Date: November 9, 2025
When Well-Meaning People Interrupt Your Plans
The Point: God-ordained interruptions call for a sensitive heart.
Get Into the Study
Read after discussing Get Into the Study:
After Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, most people would say that no one lived in Pompeii until the 16th century, based on common images of the destroyed city. However, new research shows that people returned shortly after the infamous eruption. Ongoing archeological research in the southern area of Pompeii has shown that citizens reused parts of damaged buildings to rebuild, as well as adapting after the city was buried by lava and volcanic ash.
Citizens returning to the city can be dated in two distinct phases, according to researchers. The first was between the late 1st and early 3rd centuries, while the second is between the 4th and 5th centuries. This theory has been gaining traction over the last century and has been corroborated by Gabriel Zuchtriegel’s research. Zuchtriegel said that many signs of the city’s reoccupation were “literally removed” without any documentation during past excavations.
The new archeological research shows that citizens reused walls of upper floors to rebuild roofs and would dig into the covered ground floors to create caves and cellars. A discovered staircase was found to be constructed from repurposed marble fragments, local volcanic stone, and tiles. Coins dating back to the mid-1st century have been discovered in ruins and graves, proving that people were living in the area at the time.
Discovering new things about history to prove new theories can be a welcome interruption to the status quo. When God brings an interruption to our lives, we must make sure not to sweep away the signs of it if it doesn’t fit what we were expecting. Rather, we should examine all the signs to see what God is trying to do for us in this season.
Study the Bible
Read after discussing Question 4:
The devastating Palisades Fire in January 2025 destroyed over 60 thousand acres of land and gnarly 20 thousand structures. The fires also devastated the local art scene, as many LA artists and collectors were forced to evacuate and lost the art that burned with their homes.
One such collector, Ron Rivlen, had a custom-built home to protect his art collection during fires, including a sprinkler system, art stored in plexiglas boxes, and fire-retardant materials. Sadly, the Palisades Fire overpowered Rivlen’s protections and destroyed 340 artworks, including 30 pieces by Andy Warhol. His entire collection was thought to be valued at $15 million. Even though Rivlin’s art was insured, it may take years to resolve his claim. Art must first undergo conservation treatment to see if it can be saved, and to see the total devaluation of the piece. As an art gallery owner, Rivlen was meticulous about keeping his collection catalogued for his insurance company, which allowed his claim to be settled after a few months.
Just as Rivlen was consistent and disciplined in keeping his art collection records up to date, believers should also be consistent in practicing spiritual disciplines to help our faith when interruptions come our way. Believers should consistently pray, practice listening to God’s voice, and seeking His will so that these things are second nature during life’s interruptions.
The week’s writer for Extra is Emily Duncan. Emily is a Southern California native who lives in west Georgia with her husband and daughter. God saved her from Wicca when she was sixteen while at a youth retreat. Emily’s a member of Midway Church in Villa Rica and mentors young women as they transition from high school to college.
Additional Questions
Icebreaker
- When has an annoying interruption by someone turned into a great interchange?
- How should we handle it when others interrupt our plans?
- What’s a common interruption you face in your daily life?
Luke 8:40-42. Seize the opportunities God gives you to serve Him by serving others.
- What excuses do we sometime use for not serving others?
- How can believers become more intentional towards serving others?
- Who’s someone you know who’s never too busy to help someone else?
Luke 8:43-48. See interruptions as opportunities to serve.
- What can we do to cultivate the kind of unhurried comportment that Jesus demonstrated?
- What reasons did Jesus have for ignoring this woman?
- What are ways we can put our faith into action?
Luke 8:49-50,54-56. Don’t let interruptions keep you from returning to your original assignment.
- How can believers develop and maintain a consistent commitment toward serving?
- How can believers distinguish between a God-ordained interruption and a worldly distraction?
- What will help us remain sensitive to God’s leading when we encounter interruptions—and when those interruptions end?
Podcast
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