Lonely Places
Pastor Steven Furtick
Conversation Starters
How do you watch church online? (e.g., in your pajamas, with a huge cup of coffee, together with some friends online, etc.)
YTHX this year was a 72-hour livestream! If you had to be locked in a room for 72 hours with only three items, what three items would you choose?
What’s your hiding place when you need to “get away”?
Review
Ask eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.
Make It Personal
Alone time can be a healthy thing. What are some of your favorite ways to spend your alone time?
If you never spend time disconnected from the external, you’ll always be driven by other agendas. Share some examples of how you’ve been controlled by a need for approval. (Where in your life are you seeking approval? How have you let what other people think control you?)
Read Mark 1:35-45. Jesus chose to separate Himself from His surroundings in the first part of this passage. What are some ways you can do that? (Where do you have an imbalance in connection versus solitude, or what priorities do you need to rearrange?) How can that help you in this season?
Time alone can also help us remember our purpose. Tell your group what your purpose is. (What drives you — what you feel called to do.) How do you need to get realigned with that?
Seeking alone time is different than feeling lonely. How have you been lonely lately?
Read 1 Samuel 23:14-17. David could have felt like he was completely alone when Saul was pursuing him, but Jonathan went to him to strengthen him. How do you need to seek strength from others in your loneliness? Who can YOU encourage the way Jonathan encouraged David?
We all have “spots” that keep us feeling distant from God and others. Why do we feel like we’re the only ones with spots? (Why does the enemy want us to think that? What are some reasons we sometimes allow our spots to define us?) Talk about some strategies we can use to overcome this mindset.
God will meet us in our lonely places. What are some ways you can invite God to meet you where you’re at? (e.g., pray about the “real things,” share your struggles with your eGroup, look up Bible passages, etc. Talk about which ways are most challenging and why. What small steps can we take to get started?)
Act On It
Pick one of the applications below to focus on.
Set aside some time to be alone this week. Have a plan for how you want to seek God and what you would like to experience. If you’re not sure where to start, talk it out with your group.
Be brave and vulnerable about your loneliness this week. Share with someone the “spots” that have you feeling lonely, or reach out to someone who you know needs encouragement. Invite God to meet you in your lonely place.
Prayer Requests And Prayer
Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week.Father, thank You for sending a Savior who understands loneliness and who also showed us the importance of seeking You in solitude. Give us wisdom to see in our lives where we are out of balance with solitude or loneliness, and guide us to decisions that will help us experience Your presence and the communities You want for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.