Wait with Eager Longing

Small Groups

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer these questions: “Who in your life demonstrates patience? What does that patience look like?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). You likely won’t get through all the questions in your time together. Consider inviting group members to work through any remaining questions on their own throughout the week.

• Read Romans 8:12-25. In verses 12-17, Paul writes about those who are “children of God.” Make a list of what you see noted in these scriptures related to this idea.
  • [Answers could include: those led by the Spirit are children of God (v. 14); spirit of adoption does not fall back into fear (v. 15); the Spirit bears witness with an individual’s spirit affirming that the person is a child of God (v. 16); being a child of God means that a person is a joint heir with Jesus (v. 17); suffering with Jesus also implies sharing in his glory (v. 17).]
  • How do you understand the concept of being a child of God and a joint heir with Jesus? What is one aspect of this that you readily accept? Is there any part of it that is more challenging?
• Read again Romans 8:19-23. What does this text say about creation?
  • [Answers could include: it waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. (v. 19); it was subjected to futility (v. 20); creation is in bondage to decay (21); creation has been groaning in “labor pains” (22)]
  • In which of the following ways do you view creation?
    • Something to enjoy (and what do you mean by enjoy?)
    • Something to steward
    • Something to restore
    • Something else?
• The Preaching Notes for July 19 say:
  “To approach God, we need a better sense of ourselves. We need a proper perspective on who we are. One of the places to grasp that perspective is in the contemplation of nature. You can’t stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and not be humbled by the grandeur and beauty of the place, overwhelmed by the forces of time and nature that carved this natural wonder.”
  • How does spending time in nature provide a perspective of who God is, especially in relationship to who we are?
• Psalm 139 points to an intimacy with which God knows us. Read Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 aloud and invite group members to allow a verse to become a prayer for the week.
• Read again Romans 9:24-25. What is the relationship between hope and patience? How could you connect this idea to creation?
• Just One Thing: What one thing could you do this week to embrace patience in an aspect of your life?~~ ~~
• Going Deeper on Your Own: This week, consider studying one of the other lectionary texts in the following pattern:
  • Prayerfully ask God to open your eyes to the scripture. (Psalm 119:18)
  • Read the text of your choice (Genesis 28:10-19a, Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24, Romans 8:12-25, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43) out loud.
  • What do you notice about the text?
  • What questions arise?
  • What do you think God might be saying to you in this text?

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Oh God, you have searched us and know us. You adopted us as your children. There is nowhere we can go away from your Spirit or flee from your presence. Forgive us for preferring our way over yours. Would you grow the spiritual fruit of patience in our lives, so that we might be people of hope, awaiting your full restoration? Thank you for your grace that sustains us as we wait. In the name of Christ, our Savior, we pray, Amen.

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Rev. Dr. Ashlee Alley Crawford, Director of Adult Discipleship, an elder in the Great Plains Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, served in campus ministry for twelve years and in leadership with the Great Plains Conference for over a decade. She has a passion for connecting people with resources and encouraging them to nurture their faith and walk in step with Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. She has a D.Min. in spiritual direction from Asbury Theological Seminary. Ashlee also has a Certificate in Discipleship Coaching through Discipleship Ministries.