October 2024 – Men's Small Group Blog

Election Overload Relief Plan

Election season can feel like a whirlwind. Every ad and headline shouts about stakes higher than ever, and it’s easy to feel like the future rests entirely on the outcome of this election. While staying informed matters, it’s also essential to ask: Where are we placing our trust?

For followers of Jesus, true peace doesn’t come from political outcomes but from the one who is our unshakable foundation.

Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Imagine if we let this truth guide us, turning our focus from the temporary to the eternal. Most of us know we can’t control election results, but we can decide what we allow into our hearts and minds.

In Philippians 4:8, Paul says, “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

I’m just as susceptible as anyone to getting distracted, but more than ever I’m looking for ways to anchor my mind in what is eternally good. Rather than letting the world’s anxiety rule my thoughts, I can fill my heart with truth, and with gratitude for God’s presence, even in the craziest of times.

The relationships we invest in and the purpose that drives us are what define our lives, not one election or news cycle.

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Instead of focusing on fear, we can focus on God’s promises.

And in Psalm 46:10, we’re invited, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Even when the world feels shaky, God holds all things together.

God calls us to live in the world, but not be overcome by it. So, this election season, look upward, encouraging those you love to focus on what lasts and on the One who holds it all.

Questions for Reflection:

Do you agree that election season is a particularly easy time to get distracted from what really matters? Why or why not?
What’s one habit you could adopt this week to limit distractions and invite peace?
Which Bible verse could you meditate on when you feel uncertain? (either those above or others that are important to you)
Why is it so critical that we turn to scripture when the craziness is at its worst?
How can you invest in relationships that build your faith this season?

When Enough is Enough: Overcoming Envy with Gratitude

Have you ever watched a group of toddlers playing with toys? Often, one of them will be perfectly happy until they see another child playing with a different toy, and suddenly they want that one too. It’s a simple example of something we all struggle with at times: envy. We might have something good in our lives, but when we look at what someone else has, it’s tempting to feel like what we have isn’t enough.

This longing for what others have—whether it’s material things, relationships, or success—can lead us down a dangerous path. Instead of focusing on the blessings God has already provided, we fix our attention on what we lack. Our thoughts become filled with comparison, dissatisfaction, and envy. Much like the child who wants both toys, we often don’t realize that in grasping for more, we can lose sight of the joy of what we already have.

In Exodus 20:17, we are told: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” This commandment reminds us that the habit of always wanting more can pull us away from the contentment that God desires for us.

God has even wired this into our brains through something psychologists call the Reticular Activating System (RAS), which helps filter what we notice in the world around us. If we’re constantly focused on what we don’t have, our RAS will keep showing us those gaps, making us feel like we’re always missing out.

But when we choose to focus on gratitude and the blessings God has given us, our RAS shifts to help us see more of the good in our lives. We start to notice God’s provision, and our hearts move toward peace and contentment.

I have seen it in my own life and believe with my full heart that when we show gratitude for what we do have (vs. envying others’ things), that’s when God feels like He can trust us with more blessings – not necessarily material things but whatever it is that He knows we need most.

When we stop fixating on what others have in their possession and instead focus on God’s goodness, we make room for growth. Our journey moves in the right direction—toward what God has planned for us.

Do you agree that comparing ourselves to others often leads to dissatisfaction?
If you are comfortable sharing, in what ways do you find yourself comparing your life to others, and how does that impact your relationship with God?
What are some blessings in your life that you might be overlooking because you’re focused on what you don’t have?
What is one step can you take this week to realign your focus toward God and away from envy?

The Greatest Commands: Love God, Love People

At the heart of Jesus’ teachings is a simple but powerful truth: love is the most important thing. We hit this topic every 2-3 year to keep it fresh and remind us of THE primary calling of Christians.

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

That’s it….no parable or hidden message…just love God and love people. And I could make an argument that, in this context, the next verse (40) is the most important verse in the Bible – Jesus followed the statement above by saying “All the law and prophets hang on these two commands.”

That basically means that every single other lesson or idea is secondary in importance to these two rules. Another way to look at it is that everything we are fundamentally called to do as Christians in some way or another must be directly tied to loving God and people.

Loving God First

Loving God means putting Him at the center of our lives. It’s more than just going to church or saying prayers—it’s about making God our top priority. This love is shown in how we trust Him, how we spend time with Him, and how we let His Word shape our choices.

Loving Others as Ourselves

Right after calling us to love God, Jesus tells us to love others. But this love isn’t just about being polite or helpful. It’s about loving people the way we should love ourselves—with grace, understanding, and empathy. Whether it’s our family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers, Jesus calls us to see people through His eyes.

This type of love is in the small acts of kindness, listening when someone needs to talk, and showing patience even when it’s difficult. It’s about being intentional in how we treat those around us.

Putting Love Into Action

Jesus didn’t just talk about love—He lived it. From healing the sick to laying down His life, His love was active. And He calls us to do the same. Whether it’s serving someone in need or offering a kind word, love is shown in what we do, not just in what we say.

At the end of the day, love is the foundation of everything we do as followers of Christ. It’s what sets us apart and what brings us closer to God and each other.

Questions:

God doesn’t “need” our love, so why do you think Jesus said this is the most important thing?
It is stated above that Matthew 22:40 is arguably the most important verse in the Bible. Agree or disagree, and why?
How well do you love yourself and do you believe that truly loving yourself is foundational to loving others?
Why does it seem so easy to fall into negativity and conflict, yet so challenging to build a cycle of love, support, and encouragement with certain people?
1 Corinthians 13:4 starts with “Love is patient…”. Do you believe patience was listed first because it is the most important element of loving others?

Patience Isn’t Prime: When God Doesn’t Deliver Next-Day

My wife has a beautiful way of encouraging me each morning with a text containing Scripture and a message. Yesterday, she shared one about patience, comparing it to a farmer waiting for the rain to help grow his crops. The farmer can’t rush the rain, just like we can’t rush God’s plans for us. Instead, we’re called to wait with anticipation and trust, without worrying, complaining, or demanding that God works according to our schedule.

I jokingly (or maybe not so jokingly?) responded back to her, asking what I would do with all that extra time if I didn’t use it for worrying, complaining, and demanding.

For me, it’s not so much about the worrying or complaining, but I’m weak when it comes to the demanding part. I really like trying to expedite God’s plan and frequently try to sneak my way into the captain’s chair and steer the ship (which fails 100% of the time).

It’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t happen when or how we want them to. We live in a world that values speed and efficiency, where waiting feels like wasted time. I’ve heard this referred to as the “Amazon effect”—if you want something, it just shows up the next day.

But God’s timing is different from ours. He sees the bigger picture, and sometimes, He asks us to wait because He’s preparing us for what’s ahead or working things out in ways we can’t yet see.

The Bible gives us many examples of people who had to wait for God’s promises. In each of these cases, the waiting was not in vain; it was part of God’s perfect plan for their growth and His glory.

True patience means trusting in God’s love even when we don’t see the full picture. It means letting go of our desire to control the outcome and believing that He is working all things together for our good, in His perfect time (Romans 8:28).

Questions:

How do you personally struggle with waiting on God’s timing? Is it more about worrying, about complaining, or about demanding? Or all three?

Do you also sometimes try to take the Captain’s chair? What does that look like for you and how does it work out?

Patience is such a simple concept ‘on paper’, so why is it so difficult to practice more consistently?

When we worry, complain, and demand different timing, how does that impact God’s perfect plan for our lives?

How would you explain today’s lesson if you had to summarize it in a couple of sentences?

The Worst Sinner of All Time?

We took the last several months off from the blog to go through the book Man in the Mirror together but we’re back to it now with a powerful verse from 1 Timothy.

Today’s lesson starts with a question for the group: who was the worst sinner of all time? Some might think of notorious figures from history, but when Paul wrote 1 Timothy, he claimed the title for himself. In 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul says, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.”

This statement comes from a man who went on to become one of the greatest leaders of the early church. So, why would Paul make such a bold claim? He’s referring to his past, a time when he persecuted Christians with zeal. Before his conversion, Paul (then known as Saul) was feared for hunting down believers, and he was present at the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58). Given this background, it’s not surprising that some Christians were skeptical of Paul, even after his transformation. To many, he wasn’t just another sinner—he was the worst kind: the former enemy of Christ.

Paul’s words in 1 Timothy were also a smart and effective writing tool. He wasn’t just acknowledging his sinful past to be transparent, but he was also disarming his critics. By openly calling himself the “worst” of sinners, Paul showed deep humility. He understood that his story wasn’t about glorifying his sins, but about highlighting the boundless grace of God. If God could forgive Paul, He could forgive anyone.

Paul’s story serves as a reminder that no one is too far gone. God’s grace isn’t reserved for those who “have it all together” but is for everyone, no matter their past. Paul’s life of transformation proves that God can use anyone for good—even someone who once fought against the church.

So what does this mean for us?
If we ever feel unworthy of God’s love because of mistakes we’ve made, Paul’s story is a message of hope. We don’t need to be perfect to come to God—He meets us where we are. And once we accept His grace, we can move forward with new purpose, just like Paul did.

Reflection Questions:

What does Paul’s story teach us about how God sees sinners?
Have you ever struggled with feeling unworthy of God’s love? How can Paul’s life experience encourage us in those moments?
Two part question: a) how judgmental and critical do you tend to be of others and b) does God’s grace toward Paul inspire you to be less judgmental and more gracious toward others?
In what ways can we show the same grace to others that Paul received from God?
How can we incorporate humility like Paul did and use our own stories of forgiveness to help others see God’s grace at work?