Where is God in My Spiritual Life?

Where is God in your spiritual life, and how do you know if you’re actually growing? We all want a faith that’s real and moving forward, but it’s easy to let our identity be shaped by busyness, success, or what others think instead of who God says we are. This week as we wrap up the Milestones series, we’ll discover how anchoring our identity in God and living out our purpose leads to steady, lifelong spiritual growth. Watch Full Service Discussion Guide To view the Leader Guide for this week, click here. To view a .docx version of this guide, click here. Before you begin, spend some time together in prayer  Introduction  Last week, we talked about social milestones and how Jesus can help us nurture healthy relationships.   This week, we are discussing the spiritual milestones of identity and purpose. Connect   If your life had a theme song, what would it be?  What’s something you had to learn over time instead of being good at right away?  Opening  A lot of what makes us who we are is shaped over time. We’re influenced by what we’ve learned, the roles we’ve stepped into, and the relationships that have shaped us along the way. God invites us, instead, to view ourselves through how he views us and how he calls us to live.   This leads us to our main idea for this week  We can discover our true self in relationship with God.  Unpack  Read each set of verses out loud as a group, making observations as you go. Afterward discuss each of the connected questions before moving to the next set of verses:  Read  1 Corinthians 3:16  Romans 8:16  Galatians 3:26-27  Ephesians 5:1-2  What stood out to you from the verses you just read?  Why is it important that we are children of God? How often do you remind yourself that you are a child of God?   Why is reminding yourself and others of this something we should remember to do regularly?  What do you think you find your identity in? What do these verses say our identity is?  What should our identity as God’s children lead us to do?   What are some ways we can do this, practically?  Read  2 Peter 1:5-8  1 John 4:7  Ephesians 4:2  John 13:35  How can reminding ourselves that our identity is in Christ help us grow spiritually?   What does spiritual growth eventually lead to, according to the verses we read in 2 Peter?   Why do you think the author of these verses wrote that “love for everyone” is last step to become “productive and useful” in our knowledge of Jesus?  Share with your group what is most difficult for you when it comes to loving others? Why is this challenging?  Action Step   Cultivate one area of spiritual growth you struggle with  What is an area of spiritual growth that challenges you? Do you view yourself as a child of God or see your identity through the lens of Jesus? Do you struggle with loving others or moral excellence or self-control?   Share with your group your initial impression of what this could be but also spend time in prayer about which area of spiritual growth you should work on. Check in throughout the week with each other about your progress!  Bring someone else into this process! This may take some time. Growth is gradual and can sometimes be difficult or painful. Having someone beside you along the journey is helpful and sometimes necessary.  Closing   Who we are is often shaped gradually by our experiences, the expectations placed on us, and the relationships we carry with us. Without realizing it, these things can begin to define how we see ourselves. God invites us, instead, to see ourselves through his eyes, allowing that truth to shape how we live and how we grow. This week, cultivate that growth in one area of your spiritual life so we can discover our true selves in relationship with God instead of the world around us.   Pray Together  Pray for the Missionary Focus this week, then take prayer requests from your group and conclude your time in prayer for your group.  Missionary Focus  Rich and Debbie Frazer  **For some of our missionaries, certain details are kept private to protect their safety and the sensitive nature of their work. Thank you for understanding as we share what we can.  Rich serves as the president SOS, which stands for Spiritual Overseers Service International which focuses on evangelism, discipleship, and compassion.  Prayer Requests:   That Rich and Debbie would continue to utilize God’s discernment as the ministry grows.   For their many global leaders to continue to be empowered through SOS’s support and trainings.   Spend a few minutes in prayer for Rich and Debbie  Reflection Verse for the Week   *Read this verse, then encourage the practice of reflection and memorization throughout the week.  2 Corinthians 3:18  “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”  **When practiced consistently, memorizing Bible verses can be an important spiritual practice that centers your mind around the truth that God has given us.  Daily Devotional Verses   Use the S.O.A.P. method to reflect on the verses below.  Scripture: Read the verses several times. Reading out loud can be helpful as well. Observation: What can you see about the scripture you read? Application: What is God wanting you to believe, do, or feel, based on what you have read? Prayer: This is a chance to talk to God about what you have read and ask him for help in living out what you’ve learned.  Day 1: Colossians 3:16  Day 2: 1 Peter 2:2-3  Day 3: James 1:4  Day 4: Psalm 119:105  Day 5: Philippians 1:6  Day 6: Colossians 2:6-7  The post Where is God in My Spiritual Life? appeared first on Journey of Faith.