Bad Plan (part 3): No Turning Back…?

TO START

Here are a few ways to check in with your group and see how everyone’s doing. Most groups already use one of these methods (but just in case…):

  • Pits and Peaks--Have each member share one good and one bad thing that happened this week.
  • God sightings--Have members share one way they saw God working this week, either in their lives or in the life of someone close
  • Do-Over--If you could undo one thing you did this week, what would it be?
  • Shout Outs--Have members share times when they experienced God’s love through another person

 

TO DISCUSS

How many of your group members were familiar with the story about Saul we shared on Sunday? Retell it together as a group. You might decide to take a second look at the text together. You’ll find it in I Samuel 14:36-45.

As you read (or remember) this story, does anything stick out as weird, confusing, interesting or challenging?

We said on Sunday that sometimes “you’re working a bad plan, you have an opportunity to change strategies, and you don’t. Or won’t. Or think you can’t. “

Have you ever had a moment like that? When you knew you were in the middle of a bad plan but kept going anyway?

Consider the following light-hearted bad plan categories:

-Home repair

-Fashion/hairstyles

- Big purchases

What about something more consequential?

Have you ever had a time when you realized you were going the wrong way and succeeded in changing direction? What was hard about it? Were you glad you did? Why/why not?

Justin said in the sermon, “The only thing worse than a bad plan is an inability or an unwillingness to admit that it’s a bad plan and change direction.”

Would you say you’re a person who’s willing to change? Would your spouse/best friend/kids say that about you?

What characteristics does a person who’s willing to change have?

In the Bible, when a person’s working a bad plan, realizes he has a bad plan and decides to stop and follow a better plan, that’s called repentance. Consider the following repentance messages from Jesus:

  • Matthew 4:17
  • Mark 1:15
  • Luke 3:8
  • Luke 5:32
  • Luke 24:46-47

What was Jesus asking people to do when He asked them to repent?

What might get in the way of us being willing to repent?

If these three roadblocks don’t come up, be sure to add them to your list:

  • Pride
  • Fear of consequences
  • Laziness

How might pride, fear or laziness hold you back from necessary redirection? Think of a specific example.

It’s a gift whenever someone tells us we’re in the middle of a bad plan. Share a time when you received re-directing counsel.

We said again and again of Sunday, It’s never too late to go the right way.

Do you feel like that’s true? Not, do you know/believe it’s true. Do you feel it? Why or why not? Have you ever felt like in this one instance, it actually was too late? Share with the group.

 

TO READ

This week, take some time to read about “plans” in the book of Proverbs:

Prov. 20:18

Plans are established by seeking advice;

   so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Prov. 16:9

In their hearts humans plan their course,

   but the Lord establishes their steps.

Prov. 15:22

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Prov. 14:22

Do not those who plot evil go astray?

   But those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness.

Prov. 21:30

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

What do we learn about our plans (making them, following them, expecting them to work…) from these passages?

 

TO PRAY

Prayers of repentance are always good prayers. Tonight, ask God to redirect you, to show you where you need to make a change. If you know you need to make a change, share it with your group. Ask for help and accountability.

 

Guest User