Message: YOUR PATH... tapping into the wisdom of others
Week of June 14, 2009

Thematic Focus
You will never reach your full potential without tapping into the wisdom of others.

Main Points
We have a tendency to be conformists. We assume that if everyone else is doing something, then it must be all right.

People who are wise:
· Acknowledge what they don't know.
· Apply what they learn from others.
· Know their limits

Two questions you need to answer:
· Where do you get your life maps from?
· What causes you to resist seeking counsel?

Summary Points
No one gets to the place where he or she no longer needs wise counsel.

Scriptural Lens:
· 1 Kings 12:1-14
· Proverbs 1:5; 11:14; 12:15; 13:10; 15:22; and 19:20

Pursuing clarity
Use the following structure to guide your discussion:

Opening Prayer
Take a moment to recognize Christ’s presence with you.

Opening Reflection
How does pride, having a distorted perspective, and asking the wrong people limit our ability to gain wisdom for life?

Scriptural Focus
Take time to read the suggested Scriptures.

Group Discussion
Use these questions to reflect further:

1. Referencing 1 King 12:1-14, what did Rehoboam do right? What did he do wrong?
2. Why do you think it is that we tend to conform to what others are doing and assume it must be all right? What ways can we avoid such assumptions?
3. Why does seeking human counsel not contradict seeking God's wisdom through prayer?
4. In what area of your life do you most need wisdom? Are you praying for it? Are you seeking outside counsel for it?
5. What goals and aspirations do you have? Who do you know already reflects these goals and aspirations?
6. No one gets to the point where he or she no longer needs wise counsel. Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?

Adjusting Focus
Take time to reflect upon the maps you use to live your life.

Think about how the patterns and paths of others are influencing these areas of decision-making in your life:

· Your financial decisions
· Relational decisions
· Moral decisions
· Spiritual decisions
· Professional decisions
· Other decisions

Where did you get your life maps from to begin with? Did you consciously choose them? Inherit them?

Do you seek out advice from someone wiser? Why are you resisting?

Whose maps are you borrowing from? Whose patterns are you following?

What decisions do you need to make in terms of the maps you are going to follow with your life?

Given where you are today, and where you want to be, who do you need to contact for wisdom?

Maintaining Focus
How is God's Spirit prompting you to grow on the faith journey? A step I will take this week to grow stronger in my faith and to connect the decisions I make today with tomorrow:

____________________________________________

Closing Prayer
Take time at the close of your time together to pray for God’s assistance in the journey. Depending on how comfortable group members feel, here are some ways you could pray:

· Write out a personal prayer.
· Have the group facilitator or a designated member of the group pray.
· Have members of the group get into a smaller group to pray for one another.
· Have several members of the group pray aloud and then conclude.

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