Liturgy for Life - WK 4 : GROUP GUIDE

The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with, or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

LITURGIES: Prayer, Fasting, Solitude, Silence, Statio/Stand Still

OPENING QUESTION(S)
When you pray, what do you picture or imagine? Do. you imagine a person, a place, a concept like light or space? Explain.

HEAD & HEART

1. Read Luke 18:9-14 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
2. PRAYER - What do you think it means to be humble in prayer? Jesus said in his sermon on the mount that you are not heard by your many words for God knows what you need before you ask. so why ask? Does prayer have to include words?
3. Read MATTHEW 6:16-18 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
4. FASTING - Fasting isn’t defined in Scripture as much as other disciplines and liturgies, but it is mentioned often. It was such a part of their lives that they didn’t need to explain it, they just did it. Have you ever fasted? If so from what and for how long? Is fasting just getting rid of something for a time, or is it also replacing that thing with someone else? If so, what?
5. Read Luke 5:15-16, Mark1:35, John 12:36 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
6. SOLITUDE - Why do you think Jesus practice withdrawing and going to quiet places so often? In our world of constant noise, what makes it hard to withdraw, and what benefits may come from it for us?
7. Read Psalm 62:1-2, 5-7 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
8. SILENCE - Have you ever just sat in silence before the Lord? If so, what was that experience like? How might silence and waiting go together as the psalmist suggest?
9. Read Matthew 11:28-30, together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading? What stands out?
10. STATIO - Our lives are so fast-paced. What are some tangible ways you could seek to practice Statio, reminding yourself throughout the day to take note of God’s presence and activity in your life and the world around you?

HANDS
Each week in this series, we will challenge you to spend time actually practicing the liturgies discussed in the week. So for this week, try to spend time with God in a way that maybe you’ve never tried before, or a way that you know is hard for you. Try it daily, push through the uncomfortable, ask God for His help, and see what you think about the practice at the end of the week, as well as how you feel about your walk with Jesus before this week versus after it.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
Luke 18:1, ESV
16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is
God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NLT