Fasting Week 3
Main Idea: Fasting is a component of a lifestyle of biblical justice and mercy.
V.6a grounds this as the fast which God chooses. Meaning a fast accompanied by the following (V.6b-7) lifestyle elements:
A commitment to fighting wickedness/ injustice (v.6)
A commitment to freeing the oppressed (v.6)
A commitment to feeding the hungry (v.7)
A commitment to housing the homeless (v.7)
A commitment to clothing the naked (v.7)
A commitment to not shrinking away from service to our own flesh (family or people
group) (v.7)
New Testament Applications
In the New Testament, we see a repeating of many of the OT focuses in regards to biblical justice and mercy. These serve as applications for us in forming our lifestyles of biblical justice and mercy.
Matthew 5:7 →The merciful here are to be understood as the helpers, or those who meet people needs in times of distress. (Jeremiah Study Bible; NLT Study Bible).
Matthew 6:2-4 →The language used here shows that there is an expectation that Jesus’ followers will give to the poor.
James 1:27 →In this text is a clear call to serve and meet the needs of two vulnerable groups, orphans and widows. When thinking about orphans and widows in our American Context, focus on foster care and adoption situations.
Group Discussion Guide
How does your current lifestyle compare to the lifestyle of biblical justice and mercy we focused on during the teaching session?
What adjustments do you need to make to your lifestyle, if any?
Looking at the New Testament applications for a lifestyle of biblical justice and mercy,
what stands out to you? Why?
Discussion Questions on Your Individual Fast
What was your experience fasting like?
What were the challenges you faced when implementing fasting?
Describe the approach you took to a heightened spiritual awareness during your fast.
What changes will you make before taking part in another fast?
Discussion Questions on Your Corporate Fast
Did your corporate fast differ from your individual fast? Explain.
Did God speak to you, or give you greater understanding in any way about your group’s
focus or purpose during your fast?
As a group, discuss if there is anything else God is leading you toward corporately
(meaning to do together) as a result of your fast.
** As always, if you or your group have any questions regarding the teaching or things that came up during your discussion, please reach out to Pastor Lewis or Pastor Kevin.
Fasting Week 2 Discussion Guide:
Primary Text: Matthew 6:16-18; Isaiah 58:1-5
Main Idea: Our motivation or purpose for fasting matters.
10 Purposes or Motivations for Fasting
To strengthen prayer - Ezra 8:23; Joel 2:12; Acts 13:3
To seek God’s guidance - Judges 20; Acts 14:23
To express grief - 2 Samuel 1:11-12
To seek deliverance or protection - 2Chronicles 20:3-4; Ezra 8:21-23
To express repentance and return to God - 1 Samuel 7:6; Jonah 3:5-8
To humble oneself before God - 1 Kings 21:27-29; Psalm 35:13
To express concern for the work of God - Nehemiah 1:3-4; Daniel 9:1-3
To minister to the needs of others - Isaiah 58:6-7
To overcome temptation and dedicate yourself to God - Matthew 4:1-11
To express love and worship to God - Luke 2:37
[Purposes and texts from: Donald Whitney. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, 1991.] Approaching the Fast
Start small - If you are new to fasting, you should not be planning to abstain from eating for an entire week (unless God calls you to that). Instead start small. For example, for the fasts associated with this doctrinal study plan to abstain from one meal, or one normal activity.
Plan what you will do in place of eating/ activity - As you already know, our fasting should have a purpose or focus. You should be planning ahead how you will engage with this purpose during your fast. For example, Dr. Ronnie Floyd suggests that rather than simply skipping a meal you should dedicate your meal time and usual preparation to prayer and the study of God’s word.
Consider how it will affect others - As you prepare for you fast, you should keep in mind how it will impact those you live with. For example, if a set of parents plan to fast from dinner for one meal during the week, they will need to keep in mind that their children are not taking part in the fast with them and have their dinner ready.
Approaching the fast suggestions adapted from: A Guide to Christian Fasting. For further reading on preparation see: A Guide to Christian Fasting at Desiringgod.org https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fasting-for-beginners
Discussion
The discussion this week will focus primarily on the ten purposes and motivations of fasting. For each purpose your group will:
Read the purpose.
Read the scripture texts associated with the purpose.
Explain how the scripture texts show the purpose at work.
Give a modern example of how each purpose might be applied in a contemporary fasting
experience.
Which purpose for fasting do you think you think would be most beneficial for you to focus on during your fasting experience? Why?
As a group, from your first look, which purposes for fasting would you consider focusing on during a group fast?
What questions do you currently have based on session 2?
Fasting Week 1 Group Discussion Guide:
What are the spiritual practices/ disciplines that you have taken part in, in the last year?
Describe your experience with fasting.
What are the two key components of fasting that we see from our definitions?
Which of the definitions of fasting was the most helpful or impactful for you? Why?
What are some normal functions, that you might consider fasting/ abstaining from instead of food?
What questions do you currently have based on session 1?