The Guided Mind And The Guarded Heart
Pastor Steven Furtick
Conversation Starters
Tell your group one food you’d want a free pass on to eat without worrying about calories.
What’s your craziest vacation story?
Do you make decisions more with your mind or heart? (Are you a thinker or a feeler?)
Review
Ask eGroup members to share their favorite points from the sermon, what spoke to them, a phrase or moment from the sermon they related to the most, or questions they have. If members have a hard time recalling the sermon, talk through your notes and share your favorite points.
Make It Personal
How quick are you to process a problem with God? Do you do it right away, or do you wait until it gets more serious? (What does it look like for you to bring your problems to God?)
What’s the difference between coming to God with your problems and coming to Him with your thoughts? Talk about some things that might keep us from coming to Him with our thoughts.
Read 1 Kings 20:1-9. King Ahab gave in to the demands of the enemy without ever consulting God. Have you ever brought something to God that was caused by not consulting Him in the first place? (Have you “gone to the Lord looking for lipo”?) What happened?
Are there areas (or times in your life) where you can relate to King Ahab? How so?
How do we know when we’ve made an agreement with the enemy? Have you ever made an agreement or an alliance with the enemy? Talk about some ways we might do this. (What “little thoughts” do you indulge in? What ways of thinking have become normal to you? What have you been freely giving over to the enemy?)
Read Philippians 4:6-7. If you don’t guide your mind, it’s impossible for God’s peace to guard your heart. It’s not enough to bring God into our problems — we need to bring Him into our processes. What are some areas in your life where you need to talk to God sooner? (What thoughts do you need to take to God before they become problems? What does it look like to involve God earlier in the process?)
Do you ever find yourself waiting for “the right time” to pray? What’s a crisis or situation you need to pray in the middle of?
Go deeper. Read 1 Kings 20:26-28. What are some ways we can seek what the Lord says? Talk with your group about what it looks like to “train ourselves in truth.”
Act On It
Tell your group a process you’re going to invite God into this week. Write down Philippians 4:6-7 and keep it somewhere close by to remind yourself to invite God into EVERY situation.
Prayer Requests And Prayer
Ask eGroup members to share any prayer requests they have. Record any notes or prayer requests to pray for members during the week.
Father, thank You for wanting to be part of every little detail and every process in our lives. Whatever has been keeping us from inviting You into each situation and decision, we give it over to You now. If a moment comes up when we’re about to make an agreement with the enemy, stop us and remind us to talk with You first so You can guard our hearts and minds in the way You want. In Jesus’ name, amen.