Bible Study Questions

1. Why do you think fasting has been largely abandoned by the modern church over the last two hundred years? What cultural or theological factors might have contributed to this?
2. Read Matthew 4:1-2 and Matthew 17:21. What do these passages reveal about the relationship between fasting, prayer, and spiritual power in Jesus' ministry?
3. The sermon states that fasting helps us "focus less on material things and things of the flesh and focus more on heavenly things and things of the spirit." How does abstaining from food accomplish this shift in focus?
4. Discuss Paul's metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:27 about "buffeting the body." How does the discipline of fasting train us for other areas of Christian life?
5. Read the excerpt from the 1600-year-old sermon about fasting with your eyes, ears, hands, and feet. Which of these resonates most with you, and why?
6. In Isaiah 58, God criticizes fasting that isn't accompanied by justice and good deeds. How can we ensure our fasting leads to tangible love for others rather than just personal spiritual experience?
7. The early Christians gave the money they saved from fasting to the poor. What modern applications of this practice might look like in our context?
8. What's the difference between choosing a fast that's too easy (like giving up pickles) versus one that's too hard to maintain? How do we find the right balance?
9. Which type of fast (major, minor, partial, or soul fast) do you feel most drawn to for the Awaken season, and why?
10. The sermon mentions that "our sinful fleshly nature actually goes to war against our spiritual nature." How does fasting help us win this battle?
11. Why do you think Jesus instructed His followers to fast in secret (Matthew 6:17-18)? What dangers exist when fasting becomes public or performative?
12. How can your small group support and encourage one another during the 28 days of Awaken without making fasting competitive or legalistic?

Discussion Questions

1. The sermon mentions that fasting was a consistent practice in the early Church, with believers fasting every Wednesday and Friday. What would it take for fasting to become that regular and normalized in our own spiritual lives?
2. Have you ever experienced a time when fasting deepened your prayer life or relationship with God? What made that experience meaningful?
3. The preacher says fasting "goes against our flesh and sinful, human nature." What specific internal resistances or objections do you notice when you think about committing to a fast?
4. How does our culture's emphasis on comfort, convenience, and instant gratification make fasting countercultural? What might we learn about ourselves through this discomfort?
5. The sermon connects self-discipline in fasting to self-control in areas like our thought life, emotions, and words. Can you share an example where growing in one area of discipline helped you in another?
6. Read Matthew 6:17-18 together. Why does Jesus emphasize secrecy in fasting? How can we practice fasting authentically without seeking recognition or falling into pride?
7. The ancient sermon quoted warns against fasting from food while still "feeding" on gossip, impure images, or harmful entertainment. What modern equivalents should we consider fasting from alongside food?
8. Isaiah 58 suggests that God desires fasting paired with justice and compassion for the oppressed. What injustices in our community could our small group address during the Awaken season?
9. For those who have fasted before: what practical tips or lessons learned would you share with someone attempting their first extended fast?
10. The sermon states that Sunday should be a day of "feasting on the bread and drink of life" during a fast. How does this practice help us keep the Lord's Supper central rather than treating fasting as merely physical deprivation?
11. If you're considering a "soul fast" from screens, social media, or entertainment, what spiritual practices will you intentionally add to fill that time and space?
12. How can we use the physical hunger we experience during fasting as a prompt to pray for our eight people who don't know Christ? What specific prayers will you offer when hunger strikes?