Grow Group Questions • Citizen Exile • Daniel 10

Download PDFDownload Word Document Grow Group Leaders: Remember you do not need to do every question. Feel free to adjust on what works with your group best. However, please give a focus to the Digging Deeper section, feel free to start there too if time is a restraint, and allow time for the final Challenge and Prayer Time. Conversation Starter/Questions (10-15 minutes)
Before talking about fasting, let’s ask a food question. What is your favorite food that you would never want to have to give up permanently? (Dessert, main course, snack, appetizer… anything)
Sermon Based Questions (15-20 minutes)
Before you get started, please take a few minutes to read through all of Daniel Chapter 10. Look for key things that stand out to you as you get ready for discussion. Looking at the last 3 messages on Daniel and prayer: What stands out to you the most about Daniel’s prayer life, how he prayed, what he prayed for, what was a part of his prayer times? Since Fasting was a consistent theme for Daniel in both chapter 9 and 10, let’s define fasting and make sure we are on the same page. Pastor David gave us an Old and New Testament Definition of fasting. They were: NT) to abstain from food and/or drink (or customary nourishment) for a religious or faith-based purpose. OT) The image of one shutting their mouth or closing their mouth, thus keeping food from entering it for self-denial of physical needs, most commonly food.  What stands out to you about these definitions? What does it tell you about any themes of Biblical fasting?
Is there anything new or challenging in these definitions that is different from what you might have through before?
Digging Deeper (15-20 minutes)
Go back and read Matthew 6:5-8, and 16-18. What type of parallels do you see to how Jesus talked about praying and how he talked about fasting?
Why do you think we quickly embrace prayer as an expected part of our Christians lives but struggle more with seeing fasting that same way?
Pastor David compared prayer to a Peanut Butter Sandwich, and Fasting and prayer to a Peanut Butter and jelly sandwich. Was that helpful for understanding the role of Prayer and fasting? Why or why not? 
How do you see fasting as a partner to prayer? (Any person examples or stories)
Pastor David gave us three primary Biblical reasons to fast which are listed below. How do you see each of these partnering with your own personal prayer life. Look up the scriptures that go with each. How do these scriptures help us understand these reasons for fasting?
Repentance/Mourning Over Sin. Daniel 9:3-5 / Daniel 10:2-3 / Joel 2:12 To Hear From God/Ask God to Do Something. Daniel 9:3, 16-19 / Daniel 10:2-3, 12  / Acts 13:2-3 For Spiritual Warfare Daniel 10:2-3, 12-14 / Isaiah 58:6 / Matthew 4:1-3
Challenge and Prayer (15-20 minutes)
Pastor David closed in calling Bethany Church participate in the all Church week of fasting and prayer. You should have received an email about it with more information and some helpful tools directions for fasting. As a closing challenge:
First please discuss as a group if you would be willing to, as a group, commit to join in on this week prayer and fasting. (If some are hesitant please refer to the Fasting Guide in the email to help see how each person can do it differently). Talk about how to encourage each other during the week to stay committed. 
For the closing prayer time, please pray for God’s help to stay committed to fasting and praying this week, each day. Ask God to show up in our prayer and fasting times. 
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