Want to see God more in your everyday life? He's already there, you know. Try this simple small-group session from our brand new Bible reading program God Sightings and see what happens.

Before you gather: Encourage people to bring their own calendars, phones, or Blackberries to the meeting. Be sure to bring one yourself! Also, encourage group members to read any or all of the following Bible passages during the week prior: Genesis 31:17–43:34, Matthew 10:24–14:12, Psalms 13:1–18:36, Proverbs 3:16–4:10

Learning to Experience God Every Day

Welcome everyone. Ask each person to tell about a God Sighting that happened this week.

Go!

After everyone has had a chance to share, ask people to hold their phones, Blackberries, or planners out in front of them, using both hands. As they hold them outstretched, ask each to describe the past week and what their calendars reveal about how burdened, stressed out, or busy they were. After everyone has shared, allow them to lower their arms, set aside their phones and planners, and discuss:

• How do busy schedules help or hinder God Sightings?

Go Deeper

Ask a volunteer to read aloud Matthew 11:28-30. Discuss:

• Outer circumstances may not change, but your inner posture can. In your experience, what’s the difference between carrying your own burdens and resting in Jesus? How does it feel to rest in Jesus? How does that compare to how it felt to relax your arms and set your planner aside?

Go Forward

Have everyone form pairs and discuss:

• Some stressors are beyond your control. But what about causes of stress that you can control? What, specifically, might God be calling you to change?

Encourage partners to share with each other one specific action they’ll take to prioritize time to truly rest in Jesus. Then ask group members to pick up their planning devices and schedule a time to do this during the upcoming week

Finally, prompt partners to pray together, holding out their planners as a symbol of their willingness to surrender their burdens to Jesus.