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WEEK 1 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

May 12, 2024

From Overwhelmed to Overflowing

Introduction:

The feeling of being overwhelmed is often equated with motherhood. Is it possible to transform this feeling into one of abundance and joy?

Something To Talk About:

Mother’s Day. It’s a holiday that conjures images of young children proudly presenting their moms with glitter-and-glue-globbed macaroni necklaces or handmade coupons for free hugs. Maybe you think of breakfasts served in bed, hand-picked bouquets of flowers, or special meals with the whole family. These are tender and lovely examples of how many children honor their mothers on this very special Sunday.

  1. Stay connected to Jesus everyday: “Life happens.” It’s a very familiar phrase, yet it is so true. Our lives in this day and time are so busy with family, friends, school, work, hobbies, sports, social media… the list could go on forever. With all of this on our plates, taking the time necessary to nurture our walk with the Lord can be difficult. So, how do we stay connected to God and keep our eyes on Christ? Jesus said in John 15:4-5, “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” A key part of remaining in Jesus was to spend time with Him. To be close to Him, rest in His love, and follow His commands. A few verses later in the chapter Jesus says in 15:10-11, “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.”  He invites us to keep His commands that our joy may be complete, and we do that by staying connected to Him.
  2. Stop complaining and be grateful: “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” ( Philippians 4:4-7).  Being tearful is not easy when the baby won’t stop crying, when your teenager just slammed the door in your face, when a massive pile of dirty dishes is staring you down at eye level, when you have a business report done, and your life seems like an endless guinea pig wheel. Being grateful means rejoicing in the Lord in every situation with thanksgiving. Being grateful in times of distress does not mean we are pleased with our circumstances. It means that through the eyes of faith, we can look beyond our present-day challenges. Being grateful in our circumstances is an act of faith in God. It requires we trust God and hope for things we may not see that are true. True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will.
  3. Stop comparing and be contented: As an adjective, the word content means to be in a state of peaceful happiness. Many moms probably read that and reply, “yeah right” because peaceful seems like such a distant concept for their life with the shrieks and shrills of loud children, the instability of rising costs, and the constant juggling of work-life balance. Peaceful is not a word most people would use to describe their life. In Philippians 4, Paul tells us he learned the secret of contentment, and it’s not what I expected. The secret wasn’t to deny his needs and wants. Contentment wasn’t something he was faking. Nor was he content because his circumstances were perfect. No, the contentment he found was in Christ, not his strength. Contentment means living in God’s fullness. This means contentment is possible because it’s independent of our circumstances. That doesn’t mean we won’t still have desires. You can be content in Christ and still desire something to be different. 
  4. Stop being stingy and start being generous: Stinginess is not a virtue. It’s fear of lack. Generosity is its cure. Generosity does not mean we spend beyond our means, give away money we do not have, or make short-sighted decisions that cause future suffering. Generosity is an act of the heart. It’s about motive and desire. We can have little money and still be super-generous. Generosity is goodwill, compassion, thoughtfulness, care, and kindness, not constrained or restricted by doubt, worry, and fear. There is no limit to how much love and care we can show and give! When our hearts are free, our outward gestures reflect the same, and wise ways to show generosity appear to bless the giver and the receiver. Learning to give is learning to sacrifice. We live in a world that teaches that we can have everything—spending everything we have without worry. But Jesus calls us to let go of our selfish needs to find ourselves and to make the world a better place (to leave this place better than when we arrived).

Discussion Questions:

  1. There are several places in Scripture where God’s love is compared to a mother’s love (e.g., Isaiah 49:15; Isaiah 66:13; Matthew 23:37; Psalm 131:1- 3). How exactly is that a helpful comparison for you?
  2. What is a favorite memory you have of your mother? What do you, or did you appreciate about your mom?
  3. Being a mom is a balancing act. How do you practically “put on” patience when your children drive you crazy? How can you prioritize your spouse and show him love? How can you teach your child to have a compassionate heart and love others? And all in one day. 
  4. Instead of honoring the moms/women in our lives only once a year, what are some ways that we can live in constant respect and honor for them that makes them feel valuable, appreciated, utilized and thought of throughout the year? Is generosity a tough subject for you? If so, why? Do you believe generosity contributes to true meaning and satisfaction in our own lives?
  5. What is one way you stay connected to God daily?
  6. What does it mean to be truly grateful?
  7. How do we elude the comparison trap and be content?
  8. Why are Christians not as generous as they should be? Generally, there are four reasons: (1) We lack the means to give generously; (2) We want more time to save more, build up our retirement, pay off debt, etc. We live in areas without legitimate needs, and (4) we do not understand that giving generously is a key element in our life with God. Do you fit into any of these categories? Are these legitimate excuses?
  9. Each of us has something to give. Some have wealth, some have talents, some have time. What gifts do you have? Do you give them generously?
  10. What was your one takeaway from this message?

Take One Thing Home with You:

Like all of us, mothers need to be praised. A mother who knows she is valued can handle almost anything. She has the skill and energy to cook, sew, teach, do business, care for her family, help the needy, and deal with difficulties. But if a woman is never praised, she will feel unloved, unskilled, and useless. A mother needs to be thanked, prized and praised every day. A God-fearing woman is to be praised.