ICEBREAKERS
Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more questions to open up with.
- What is one song that easily gets stuck in your head?
- What would you rather do? Speak in front of a large crowd of people or dance in public?
- If you could have one talent that you do not currently have, what would it be?
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
Every August we do something called “At the Movies” where we feature a movie and create a message theme from the movie. This has become one of the most popular things we do all year. So we decided to have some fun this month by doing Summer concert series, creating a message theme using the Lyrics of a popular song. The people have voted and our first song is "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake.
This is one of those songs that stirs up the enjoyment of life! Life has troubles and life has pain, but life also has joy!
John 10:10 (AMP)
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].
Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT)
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.
Matthew 11:19 (Phillips)
Then the son of man came enjoying life.
I’ve picked a few lines from the lyrics of this song to talk about:
1) "Can't Stop the Feeling."
We all have feelings. Feelings can't be stopped, but they can be changed.
This song is emphasizing and celebrating the good feelings. Celebrating good vibes, fun feelings, feelings of love, joy, and happiness!
2) “I got this feeling . . . I got this sunshine . . . I got this good soul.”
When your feeling trapped in bad feelings or overwhelmed with life one of the best ways to get out of the bad feelings and into the good is to acknowledge that you have some sunshine in you, some song still in you, some life still you, and some joy still in you!!
3) ”It goes electric, wavy when I turn it on.”
We don’t have control over the variety of feelings we feel, but we can choose what feelings we ACT ON.
When you have bad feelings one of the best things you can do is change your posture.
It is possible that this is why God gives us instruction on how to worship him by lifting our heads, our hands, and our voices. Here are some scriptures that give us those instructions.
Psalm 121:1 (ESV)
I lift up my eyes to the hills
Psalm 134:2 (ESV)
Lift up your hands
Psalm 47:1 (NIV)
Clap your hands . . . shout to God with cries of Joy
Psalm 89:1 (NIV)
I will sing of the Lord’s great Love.
Ephesians 5:19 (NIV)
Sing and make music in your heart.
2 Samuel 6:14 (NIV)
And David danced before the LORD with all his might.
The Old Testament book of Nehemiah is the story of the nation of Israel getting back on their feet after a long period of exile/slavery in Babylon. The new governor was Nehemiah and the priest name was Ezra. They faced the challange of leading the people from a tradition of grieving into a culture of joy. They had sung sad songs for so long as slaves in exile that even though they were free they were still acting as if they were slaves.
Nehemiah 8:9,10 (NIV)
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
4) “So dance, dance, dance.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1–3 (MSG)
One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance.
If your walk with God has shown any tendency to slow down and turn into a religious plod, I hope you will reconsider your approach to life and service to God. Its not just about doing the right thing, its about keeping it fresh, keeping our hearts in what we do, and doing it in a spirited way!!!
Message Discussion Questions
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- What negative feelings often invade your life? (anxiety, worry, guilt, greed, depression, anger)
- Tell about one time you can remember where you had an overwhelming feeling of joy and celebration.
- Do you struggle with sometimes acting on your feelings? What can you do to change that?
- What is one thing you are going to keep your walk with God fresh and keep it from becoming a "dogged religious plod"?
- Name one struggle in your life that is weighing you down, and then two areas in your life that give you reason to "dance". If you want to, do a little dance in front of your group as you celebrate those thiings.
Live It Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step, and live it out this week.
- Every time you have a negative feeling this week stand tall and if you are able do a little dance as you think about how you are forgiven and loved by God.
- Spend a couple minutes each day in a time of spirited worship. (Probably in a private place) Lift your hands and your voice during this time.
- Encourage at least one person this week who is having a hard time with negative feelings. Either share with them some of what you learned this week or share with them how they can view the message themselves.
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources always available here: Small Group Resources