Digging Deeper

Extreme Makeover #3    ~    September 26, 2004

 

 

Think About it:

 

            Everywhere Jesus went, he challenged people to change; but his change did not start on the outside…it was from within.  Today he challenges us to change, to become Kingdom people, from the inside out.  Jesus challenges out hearts.

            Do we spend enough time wrestling, examining, and knowing our hearts?  Do we spend more time with “externals” rather than with our own hearts?  Is it easier to measure our spirituality with our daily or weekly disciplines than honestly looking deep into our hearts?  That’s where Jesus goes.  Do we join him in the journey to our hearts and souls often enough?

            One of the greatest challenges today, and even back when Jesus walked on earth, is to find people who are spiritually authentic.  Is this you?  Let’s dig deep into our hearts and see who we really are, and who we really want to be.

 

Explore it:

 

  1. Take a sheet of paper and write a word, phrase, a symbol, or draw a picture that describes your life.  Share these briefly with your group.
  2. On the other side of your paper, do the same exercise, but writing what describes your spiritual life this time.  Share.
  3. Are these pictures different?  Why?  Does God see them differently?  Should we?

 

  1. Read these verses in your group:  Proverbs 27:19; 4:23; 16:5; Matthew 6:19-21; Mark 7:20-23

 

  1. What do these verses say to you?

 

Being spiritually authentic means we truly live our faith 24/7.  It means we do not put on “masks” at different times, with different people.  It means we do not “act” differently at church as opposed to our jobs or with our friends.  It means we do not go through the motions of prayer, church attendance, group life, etc., just to do “good Christian things”.  It means not being a fake!  One can fool others, but one cannot fool God.

 

  1. Take another sheet of paper and spend 5-7 minutes writing what you see in your heart…where God is looking right now.  Review the Scriptures above or consider reading Dt. 6:5; 1 Sam 16:7; 1 Chron. 28:9

As water reflects a man’s face, so a man’s heart reflects the man. –Pr. 27:19

 

 

  1. Spend time sharing anything you wish from your heart-list. 

 

  1. How is God challenging your heart to change from what you see?

 

  1. How can the group pray for you?

 

  1. This week consider doing these things:

 

    1. Read these verses everyday this week.
    2. Pray everyday for your heart-list.
    3. Share your list in more detail with a trusted friend or group member, asking them to pray for you to become true and spiritually authentic.
    4. Find ways to affirm and encourage each other this week.