INVEST – The Romantic

•    Tell the group about your closest friend. Why do you consider them so close?

•    Read Mark 2:1-12. What does this passage have to do with close relationships?

“A life well lived isn’t about who walks the fastest but about who has the most people walking with them.”

•    The passage says, “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” Why do you think his sins were forgiven because of the faith of the whole group?

•    Writing Exercise: Do you have friends you refuse to leave behind? As you pursue your dreams and goals and ambitions, do you have people in your life who are the kind of friends that, if they were not with you, you could no longer define that endeavor as successful? Write down your answer, naming specific people.

“They had moved to the level of living that they found satisfaction in the healing and wholeness of their friend. His success was their success.”

•    Is it easier to ‘do life’ alone? Why or why not?

ENJOY – The Hedonist

•    What is a simple pleasure you love in life? Coffee? Twinkies? Sunsets? Nintendo Wii? Share yours with the group.

•    Is life for you ‘an endless exploration of beauty and mystery’? Explain why or why not.

•    Think about someone in your life with a contagious personality. What makes them contagious?

“You were created to enjoy, but make sure you enjoy what you were created for.”

•    What is the difference between proper pleasure and destructive pleasure? What kind of pleasure should we be pursuing? Explain your answer.

•    Erwin says that our darkest moments in life will be when our relationships are a mess. Why is this the case? Explain your answer.

•    Read James 1:2. Why can trials be an opportunity for joy? Explain your answer.

•    Why do we conclude that the people who are truly spiritual are the ones who are sober, serious, and joyless? Do you agree?

“The less you enjoy your life, the weaker you will be on your journey. Why? Because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

CREATE – The Activist

• Have you ever had any inventing ideas? If you’re not embarrassed, share your ideas with the group.

• In what area are you most creative? Share your personal experience with the group.
“God given gifts, fueled by a heart for God and a love for people, brings God great glory.”

• Erwin states, “God created the chicken and the egg. But we created the quiche.” Only God creates out of nothing but we can use what God has given. Do believe you were designed to create? Explain why or why not.

• Read Matthew 25:1-13. Share with the groups what is the theme of this parable.

• What are the two things Erwin says we need on page 165 to prepare for a different future? Write them below and define each.

1.
2.

“If you begin to capture a picture of the life you dream of but do not prepare for the challenges you will face to make them a reality, you will not see it happen. I see this all the time: people who have huge dreams but are unwilling to pay the price to see them through.”
• What does my dream demand of me? Share your thoughts with the group.

• Read the character study (on page 180-181) of Lisa Ma Perez. What inspires you about her life?

FOCUS – The Seer

•    What stood out to you after reading this chapter?

•    Read Matthew 14:22-33. What was Peter’s focus before he sank? What was his distraction?

“We get distracted by our surroundings and circumstances and everything happening around us, and they pull our attention away from where we are supposed to be going. The nemesis of focus is distraction.”

•    The “waves” and the “wind” are inevitable throughout our lives. What are you focusing on beyond this?

•    What really matters to you? What are you passionate about? Share your thoughts with the group.

•    As a child, Jesus was preparing for who He would be at age 33, when he began his public ministry. What has God created you to do?

“When you have focus, you see beyond the moment into the future. You see beauty when others only see tragedy. You see hope when others only see despair. You see possibilities when others only see problems. You see others when others only see themselves. You see eternity when others only see history. You see God in everything. You are a seer.”

I just finished reading through the book of Ecclesiastes. I’ve heard people say that Ecclesiastes is a rather depressing book of the Bible. “All is vanity, all is vain!” Was Solomon just ranting after a bad week?

What is Solomon, and ultimately the Holy Spirit, wanting to communicate through this remarkable book?

I make it a discipline, whether I’m reading the Bible or a book, to underline the author’s main thoughts as I go along, whether I agree with them or not. Check this thread of bold throughout the entire book:

“I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him” (3:14).

“For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear” (5:7).

“Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool…for the one who fears God shall come out from both of them” (7:17a, 18b).

“Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him” (8:12).

“But it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God” (8:13).

“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil” (12:13-14).

What is the whole duty of man? It is to fear God and keep his commandments – a theme preached throughout this entire book. My prayer today is, “Lord, through pleasure and pain, keep my heart fixed upon honoring you, and may my actions keep in step with your perfect Word.”