Pathways of the Heart

Connection Group Questions: February 26, 2012

“Pathways of the Heart” 

Opening 

Make sure everyone is aware of events and opportunities happening at Connections listed in the bulletin: we have construction projects, youth programs and other opportunities to move forward in your faith!

Discussion

Start with a review of the big idea:

Direction, not desire, determines our destination.

Does this principle match your experiences in life?

Principles are different than 12 step programs, or self-help.  How are they different? How it the Principle of the path more like the law of gravity?  How is the Principle affecting some of the major paths of your life:

• Marriage, or relationships, Family, Job, Finances, Physical health, Walk with God...

Review our theme verse: Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is;  and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.  ~ Jer. 6:16

Now Read Jeremiah 17:5-10

Spend some time examining this wonderful passage:

How have you trusted in your own strength, or others, and ended up getting burned?

Have you hd other experiences where God gave you strength, or used someone else, to help in on the right path?

Can you think of a time or event when you put your trust in the Lord in a very real and specific way?  What was the result?

Have there been times of heat/drought in your life?  What was God able to do in you/through you during that season?

Now look at the third part of this passage; the heart.

What is the difference between deceitfulness, and being dishonest, and just being ignorant?

How does our truth quest and our happy quest conflict?

The passage asks, “Who can understand (the heart)?”  

Does this mean we can’t know anything about our hearts, or that we must look deep within to find understanding?  Have you come to understand your own heart?  What have you learned?

Proverbs 27:22 tells us, “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.”

Where/when have you seen danger, but kept going?

What was the result?  Were you following your heart and the desire for happiness, or the truth?

Do you find the promise at the end, “I will give every person according to their ways...” encouraging, or frightening, or a bit of both?  How does this affirm the Principle: that direction determines destination?

George mentioned what he called “The Best Question,”

“In light of my past experience and my future hope, what is the wise thing to do?”

How might this question have changed decisions you’ve made in the past?

Are you facing any decisions right now that you need to run through this question?  If so, perhaps discussing with the group will help.

Close with a time of prayer for one another.