“We feed our Spirit and starve our Flesh by practicing habits laid down by Jesus. As we do this over time, we not only develop our own willpower muscles, but more importantly, we open our minds and bodies to a power that is outside of us—that of God’s Spirit.”
– John Mark Comer
Connect group:
● Choose ONE NIGHT a week to hold your connect group.
● Ask each member of your connect group to bring their Bible.
● If you want, you can also take communion together.
WELCOME Ice breaker: Choose one of the following topics and talk about it:
a) Tell us about a time when you FASTED. Why did you FAST, and what was your experience?
b) In what ways can one FAST?
Prayer Open with prayer.
WORD Read:
Our Core Text for Today:
Ezra 8:23 So, we fasted and besought our God for this, and he heard our supplication.
Psalm 69:10 When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.
Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, they commended themselves to the Lord, in whom they believed with prayer and fasting.
Talk in your Connect Group about the following: Fasting—abstaining from food for a set period—is an ancient (often neglected), biblically demonstrated practice for cultivating self-awareness, self-control, and dependence on God. By denying the body, you live as if you truly believe that God is the true provider. By resisting your own desires for instant gratification, you build your ability to do the same in other areas of life. Matthew 4 reveals the key to fasting: trust in God’s word. Jesus replied, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 Fasting from physical food works in conjunction with feasting on the words of life. So, when you fast, you are not just denying yourself. You are replacing a good gift from God that you regularly enjoy (food) with time with God Himself.
Reread today’s texts and talk about them:
• What is the biggest temptation to overcome when fasting?
• When and for what can our Connection Group fast for?
WORSHIP Make time to worship God today. Use the playlist on our Word and Life website under Connect Groups. Or bring your own worship songs.
WORKS Now enjoy Communion together as a Connect Group:
Love for God, Love for People Now, as a Connection Group, spend just 5 minutes in silence, and each member should answer the questions below for themselves. Create a peaceful atmosphere and allow the Lord to speak to each one individually.