New Wine - End of Week 2

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN
One can study for decades how to properly grow and care for a vineyard to produce not only the best fruit, but a great wine.  Have you ever planted a garden, or grown something from seed to plant or fruit?  Share about your first-time; what you grew and how it felt knowing you helped make that happen.

HEAD

1. Read Ezekiel 36: 26-27, and Luke 9: 23-25 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts from the reading.
2. After reading Ezekiel 36: 26-27, go back and read Ezekiel 18: 30-32.  In Ezekiel 18, who was responsible for getting a new heart?  In Ezekiel 36, who actually provides a new heart?  So God tells us we need a new heart, then God provides us one.  What do you learn about God and His grace by comparing these two passages?
3. Why do you think the cost of following Jesus is so high (deny yourself, take up your cross/instrument of death, etc…)?
4. Jesus was honest with people when it came to what it was like to follow Him.  He didn’t sugarcoat or beat around the bush.  And it wasn’t all negative and sacrificial.  Jesus said to gain your life you have to lose it.  So how did Jesus’ honesty help people choose whether to follow Him or not?  And how does giving something up (i.e. losing your life), help you gain a new life?
5. Hearing Jesus talk about all that you have to give up to follow Him, why do you think the disciples stayed with Him?  Why not leave and take an easier path?

HEART

1. Can you think of something or someone that used to frustrate, maybe even anger you, that God softened or changed your heart towards?
2. Can you think of something you have given up because of your new life in Christ?  Was giving it up easy to do?  Hard?  How did your life change when you let the former thing go?
3. If the gospel is ever-expanding and ever-growing, how have you seen yourself change to be more Christ-like in your journey with Him?  What areas would you like His grace and love to continue to work on in you for newness and growth?

HANDS
As part of your journey to live into the new heart Christ gives, commit this week to memorizing the Living Words listed below, maybe even including them in part of your prayer time before getting out of bed each morning.  Seek His renewal, His transformation, and the heart He wants to give you each and every day.  Then, see what changes take place within you for the cause of Christ.

LIVING WORDS FOR YOUR WEEK
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.“
Psalm 51:10-12 ESV