The Ascent: Calm and Quiet

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: Psalm 131 and Philippians 2:5-8.

overview

In this Psalm, David writes of his experience of humility, contentment, and inner peace, encouraging others to reflect on their own paths toward these qualities. Charles Spurgeon, a famous preacher said of Psalm 131: “It’s one of the shortest Psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn.” Pride can take years to overcome, as it has many layers to expose and address, like an onion. Our first step is to admit that we have some level of pride in our hearts and in our estimation of ourselves. Then we can invite the Holy Spirit to expose an area and work through it. In his mercy, God doesn’t show us all the areas at once. Often, he will show us just one area and it’s up to us to do the necessary work that leads to humility. Jesus didn’t leverage his own divinity; he made himself nothing and we are to follow his example.

question 1

Discuss how pride harms our relationship with God and with other people. What are the challenges in overcoming pride?

discussion

Read Isaiah 55:8-9. One way that pride shows up in us is in our desire to know and understand all things. In our endless pursuit of answers, we find ourselves anxious, frustrated, and lacking peace. Some questions in life and the world will remain unanswered, and fixating on them or trying to prove our point can strain relationships and lead to embarrassment when the truth comes out. We don't possess the wisdom of God and rather than trying to figure it all out, we can find peace in the mystery and submit and obey to what he does reveal to us – giving up control and “weaning” ourselves off the desire to know all things is a way that we mature. 

question 2

Has anyone ever been so fixated on trying to figure out answers that you ended up anxious, or harming a relationship? Were there other ways in which this pursuit affected your life?

David gives the answer to peace – he chooses to quiet his soul and hope or wait on God. When our eyes shift to divine expectation, our thoughts will settle and wait. “Hope in the Lord” means trusting God's faithfulness. This will bring peace and can eliminate anxiety, fear, fatigue, and self-reliance. Our self-reliance shows up when we think we know how to best navigate our days and either end up over-scheduling ourselves or doing nothing and miss out on opportunities. Peace and maturity come when we allow God to change what we desire and align our hearts to his desires for us.   

question 3

How often do you invite God to schedule your days, weeks, or seasons? Does anyone have a story of how God interrupted your time and how it shaped you? 

Prayer Practice

As our community prepares for our upcoming move at the end of March, we are joining together in 8 weeks of prayer.

Week 8 – Hope, Vision, and Mission Ahead

Focus: Looking forward with faith and expectation.

Scripture: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19).

Prayer Prompt: God, we look forward with hope and expectation. Prepare us for the new things you are doing in and through Branches. Use us to reach our city, disciple lives, and glorify your name in the next chapter you are writing.

Daily Prayer Practice

As families, friends, roommates, and individuals, we commit to pray every day at dinner for our community of Branches.

Pray simply and faithfully: Lord, please bless your church, Branches. Lead us, protect us, unite us, and guide us into the future you have prepared for us.