This past Sunday we talked about what to do in response to when we are thriving in our relationship with God. Oftentimes, we look at the Bible and learn from God what we are to do when we are not doing well, or when things are not going so well. But this past Sunday we took a moment to think:
What were the really exciting moments in my walk with God in 2015?
When was I following God well? Thriving with Him?
The Bible has something to say to us when we reflect on these exciting experiences!
We learn from Paul’s example in Philippians 1:3-11, that moments of thriving with God are opportunities to express thanks, encourage, and re-engage.
We express thanks to God, because when we are thriving, He is working! Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit as our Helper, and we need to give God credit for His help in making us more like Jesus.
Paul also shows us that it is important to encourage one another when we are working hard in serving God. Don’t you find that honest encouragement from someone is refreshing and energizing? Paul encourages the Philippians, and we ought to encourage those around us for their hard work. God supplies what’s needed, but we still have to do our part – don’t forget that, and don’t withhold encouragement from others.
Finally, Paul finishes this passage, praying for the Philippians, that God might grant them greater growth in love – a love that is thoughtful, wise, and action-oriented. Let us be express our excitement when we are being faithful! But don’t forget: there is always more room to grow. And as we pray, and pursue further growth in love, we will grow to become more like Jesus than we are now.
As you consider moments in your 2015 when you were thriving with God – and even as you come to experience more exciting moments following Him in the future – how can you implement what the Bible says into your life?
Respond by expressing your excitement as praise to God! Refresh those around you with encouragement for their hard work. And after a short time of thanks and encouragement, get back on the path of growth, towards becoming more like Jesus.
May your exciting times of thriving with God be to you as a pit stop: a time to celebrate, be re-fueled, and drive better now than ever before in your adventure serving God!
Take time to share with someone this week about moments in your 2015 when you were thriving and excited in your walk with Jesus!
Big Idea: Moments when we are thriving with God are opportunities to express thanks to God, encourage each other, and re-engage in pursuing love.
Teaching Points:
– Think about moments you had following God in 2015 that excited you!
– What do we do when we feel like we are thriving with God?
– God started this successful project in your life, and God is the one who will finish this project.
– We must express thanks to God for how far we have come!
– Yet, don’t ignore the fact that we had to work hard.
– God supplies needs – but we still have to work hard.
– Encourage each other for working hard!
– There is no reason to keep from someone the refreshment that you could have given them through encouragement.
– Re-engage in pursuing further growth in love
– Re-engagement is important, because the day of Christ is coming
– Our end goal is to be faithful to Christ until the end – our death or his return
– Our continued pursuit of love really matters, so keep going!
Adult Discussion Questions:
What moments in 2015 were exciting in how you were following God and He was moving? Do you struggle with giving God the glory when you are doing well? What can you remind yourself of to remember that God deserves all the credit? Who in your life can you encourage this week for their faithfulness to God, and how that may have impacted you? What is the best kind of encouragement you like to receive in these times? How can you take time this week to celebrate moments of thriving, and also push forward towards further growth in thoughtful, wise, active love?
Discussion Questions/ Responses for Young Families
Take time this week after one of your meals together, to share with each other a story from your own life of following God and God being faithful. Give specific encouragement to each other for the hard work, and the faithfulness that each of you may have put in to serving God.
Challenge for the Week: Share with someone a story of when you were thriving with God in 2015.
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