Message Guide – Through the Lens, Week 2 | Distracted to Death
We live in a world where there is no shortage of distractions. We want to keep our focus aimed at where it needs to be but our many connective devices keep demanding our attention.
Key Takeaways
Who’s deciding your direction: the Father or your feed?
Some distractions can be beneficial and point us closer to God, but most are actually weights that are slowing us down in the race that he has set for us.
Who we surround ourselves with matters, and that includes the influencers we follow, the accounts we like, and the content we consume. The good news is, we are the ones in control of what we give our attention to, not our devices.
We can run our race with endurance by letting go of distractions that pull us away from him, surrounding ourselves with people (and content) that will help us grow in our faith, and reclaiming our focus by keeping our eyes on Jesus.
Pray
Prayer is our time to talk to God. Let this prayer and Hebrews 12:1-2 inspire your conversations with God this week.
Father, forgive me for holding on to what distracts me from running the race you have giving me with endurance. Help me to let go of things that captivate my attention and shift my focus away from you. Your will and word will stand firm in my life.
Lord, draw me into community with others who love you. I give you access and control to my social circles and digital influences. Please filter out what cannot go with me into the next steps you have for me.
Holy Spirit, I want to be led by faith in Jesus fully. Help me see things the way he sees so that I can be a witness for him and lead others to him. In Jesus Name, amen.
Worship
Bring the worship set from this weekend into your Slot and Spot and remember to exalt the Lord who is your strength.
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him — my father’s God, and I will exalt him! Exodus 15:2 NLT
- Another Stone – Elevation Worship
- Mighty Name of Jesus – Hope Darst
- Set My Eyes – Michael Bethany
Learn
This week, read through the scripture shared in the message and dive deeper into God’s word.
Read
Watch
- Book of Hebrews Overview from Bible Project
Listen
- Hebrews 12 from Through the Word
Reflect
Reflect on these questions during your slot and spot/discussions with others.
Who we surround ourselves with matters. That includes the people in our lives and the content we follow.
- Who in your life is a positive influence in your faith journey? Who distracts you from your faith?
- Can you think of any content creators you follow who have been an encouragement in your faith?
- Does their work solely point you back to God, or does it also come with other distractions?
Digital distractions can begin to control us if we don’t remember that we are the ones in charge of what we pay attention to.
- What is distracting you from connecting with God or other people in a meaningful way? What might you be missing because of the distractions in your life?
- What can you do right now to take control of your focus and limit your digital distractions?
Read Hebrews 12:1-2. God calls us to run our race with endurance and to do that by letting go of distractions and keeping our eyes on Jesus.
- What do you think it means to run your race with endurance? How do you relate to Pastor Mark’s description of running a physical race, and wanting to stop in the first mile? Are there any weights slowing you down in your race?
- Running the race starts with letting God decide your direction. If you let God curate your digital content feeds, what would they look like?
- What are you doing each day to keep your focus on Jesus? How has this influenced your endurance?
Next Steps
- Strip off what slows you down. Take control of your devices and remove what distracts you from God and others.
- Surround yourself with right witnesses. Lead or join a J-Group in the coming semester.
- Reclaim the focus of your faith. Keep your eyes on Jesus by starting each day with a slot and spot.
