Distracted Heart

Goals for this Week’s Study:

• Review Pastor Daniel’s sermon from Sunday morning.
• Help group members (especially new members) get to know one another.
• Share how God has been growing you through the next steps you have been taking!

Getting Started:

Open your group with prayer.

Ice Breaker: We’re going to mix it up and play a game this week! Pick three volunteers. Two of the volunteers will try to have a conversation about whatever topic they would like, with the third volunteer doing whatever they can to make one of the two to laugh (yelling random phrases, saying jokes, etc.). If the third volunteer can distract one of other volunteers, they win! If the two volunteers can maintain a normal conversation without laughing or smiling then they win! (There’s no real prize, so it’s up to you all to decide what to do for the winner!)

Scripture:

- “One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” – Luke 8:4-8

- “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.” Luke 8:11-13

- “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring it’s own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” – Matthew 6:19-34

- “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10

Sermon Notes: Take time to let everyone share some of the notes they took or anything that stood out to them from the message. Use this time to get everyone in your group talking (a good tip for this situation would be to go around the room and have everyone share one thing that stuck out to them from Pastor Daniel’s sermon)! Keep in mind, not everyone may feel comfortable talking yet, so try your best to help assist them in any way you can!

Study Questions

1. What has been your biggest takeaway from this series so far? How have you noticed a difference in your life from what you’ve been applying the past two weeks?
2. Read Luke 8:4-14. Which soil did we talk about this week?
3. What is a weed? (A weed is anything that distracts you from God!) What are some weeds you can find in your life right now?
4. What were the three main distractions that Pastor Daniel talked about Sunday? (Worry, Riches, Pleasure) Which of these do you feel you’ve struggled with the most lately?
5. Read Matthew 6:19-34. What is scripture talking about when it says “treasure”? (Treasure is whatever you value the most!)
6. When looking at the source of your worry in your life, you will always find it is directly related with what you’re placing the majority of your focus on! What is one way that we can change what we focus on this week?
7. How can our group help?
8. Who is one person you can invest in and make a difference in their life this week?

Final Thoughts:

• Jesus didn't come that you would have a distracted life, but an abundant and better life!
• The greatest thing we can ever do is invest in people and see heaven become more crowded!
• The difference between your worry and your faith is your focus!
• If you want to hear God speak you have to eliminate all distractions in your life!

Pray Over Your Group!

Pray over all prayer requests and the next steps that will be taken this week. Take a little extra time to pray for the unity of our country and for all who will be involved and affected by Operation Christmas Child!