Session Extras

Year 2

Overcoming Sin: Session 5
Sloth

Below are some great links for further study and discussion. Check out the book suggestions. We've also included additional resources for leaders.

Digging Deeper:

• Read the sermon “Sloth—A Little Slumber, a Little Sleep” by Harry D. Zantingh.
• “Sloth can be a crippling spiritual disease.” Read more in the article “Are You Soul Weary?” by Mathew Woodley.
• Following Christ will take us out of our comfort zone. In the interview by Marlee Alex Jensen with Henry Blackaby called "Let Us Run With Perseverance The Race Marked Out For Us…" explores what it means to have a deep love relationship with God.
• Read three stories of perseverance in the article “Perseverance.”

For Small Group Facilitators/Leaders:

The discussion session is designed for a one-hour session. Here are suggestions for how to shorten or lengthen the session, as well as what part to emphasize.

Shorter session:

• In the Word Search, select one or two passages to discuss. In the Bring It Home section, use Option 2, focusing on one of the questions.

Longer session:

• Give your group more time to share what they learned by reading the devotionals during the For Starters section.

Here are some additional ideas to help you tailor the lesson to your group.

• For Starters:
• Make a list of words that describe “Sloth.”
• If you are rating your business, encourage the group not to just think about the last week. Try to think long term.
• Let’s Focus:
  • Read the introduction aloud or silently. Ask for volunteers to read. Be aware that some members of your group may not be comfortable reading aloud.
• Word Search:
• Psalm 119:25-32. Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible. This poem is an acrostic, eight lines of poetry for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
• Deuteronomy 1:5-8, 19-36. Deuteronomy is the last book of the Pentateuch written by Moses. In the first three chapters, Moses takes a look back what has happened to the people of Israel.
• Galatians 6:7-10. In Galatians Paul is writing to the church where agitators are insisting that Gentiles must be circumcised to be people of God. Paul responds that the work of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is enough for Jew and Gentile to be his people.
• Bring It Home:
• Option 1: Check out the lyrics for “Walk On” by U2.
• Option 2: Look the questions over and select questions that your group hasn’t already discussed.
• Option 3: If your group isn’t into the visual arts, try writing a limerick or a haiku about sloth.
• Pray It Through:
  • Plan ahead! Make sure your group has enough time to spend some time in prayer.
• Live It Out:
• Can your group sing and name the hymn quoted in the first bullet point? Hint: Check out this site.
• For more background on praying a Psalm, check out these resources:
  • Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City further discusses how to Pray the Psalms on their website.
  • The blog post called Praying the Psalms by the Dead Theologians Society gives practical steps to understanding the Psalms and four ways to pray using the Psalms.

In the article “Praying Through the Psalms” Cathy Miller explores how to pray the Psalms.

Submit your ideas!

Do you have suggestions for this particular session? Something that was especially meaningful for you or your group? Extra reading you’d like to suggest? Help others get the most out of this session. Send your ideas to editors@FaithAliveResources.org and we’ll consider adding them here!