Session One
The Invitation to Surrender
Theme Scripture
| Romans 12:1–2 (KJV) |
|---|
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Session Theme
Every journey with Christ begins by receiving mercy and entrusting ourselves to Jesus. Surrender grows from grace; it does not earn it.
The Heart Behind This Session
Welcome.
No matter what brought you here this weekend, we’re glad you’re here.
Maybe you’re carrying hurt, disappointment, fear, unanswered questions, or simply a desire to grow closer to God. Whatever your story, you didn’t arrive here by accident.
God already knows your story, and He loves you completely.
He isn’t asking you to have everything figured out before coming to Him. He isn’t waiting for you to clean up your life before He welcomes you into His presence. He simply invites you to come. The invitation of Jesus has always been the same:
Come. Follow Me. Trust Me.
That’s what surrender is.
Surrender isn’t weakness. It isn’t giving up. It isn’t admitting defeat.
Surrender is placing every part of your life into the hands of the One who knows you best and loves you most.
As you begin this weekend, don’t worry about tomorrow’s session or what God may ask of you later. Simply ask yourself one question:
Am I willing to trust Jesus with today?
That’s where every transformed life begins.
Your surrender is never yours alone. Every step you take toward Christ has the potential to impact the lives of those around you. Whether you realize it or not, someone is watching your life. Your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and those you mentor are learning what it means to follow Jesus by watching someone who is learning to follow Him.
Our Prayer for This Session
Our prayer is that you’ll experience God’s mercy in a fresh way and discover that surrender isn’t something to fear—it’s something to embrace.
May you begin laying down the things you’ve been carrying alone and find the peace that comes from trusting Christ completely.
May this be the beginning of a journey that continues long after this weekend ends.
Make the Gospel Clear
Do not assume that everyone at the retreat already knows Christ, has attended another Purpose-Led Discipleship experience, or understands Christian language. Session One should begin at the beginning. Surrender is not a demand to repair ourselves for God. It is a response to the mercy God has shown through Jesus Christ.
The Foundation
Christian faith begins with Jesus Christ, not with self improvement or a spiritual experience. Every person has sinned and needs God’s mercy (Romans 3:23). Because God loves us, He sent Jesus Christ, His only Son (John 3:16–17). Jesus lived a blameless life without sin (Hebrews 4:15), died on the cross for all our sins, and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). On the cross, He stood in our place and bridged the separation our sin created. Jesus alone provides the way to the Father (John 14:6). Salvation is received by grace through faith, not earned by religious work.
Ephesians 2:8–9 (KJV)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
How to Frame the Weekend
Say: “Some of you may have followed Christ for years. Some may be uncertain what you believe or may be hearing the gospel clearly for the first time. We will explain who Jesus is without assuming a church background. You are welcome to listen, ask questions, and consider what you hear. Near the end of the retreat, there will be unhurried time to respond honestly to Christ.”
Do not lead a decision prayer during Session One. Establish understanding and safety, then keep the gospel present throughout the retreat. The focused invitation belongs in Session Six, before commissioning.
Key Scriptures
| Romans 12:1–2 (KJV) |
|---|
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
| Luke 9:23–24 (KJV) |
|---|
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.”
| Proverbs 3:5–6 (KJV) |
|---|
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
| Galatians 2:20 (KJV) |
|---|
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Teaching
God’s Mercy Comes First In Romans 12:1, Paul writes:
| “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God…” |
|---|
Before Paul says anything about surrender, he reminds us of God’s mercy. Everything begins there.
God loved us before we ever loved Him. Jesus gave His life before we ever thought about giving Him ours.
Surrender isn’t something we do to earn God’s love. It’s our response to the incredible mercy and grace He has already shown us through Jesus Christ.
A Living Sacrifice
Paul continues in Romans 12:1:
| “that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” |
|---|
God isn’t asking for part of our lives. He’s inviting us to trust Him with all of it. Our hopes.
Our fears.
Our relationships.
Our plans.
Our past.
Our future.
Surrender is choosing every day to place our lives into God’s hands, trusting that His plans are greater than our own.
Transformation Begins Within
Paul continues in Romans 12:2: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
God doesn’t simply want to change our behavior.
He wants to transform our hearts.
As we spend time with Him, He begins changing the way we think, the way we love, the way we respond, and the way we see ourselves.
Transformation always follows surrender.
Discovering God’s Purpose
Paul finishes Romans 12:2 by saying: “…that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Many people spend years asking,
“What is God’s purpose for my life?”
| Romans 12 reminds us that purpose becomes clearer as we surrender. God doesn’t usually reveal the whole journey at once. |
|---|
He simply asks us to trust Him with the next step.
Reflection
Take a few quiet moments with the Lord.
Ask yourself:
What am I holding on to that God is asking me to surrender?
What fears make surrender difficult?
Is there an area of my life where I’ve been relying on my own understanding instead of trusting God?
What is one thing I can place into God’s hands today?
Small Group Discussion
What does the word surrender mean to you?
Why do you think surrender is often difficult?
What stood out to you most from Romans 12:1–2?
How does knowing surrender is a response to God’s mercy change your perspective?
What are you hoping God will do in your life during this retreat?
Prayer Response
Spend a few quiet moments with the Lord.
Open your hands as a symbol of surrender and invite God to search your heart.
Ask Him to reveal anything you’ve been holding onto and to give you the courage to trust Him completely.
Journaling
Complete this sentence:
Lord, today I surrender…
Write honestly.
This conversation is between you and God.
Take-Home Challenge
Before your feet hit the floor each morning this week, pray this simple prayer:
“Lord Jesus, today I surrender my plans, my fears, my future, and my heart to You. Help me trust You one step at a time. Transform me into the person You’ve created me to be. Amen.”