StoneBridge Community Church
Pastor Neal Nybo
Introduction to our nine-week Hearts and Minds series
Written by the Apostle Paul, the first seventeen verses of Colossians chapter three is like a “how-to” guide for following Jesus. This nine week, Hearts and Minds message series will unpack and explore these practical "how-to's" and inspire us to live them out.
1. Heart Training.
The overall requirement for following Jesus is to have hearts trained to follow him. We spend a great deal of time, energy and money training our minds when the most important, and more difficult, factor is training our hearts.
Colossians 3:1 NIV
Discussion Questions
1. What do you pay a lot of attention to?
2. Practically speaking, what would you think about if your heart was set on things above?
3. Could you pay attention to the same things but think about them differently?
4. When tomorrow morning can you take a minute or two and open your heart to God for the day? How would you do that?
Next Step:
Open your heart to God each morning.
2. Ordinary life is our gym.
We follow Jesus and learn to be like him as we engage the ordinary events of our lives with "becoming more like Jesus" at the forefront of our thoughts.
Colossians 3:2 NIV
Discussion Questions
1. What are some challenges in your life right now?
2. What are some areas of excitement in your life?
3. What are some things others would say you are good at or passionate about?
4. How might you use these areas as a gym for setting your mind on things above?
Next Step:
For the next nine weeks, keep a journal that captures your life events under the two headings of either uplifting or challenging.
3. Empowered by the Holy Spirit
While it is up to us to be intentional about following Jesus, it is the power of the Holy Spirit that makes it possible.
Colossians 3:3-4 NIV
Discussion Questions
1. What do you think it means to say you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ?
2. What does this mean: When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
3. When was the last time you memorized something? Can you still remember it?
4. What intimidates or interests you when you think about memorizing 17 verses?
5. Are you willing to try with just these first 4 verses?
Acts 1:8 NIV
John 14:26 NIV
Next Step:
Fill yourself with Colossians 3 – read, memorize, pray each phrase.
