What’s your story? What do you tell yourself about who you are, what you’ve gone through, and how you understand God? We all have a story that we tell ourselves. A collection of thoughts that define who we are and how we make sense of life. It’s important to make sure your story is a reality because you live out of the story you believe. This week we are going to discuss how to make sure we tell the right story.
1. Do you remember watching a cartoon where the character had a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other? What do you remember about those cartoons? How do you suppose it relates to our life today?
2. Read Numbers 13:27 -14:1. Two stories were told in these passages. The Israelites believed one over the other. How did it eventually affect their lives?
3. If someone spoke two comments about you, one positive and one negative. Which one do you think you would affect you more? Why do you think that?
4. Read Romans 8:5-6. You choose the story that you tell yourself. What is Paul telling us to set our minds on? What does it mean to "Set our minds" on something? Why is that so important?
5. We can’t control the thoughts that come into our minds, but we can control what we do with those thoughts. Where have you had success in your life when it comes to controlling your thoughts?
6. Pastor James said: “The more that you believe distortions and lies, the more you are open to the consequences of those misplaced beliefs.” How have you seen this play out in your life?
7. Read Psalm 42:5-6. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 6 Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you!” David realized that the reason he was downcast and disturbed was that he was allowing the wrong thoughts to tell him the story that he believed. Why is it so important to question where our feelings are coming from?
8. Read Philippians 4:8. Pastor James shared three questions to ask when thoughts or feelings come to your mind: Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it worthy of praise? How can these questions help you assess your thoughts and feelings?
9. Read Romans 12:2. We must own our thoughts and continually choose day-in and day-out, twenty-four hours a day, what we will do with those thoughts. You are not born with a positive or negative attitude. It is something you allow to develop based on the story you believe. The way that God changes you and transforms you is through changing the story you tell yourself. Based on this verse, how do we rewrite the narrative of our life?
10. As a group, how can you support each other in the quest to control the thoughts and feelings that shape how you live out your story?