1. REVIEW

In this study we learned that anyone who follows Jesus can face a season of spiritual stagnation. In order to overcome spiritual stagnation, we must overcome three underlying fears that can hold us back from pursuing God wholeheartedly and experiencing Him more intimately. Let’s take a closer look at how this study connects with your life.

2. APPLICATION

A. Are you satisfied with the level of spiritual intimacy that you are experiencing with God?
____ Yes
____ No

B. God speaks of four different priorities that people are pursuing in their lives.
Which one is the top priority in your life today?

a. My priority is the pursuit of credentials (“wise boast of their wisdom”)
b. My priority is the pursuit of achievements (“strong boast of their strength”)
c. My priority is the pursuit of money (“rich boast of their riches”).
d. My priority is the pursuit of God (“boast of having the understanding to know Me”)

C. When pursuing God is not the top priority of our lives, we will often find ourselves in a stage
of spiritual stagnation.  Are you spiritually stagnant?
____ Yes
____ No

3. GET DEEPER

A. There are three fears that have the power to drain us spiritually and keep us stagnant.
Which ones are you experiencing today?

___ The fear of failure: I am afraid about the future and that God will mislead me.
        (Implication: God, I believe that you are not faithful or reliable).
___ The fear of inadequacy: I am afraid that I am not good enough even though God made me.
        (Implication: God, I believe that you made a mistake when you made me).
___ The fear of rejection: I try to please people more than I try to please God.
        (Implication: God, I believe that others know better and matter to me more than you).

B. Read out loud the verses from the book of Jeremiah.
Then pray as a group renouncing the fears with their spiritual implications.

Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 This is what the LORD says:
“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom, or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
24 but let the one who boasts boast about this:
that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

4. GROUP PRAYER

a. Thank God for inviting you to know Him more deeply.
b. Renounce out loud before God any fear/implication identified above that is keeping you stagnant.
c. Ask God to teach you how to grow in intimacy with Him and how to know Him more deeply.
d. Thank God in advance for the way He will work in your life and lead you in the days ahead.