[d]Group Questions

1. Read Matthew 6:16-18 and Matthew 4:1-4 together as a group.

2. Alignment Over Results
   Shannon said the goal of fasting isn’t getting results from God — it’s getting more of God. Where have you been tempted to treat prayer or fasting like a way to get something from God rather than align with Him? What would it look like in your current situation to say, “The reward is Him”?

3. What Fasting Reveals
   Shannon shared that fasting exposes hunger, irritability, and distraction in him — and that those aren’t failures but invitations. When you think about fasting (or even going without comfort), which of those three tends to surface most in you? What might that reveal about where you tend to look for comfort or control?

4. Replacing the Space
   “Don’t just remove food — replace the space.” If you were to fast one meal (or one day), what intentional practice would you use to replace that time? What specific prayer would you want every hunger pang to trigger in you this week?

5. Weekly Rhythm Toward Easter
   As we move toward Easter and consider a weekly fast: What would it look like for our group to encourage each other in this? How might God shape us as a church family if we practiced consistent fasting together?

Group Prayer Prompt

We confess that we often run to comfort before we run to You. Teach us dependence. When we feel hunger, remind us that You are our true sustenance. When we feel irritation, teach us surrender. When we feel distracted, refocus our hearts on You. Align our desires with Yours. We don’t want just answers — we want You.