Can’t I Just Follow My Heart?
Group Leader Guide
Sermon Recap 🎬
Pastor John Mark discussed trusting our hearts and illustrated that all hearts are spiritually diseased due to sin. He referenced the biblical perspective, particularly from Jeremiah, highlighting that the heart can be deceitful and lead us down destructive paths. John Mark also emphasized the importance of turning to God's Word and faith in Jesus for healing and salvation and the necessity of conducting ourselves in alignment with these truths. Finally, he offered practical strategies for overcoming our sinful nature, including engaging with Scripture, worship, and fellowship, aiming for an undivided heart devoted to God.
Ice Breaker 🧊
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, but it had to be a dish you’ve never tried before, what would it be?
Discussion Questions 💬
Why do you think Pastor emphasized the importance of God's word as the cure for our spiritual heart disease?
The talk highlighted that the 'cure for a diseased heart is God's word, God's way,' indicating that scripture is crucial in guiding our decisions.
How can you incorporate reading the Bible into your daily routine to help guide your choices in life?
How can we find and follow God's path instead of our deceitful hearts when making important decisions?
Pastor warned that following deceitful hearts can lead us down rough and damaged paths, urging us to turn to God's guidance instead.
Think about a major choice you need to make. What steps can you take to ensure you follow God's way rather than just what feels right?
What does it mean for our hearts to be 'deceitful' as described in Jeremiah 17, and how can understanding this concept help us in our daily lives?
John Mark discussed how Jeremiah defines the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, which shows that we can’t always trust our feelings or desires.
Can you think of a time when your heart led you to make a poor decision? How might you approach things differently now, knowing about the deceitful nature of the heart?
How can we apply the concept of 'conduct matters' to our choices?
Pastor John Mark mentioned that although conduct doesn't determine salvation, it does matter in how we live after being saved, showing how our actions reflect our beliefs.
Reflect on a recent decision you made. How did your beliefs influence your actions in that situation?
Why is it important to prioritize corporate worship according to the sermon, and how does it help us overcome our divided hearts?
John Mark emphasized the necessity of gathering together for worship, which can encourage us to resist our hearts' temptations.
How has participating in corporate worship helped you in your personal faith journey, and how can you make it a priority in your life from now on?
Prayer 🙏
• Ask God to help us recognize areas where our hearts may be deceitful.
• Pray for the strength to rely on His Word over our feelings.
• Request guidance in making choices that reflect His truths throughout the week.
• Give space for any prayer requests from the group.
