Finding Unshakeable Strength in Christ: Small Group Discussion Guide Isaiah 40:31

I have been a Men’s Ministry Leader for several years, so it is just natural to turn a blog post into a small group study. I hope that you will be able to print and use this study guide to help guide your small group.

Meeting Overview

• Duration: 60–75 minutes • Materials: Bibles (KJV), printed handouts of the devotional, pens, index cards, timer

1. Welcome & Icebreaker (10 minutes)

• Leader opens with a warm greeting. • Icebreaker question: “Share a time when you felt ‘weighed down’ and describe one small thing that lifted your spirits.”

2. Opening Prayer (5 minutes)

Invite someone to pray, asking God to open hearts to His renewing power and to guide the discussion.

3. Scripture Reading (5 minutes)

Read aloud together: Isaiah 40:31 (KJV) – “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles… and shall not faint.”

4. Devotional Recap (5 minutes)

One leader briefly summarizes the key points from the blog post:

• True strength comes through waiting on the Lord.
• God transforms our weariness into renewed wings.
• Waiting is active faith, not passive defeat.

5. Group Discussion (20–25 minutes)

Use these questions to dig deeper:

1. Defining Waiting
   • What does “waiting on the Lord” look like in your daily life?
   • How is this different from simply “doing nothing”?
2. Renewal in Stillness
   • Have you ever experienced a “sacred pause” that refreshed your soul? Describe it.
   • What barriers keep you from pausing—busyness, guilt, fear?
3. Eagle Imagery
   • How does picturing yourself “soaring on eagle’s wings” reshape your view of trials?
   • In what “storms” are you currently flying?
4. Practical Steps
   • Which of the three action points (sacred pauses, Scripture memory, sharing struggles) feels most urgent for you? Why?
   • How can the group support you in that?

6. Application Activity (10 minutes)

“Renewal Cards”

1. Give each person an index card.
2. Prompt: Write down one area where you feel spiritually fatigued.
3. On the back, write a simple action step:
   • A five-minute prayer break
   • A Scripture verse to memorize
   • A friend to call for prayer

Collect the cards and redistribute them randomly. Encourage everyone to pray over the card they receive this week.

7. Prayer & Accountability (10 minutes)

• Break into pairs or trios. • Share your index-card commitment and ask your partner(s) to pray over it and check in mid-week. • Conclude in group: anyone who’d like can voice a prayer request linked to renewal and waiting on the Lord.

8. Next Steps & Resources (5 minutes)

• Assign a follow-up: each member tries one sacred pause this week and reports back next meeting.

• Share bonus resources:
A playlist of worship songs about God’s strength
A six-week mini-study on Isaiah 40 & Psalm 46
Recommended reading: Waiting on God by Andrew Murray

9. Closing Prayer

Thank God for His promise to renew our strength and ask for His empowering presence in the week ahead.

Tailor times and questions to fit your group’s dynamics. May your group soar on eagle’s wings together!