Digital Copy of Reaching Into Their Future Discussion Guide

SESSION ONE “EYES TO SEE” KEY VERSE

“By an act of faith, Isaac reached into the future as he blessed Jacob and Esau.”

Hebrews 11:20 MSG

SESSION ONE is based on CHAPTERS 1 & 2 of Reaching Into Their Future.

What stood out to you most as you read these chapters?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CLICK HERE FOR SESSION ONE

Watch SESSION ONE and use these questions for discussion in your group.

1) Who has influenced your life by believing in your future?

Share how their belief shaped who you are today.

2) Read Hebrews 11:20. How was blessing his sons an act of faith for Isaac? How does this shape our understanding of faith today?

3) In the video, Pastor Nate asks, “What if your faith isn’t just about trusting God for your future, but believing for someone else’s future?” How does this challenge our understanding of faith?

4) Where might God be asking us to see with spiritual eyes instead of natural eyes?

5) What fears, hesitations, or past experiences keep us from speaking life, encouragement, or prophetic hope over others?

6) Who has God entrusted to you right now—at home, at work, or in your friendships—and how can you practice blessing the future of others this week?

Take time to pray together over the needs present in your group as well as for the people God is calling each of you to bless and impact.

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SESSION TWO “I AM SAM” KEY VERSE

“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

SESSION TWO is based on CHAPTERS 3 & 4 of Reaching Into Their Future.

What stood out to you most as you read these chapters?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CLICK HERE FOR SESSION TWO

Watch SESSION TWO and use these questions for discussion in your group.

1) Be honest, when you see a group photo you’re in, who do you look for first? Why do you think that is?

2) Read 1 Samuel 16:6–13. What do you notice about how God sees David compared to how others saw him?

3) When we begin to see ourselves as Samuel in the story, we’re invited to champion others. In what ways is it difficult for us to embrace God’s identity rather than what others say?

4) In the video, Pastor Nate shares what it means to become a Samuel. What does it mean to chase the voice, not the uniform, in the lives of others?

5) Samuel continued to speak into David’s life. What helps us stay committed to people through different seasons?

6) What is one step you can take this week to root your identity more deeply in Christ?

Take time to pray together over the needs present in your groups as well as for the people God is calling each of you to serve and champion.

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SESSION THREE “THE POWER OF BLESSING”

KEY VERSE

“May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 NLT

SESSION THREE is based on CHAPTERS 5 & 6 of Reaching Into Their Future.

What stood out to you most as you read these chapters?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CLICK HERE FOR SESSION THREE

Watch SESSION THREE and use these questions for discussion in your group.

1) Who is someone who has spoken a blessing into your life at a critical moment? How did it impact you?

2) Read Luke 10:30-37. What are some reasons—or excuses— we act like the priest or the Levite instead of the Samaritan in Jesus’ parable?

3) When it comes to loving others, how can we move from awareness to availability?

4) Pastor Nate’s story about his brother David shows the gap between our intentions and our impact. What are some reasons our actions might not communicate love the way we hope?

5) We are all prone to have blind spots when it comes to noticing and blessing others. What are some ways we can notice others and respond more faithfully?

6) This week, who is one person God may be inviting you to intentionally notice, bless, or love more intentionally—and what could that look like?

Take a moment and read Numbers 6:24-26 together. Then pray together over needs present in your group as well as for the people God is calling each of you to bless.

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SESSION FOUR

“PLAYING THE LONG GAME”

KEY VERSE

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”

Philippians 1:6 NLT

SESSION FOUR is based on CHAPTERS 7 & 8 of Reaching Into Their Future.

What stood out to you most as you read these chapters?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CLICK HERE FOR SESSION FOUR

Watch SESSION FOUR and use these questions for discussion in your group.

1) When it comes to personal growth, do you usually want quick results, or do you usually wait and trust the process?

2) How has God played the long game with you personally?

3) In the video, Pastor Nate shared a story about a girl born in the 1950s. What does it look like to partner with God the way Mrs. Leonard did—with patience, gentleness, and well-timed encouragement?

4) Read Philippians 1:6. What does this verse teach us about God’s timing? What might it look like in real life to “walk at the pace” of someone you love, instead of trying to push them toward change?

5) What if God is inviting us to partner with Him through believing prayer for someone very different from us, not just once, but over a long season? What challenges might arise, and how could we overcome them?

6) This week, in what area of your life or relationships do you sense God inviting you to slow down and trust Him more?

Take time to pray together over the needs present in your group as well as for the people God is calling each of you to walk with long-game faith.

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SESSION FIVE

“PLAY UNTIL THE WHISTLE BLOWS”

KEY VERSE

“And the Lord came and called as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’

And Samuel replied, ‘Speak, your servant is listening.’”

1 Samuel 3:10 NLT

SESSION FIVE is based on CHAPTERS 9 & 10 of Reaching Into Their Future.

What stood out to you most as you read these chapters?

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS CLICK HERE FOR SESSION FIVE

Watch SESSION FIVE and use these questions for discussion in your group.

1) What are some ways God has gotten your attention? How do you hear His whisper in your life?

2) Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10. How did Samuel learn to hear God’s whisper? What might we need to adjust in our own lives to hear Him more clearly?

3) In the video, Pastor Nate shares four principles to help us persevere as we wait on God’s timing for the people in our lives: a) don’t ride the emotional roller coaster of their choices, b) don’t burn bridges, c) your prayers will do more than your nagging, and d) look toward the horizon like the father of the prodigal son. Which one speaks to you most right now, and why?

4) The phrase “play until the whistle blows” is a football analogy that means not quitting mid-play. Where might you be tempted to give up too soon—in a relationship, assignment, or season of life?

5) What are some reasons people might feel like giving up on the people they love?

6) Faith means listening for God’s whisper, obeying step by step, and refusing to give up on people or on God’s promises. How can you play until the whistle blows for the people in your life?

Take time to pray together over the needs present in your group as well as for God’s growth process in the people of your life.

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