Stop Waiting for Permission Study Guide

Session 1

Why You Should Want Greatness

Based on chapter 1 of Stop Waiting for Permission

Takeaway: When it comes to greatness, you don’t have to wait for permission.

When it comes to greatness, too many people are just waiting to get lucky. They stand around day after day in the proverbial waiting room in the hope that someone else will fail to show up and forfeit their position inside.

Why would you do that when you can reserve your own place of greatness? There will be a seat at the table with your name on it, if you only call ahead and give your name. I want to show you how to prepare your life for the greatness God has planned for you.

You may have already accomplished some things other people consider great. They’re impressed. Your influence is wide, your responsibilities are significant, and your list of accolades is long—­but you still feel unfulfilled. You find yourself standing around, wondering, Is this it? Is this all there is? If that’s you, I want to show you how to orient your drive and gifts toward the deeper purposes of God, where true greatness awaits.

Soak It In

Read Matthew 20:17–­28 at least twice through, aloud if possible, from at least two Bible translations.

Spend a minute or two thinking about the passage. Who stands out to you? What are they doing or saying that captures your attention? Why do you find that interesting? Write and/or talk about what you notice.

Reflect on It

1.    When you read about James and John asking to be great, how do you feel about their ambition? Why do you feel that way?

2.    In Matthew 20, do you identify more with James and John or with the other disciples? What do you imagine you’d be feeling if you were in their place? Why?

3.    Many things can hold people back from realizing their potential for greatness. From the list below, check the limitations you resonate with most:

p    They’re full of potential but short on drive.

p    They’re driven but lack direction.

p    They’re paralyzed into inaction by fear and doubt.

p    They don’t believe they deserve greatness.

p    They don’t see room for themselves or someone like them among those who are great.

Where do you think those limitations come from?

What feelings, beliefs, or attitudes would you add to the list?

4.    God has hidden greatness inside you. Your job is to knock down walls of fear, insecurity, and false humility to reveal what he has placed in you. When we search out what God has hidden, we increase our influence and fulfillment—­our glory.

Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.” Is it fairly easy or difficult to think of yourself as royalty? Why?

Imagine what it would look like to treat your pursuit of godly greatness as a royal quest. How would thinking of it that way change your overall mindset?

Live into It

There is a place where everything that makes you who you are is welcomed and celebrated, where your gifts, passion, and purpose collide to leave a mark beyond your wildest imagining. In this place, you experience fulfillment by using your unique personal genius—­yes, it exists!—­to bless your family, friends, community, and world.

Use your holy imagination to begin envisioning this reality. In your place of greatness, how do you spend your time? Where are you? Who is with you? What kind of challenges do you face? What feelings do you experience most often? Why?

Take your time, and consider these questions for a few minutes, hours, or even days. Write about or sketch your place of greatness in the space below. Share your musings with one or two others.

Pray It Out

Great God, I believe You’re calling me to greatness.

Or at least, I want to believe it.

I’m not sure yet what true greatness looks like,

but I will follow where You lead.

Help me respond in faith, not fear,

and dare to dream Your dreams for my life.

I want to please You and

bring You glory and honor in everything I do.

Amen.