awaken-session 1 by Lifetogether Ministries

A Journey to Renew Your Heart and Reignite Your Faith

awaken

Published by LifeTogether.

Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 and 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

ISBN: 978-1-7322325-4-9

Printed in the United States of America

SESSIONS

welcome

Welcome to 40 Days of Awaken! Whether you’re leading a group, joining one for the first time, or walking through the daily devotionals on your own, we’re so glad you’re here.

This journey is about more than information—it’s about transformation. God desires to awaken our hearts, deepen our faith, and stir a fresh passion for His presence and His people.

Over the next six weeks, we’ll explore what it means to experience spiritual renewal personally, relationally, and within our church family. We’ll learn how to pray with boldness, live with purpose, and love others with the same heart that Jesus showed to the world.

Our prayer is that this journey brings you closer to Christ and to one another, and that what begins in these forty days continues as a movement of renewal in your home, your community, and beyond.

“Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?” —

Psalm 85:6

[Pastor's Name]

SENIOR PASTOR, [CHURCH NAME}

THIS WORKBOOK using

1. Notice in the Table of Contents there are three sections: (1) Sessions; (2) Appendices; and (3) Small Group Leaders. Familiarize yourself with the Appendices. Some of them will be used in the sessions themselves.

2. If you are leading or co-leading a small group, the section Small Group Leaders will give you tips for effective leadership, encourage you, and help you avoid a few common obstacles.

3. Use this workbook as a guide. If the group responds to the lesson in an unexpected but honest way, go with that. If you think of a better question than the next one in the lesson, ask it. Take to heart the insights included in the Frequently Asked Questions pages and the Small Group Leaders section.

4. Enjoy your Small Group experience.

5. Pray before each session—for your group members, for your time together and for wisdom and insight.

6. Read the Outline of Each Session on the next pages so you understand how the sessions will flow.

outline

OF EACH SESSION

A typical group session for the Serve study will include the following sections. Read through this to get a clear idea of how each group meeting will be structured:

WEEKLY MEMORY VERSES. Each session opens with a memory verse that emphasizes an important truth from the session. This is an optional exercise, but we believe memorizing scripture is a powerful way to grow spiritually. We encourage you to give this important habit a try. The verses for each session are also listed in the appendix.

INTRODUCTION. Each lesson opens with a brief thought that will help you prepare for the session and get you thinking about that week’s topic. Make it a practice to read these before the session. You may want to have the group read them aloud.

SHARE YOUR STORY. The foundation for spiritual growth is an intimate connection with God and His family. You build that connection by sharing your story with a few people who really know. This section includes some simple questions to get you talking—letting you share as much or as little of your story as you choose.

HEAR GOD’S STORY. In this section, you’ll read the Bible and listen to a teaching in order to hear God’s story—and begin to see how His story aligns with yours. When the study directs you to, you’ll watch a short teaching segment on video. You’ll then have an opportunity to read a passage of scripture and discuss both the teaching and the text. The goal isn’t to accumulate information, but to apply the insights from scripture to your daily life.

CREATE A NEW STORY. In this section, you’ll have an opportunity to go beyond Bible study to biblical living. This section will also have a question or two that will challenge you to live out your faith by serving others, sharing your faith, or worshiping God.

DAILY DEVOTIONS. Each week on the daily devotions pages, we provide scriptures to reflect on between sessions. This provides you with a chance to slow down, read just a small portion of scripture each day, and pray through it. You'll then have a chance to journal your thoughts about what you just read. Use this section to seek God on your own throughout the week. This time at home should begin and end with prayer. Don’t get in a hurry; take enough time to hear from God and talk to him!

SESSION ONE

Awaken My Heart

"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?"

Psalm 85:6

If you’ve ever felt your spiritual life slow down—like the fire that once burned brightly has dimmed—this session is for you. Awakening begins not with a program, but with a prayer: “Lord, revive my heart.”

True revival starts in the quiet places of the soul, when we invite God to soften what’s grown hard and stir what’s grown still. When our hearts awaken, our worship deepens, our love grows stronger, and our faith becomes contagious.

In this first week, we’ll rediscover the beauty of a heart fully alive to God—one that beats again with gratitude, passion, and joy. Because when God revives the heart of His people, the world begins to take notice.

• Welcome everyone, especially newcomers, and open with a short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to awaken hearts.

notes

• Encourage honesty and create a safe, listening environment. Pause for prayer when needed and allow silence for reflection.

• Remind your group: awakening begins when we slow down, listen to God, and open our hearts together.

YOUR STORY

Begin your group time by using these questions to spark connection and reflection:

• When was the last time you felt especially close to God? What was happening in your life during that season?

• How do you sense God might be trying to awaken or soften your heart right now?

• On a scale of 1–10, how “awake” do you feel spiritually in this season?

• What are you hoping God will do in your heart through these 40 days?

THE VIDEOwatch

As you watch, jot down any thoughts, questions, or moments that stand out to you.

• What truth spoke to your heart?

• What part challenged or inspired you?

After the video, invite someone to read the next section — Hear God’s Story — and begin your group discussion.

hear

GOD'S STORY

Read John 13:1-5

Jesus knew His time on earth was short. As He shared a meal with His disciples, He quietly stood, took off His outer robe, and knelt to wash their feet. The King of heaven chose the posture of a servant.

In this moment, Jesus showed what love looks like in action. He didn’t just talk about humility — He embodied it. His heart was awake to the Father’s purpose, and His hands reflected it through service

Discuss:

• What does Jesus’ act of washing feet reveal about God’s heart toward us?

• How can serving others reawaken your own heart to God’s presence?

• When was the last time you showed love through a humble act of service?

create

A NEW STORY

Now it’s your turn to respond. Think about how you can live out what you’ve learned this week in a tangible way. God awakens our hearts not just to feel something—but to do something. When we step out to serve, our hearts come alive, and the world around us begins to change.

• Jesus showed His love through humble service. What’s one specific way you can serve someone close to you this week—at home, at work, or in your community?

• The passage reminds us that love isn’t just an emotion—it’s a choice to act. What does it look like for you to choose love even when it’s inconvenient?

• How does remembering Jesus’ deep, personal love for you stir your desire to love others with that same compassion?

Before you close, give everyone a moment to share prayer requests or specific people they want to serve. Pray together for open eyes and willing hearts to see opportunities this week to love like Jesus and awaken others through simple acts of grace.

Day 1

Galatians 5:13

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love."

Reflect:

How can you use your freedom to serve others? What does it look like to serve humbly?

Day 2

DEVOTIONS

Matthew 25:40

"The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'"

Reflect: These words from Jesus conclude his teaching on feeding the hungry, visiting the prisoner, caring for the poor. What is Jesus asking us to do? How could you increase your opportunity to serve in this way?

Day 3

Philippians 2: 3-4

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Reflect:

Where are you most tempted to let “selfish ambition” control you? Maybe at work, school, or even in a sports league? How can you value others above yourself in that setting?

Day 4

Mark 10: 44-45

"...whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Reflect: What is one way you could follow Jesus’ example of serving others today?

Day 5

Mark 9:35

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'"

Reflect:

In our competitive culture, it’s hard to be willing to be last. What would that look like in your workplace? In your family?

Day 6

2 Corinthians 4:5

"For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake."

Reflect: What should our motive be for service, according to this verse? What does it mean to do something “for Jesus’ sake?”