Before the Session
Facilitator: In advance of the session
- Review today’s scripture text and the session activities to help better facilitate the discussion.
- Have the Bible Background Video ready to view.
- Have any selected video or music clips ready to show
- Encourage your group to listen to the Faithelement podcast ahead of the next session (Share the link via email or social media)
- Prepare several different kinds of fruit for eating. Be sure to include a couple less common fruits that some people may not be familiar with (e.g. kiwi, star fruit, honey crisp apple or some lesser known variety, blood orange, fresh coconut, papaya, etc.)
Intro
Play the God’s Call video and use these questions to facilitate discussion.
Then lead a discussion using questions like these:
- What were your impressions of this video? Obviously God does not call us via a cell phone. What ways might God make your calling known to us?
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Have you ever felt like God was calling you to something? If so, what is it? How did you know it was God calling you and not your own wants and desires?
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Do you think God would ever call you to do something you do not want to do? Why or why not?
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Why do we hesitate to answer God’s call?
Read Ezekiel 2:1 – 3:11 and watch the Bible Background Video for this passage.
Tasting Faithfulness
Invite people to take a piece of familiar fruit (one they have eaten before), eat it, and describe what it’s like (taste, smell, texture) and whether or not they like it.
- Invite people to take a piece of unfamiliar fruit and share what they have heard about it, and what they expect it to be like.
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Then have people eat their piece of unfamiliar fruit, and describe what it’s like (taste, smell, texture) and whether or not they like it. Invite people to discuss these questions:
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What do you think was ‘sweet’ about the scroll God gave to Ezekiel to eat?
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What connection do you make between Ezekiel having the experience of eating the scroll, and his ability to speak God’s words regardless of their reception by the people?
(For the next question, create a safe place for people to share, with no need for the group to advise, fix, change or comment on what is shared. Tell the group to hold everything respectfully and confidentially.)
- Is it easy or difficult for you to speak to others of your faith, and your relationship with God?
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What might make it difficult?
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Consider an experience you have had with God (or suspect/sensed you have had with God). Describe what happened. What was the experience like? What was your response to it?
(Note to leader: as each person shares, let there be about a minute of silence afterwards for the group to ‘hold’ what has been shared)
Closing
Close this session with a prayer asking God to give us the strength to be faithful followers, even when the task seems difficult or futile.