WELCOME ICEBREAKER A few years ago a Chicago radio station posed the question; “What’s the most outrageous thing you would do for $10,000 cash?” That’s the question attracted 6000 insane ideas. The eventual winner: Jay Gwaltney of Zionsville, Indiana, who consumed an 11-foot birch sapling leaves, roots, bark and all. For the event, he donned a tux and dined at a table set elegantly with china, sterling, candles and a rose vase. Armed with pruning sheers, the Indiana State University sophomore began chomping from the top of the tree and worked his way, branch by branch, to the roots. His only condiment: French dressing for the massive birch-leaf salad. The culinary feat took 18 hours over a period of three days. When it was all over, Gwaltney complained of an upset stomach. What is the one of the craziest things you have done? WORSHIP Encourage the group with Isaiah 61:3 to make a choice to put on the garment of praise. Isaiah 61:3
To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
WORD Sanity is defined as "wholeness of mind, to make sound and rational decisions; making decisions based on the truth." The following acrostic for the word SANITY gives us keys to stay sane in a crazy world: S – strength - Look up Psalm 46:1, 81:1, Isaiah 25:4, 40:31, 2 Timothy 1:7
- As a group discuss what people turn to for strength, adrenaline or a fix instead of Jesus.
- How do we get strength from the Lord?
- How does having strength affect our sanity?
A – acceptance - Look up Romans 15:7, Matthew 7:2
- How do you think rejection affects our ability to make sound rational decisions?
N – new life - Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that. (Philippians 3:16)
- Look up 2 Corinthians 5:17, Colossians 1:13
- Why is important as believers to focus on who we have become in Christ?
- What should we do when we don’t “feel” like a Christian or we have done something stupid?
I – integrity - Look up Psalm 25:21, Proverbs 11:3
- What part of you does integrity protect?
- How does living a life of double standards affect our mental strength and awareness? Can you give some examples?
T – trust - Look up Proverbs 29:25, Romans 12:10
- Do you feel that if you fear what others think about you, it affects your ability to make sound decisions?
- Having people in our lives that we can trust to share our inner struggles and victories is a key to sanity. Who is in your life that you can trust?
Y – your higher power - Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (Romans 8:37)
WORK Take care to listen if people in your group truly have someone in their lives that they can confide in. If there is a need pray for this and work on developing a home group environment where people can develop these types of healthy relationships.
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