Do This - Not That (Week 4): Do Something- Don't Just Nod

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SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Matthew 7:21-29, 11:28-30; Luke 6:46-49

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

· Name a few things you believe (ex. flossing is important) but don’t do yourself. Why don’t you do these things?

· What’s the scariest situation you’ve ever been in? Did/could you prepare for it ahead of time? What got you through it?

· Have you ever found yourself more interested in hearing and discussing Jesus’ words than doing them? Why do you think that was?

· In Luke’s description of Jesus’ words, he talks about a person who did the hard work of excavating dirt (by hand) to reach the bedrock. Is that a good picture of the effort that is sometimes required for us to follow Jesus?

· What similarities do you see between the two builders/houses in Jesus’ simile? How about differences?

· How do you think we can stay focused on Jesus’ call to obey and follow His ways without slipping into rule-keeping or counting on our doing things to earn God’s love and favor?

· Which comes first in your opinion- believing in Jesus or doing what He taught? Is it possible that they can be inverted for some people? Feed each other?

· What can you do today to build your life on Jesus’ ways? Where do you sense Him calling you to do something that He taught?

Read Matthew chapters 5-7 this week.

Next Week:
“STAY PASSIONATE – DON’T GO THROUGH THE MOTIONS”

Do This - Not That (Week 3): De-Clutter, Don't Get Choked

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Mark 4:1-20 (esp. vv. 18-20); Hebrews 12:1-2; Psalm 139:23-24

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

• When was the last time you cleaned out some physical clutter? What motivated you to do it? How did you feel during? After?

• Have you ever felt choked or slowed down in your relationship with God before? Were you able to identify what was limiting you?

• What do you think of the picture of sin as an “entanglement”?

• Can you think of a time where something that was good or neutral (not inherently sinful) became unhealthy spiritual clutter for you and took your focus off of Jesus?

• Which is harder for you- identifying spiritual clutter or doing something about it?

• Is there anything in your life right now that is choking God’s work in you or slowing down your pursuit of Jesus?

Next Week:

“DO SOMETHING – DON’T JUST NOD”

Do This Not That (Week 2) - Go Deeper, Don't Wither

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Mark 4:1-20; Ephesians 4:11-15; Jeremiah 17:7-8; Colossians 2:6-7; Acts 2:40-47;

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Q: What do you think of when you think of your “roots”?

Q: What do roots do for a plant? Do you see any spiritual //’s?

Q: Have you ever heard a version of Christianity that says that God just wants a 1x response from you (i.e. get saved)? How does that track with the 2nd & good soils in Jesus’ story?

Q: Who do you think is responsible for developing our spiritual roots and depth? God? Us? Both? If we have some responsibility, what is it?

Q: What strikes you most about the multiple roots that the disciples in Acts 2 put down? Is your root system that diversified? Which of these come naturally to you? Feel like a stretch?

Q: What role do you think consistency plays in developing spiritual depth? Do you think it is likely that we will develop a thriving root system if we only seek God every now and then?

Q: If God were to draw a picture of your life with Him with a line in the middle of the page- a plant on top and roots on the bottom- what would your picture look like?

Next Week:

“De-Clutter, Don't Get Distracted”

Do This Not That (Week 1)

Weren't able to hear the teaching conversation in person this weekend? Catch up with OUR PODCAST.

SCRIPTURES FROM SUNDAY:

Mark 4:1-20, 6:45-52; Zechariah 7:9-12; Psalm 65:9-11; James 1:21

REFLECT/DISCUSS:

Q: If you had to describe yourself as one or the other, would you say you are more open or closed to God right now? Why?

Q: Which are you more likely to succumb to- blatantly hardening your heart toward God (like in the Zechariah passage)? Or following Jesus, but being kind of dense and lacking faith or understanding (like the disciples in Mark 6)?

Q: When is the last time you said, “I know what God would say, BUT……”?

Q: Have you ever asked God to soften and open up the hard places in your heart? Identify any experiences or beliefs that have left you a bit crusty and ask for God’s help healing them and being more open to Him.

Q: Do you expect to be challenged and stretched when you explore Jesus’ ways? Does this expectation lead you to seek Him more or less?

Q: What will you do to take in God’s Word this week? If you don’t have a plan, check out You Version (www.youversion.com)

Next Week:
“GO DEEPER – DON’T WITHER”