August 28 | Everyday Spirituality Part 2: Dreaming
Discussion Guide
About the Series
Most of us have a spirituality of the gaps. “Life with God” is what we do on Sunday mornings and perhaps before dinner or early in the morning before the kids walk up. But what about breakfast itself? What does it mean to live with God in the stuff of everyday life? That’s what this series is about.
Sermon Summary
“Sometimes we are most awake toward God when we are asleep toward the world.” —AJ Gordon
Dreams have played a critical role in the lives of so many Christians and others in the world throughout history, and yet many of us don’t pay much attention to our dreams.
In the Bible there are four types of dreams:
Dreams that are normal: You dream that you are eating because you are hungry
Dreams that are “false”: The dream’s intention is to deceive people or lead them away from God (Deut. 13). The dream is real but the message is false and a discernment process is needed.
Dreams that reveal the heart: A powerful expression of desires, feelings, anxieties (Song of Songs 3:1-5). They come from the heart.
Dreams from God: Two types: (1) nightmare, warning-like dreams, often come to people of power (Gen 20:3-7); (2) encouraging dreams, speaking of wonderful futures, typically given to people without power (Gen 28:12-17).
What does this mean for us? Pay attention.
By paying attention to our dreams:
We can learn about ourselves
Our dreams often reveal what is going on in our heart of hearts
Our dreams can help us in our sanctification—our growth and transformation
Dreams can help us recognize those energies and emotions that we hide in our waking lives. We can then bring those things to God and to loving community
We can open ourselves to God
While we sleep, the decision-making part of the brain is relaxed, while the rest of the brain is active
Maybe this is why God would see fit to use dreams to communicate to us
When we sleep perhaps God can tell us what we wouldn’t believe while we are awake
“Even in our dreaming we are beckoned into life with God.” —Ryan B.
Questions for Discussion:
Is there a recurring dream from your life or childhood that you’d be willing to share (funny, scary, weird, etc.)? As you think back to the dream, what effect did it have on your waking life? Did it communicate a message, shape your imagination, change how you saw yourself or others?
Have you ever had a dream you thought was from God? What was it, what effect did it have? If not or you’re not sure, what do you think it would be like to have a dream from God? How would you know?
If you have extra time: Which of the 4 practices mentioned in last week’s teaching on sleeping did you explore or might God be inviting you to explore? Sleep more, tuck your children in, Pray before bed, or Attend to God in your dreams. What could it look like for you to try it? What obstacles are in the way? If you tried it this past week, reflect on your experience so far.
Pray
Take some time to pray for needs that came out of the discussion or other prayer requests. If you have children in your group, pray that God would protect them from scary dreams while they sleep.
