Life Group Questions

Opening Question:

Share about a time when you got in trouble when you were a child.

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Psalm 51:1-7. What do these verses say about who we are? What do they say about the character of God? What do these verses say that God can do?

2. Read Psalm 51:10-11. What would a new heart look like in your life? What challenges have you experienced when receiving God’s forgiveness? What about forgiving others?

Life Application:

1. Why is it so important for us to look at and deal with our guilt? What do you see as the main difference between guilt and shame?

2. How has guilt affected you in the past? Is it s good thing or a bad thing? How has guilt affected your relationship with God?

3. How do you preach to yourself when you feel guilt takes over your heart? What are some practical ways we can begin to deal with past guilt and shame?

4. Final thought and challenge: We remember that we are fully forgiven at the cross and that there is nothing we can do to earn God’s favor or love. At the same time he calls us to ask for forgiveness from others and to right our wrongs. Where do you maybe need to make restitution?

Life Group Questions

Opening Question:
What was one of your earliest memories you have about God?

Digging Deeper:
1. Read Matthew 15:8-9. Here Jesus is quoting Isaiah 29:13. What does it mean that people honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him? Have you seen this to be true at times in your life?

2. In verse 9, How have you seen “human rules” get in the way of true worship to God?

3. Look at Matthew 15:16-20. What are some of the things that these verses challenge us to be aware of?

Life Application:

1. Where would you say your heart is at with God right now? Do you feel far from Him? Close to Him? Somewhere in between?

2. Often times we can go through life without really addressing what is really going on in our hearts. Why is this so dangerous and what are some of the results that can happen if we don’t address those things in our heart? (refer back to Matthew 15:16-20)

3. What does it mean to you to “guard your heart”? What are some steps you could take to better guard your heart?

4. Have there been times in your life where you have overemphasized the head and focused on “behavior modification” rather than what is really going on in the heart? How do we begin to examine our hearts this week? How can our group help in this process?