Mark 4:23-24
“If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear!” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.”
Connect Group:
WELCOME
Welcome: Welcome each group member.
Icebreaker: Choose one of the following topics and discuss it:
a) Have you ever had a funny or frustrating experience where a GPS led you completely down the wrong or an unknown path? Share your story with the group.
b) If you must be honest, do you think it is possible in your own strength to always be “perfect” in everything you do? How do you handle it when things don’t work out according to your own plans?
WORD
Prayer: Open with prayer. (Give everyone an opportunity)
Read: CORE TEXTS FOR TODAY:
Colossians 3:2
“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Discuss the following in your Connect Group:
This week we look at what it really means to “calibrate” our lives anew – to align and attune ourselves with God’s will.
As humans, our natural tendency is to want to be independent; as Isaiah 53:6 reminds us, we have all gone astray like sheep, and each one has started walking their own path. To get us back on the right course, we need a spiritual “G.P.S.” (God’s Perfect Standard). We are often inclined to measure our own lives against other people, but Luke 18:19 clearly states that no one is truly good except God, and in Matthew 5:48 the standard is set that we must be perfect as our heavenly Father is.
Reaching this standard requires a change in how we think. 2 Corinthians 4:4 warns us that the god of this world easily blinds our minds so that we struggle to find our way in the dark. We get caught up in an earthly way of thinking and rely on our own insights. Yet Colossians 3:1-2 tells us that, since we have been raised with Christ, we must seek the things that are above; we must intentionally allow our minds to be controlled by heavenly things, not by things on earth. This means we must practically live out Proverbs 3:5-6: we must stop relying on our own logic and rather trust in the Lord; then He will show us the right path.
The wonderful, good news is that if we allow ourselves to be controlled by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9), we have the promise in Isaiah 30:21: even when we might wander slightly off course, we will hear His voice behind us saying: “This is the way, walk in it”.
Read Today’s texts again and discuss them:
a) Proverbs 3:5-6 commands us to trust in the Lord and not to rely on our own understanding. If we think about the concept of God’s Perfect Standard (G.P.S), why do we as believers sometimes find it so challenging to truly surrender control and acknowledge God in everything?
b) In Isaiah 30:21, the Lord promises that if we leave the right course, we will hear a voice behind us saying: “This is the way, walk in it.” How can we better “calibrate” (tune in) in our busy daily lives to clearly hear the Spirit’s voice, so we are controlled by the Spirit (Romans 8:9)?
WORSHIP & WORKS
Worship – https://woordenlewe.com/connect-worship/ Make time to worship God today. Use the playlist on our Woord en Lewe website under Connect or use the worship from Sunday’s service.
APPLICATION and questions:
Now take Communion together as a Connect Group:
Love for God, Love for People. As a Connect Group, spend about 5 minutes in silence before you adjourn, and let each member answer the questions below for themselves. Create a peaceful atmosphere and allow the Lord to speak to each one individually.