Throw Your Line Over

In one paragraph

Brian opened with a picture that came to him during worship, and then walked through what he called a step-by-step guide to walking in the spirit, the third week in a series on that theme. The fishing pond image carried through the whole message. Four practical steps filled out the bulk of the teaching. During worship, Brian described a picture that came to him: a church carnival fishing pond,...

Read together

1. Philippians 4:6-8 worry about nothing, pray about everything, and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus
2. Romans 8:5 those dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, those controlled by the Spirit think about things that please the Spirit
3. Galatians 5:16 let the Holy Spirit guide your lives and you won't do what your sinful nature craves
4. 2 Corinthians 13:14 may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all
5. Amos 3:3 how can two walk together unless they be in agreement
6. 1 John 1:9 those who confess their sin, God is faithful and just to purify and forgive
7. Psalm 119:11-16 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you
8. Psalm 116 read in full as an illustration of faith superseding difficult circumstances
9. Isaiah 30:21 right behind you a voice will say this is the way you should go
10. Matthew 6:16 Jesus says when you fast, not if, introducing fasting as normal practice
11. James 3:3-5 a small bit controls a horse, a small rudder steers a ship, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches
12. Ephesians 6:18 pray in the spirit at all times and on every occasion, stay alert and persistent
13. 1 Corinthians 14:2 speaking in tongues is talking only to God, speaking mysteries by the Spirit, and being strengthened personally
14. Romans 8:26 the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness, praying for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words

Talk about it

1. Brian described the fishing pond picture where throwing the line over the curtain requires faith, and then you still have to reel it in. Has there been a time when you threw the line over but walked away before reeling? What happened?
2. The sermon drew a distinction between condemnation and conviction, and Gretchen shared how a culture of shame in a previous church took a long time to recover from. How have you experienced that difference in your own life, and what would a culture of restoration actually look like in a community like this one?
3. Brian said that walking in the spirit is your natural first language if you are a Christian, and that you are probably already doing it more than you realize. Does that land as true for you, or does walking in the spirit still feel like something you have to learn from scratch? Why?
4. The sermon made the point that obeying the Holy Spirit in small, seemingly trivial things is what trains you to recognize his voice when something significant is at stake. Can you think of a small moment where you felt that nudge and either followed it or ignored it? What came of it?
5. Praying in the spirit was described as encrypted communication the enemy cannot hear, a way of being strengthened personally, and a way of praying in harmony with God's will even when you have run out of words. What questions or hesitations does that raise for you, and what would it take for you to try it?