7 Practices for Spiritual Growth | Session 6: Fasting

Download Fasting Curriculum Here

Fasting Outline

• Introduction
  • Fasting does not guarantee us a miracle, but it does produce the hope and reliance upon God needed for renewal and alignment with Him.
  • Fasting is a practice that takes place in the physical and spiritual. 
  • Have you fasted before? What was the reason you fasted?
• Fasting as a Physical Discipline (From Science)
  • Can promote blood sugar control.
  • Promote better health by fighting inflammation. 
  • Fasting can improve blood pressure, triglycerides, and cholesterol.
  • Fasting can increase brain function. 
  • It can help with weight loss. 
• Eat To Live
  • “We do not live to eat, we eat to live.”
  • Fasting should cause us to have a greater appreciation for what we put into our bodies when we don’t fast. 
• Fasting As A Biblical Discipline
  • Jesus in the desert.
  • Deut. 8:3, “Man does not live on bread alone.”
  • Fasting pops up in pivotal moments in biblical history. 
• What Fasting Is Not
  • Fasting does not guarantee a miracle from God. 
  • Fasting does not excuse your mistakes. 
  • Have you ever fastedc before to get a miracle from God? Did it happen?
• The Purpose of Fasting.
  • Fasting is a realignment and catalyst for our reliance upon God. 
  • It’s a discipline that reinforces our worship of God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. 
  • Fasting during meal time should be replaced with “God time” not The Office. 
  • Fasting can be a great conversation starter. 
• The Early Church on Fasting
  • Didache shows the disciples fasted twice a week on Wednesday and Friday. 
  • “Give us this day our daily bread.”
  • Do you believe that fasting is an important element to spiritual growth? Have you experienced it in yourself or others?
•  Fasting Practically
  • Fasting Food
  • Fasting other things like social media, pop, etc.