Hard 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: Has there ever been an embarrassing moment in your life that you’ve majorly misheard or misunderstood someone?

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.” – Luke 8:11-12

- “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6

- “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.” – James 4:10

- “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.” – Ephesians 4:18

- “Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.” – Hosea 10:12

- “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts...” – Hebrews 3:15

- “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” – Romans 10:15

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

What are some ways that you’ve heard from God? (Prayer, Reading the Bible, Other people, etc.)
What is a parable? (Earthly story with a heavenly meaning!)
In this parable we see a farmer, the seed, and the different types of soil. What do they represent? (Farmer – God, Seed – Word of God, Soil – Our Hearts)
Pastor Daniel shared that there are three characteristics of a hard heart. What were they? (Fear – Afraid of what God may say, Bitterness – Why God?, Pride – I don’t need God)
Do you feel like your heart has been hard lately? Which of the three characteristics do you find the most difficult to deal with?
Pastor Daniel also shared the key to breaking a hard heart. What was it? (Humility!)
What is a next step you can take this week to practice humility?
How can your Group help?

Final Thoughts:

If there's no connection there's no communication
Your attitude will determine if you hear from God
Don’t run from God, run to Him!
You know you have pride when you no longer ask God for help!

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!

Zach HackerNovember 5, 2017