Spiritual Habits Extreme (Part 3) Lesson 1 Workbook Fasting Matthew 4:4 1. Who is Jesus responding to? 2. How long has Jesus been in the wilderness? 3. Has He eaten? 4. How hungry do you think Jesus was? How would it have been hard to resist this food? 5. What do you think man does not live by bread alone means? Deuteronomy 8:3 1. According to this verse, how did God humble His people? 2. By providing manna for them to eat, what lesson was to be learned? Exodus 16:1-8 1. Why did God send manna for the people? 2. What was this provision supposed to prove to the people of Israel?
3. How does this event connect with the words of Jesus that we read earlier? Matthew 5:6 1. What are some other fasts you could try? 2. What are some things you usually consume in excess that would be a challenge to give up? 3. How might giving up some of these things help you focus spiritually? A few things to keep in mind if you are going to fast from food: Always drink water. Some people even do juice fasts, where they also drink juice. The forty day, no food or water fasts described in the Bible are supernatural acts which should not be duplicated without a certain sign from God that one is required. Start with a 24 hour fast lunch time to lunch time, for example. When you break your fast, don t do so by overeating. Try a light meal of fresh fruits and vegetables. Follow Jesus' advice and keep this practice private. However, being a teenager still, your parents should probably know. Don t attempt a very lengthy fast (more than 2-3 days) until you have practiced shorter fasts successfully. Remember that you are not just not eating, you are fasting. Take meal times to do extra Scripture reading and spending time in prayer, etc. Homework Memorize Matthew 4:4 Plan to fast one day this week for 24 hours. Be sure to review your notes and follow the principles and techniques discussed during the lesson.
Spiritual Habits Extreme (Part 3) Lesson 2 Workbook Solitude Luke 5:16 1. Why do you think Jesus did what is describe in this verse? 2. Look at the context around these verses. What prompted Jesus retreat? 3. In what ways does life press on you? 4. How often are you able to get alone? 5. What benefit do you sense from this time? Mark 6:31 1. What does Jesus tell His disciples to do? 2. Why did He say this? 3. What had they just finished doing?
Psalm 46:10 1. How can disconnecting from the world and experiencing solitude be a good thing? 2. How can having time that is exclusively devoted to God be good for us? 3. In what times of life do we need solitude most? John 8:29 1. Who is He who sent me to Jesus? 2. What do you think it means, He has not left me alone? 3. Are we ever really alone? Why do you think that? Homework Memorize Psalm 46:10 Practice the habit of solitude one or more times this week. Find a place to be away from all distractions for at least one hour and spend this time alone with God. Let the Holy Spirit guide you. Be prepared to share some of your experiences during this time when your group meets again.
Spiritual Habits Extreme (Part 3) Lesson 3 Workbook Silence Chunk 1: Leviticus 10:1-3 Psalm 39:1 Isaiah 41:4 Chunk 2: Deuteronomy 27:9-10 Psalm 4:4 Isaiah 47:4-9 Chunk 3: Job 13:1-5 Ecclesiastes 3:7 Psalm 76:7-8 Chunk 4: Zephaniah 1:1-7 Ecclesiastes 9:17 Amos 5:14 Chunk 5: Matthew 26:62-63 Acts 15:11-12 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Chunk 6: Mark 4:39 1 Timothy 2:1-2 1 Peter 3:4 1. What is the silence of your passages referring to? 2. What causes the silence in your passage? 3. What is gained from the silence discussed in your verses? 4. Whom does the silence affect? 5. What do you think the verses you read are really getting at?
Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 1. This verse gives us some positional perspective. Where is God? 2. Where are we? 3. As a result of the fact that we are not God, what should we do? Homework Memorize Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 Practice the habit of silence one or more times this week. Find a place to be away from all distractions for at least one hour and sit in silence. Don t play music, don t watch television, and don t speak with anyone. Just listen, think, or read the Bible. Most of all, allow yourself to feel close to God.