Soul Talk
Session 1: Introduction/The Heart of the Matter
I. Table Time- Introduction
a. Share your name and something you are looking forward to in the Fall/Study.
b. If you were to poll people in downtown S-boro, “Why do people do what they do?” What are some things you think they would say?
c. What are some internal recurring thoughts people may tend to have? (Think in realms of insecurity, anxious, angry, fearful, etc.)
II. Teaching Time:(Prov 20:5, Prov 4:23, Eph 4:17-20, James 1:26, Heb 4:12-16)
a. Why do we do what we do?
i. The World’s Attempts to Diagnose
ii. The Bible’s Clear Answer (Want and Worship)
1. Principle of Inescapable Influence:
b. What is the heart? [James 4:1, Matt 15:18-20] TWO DIAGRAMS
iii. Observations:
1. The heat of Trials/Pressure facilitate a response in us (just as the sun facilitates growth)
2. Many times the experience of distress, anxiety, conflict, despair … is the fruit of responses (thoughts, behaviors, actions, etc.)
3. The Worship and Wants of the heart are the core issues that shape our responses.
4. If we want to change and help others change the heart must be the target.
c. We are Fallen so our Worship and Wants Go Real Bad Real Fast
i. Sinful Desires:
ii. Good Desires Gone Bad: Replace God as Treasure/Ruler of Hearts
1. What am I willing to sin to get?
2. What am I willing to respond sinfully over if I don’t get it?
3. Generally only exposed by trials unless we are intentional!
d. There’s Good News for That kind of Problem
i. God who Deciphers my Heart (Jer 17:10)
ii. Word that Operates on my Heart (Heb 4:12)
iii. Redeemer that Forgives, Cleanses, Restores . . .
iv. Spirit that Empowers Us and Points to Better Glory of Christ (Jn 16:12-14)
e. Goal of the Study
i. Listen to Our Souls and Hear our Hearts
ii. Listen to What Others Say and Mean, to Draw Out their Heart
iii. Speak a Better Word of Gospel Worship and Wants
III. Table Time- Application
a. What are some of the ways you can tell something deeper is going on inside someone you care about? What are some ways to draw that out?
b. What are some obstacles we face in drawing out our own hearts and the hearts of others? Some of the advice have for surface level things we hear?
c. How might discerning and dealing w/ the heart level (vs. surface) change/impact your own life, life of friends around you? What excites and scares you about this?
d. APPLY: At least three times this week stop and record any problematic recurring thoughts or feelings that you observe. Write some specifics. (Anger, insecurity, anxiety, fear, frustration, stress)
