All of us feel lonely at times, sometimes even in a crowd or at home with our families. Other times we feel lonely because we’re new to an area, or just don’t feel like anyone really knows us. God sees the lonely, and He cares. God cares about our relationships and helps us experience a community that can be healthy and healing.

Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner,  life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Can you relate to the story in the message about a time when John felt overlooked and lonely in a crowded place? Explain. 

2. What stood out to you from the message? 

3. ​​How do you respond to this statement, “the only way past loneliness is to learn to be alone”? Do you agree or disagree and why? 

4. Read Psalm 46:10-11, Isaiah 41:10, and Matthew 28:20. How aware are you on a day to day basis that God is with you? How well do you do with being still? Why do you think this is?

5. Read Luke 6:12-19.
a.) Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say): 

• Who is talking? 
• What is the circumstance?
• Any repeated phrases?
• What surprised you?
• What stood out to you?

b.) Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean)

• What questions do you have?
• What do you think is going on in this passage?
• What do you learn about the nature and character of God as you read this?
• What do you learn about yourself or the world around you?

c.) Now make some applications (what’s my response)

• How do you respond to what you are reading?
• What is the central truth that you could put into practice from this?
• Who could you share this with for the sake of encouragement?

 

6. In the message you heard, “God wants to teach you how to be outrageously secure in His love, and in how He feels about you.” How secure are you? How is your relationship with God contributing to that? 

7. Which of the insecurities for why people don’t want to get alone and quiet with God do you relate most to and why (I.E. not wanting to face your insecurities, deep buried pain, guilty feelings, or questions about the reality of God’s existence)?   

KEY SCRIPTURE

Psalm 46:10-11 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Matthew 28:20 …“and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Luke 6:12-19 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.  

DIGGING DEEPER

This week make a commitment to yourself. Carve out an hour or more –  if you can- go somewhere comfortable or beautiful. Maybe take a Bible, but nothing else. Ask God to search your thoughts, talk with him, but mostly, Be Still enough to Know the depth of love “God has for you—you’re Never Alone.”