Staying the Course

Connection Group Questions: March 4, 2012

“Staying the Course” 

Opening 

Make sure everyone is aware of events and opportunities happening at Connections.

This is the last week of our Winter Semester.  The plan is that Groups take a March break the weeks of March 11 and 18.  Then we will start our Spring Semester the week of March 25, and run up to Victoria Day weekend (approximately 8 weeks).  Our hope is that your Group will continue, and all members will participate, and new Registrants can join!  But none of this is taken for granted.  Discuss with the group what your plans are for the Spring, and if you want to plan any special activities/events over the break.

Recap

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

Review the Principle if necessary:

Direction, not desire, determines our destination.

Does this principle match your experiences in life?  How is the Principle affecting some of the major paths of your life:

• Marriage, relationships, family, job, finances, physical health, walk with God...

At any point this past week were you able to employ “The Best Question, “In light of my past experience and my future hope, what is the wise thing to do?”

Bible Study

The Path is narrow

Read Matthew 7:13-14

What are the negative connotation of narrow?

What are the positives of narrowness?

What is the difference between being a spiritual seeker, and a finder?  Why does is seem so cool to seek, but not to find?

Jesus declares his mission to “Seek and to save the lost.”  (Luke 19:10)  What does it mean that Jesus is actually the one seeking us, finding us, saving us?

The Path is not the easiest route

Following Jesus, and seeking obedience to him, is to be our joy.  But it can also make our life difficult.

Has following Jesus made your life more difficult in any particular ways or areas?  What are some situations where you didn’t want to do “the Christian” thing to do?

What are some of the hardships or struggles that are particular to Christians?  Do we, our our time and culture, suffer for our faith?

The Path is Jesus

Read John 14:1-6

What does Jesus mean by saying, he is the way, the truth and the life.  Followers of Christ were originally called, “People of the Way.”  Reflect on what that means. In what “way” does Jesus lead us?  

What does it mean that Jesus is the truth?

Have you experienced a new or different kind of life with Jesus?

Close with a time of prayer for one another. 

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. 

Distance is Secondary, Direction is Everything

Connection Group Questions: February 19, 2012

“Distance is Secondary, Direction is Everything” 

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

Big Idea: Direction, not desire, determines our destination.

When writing about the important of direction, Andy Stanley distinguished between a solution and a path.  

• What is the difference?  Why is it important to recognize the difference between finding “solutions” and finding paths?

Describe how the principle of the Path is currently affecting your life in the following areas:

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

Cars, computers and many other things have problems that can be fixed.  But generally, people are hard to “fix.”  Instead, people have directions that can be changed.

• What are the biggest problems in your life right now?  The thing(s) causing the most stress?
• How might you address these problems by changing a direction in your life?

Key Question:

1. Describe the destination you’d like to reach.  WIll the path you are currently on get you there?

Bible study:

Read Matthew 7:13

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”

• What two paths are described here?
• To what destination do each of these roads lead?
• How is this teaching contrary to popular belief?  Why do we think “narrow” is negative?

Read 1 Kings 11:1-11

• Why did Solomon turn from the path he started on?
• What warning does this give us in life?
• What were the outcomes of the choices Solomon made?
• Why do seemingly wise people often make foolish decisions in one or more areas of life, or in a season of life?

Reflect on the following promise regarding paths...

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.

~ Jeremiah 6:16

Close with a time of prayer for one another.