Micah 6:8
Fresh Ink, Pt. 1
Every time we gather as a group, these are some ways we ensure the best group discussion:
We make the circle safe by staying honest and transparent - leave the masks at the door.
We keep it inside the circle. Each person’s story is theirs alone to share.
We look to the Bible for wisdom and truth, and work together to let it shape how we see the world.
We don’t try to fix each other in front of each other or give unsolicited advice. We lovingly save hard conversations for private moments.
We respect each others’ time by starting and ending when we say we will.
We believe that in Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone.
1. Map Your Route
Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)
This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Your DIRECTION determines your DESTINATION.
“STOP at the crossroads…”
“Stop AT THE CROSSROADS…” and know that you have better options.
Your DECISIONS determine your DIRECTION.
“Stop at the crossroads and LOOK AROUND…”
“Stop at the crossroads and look around. ASK for the old, godly way…”
2. Dowload a new playlist
What you DOWNLOAD determines your DECISIONS.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.Psalm 25:4-5a (TNIV)
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth.
3. Find a Partner
““The single most common finding from a half-century’s research on life satisfaction, not only from the U.S. but around the world, is that happiness is best predicted by the breadth and depth of one’s social connections.” ”
“Better a Krispy Kreme with friends than a salad alone.”
Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
“Whoever walks with the wise will become wise; whoever walks with fools will suffer harm.”
Your DIRECTION determines your DESTINATION.
Your DECISIONS determine your DIRECTION.
What you DOWNLOAD determines your DECISIONS.
And WHO YOU WALK WITH makes all the difference.
4. Keep a Steady Pace
Micah 6:8 (NIV)
He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
MUD: Memorable + Understandable + Doable
What was the most memorable part of the message or service this weekend for you personally? Why?
Did anything you heard challenge or influence how you think about God or your life?
How can what you learned influence or change how you live in everyday life? What tangible steps would it take to make that change a reality?
Additional Questions
Jeremiah 6:16 says, “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.”
At first read, what stands out to you about this passage? What is most compelling, intriguing, confusing, exciting, etc?
Breaux broke down that short verse into even smaller chunks and talked about each important element of walking in a new way.
First, we need to STOP. Why is it so important to start this journey by STOPPING? When was the last time you stopped and looked around in a meaningful and helpful way?
Next, we need to LOOK AROUND. There are better options, but we are so often stuck in “the way we do things.” Where do you feel stuck? How can you look around to find new ways to approach the place you’re stuck?
Then we need to ASK for the old, godly way. How do we realistically and practically learn the “old, godly way” in a way that we can put it into practice and change how we live?
To walk in a new way, we need to download a new playlist, because what we download determines our decisions. What we put in our mind directly, and HUGELY, affects our decisions - and those decisions influence the direction of your life.
Take stock of everything on your current “playlist”; what’s taking up the most space in your mind these days? What dominates your thought life?
Can you draw any connections between what you’re putting into your mind and the places you’re stuck?
What step can you take this week to replace those things with new habits that help you focus on God’s ways, path, and truth?
We also need to find a partner if we’re going to walk in a new way - it’s impossible to walk a new way alone.
How would you rate the strength of your close spiritual friendships right now?
Who is counting on you to be a real friend like Breaux described?
What step could you take this week toward a deeper, richer relationship with someone who is on the same path as you?
Micah 6:8 says, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
If the next year could be marked by one of these three things in particular, what would you want it to be? What would look different about your life - and about you - if you could be truly marked by that this year?
