Pursuing Calling Over Comfort

OUTLINE

• Start where you are
• Count the cost
• Submit to service

QUESTIONS:

1. What stuck out to you as you heard Pastor Danny share his story?
2. Where do you find the most enjoyment and comfort these days?
3. As Pastor Danny shared, “In our relationship with Jesus being comfortable is a dangerous place to be.” How has that statement reflected true with your experience of following Christ? What scriptures come to mind that affirms this statement?
4. Looking at Elijah’s life, there was a point where he lost hope. Full of disappointment and hopelessness. How can you relate to this in your faith story?
5. God provided Elisha to be a soul friend and ministry partner for Elijah. Who and how did God provide for you during times of loneliness and hopelessness you’ve experienced?
6. In Pastor Danny’s outline, he gives 3 areas for us to consider if we are in God’s calling for our life:

• Where are your heart’s desires and affections? Do those heart pursuits line up with what scripture describes a Spirit-filled life (Gal 5:22)?
• Count the cost: What have you given up to follow Him? Is Jesus asking you to give up something to follow Him today? Are there comforts you are holding on to that are keeping you from following His calling?
• Submit service: What does a (simple) next step of serving someone looking like for you this next week? How can you ask God to reveal this to you in a way that doesn’t promote duty to serve, but delight to join Him in serving others.

7. Considering the life of Jesus, how did He put God’s calling above His own comfort? How does that view of Jesus help you today?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

1Kings 19:19-21 NASB

19So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. 20He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” 21So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him.