Learning to Fast Like Jesus

1. Warmup/Icebreaker 

• As you think about fasting, what’s the one thing (food or other) that would be the hardest to give up for a day? 
• What has your experience been with fasting? How did you answer the poll? 

2. Reflect on the Message

• What’s one thing that you learned this week about the connection between prayer and fasting?

3. Scripture Engagement

Read Matthew 4:1-4

• Why do you think the devil approached Jesus while He was fasting? 
  
  • What is it about being in the “wilderness” that can make us susceptible to spiritual attack? 

Read Matthew 4:5-7

• Do you agree that without prayer and fasting we’ll be tempted to test God instead of trust Him?
• How have you tested God? 
  
  • When have you asked,  “God if you do____ then I promise to ____”? 

Read Matthew 4:8-11

• Rob stated that, “without prayer and fasting, we’ll be tempted to bypass God’s process for quicker results.”  Where have you been tempted to find shortcuts on your own rather than wait on God? 

4. Personal Connection

Fasting reveals all the ways we put God to the test. 

• Rob said “Without prayer and fasting we default to self-reliance without God-dependence.” Do you struggle with self-reliance? What is the problem with relying only on ourselves? 
• What questions do you have about fasting? How does the idea of fasting challenge you? 

5. Practical Application

• How might God be inviting you to incorporate fasting into your prayer life? 
• In the sermon, Rob said that “Fasting prepares our hearts to want what God wants”. Do you currently want what God wants? If not, why do you think that is? 

6. Group Prayer Time

• In light of this week’s message, what specific things can we pray for together tonight? 
• What areas in your life do you need to pray for more trust over control? 

‍

Questions written by: Zohary R.