Running On Empty
Holly Furtick
Conversation Starters
What’s a habit you picked up from your mom or another woman in your life?How low do you let your gas tank get? (e.g., never below half, never below a quarter, my gas light comes on at least once a week, etc.)When you feel empty or tired, what do you do to recharge?
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
When you’re running on empty, how do you act? Describe how you’re different from your usual self.
Where in your life do you feel drained or empty? Why? (Are you carrying any “extra weight” in this season that isn’t normal?)
Read 2 Kings 4:1-7 The woman in this passage shows us three things we need to do when we feel empty: cry out, reach out, and pour out. The first thing we have to do is cry out to God. What things are you likely to do first before crying out to God? Share some things that might keep you from crying out.
When you cry out to God, how specific are you? How can being specific with Him help us?
How good are you about reaching out? Are there people or areas of your life where’ve you stopped reaching out this past year? (Do you ever think or believe no one cares? Are there ways you isolate yourself?)
Who do you specifically need to reach out to? Why? (Is there someone who has reached out to you and you need to share something with them? What’s preventing you from sharing something?)
What does “pouring out” mean to you? What little do you have that you need to keep pouring out? (When you’re in survival mode, you want to hoard everything you have. Are you hoarding anything like resources, words, time, etc?)
Share with the group one way you’ve seen the fruit of your pouring out. Celebrate a way that God provided and proved Himself faithful with your little. (How did your pouring in that season produce jars you can live off of now?)
Go deeper. Read Genesis 35:9-15. Jacob’s actions in pouring out a drink offering and oil on the stone pillar demonstrate his gratitude. What does it look like to pour ourselves out in gratitude versus doing it out of obligation or resentment? Talk about some practical ways we can keep ourselves in a place of gratitude while we pour ourselves out.
Act On It
The miracle only happens when you move while you pour. Move this week — identify one reason you’ve stopped pouring, and then pour anyway. Challenge yourself to continue pouring, knowing that God will be faithful with what you give by filling jars you can live off of later.
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 being so faithful with what we give and for providing strength when we feel like our tank is empty. Please open our eyes to see where we need to cry out, reach out, and pour out, and encourage us to continue pouring even when we feel like we have nothing else to give. In Jesus’ name, amen.