Wells & Wineskins (Part 1): What is the Rhythm of Fasting?

TO START: Today we began the third of five mini sermon series focused on the rhythms that help cultivate a Spirit-filled and Spirit-led life. In the first message of this series we introduced the practice of fasting, which we define as temporarily abstaining from food for the purpose of intimacy with God.

TO READ: Romans 12:1-2

TO DISCUSS:

(1.) What food do you love so much that you rarely go a week without it?

(2.) When you read passages like Romans 12:1, what is something you have sacrificed or given up physically as an act of devotion to the Lord?

(3.) What stories or passages in the Bible come to mind when you think about fasting?

(4.) When it comes to fasting for the purpose of intimacy with the Lord, in what ways have you experienced (or can you imagine) people experiencing closeness to God through this rhythm?

(5.) If you don’t already have a weekly fasting rhythm, what day and what duration of time could you realistically fast this week?

TO CLOSE/TO PRAY: 

Leader: “Lord, we thank you for today and we thank you that it is in you, we experience what it means to be fully satisfied. We ask right now that you would come Holy Spirit and reveal our hearts to us.” 

Leader: Read Romans 12:1 again aloud, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–this is your true and proper worship.” 

Leader: Offer this question for the group to reflect on… “What gives you the most pause when it comes to entering into fasting?”  (Pause for 30 seconds) 

Leader: Offer this question: “Now, I want to invite you to ask the Lord, what gift he wants to give you through the rhythm of fasting?” (Pause for 1 minute) 

Leader: “Jesus, we thank you that you are the bread of life. We ask that you would enable us to know the grace of fasting, being intimacy with you and clarity to hear and see what you’re doing in and around us.” Amen.