Stay (Week 2)

Grab their attention with an illustration.

• Story: Tell a story about personal discipline. Discipline is really hard! For some, it comes easy, but for others, it is never truly conquered. Does anyone else feel like this when it’s time to practice for band or sports, to do homework, or even chores? Nothing is more frustrating than working incredibly hard on cleaning, only to realize that you’ll have to do it again the next day!

• Spiritually, if we don’t learn discipline, our spiritual life begins to fall apart and we wonder where God is and why He is being so quiet!

Connect them to God’s word.

• Question: Do you ever struggle to find time to spend each day with God? Tonight, we’re going to see in Scripture how we can meet with God often and successfully.

• Scripture: Matthew 6:6

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

— going away into our “secret place” with God can be difficult at times!

What does this mean for us today?

• Scripture: Romans 10:17

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (ESV)

— The source of our faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ.

• We need to be daily hearing and reading Scripture in our life. This is the most important way that God will speak to us as Christians.

• Having a quiet time is hard sometimes! Discipline and consistency aren’t easy, but they are incredibly important.

• Illustration: Use a sports icon as an illustration for the athletes in the room — no good athlete achieves greatness by only practicing once every week or so. The same can be said for musicians or anything that your students might connect with

• When we prioritize consistency in our meeting with God, we learn how to walk with God in freedom truly.

• Bottom Line: Stay consistent in the Word.

How do we apply this in our lives?

• Scripture: James 4:7–8

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

— submit to God, and draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you!

• An easy way to remember this and to be more successful with a quiet time is to find a slot and a spot. A slot is a time you meet with God, and a spot is a place where you meet with God.

• Schedule your time and find your place! If you were deathly sick and made an appointment with the doctor you wouldn’t miss that appointment come hell or high water. When you are sick in sin, make an appointment with The Great Physician and meet with him!

• Application: Find a slot and a spot to meet with God.

How do we respond to the message?

• Altar moment: Maybe some of us have neglected our relationship with God and just need some time to reconnect. Let’s spend a few minutes worshiping and talking with God. While you do, commit to a slot and a spot — prioritize meeting God this week and watch your world change!

Small Group Questions:

1. Have you ever struggled to prioritize your quiet times? Be honest! (Leader: Be the

first to normalize this struggle and get students discussing)

2. Why is it so difficult to meet with God in a “secret place?”

3. What is one thing in your life that distracts you from consistency? How can you

attack it this week?

4. Have each student set a slot & a spot together. Hold each other accountable!