It Week 3: God Over All
weekend in review
This week Mike Breaux talked about how our lives will never be complete, we’ll never really be able to get completely “over” anything until GOD IS OVER ALL. The good news that the angels announced to the shepherds is still today the reason we can put peace over panic, light over darkness, life over death, and joy over despair.
WARM UP
Begin with some conversation, checking in on how people are doing. You can talk about whatever you’d like, but here are potential questions to get the conversation going.
What is one of your favorite worship songs and why?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you’d grow up?
DISCUSS
Select 5-6 questions from the list below to guide your discussion time.
What are the things you want most in life? What ambitions would you like to pursue? How does your relationship with God fit into your path to pursuing your dreams?
Jesus taught, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 ESV). Mike explained, “I’m finding that when you get this right, that all those things—like peace, happiness, contentment, family, relationships, career—flow from a life that is trying to simply live for the glory of God.” What are ways we can practically apply seeking first the kingdom of God?
Read Matthew 5:14-16. Regarding this topic, Mike contributed some pithy statements to remember. Here are a few: “Life is about letting Him use us for His purpose, not using Him for our own purposes.” And, “We were not made for the spotlight…we were made to be a floodlight, reflecting light onto the goodness of our Creator.” Which statement impacted you the most this week?
Mike referred to some books: Generation Me by Dr. Jean Twenge and The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement by Dr. Twenge and Dr. W. Keith Campbell. Narcissism is defined by Psychology Today as being “characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, a need for excessive admiration, and the belief that one is unique and deserving of special treatment.” What is the difference between taking healthy, proper care of oneself and narcissism?
Read Psalm 19:1-4. Mike read several verses containing imagery of various parts of nature glorifying God. When was the last time you stopped to watch a beautiful sunset? How did it make you feel? What are the things in nature that amaze you the most?
Mike relayed the powerfully healing properties of music. “Music therapy is used in recovery, pain management, anxiety, and depression. It can lower blood pressure, change your metabolic rate, reduce muscle tension, increase endorphin levels, improve cognitive skills, enhance your memory and more.” What genre(s) of music do you prefer to lift your mood?
Participating in musical worship is one way we connect with God. Mike explained, “It slows us down, focuses our hearts on our Creator, God, Father, Savior, bringing us in tune with him and reconnecting us to his glory and greatness.” Do you listen to Christian music outside of church services? If so, when?
Though we worship in song, we also worship God through our lifestyle. Do you find that listening to worship music during the day helps you re-center your mind on who you are in Christ, on God’s presence with you, and such, helping you to worship God via your lifestyle?
Mike said, “Worship is responding with all that I am to all of who God is.” What does this mean to you?
application
If anyone in your group would like to be baptized, you can find out more by going online to eastside.com/baptism. Offer to support them in their decision by looking into it now while you are all together.
Gene gave a list of many wonderful things the scriptures say we are in Christ. This week (or now), take some time to search “Who I Am in Christ” online and choose from one of the many lists that pop up. Save one or print it out so you can refer to it regularly to remind yourself.
WRAP UP & PRAYER
Share prayer requests and spend time praying for each other.
Lord, we know that you came to be with us, to rescue and restore, to break our chains, and heal our broken hearts. We rejoice in knowing your favor rests on us and that you long to flood our souls with light and joy, purpose and passion. You came to give us life in all its fullness, each of us enjoying a grand relationship with you. As we gaze back in time to when the angels proclaimed the good news to the shepherds, we too rejoice in their words: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”