

Game On:
Going the Distance
Key Scriptures
So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.
Romans 12:1 GNT
But once Jehoiada was dead, the leaders of Judah persuaded King Joash to listen to them instead. And so the people stopped worshiping in the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and began to worship idols and the images of the goddess Asherah. Their guilt for these sins brought the Lord's anger on Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 24:17-18 GNT
Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived. You are stronger than I am, and you have overpowered me. Everyone makes fun of me; they laugh at me all day long. Whenever I speak, I have to cry out and shout, “Violence! Destruction!” Lord, I am ridiculed and scorned all the time because I proclaim your message.
Jeremiah 20:7-8 GNT
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Romans 12:1 GNT
But once Jehoiada was dead, the leaders of Judah persuaded King Joash to listen to them instead. And so the people stopped worshiping in the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and began to worship idols and the images of the goddess Asherah. Their guilt for these sins brought the Lord's anger on Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 24:17-18 GNT
Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived. You are stronger than I am, and you have overpowered me. Everyone makes fun of me; they laugh at me all day long. Whenever I speak, I have to cry out and shout, “Violence! Destruction!” Lord, I am ridiculed and scorned all the time because I proclaim your message.
Jeremiah 20:7-8 GNT
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
Start Talking: Find a conversation starter for your group or use one of these.
What is your favorite sport or hobby?
Did you enjoy the Super Bowl?
Did you enjoy the Super Bowl?
Start thinking. Ask a question or two to get your group thinking.
Read Romans 12:1. What is a living sacrifice? In light of this verse, what is worship?
Read 2 Chronicles 24:17-18. In this passage, the people of Judah were influenced by leaders who turned away from God’s ways after Jehoiada’s death. Are there influences in your life—whether from people, culture, or your own desires—that are leading you away from what God says is right? How can we better discern and seek out advice that aligns with God’s truth?
Read Jeremiah 20:7-8 and 29:11. Jeremiah went through a deep struggle—at one point, he felt like God had deceived him and that his calling was too much to bear. But later, he came to see God as for him, with good plans for his future. What changed for Jeremiah? How did his perspective shift even though his circumstances remained difficult? Have you ever gone through a time when you doubted or struggled with God but later saw His faithfulness in a new way?
Read 2 Chronicles 24:17-18. In this passage, the people of Judah were influenced by leaders who turned away from God’s ways after Jehoiada’s death. Are there influences in your life—whether from people, culture, or your own desires—that are leading you away from what God says is right? How can we better discern and seek out advice that aligns with God’s truth?
Read Jeremiah 20:7-8 and 29:11. Jeremiah went through a deep struggle—at one point, he felt like God had deceived him and that his calling was too much to bear. But later, he came to see God as for him, with good plans for his future. What changed for Jeremiah? How did his perspective shift even though his circumstances remained difficult? Have you ever gone through a time when you doubted or struggled with God but later saw His faithfulness in a new way?
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
God, thank you for your plan for our lives. Thank you that you have a future for us that is beyond anything we can imagine or come to realize on our own. Help us to partner with you, Holy Spirit, as we submit daily to your will, not ours. We trust your will for our lives. Come and have your way, Jesus. It's in your name we pray, amen
Start doing. Let's focus on prayer/reflection.
This past weekend, Pastor Elisha talked about commitment killers—those things that pull us away from fully following God. To overcome them, we must avoid the wrong peers, release the wrong priorities, and reject the wrong perspective. This week, take intentional time in prayer and reflection:
• Ask God to reveal anyone in your life who may be leading you in the
wrong direction. What steps can you take to set healthy
boundaries?
• Examine your priorities. Is anything distracting you from your
commitment to God? What can you change this week to realign your
focus?
• Consider your perspective. Are you believing lies or fears that hold
you back? Ask God to replace them with His truth.
Write down what He reveals to you and take at least one step this week to make a change. God wants to help us, but we have to seek Him. Let’s commit to spending time with Him this week and trusting Him to guide us!
• Ask God to reveal anyone in your life who may be leading you in the
wrong direction. What steps can you take to set healthy
boundaries?
• Examine your priorities. Is anything distracting you from your
commitment to God? What can you change this week to realign your
focus?
• Consider your perspective. Are you believing lies or fears that hold
you back? Ask God to replace them with His truth.
Write down what He reveals to you and take at least one step this week to make a change. God wants to help us, but we have to seek Him. Let’s commit to spending time with Him this week and trusting Him to guide us!