Small Group Discussion Guide

"I Almost Slipped: How Prayer Produces Perseverance"

Based on Psalm 73 | Series: Becoming a House of Prayer

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A Note to Facilitators: Thank you for leading this week! You don't need to be a Bible expert to guide a great discussion — your job is simply to create a safe space where people can be honest, ask questions, and grow together. Read through this guide before your meeting, choose the questions that feel right for your group, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest. You've got this.

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OVERVIEW

In this sermon from Psalm 73, we explored the honest confession of Asaph — a gifted worship leader, prophet, and man of deep faith — who admitted he almost walked away from God. Through the twin dangers of comparison and discouragement, Asaph nearly lost his footing. But a return to God's presence changed everything — not his circumstances, but his perspective. The central truth: prayer produces perseverance because it changes us from the inside out, giving us the strength to stay in the fight when we feel like quitting.

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BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Suggested Total Time: 60–90 minutes Key Scripture: Psalm 73:1–3, 16–17, 25–26 Supporting Passages: Galatians 6:9 | Luke 18:1 | Hebrews 6:12–15 | Hebrews 12:1–3 | 2 Corinthians 10:12

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SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Start here to warm up the group and ease into the topic naturally. This question is light enough for anyone to answer.

Opening Question:

"Think about something in your life that required real perseverance to get through — learning a skill, finishing a degree, getting through a hard season, sticking with a relationship. What kept you going when you felt like giving up?"

[Leader Tip]: Keep this fun and light. You go first to model openness, and keep answers to 1–2 minutes each. This question intentionally doesn't require a spiritual answer — it opens the door for everyone, regardless of where they are in their faith journey.

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SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Have someone in the group read the passage aloud, or read it together. Take a brief moment of silence before diving into discussion.

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Primary Text: Psalm 73:1–3, 16–17, 25–26 (NIV)

"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked..."

"When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply — until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny..."

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

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Supporting Scriptures Referenced in the Sermon:

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Luke 18:1 (KJV)

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint."

Hebrews 6:12, 15 (KJV)

"That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises... And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

2 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV)

"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

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SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Questions are organized from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. You don't have to use every question — choose 5–7 that feel right for your group and the time you have. Questions marked with ⭐ are the highest priority if you're short on time.

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THEME 1: The Reality of Almost Quitting

Estimated time: 8–10 minutes | Questions 1–2

1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message? Was there a moment, story, or scripture that really landed for you?

[Leader Tip: This is a great opener — it surfaces what's already on people's hearts and helps you know where to focus the rest of the discussion. There are no wrong answers here.]

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2. ⭐ The pastor described Asaph as a seasoned worship leader, a prophet, and a deeply spiritual man — and yet he was the one who said, "I almost slipped." Why do you think it surprised the congregation to hear that someone so spiritually mature could reach that point? What does Asaph's honesty tell us about the nature of faith?

[Leader Tip: Gently push back on the idea that spiritual maturity means you never struggle. The goal is to normalize honest struggle and create safety for people to share their own "almost" moments. You might reference the pastor's mention of Elijah as another powerful example.]

Optional follow-up if discussion stalls: "Have you ever assumed that someone who seemed spiritually strong had it all together — only to find out they were struggling, too?"

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THEME 2: The Danger of Comparison

Estimated time: 10–12 minutes | Questions 3–4

3. ⭐ Asaph's near-collapse didn't start with a dramatic crisis — it started with envy. He saw the wicked appearing to prosper and began to question whether his faithfulness was worth it. Where do you most feel the pull of comparison in your own life today — and what does it tend to do to your peace and perspective?

[Leader Tip: Social media is a natural entry point here since the pastor addressed it directly. Be sensitive — some people may share financial struggles, relationship pain, or career frustrations. Create space for honesty without letting this become a venting session. Redirect toward how comparison affects their relationship with God.]

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4. The pastor used the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14–30) to make a powerful point: God gives each person what they can handle based on their unique capacity, and comparing your "one talent" to someone else's "five" will cause you to miss your own assignment entirely. How does understanding that God has designed a specific calling and capacity for you change the way you think about what others have or seem to have?

Optional follow-up: "What's one area of your life where you may have been measuring yourself by someone else's standard instead of God's calling for you?"

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THEME 3: The Turning Point — Returning to God's Presence

Estimated time: 8–10 minutes | Questions 5–6

5. ⭐ The turning point for Asaph wasn't a change in his bank account, his reputation, or his circumstances — it was the moment he "went into the sanctuary." He got back into God's presence. What does it mean to you personally to be in God's presence? What does that actually look like in your daily life — and what tends to pull you away from it?

[Leader Tip: The pastor made an important distinction near the end of the sermon: he said he "never left church" but had stopped being in God's presence. Encourage the group to explore the difference between religious activity and genuine communion with God. This may surface some honest, vulnerable responses — handle with care and affirmation.]

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6. The pastor said something striking: "Prayer didn't change his finances. It didn't change the size of his house. What he got in prayer was a change of perspective." Why do you think we so often expect prayer to change our external circumstances first — and what might we be missing when that's our only measure of whether prayer is "working"?

Optional follow-up: "Can you think of a time when God changed your perspective in prayer rather than your situation — and how did that shift things for you?"

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THEME 4: Prayer as the Key to Perseverance

Estimated time: 8–10 minutes | Questions 7–8

7. ⭐ The pastor connected two powerful scriptures: Galatians 6:9 says we'll reap "if we faint not," and Luke 18:1 says Jesus told us to "always pray and not faint." His point was that the enemy's strategy isn't to stop you directly — it's to convince you to stop yourself. How does that reframe the way you think about spiritual warfare and the battles you're currently facing?

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8. Hebrews 12:3 warns us not to "grow weary and lose heart" — and the pastor pointed out that we faint in our minds before we ever quit in our bodies. Thinking about your own life right now, what are the thoughts or mental narratives that most threaten your perseverance — and how might prayer specifically address those?

[Leader Tip: This question can go deep quickly. Give people a moment to think before anyone responds. Some may share ongoing struggles, grief, or discouragement. Be ready to affirm and pray for specific people if they share something heavy. This is community-building at its best.]

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THEME 5: God as Our Portion

Estimated time: 5–7 minutes | Question 9

9. ⭐ Near the end of the sermon, the pastor landed on Asaph's conclusion in Psalm 73:25–26: "Whom have I in heaven but you? Earth has nothing I desire besides you." Asaph went from envying the wicked to declaring that God himself was his reward. What would it look like in your real, everyday life to genuinely believe that God is enough — your true source and supply — rather than just saying it?

Optional follow-up: "What's one thing you tend to look for in the wrong places that God is actually offering you in himself?"

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SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

Invite group members to reflect quietly for 1–2 minutes before sharing. Remind them that they only need to share what they're comfortable with. These questions are designed for honest, personal reflection.

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Reflection Questions:

1. The pastor shared vulnerably that he had stopped praying — not just ceremonially, but really praying — during one of the hardest seasons of his life. Is there an area of your life right now where you've drifted from genuine, honest communication with God? What would it take to return?

2. Where are you currently most tempted to "faint" — to give up on something God has called you to, promised you, or placed in your hands? What has been feeding that temptation?

3. The boxing story about Muhammad Ali illustrated that the moment you most want to quit may be the moment you are closest to your breakthrough. Is there a situation in your life right now where you may need to "give God one more round" rather than cutting off your gloves?

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🗓️ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) of the following practical steps to take before your group meets again:

• Prayer Commitment: Set aside a specific time each day this week — even just 10 minutes — for honest, real conversation with God. Not a to-do list of requests, but a genuine exchange. Journal what you sense God saying to you.

• Comparison Fast: Identify one place where comparison is stealing your joy (social media, a relationship, a work environment). Take a deliberate break from it this week and replace that time with gratitude for what God has specifically given you.

• Speak It Out: Find one person in your life who seems to be "almost slipping" — discouraged, about to quit, losing perspective — and be their "corner person" this week. Encourage them with truth, not just positivity.

• Scripture Meditation: Write Galatians 6:9 somewhere you'll see it every day this week: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Let it be your anchor when discouraging thoughts come.

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SECTION 5: PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. Below are suggested prayer topics — feel free to invite group members to pray aloud or pray over these areas yourself as the facilitator.

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Suggested Prayer Topics:

🙏 Perseverance — Pray for anyone in the group who is currently in a season of "almost slipping" — that God would meet them in their discouragement and renew their strength.

🙏 Prayer Lives — Ask God to rekindle genuine, honest communication with Him in each person's life — not just religious routine, but real relationship.

🙏 Freedom from Comparison — Pray for release from the trap of comparing our lives, callings, and circumstances to others, and for the grace to embrace our unique God-given assignments.

🙏 Perspective Shift — Ask God to change what needs to change on the inside — our minds, our outlook, our trust — even when our external circumstances remain the same.

🙏 Faithfulness in the Process — Pray for patience alongside faith, trusting that the harvest is coming for those who do not give up.

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[Leader Tip]: If anyone shared something heavy or vulnerable during the discussion, make sure to pray specifically over them (with their permission). Nothing builds community faster than being truly seen and prayed for by name.

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SECTION 6: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

For groups with extra time or wanting to go further

These questions are designed for groups with more biblical background or those who want to dig deeper into the theology behind the sermon.

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Deep Dive Question 1: The sermon highlighted that Abraham needed both faith and patience to receive God's promise (Hebrews 6:12–15). In our culture, we often treat faith as the only ingredient needed — if we just believe hard enough, results should come quickly. How does the biblical concept of patient endurance challenge a "name it and claim it" or "instant results" approach to faith? What does patient faith actually look like over months or years?

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Deep Dive Question 2: Asaph was one of the most spiritually gifted and positioned people in Israel — a Levitical worship leader, prophet, and chief musician appointed by King David himself. Yet his crisis was triggered not by persecution or tragedy, but by looking at the wrong people. Read 2 Corinthians 4:17–18 together:

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

What does it mean practically to "fix your eyes" on the unseen? How does an eternal perspective change the way we evaluate what we see on social media, in our neighborhoods, or in the lives of people around us?

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Deep Dive Question 3: The pastor made a profound statement: "Prayer can't change your life if it can't even change your mind." He argued that our external lives often mirror our internal belief systems — and that prayer's primary work is internal transformation that then reshapes how we experience and respond to life. How does this connect to Romans 12:2 — "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind"? What is the relationship between prayer, mind renewal, and life transformation in your understanding of how spiritual growth actually works?

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For Further Reading:

• Psalm 73 in its entirety (a powerful, honest prayer worth reading slowly)
• 1 Kings 19:1–18 — Elijah's burnout and God's gentle response (referenced in the sermon)
• Matthew 25:14–30 — The Parable of the Talents (referenced in the sermon)
• Luke 18:1–8 — The Parable of the Persistent Widow (the full context of Jesus' teaching on prayer and not fainting)

For Personal Prayer This Week: Consider using Psalm 73:25–26 as a daily prayer:

"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

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FACILITATOR'S QUICK REFERENCE

Section	Estimated Time
Icebreaker	5–10 min
Scripture Reading	5 min
Discussion Questions (choose 5–7)	30–45 min
Personal Application	10–15 min
Prayer Focus	5–10 min
Total	55–85 min

⭐ Priority Questions if Short on Time: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9

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"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." — Psalm 73:26

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Guide prepared for small group use. Permission granted to print and distribute within your congregation.