Decide (Part 4): Testing Our Decision

TO START

This Sunday, we jumped back into our first of the year series, Decide. To start the year, we are turning our focus to what it looks like as a Spirit-filled & Spirit-led people to make Spirit-filled & Spirit-led decisions. To start group reflect on this question:

  • If you are honest, to whom do you listen to most? What or who has weight in your life to affect your decision-making (News, Family, Work, God, Church, Friends, Political Party, etc.)?

This week we are inviting your group to choose questions from the multiple options below.  Our hope is that these questions might help you to lead your discussion in a way that makes sense for your group this week as y’all “talk it out” and “live it out”.

TALK IT OUT AFTER READING 1 JOHN 4:1-6

STUDY

  • When John talks about “testing the spirits,” what do you think he means?

  • Why is the acknowledgement of Jesus as Lord the litmus test for what is from God?

  • When you think back through the Gospel stories, can you see moments where Jesus was battling the spirit of error amongst people?

PROCESS

  • Over the years in your faith journey, what are ways you have thought about the stories of Jesus that are distorted or not in full? 

  • What are the fears and hopes you have when you think about the practice of discerning God’s will?

LIVE IT OUT 

PRACTICE

  • Are you actively seeking out God’s direction for your life in community? If so, what has that looked like? If not, what’s holding you back?

  • When you take the practice of prayer or simply sitting silently with God seriously, do you recognize the difference it makes in how you interact with the world? Give an example AND if this is a part of your daily rhythm, maybe share how you got started. 

PRAY

  • This week, as y’all close together, I want to invite y’all to share any peaks (gratitudes) and valleys (griefs) and then close by praying the Lord’s prayer together as a group.

Matt DeLano