Small Group Discussion Guide

Message Details

• Message Series Name: Grow 
• Message Title: Patience
• Short Summary: Pastor Elliott's message explores the biblical concept of patience as a fruit of the Spirit, emphasizing that true patience is not passive waiting but an active, purposeful engagement with God. Through the story of Mary and Martha, and personal anecdotes, we learn that Godly patience involves sitting at Jesus' feet, trusting Him to act, and choosing the right actions in our lives.

Icebreaker Question

• If you could have the patience of any animal, which one would it be and why? (Think of animals known for their patience, like a cat waiting for its prey or a turtle on a long journey.)

Review of the Previous Week’s "I Will" Statement

• Reflect on last week's commitment: I will surrender my weights and pressures to God’s Holy Spirit. What challenges did you face in keeping your "I Will" statement? How did you see God show up in your life this past week?

Five Discussion Questions 

1. Reflecting on the Message:
   • How did the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42 resonate with you? What does it teach us about the nature of true patience?
   • Context: Rodney's message highlighted the importance of choosing the right activity, like Mary sitting at Jesus' feet.
   • Life Application: How can you prioritize sitting at Jesus' feet in your daily life?
2. Personal Experience with Patience:
   • Share a story of a time when you had to exercise patience in a difficult situation. What emotions did you experience, and how did you see God at work?
   • Context: In his message, Rodney shared a personal story of his mother's patience and prayer.
   • Life Application: How can you apply godly patience in your current circumstances?
3. Understanding Godly Patience:
   • What is the difference between worldly patience and godly patience as described in Rodney's message?
   • Context: Rodney's message defined godly patience as self-control, restraint, and tolerance in the face of hardship.
   • Life Application: How can you cultivate godly patience in your relationships?
4. The Role of Prayer in Patience:
   • How does prayer influence your ability to be patient? Can you share a story of when prayer helped you wait on God?
   • Context: Rodney's message emphasized the power of prayer in developing patience.
   • Life Application: How can you incorporate more prayer into your daily routine to strengthen your patience?
5. Choosing the Right Activity:
   • What are some practical ways you can choose the "one thing" that is needed, as Jesus mentioned to Martha?
   • Context: In his message, Rodney encouraged choosing purposeful actions over busyness.
   • Life Application: What steps can you take this week to focus on what truly matters?

This Week’s "I Will" Statement

• I will take action by patiently sitting at the feet of Jesus. 

Prayer Prompts

1. General Prayer Requests:
   • Invite participants to share any personal prayer requests they have.
2. Prayer for Patience:
   • Pray for the strength to develop godly patience in our lives, especially in challenging situations.
3. Prayer for Trust in God’s Timing:
   • Pray for the ability to trust in God’s timing and His plans, even when we cannot see the outcome.

Rewatch the Message

• For those who want to revisit the message, you can watch it again at www.pathwaychurch.com/messages.