WEEK 4 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

The ruthless elimination of hurry: Slowing

Introduction:

What if hurry, busyness, and resulting distraction are the biggest challenges facing our spiritual lives today? That is the question John Mark Comer addresses in his book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. The title comes from a quote by Dallas Willard,who once advised, “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

Something To Talk About:

Ecclesiastes 7:8–9 (NIV), says “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.” This verse confronts us with the idea that how we end is more important than how we start. The speed at which we get there is less important than the destination. And sometimes, we need to slow down to get where we are going.

So that wherever you are you can be all there: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:34 MSG). Jesus could focus on the idea of approaching every task, big or small, with complete focus and dedication as a way to honor God and live a life of purpose, drawing inspiration from the principle of “wholeheartedness” found in the Bible, particularly in verses like Colossians 3:23, where it says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” When we give our full attention to a task, we are present in the moment, actively engaged, and not letting our thoughts drift to other distractions. This allows us to perform our best and appreciate the value in even small actions. By approaching everything with diligence and intention, we essentially offer our work as a form of worship, recognizing that God sees and cares about every detail of our lives. Giving full attention does not necessarily mean working longer hours but rather working more effectively and with greater intentionality during the time we have.
So that whoever you are with you can hear their heart: Focus on the biblical principle that God looks beyond outward appearances and judges based on the intentions and character within a person, often referencing the verse from 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” That verse means to look beyond the surface: Remind yourself that people’s actions and words are not always a reflection of their true selves, and we should strive to understand the motivations and struggles behind their behavior. To do that, we must practice seeing others through the lens of compassion, recognizing that everyone carries unseen burdens and challenges, and our goal is to understand their perspective and emotions. As believers, we must resist labeling someone based on first impressions or limited interactions. Pray for discernment to see others as God sees them, allowing His love to guide your interactions.
So that whoever you are with you can see their need.: Focus on the idea that by actively looking beyond our perspectives, we can identify opportunities to serve others with compassion, just as Jesus did, and that this act of noticing and responding to needs is a reflection of true Christian love; it encourages us to be mindful of those around us and to intentionally seek ways to help where needed, whether big or small. If helping others is truly a priority, the needs of others become more visible to us. We are paying attention and actively looking for ways to help. Jesus cared deeply about those in need, demonstrating His compassion in tangible ways: giving sight to the blind, touching the leper, and healing the sick. But He also preached the good news of God’s love and salvation. We, too, need to see the needs of others. Begin by asking God to open your eyes to the needs of those around you, give you sensitivity and compassion to see beyond the surface, and guide you in responding appropriately. Examine your daily routine: Think about your interactions with people in your community, workplace, or family. Are you actively looking for ways to help, or are you often focused on your own needs and priorities? Consider the “unseen” needs: Sometimes, the most pressing needs are not always readily apparent. Think about the emotional, spiritual, or practical needs someone you know might face.

Discussion Questions:

Is slowing down a blessing? Why or why not?
What about being forced to slow down makes us want to run faster than we were before?
Have you ever wanted something to be fixed or changed as fast as possible? In what sort of situations might this strategy work? In what sort of situations might this strategy not work?
Have you ever gone too fast trying to fix or change something and then had to go back to clean things up?
What is one area of your life where slowing down and getting it right the first time might be the best strategy? Where do you find yourself often distracted or not giving your full attention?
If you want God to show you His will, you need to slow down – If you want God to show you the will He has for your life, you will have to go at the speed He requires. Agree or disagree and why?
How can you view your work as a form of worship, offering your best effort to God in everything you do?
Four statements: do you agree or disagree with them? (1) I want deeper relationships with God and others; hurry makes them shallow. (2) I want to think more deeply about the Lord and the world around me; hurry makes it impossible. (3) I want to do better work; hurry steals any excellence I hope to have. (4) I want to serve others well; hurry causes me to ponder their needs.
Are there people you know who have needs but haven’t asked for help? What can you do to be proactive about the needy near you?
Are you willing to help someone even when it’s inconvenient for you?
What in this message stands out to you?
What was one thing you found particularly interesting, insightful, helpful, or challenging to understand from this sermon?

Take one thing home with you:

“Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you” (Psalm 86:11).

What is it about being forced to slow down that makes us want to run faster than we were before? I think it is because when sickness or some other obstacle hits us, we want to have the will to power through. Whatever it is, slowing down is something we resist, and when we are forced to do it, it is often uncomfortable.

It seems our Christian culture has come to believe that overworking and godliness are inextricably bound. If you are not running fast, you are not redeeming the time. Sometimes, the best path to being spiritually renewed is through slowing down. Maybe it is time to proportion our fatigues with our strength carefully. In doing this, we find we are redeeming the time more effectively than before and accomplishing more.