Discipleship Guide Week 3 – “Soul Reset”
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42
Main Point
When Jesus’ very presence is our first priority, we can lift our eyes from the long list of tasks to be done and instead focus on their greater purpose. Busyness is not the way of Jesus.
Spiritual Practice
Each week of our soul reset experience, we will learn about a spiri- tual practice that will help us to seek wholeness. This week, we look at the spiritual practice of fasting. Fasting is the practice of self-denial in order to create space in your heart to hear from God. It’s saying no to something so that you can say yes to God. You can fast from food, social media, speaking, excessive use of technology, or other things. Share experiences of fasting that you have had. If you haven’t had any experiences with fasting, what questions do you have about the practice? How do you think fasting could help you lay down stress and busyness for more time with God? What will you choose to fast from in the coming week?
What are some of your thoughts or reflections from the video and chapter 3 of the Soul Reset book?
Read Luke 10:38-42. Would you say that you identify more with Mary or with Martha? Why?
What is your reaction or response to stress? Where does that reaction or response come from?
Why do you think we sometimes believe the lie that “it’s all on me”? What does it feel like to carry that burden around?
Mary and Martha took two different approaches to Jesus’ visit. Mary wanted to be with Jesus, and Martha wanted to do for Jesus. What do you think is the difference? What is the better choice between the two?
Martha was getting stuff done! But the stuff became a distraction that took her focus off of Jesus. She got caught up in busyness and got distracted from the most important thing. Has that ever happened to you? Share about that time.
“Distractions caused by stress often cause us to miss divine opportunities to connect and go deeper with Jesus. They distort our perspective. . . . There will always be things to do, tasks to check off, ministries to lead, but sometimes we have to push the pause button on all those things and just sit with Jesus” (page 58). How do distractions distort our perspective?
“Jesus was always on the move, but he always stopped to be present with someone who called out to him. He saw the people nobody else saw. He heard cries from people others had stopped listening to. He knew how to be present with people, even in the middle of busyness and sometimes chaos” (page 59). How is it possible to be busy but still be present?
Do you struggle to be present with those around you? If so, why do you think that is?
“I’ve been guilty of being too caught up in the work of the church and have forgotten to be present with Jesus,” Pastor Dotson writes. “I’ve seen all that needed to be done and knew that ‘somebody’s got to do the work,’ so I neglected spending time with Jesus in order to get it done. The work of the faith community is not meant to be a heavy burden. If church feels forced and we’re all exhausted by it, then I suggest to you that we’re not doing it right” (pages 59–60). When has the work of the faith community felt like a heavy burden to you? When has the work felt light and free?
How can your church create a culture where no one is going it alone or taking on all the work, not even the pastor?
Pastor Dotson shared that worship is where he lays down the stress he’s been carrying around and remembers that God is bigger than anything that is causing the stress. How does worship help us release stress?
Pastor Dotson writes, “What I have found to be true, both as a leader and as a church member, is that spiritual preparation for worship is essential. We need to get into a head and heart space where we are prepared to hear God’s Word and engage in the worship experience. It’s my own personal preparation so that I am maximizing my opportunity for deep experience. I set my heart to expect an encounter with God before I walk into worship. This is another intentional act of practicing the presence of God—expecting to encounter God and speaking freely to God” (pages 61–62). What spiritual preparation, if any, do you make for worship? How does—or how might—preparing for worship help you maximize your opportunity for deep experience?
What is stressing you out right now? How can this group pray for you and encourage you?