Glencairn MB Church

Going Deeper is designed for use with your small group, a friend or on you own. Its aim is to create time for you to spend with God and his word. Do as much or as little as you like. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of our pastoral staff.

1. Pray for the needs of your Life Group, for our church and our leaders, for personal and corporate renewal, and to allow God’s word to transform us. Share a recent entry from your Life Journal with the group.

2. This Sunday, the message in the Clear Thinking series focused on stress. What thoughts or questions did the message raise for you? Which thoughts or points encouraged you orposed a challenge to you?

3. Read 2 Cor 1:8-11, 11:23-28 out loud. What catches your attention, what stands out to you in this story? Which of the listed stressful experiences do you share with Paul? Have you ever despaired because the load, the pressure seemed too much? What is the current greatest stressor in your life?

4. Re-read 2 Cor 1:9-11. What are some the things Paul lists as key in helping him make it through the excessively stressful times?

5. Look up the definitions of anxiety and worry. How do they relate to stress? Read the following passages and look for the what/why and how of worry and anxiety: Phil 4:6, Luk 8:14, Luke 10:4, Matt 6:25-34. What advice would you give yourself based on these texts?

6. Read Isa 26:3 and Psalm 91 out loud. What additional advice and antidote to an unhealthy response to stress do you see here? What barriers to trusting/abiding in God do you tend to experience? How would you help someone who has a hard time trusting/resting/abiding in God in the midst of stress?

8. How is God speaking to you? Do you sense an invitation to something new? What concrete steps of response do you want to take? How can your group support you in these steps?