Consider this ice breaker as you gather for the Spotlight.
What made you sigh this week?
What made you sigh this week?
Focus 4 (of 4) | The Spirit Sighs
God does not sigh because of you. God sighs with you.
See what this Spotlight—and series—is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Tap on the words "Focus 4" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Let’s kick things off with a prayer.
Lord,
There is so much that we cannot handle.
You know this about us,
but it doesn't disappoint you.
You simply come to be with us,
sharing the burden.
Amen.
Lord,
There is so much that we cannot handle.
You know this about us,
but it doesn't disappoint you.
You simply come to be with us,
sharing the burden.
Amen.
Listen to Jesus sigh.
Mark 7:31-37
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
Mark 7:31-37
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him.
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.
36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. 37 People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”
- Why do you suppose Jesus sighed in vs. 34?
Let’s pray, but in a way that might be new.
Something remarkable happens when you give God a request in prayer. When you bring your prayers to God, they’re his. Whatever it is you’re telling him, asking him for, or struggling with, when you bring it to him, he takes ownership of it—and you can let it go.
That’s what makes words like these—from Philippians 4:6–7—work:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When you bring prayers to God, you can have peace because you know he has personally made himself responsible for them.
Let’s do a prayer exercise to demonstrate just how real this handing-our-prayers-over-to-God practice is. But first, a little prep work will be necessary for this.
In a few moments, we’ll start our prayer exercise. There is atmospheric background music (below) that you can play quietly in the background before you start.
!!! NOTE: Think critically about the locations of your smoke detectors! This might be an activity to take outside if you’re concerned. !!!
As the music is playing, think about something that’s been weighing on you. Or about something you’re facing but aren’t sure how it’ll turn out. We’re not going to talk about them with your group, but write it on the paper.
As you take this prayer to God, hold the paper above the candle until it starts to burn. Once it starts to burn, drop it in the dish. Everyone in the group can participate at their own pace. There’s no rush.
OK, go. Start the music and get praying!
Something remarkable happens when you give God a request in prayer. When you bring your prayers to God, they’re his. Whatever it is you’re telling him, asking him for, or struggling with, when you bring it to him, he takes ownership of it—and you can let it go.
That’s what makes words like these—from Philippians 4:6–7—work:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
When you bring prayers to God, you can have peace because you know he has personally made himself responsible for them.
Let’s do a prayer exercise to demonstrate just how real this handing-our-prayers-over-to-God practice is. But first, a little prep work will be necessary for this.
- Place a candle in a dish or in a bowl. (The bowl doesn’t have to be huge, but shouldn’t be your smallest dish either. And it probably shouldn’t be plastic.)
- Find some sort of flammable material that you can write on. (Coffee filters or paper towels seem to work well.)
- Grab enough writing utensils for everyone in the group—writing utensils that will work on the substrate you selected. (If coffee filters or paper towels, markers might be best.)
- Cut/tear the material into about 2"x4" pieces, enough for everyone in the group to have one. (If you’re by yourself, cut 2 or 3 pieces.)
In a few moments, we’ll start our prayer exercise. There is atmospheric background music (below) that you can play quietly in the background before you start.
!!! NOTE: Think critically about the locations of your smoke detectors! This might be an activity to take outside if you’re concerned. !!!
As the music is playing, think about something that’s been weighing on you. Or about something you’re facing but aren’t sure how it’ll turn out. We’re not going to talk about them with your group, but write it on the paper.
As you take this prayer to God, hold the paper above the candle until it starts to burn. Once it starts to burn, drop it in the dish. Everyone in the group can participate at their own pace. There’s no rush.
OK, go. Start the music and get praying!
Done? How did it feel?
You see, the candle isn’t really anything. It’s only a candle. But we just saw how when the Spirit brings our prayers to God, they’re not ours anymore. He carries them, and they’re out of our hands.
You see, the candle isn’t really anything. It’s only a candle. But we just saw how when the Spirit brings our prayers to God, they’re not ours anymore. He carries them, and they’re out of our hands.
Pick your favorite quote.
Here are four quotes about perfection—or imperfection—that speak to why people get frustrated. Read them, and share which is your favorite and why. (If you’re doing this Spotlight by yourself, you can chose a few quotes to read and ponder.)
“The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.” - C.S. Lewis
“The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.” - Philip Stanhope
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Paul, the Apostle
There are legitimate reasons to pick any one of these, but here’s why they’re part of the serve portion of this week’s Spotlight: It’s not bad to dream of ideals, as God designed the universe to have them. What’s bad, though, is to expect them. They won’t happen, this side of judgment day.
How might this change a person’s approach to charity/causes/helping the hurting/solving problems?
Here are four quotes about perfection—or imperfection—that speak to why people get frustrated. Read them, and share which is your favorite and why. (If you’re doing this Spotlight by yourself, you can chose a few quotes to read and ponder.)
“The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can't supply is proof that Heaven must be our home.” - C.S. Lewis
“The man with insight enough to admit his limitations comes nearest to perfection.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
“Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and despondency make them give it up as unattainable.” - Philip Stanhope
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Paul, the Apostle
There are legitimate reasons to pick any one of these, but here’s why they’re part of the serve portion of this week’s Spotlight: It’s not bad to dream of ideals, as God designed the universe to have them. What’s bad, though, is to expect them. They won’t happen, this side of judgment day.
How might this change a person’s approach to charity/causes/helping the hurting/solving problems?
Pray for a cause.
Since we’re talking about how significant it is that God carries our prayers through the Spirit, flex that muscle by finding a cause and praying for it now. Choose from the list given by Voice of the Martyrs, pray about the one you want to, and tell the group which you chose.
+ SEE THE LIST
Since we’re talking about how significant it is that God carries our prayers through the Spirit, flex that muscle by finding a cause and praying for it now. Choose from the list given by Voice of the Martyrs, pray about the one you want to, and tell the group which you chose.
+ SEE THE LIST
Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)
Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.
This video is designed to promote this series, but it will need to be reshot and updated. What would you add/subtract/clarify to help people understand why this series could be useful to them?
Let's pray The Lord’s Prayer—together.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.
Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.
Farewell Perspective
Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.
Posted in On Letting Out a Sigh
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