As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:17, NLT

Elevating the Lowly
🥅 Goal: To explore how God values the humble over the “obvious” choice and flips the world’s standards by lifting up the lowly, inviting us to trust His perspective rather than our own.

Opening & Icebreaker
🙏 Opening Prayer:
"God, we come grateful that You have a way of turning expectations upside down. Open our hearts tonight to see beyond appearances, to value the humble, and to lean into Your zany kingdom. Teach us to trust Your lifting hand rather than our own strengths. Amen."

🤝 Icebreaker Question:
Who is someone you once underestimated, maybe because of their background, appearance, or resume, and were surprised by how they turned out?

 

God Looks at the Heart, Not the Hype
đź“– 1 Samuel 16:7
đź’¬ Discussion: In what ways do you find yourself judging others by their outward appearance, such as career status, looks, or reputation, and how might God be seeing their heart differently?

đź“– John 7:24
đź’¬ Discussion: When have you caught yourself making a snap judgment about someone, and what helped you reconsider?

 

Jesus Flips the World’s Scoreboard
đź“– Proverbs 16:19
đź’¬ Discussion: What might it look like to choose a humble path in a culture that often celebrates pride and achievement?

📖 Luke 6:24–26
💬 Discussion: Think of someone who seems to have it all: wealth, popularity, and comfort, yet is secretly restless or empty. How might Jesus’s words apply to their situation, and what does that teach us about what really satisfies?

 

Practicing Humility to Be Uplifted
đź“– 1 Peter 5:6
💬 Discussion: What does humbling yourself under God look like in everyday life, whether at work, at home, or among friends?

đź“– James 4:6
💬 Discussion: Sometimes humility feels like weakness, but Scripture says God shows favor to the humble. How does that reshape your understanding of strength and dependence on God?

 

Application & Closing
🔑 Key Takeaway:
God’s zany kingdom flips our expectations: He elevates the lowly and humbles the proud, inviting us to trust His heart over the world’s scoreboard.

⚡ Challenge:
Pay attention to one area where you’re tempted to chase approval, comfort, or status. Instead of seeking the world’s applause, choose one humble act, such as giving a genuine compliment to someone overlooked, stepping aside to let another person shine, or admitting your need for God, and trust Him to uplift you in His timing.

🙏 Closing Prayer:
"Heavenly Father, thank You for looking at our hearts rather than our outward appearances. Forgive us for chasing the world’s comforts and praises. Give us the grace to humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, trusting You to lift us in due time. Help us see others as You see them, as worthy and loved, and to encourage the lowly around us. Amen."