WEEK I - The Responsible Principle"
THE BUCK STOPS HERE. I TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR MY PAST AND MY FUTURE.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
James 4:17 (NIV)
If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
ICEBREAKER:
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word BLAME?
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
1.
Excuses for failure, excuses about your choices in life, excuses about what you feel you have
accomplished fuel dysfunctional thinking and, consequently, undesirable actions and behaviors.
Making excuses instead of taking one-hundred percent responsibility for your actions, your
thoughts, and your goals is the hallmark of people who fail to succeed.
QUESTION: What do you think is the first step towards taking responsibility for our lives?
LEADER’S SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Simply eliminating excuses that create reasons why we can’t.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.
2.
Sometimes, a past tragedy, or misfortune can become a “security blanket”. In other words, it can be
easy for us to occasionally refer to things that have significantly impacted us in a negative way as a
means to proclaim why we aren’t capable of becoming more successful in a certain area.
QUESTION: Are you aware of such instances?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Perhaps you would feel comfortable sharing a personal example.
Philippians 3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of
it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on
toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
3.
It is possible to elevate our personal challenges above anyone else’s. This can happen when we feel
that we have been through much worse than anyone else. As a result, we can feel like we have a
better reason why we shouldn’t persist.
QUESTION: Has there ever been a time when you have felt that you were going through something
that no one else had been through before - therefore, no one could relate?
Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.
4.
God expects us to continuously learn. Our journey, as well as our relationship with God and others
requires a continual pursuit of wisdom and understanding.
QUESTION: What are creative ways we can continuously surround ourselves with wisdom?
HOMEWORK:
Part of the power of taking responsibility for your actions is that you silence the negative, unhelpful voice
in your head. When you spend your thinking time on success and goal accomplishment, instead of on
making excuses, you free up the emotional space formerly inhabited by negativity.
The next time you catch yourself making an excuse, whether for the late project, the unmet goal, an
important decision, or even a personal dysfunction, gently remind yourself - no excuses. Spend your
thought time planning your next successful venture. Positive thinking becomes a helpful habit. Excuses
fuel failure.
WEEK II - The Active Principle"
I AM A PERSON OF ACTION. WHEN I AM FACED WITH THE CHOICE OF DOING
NOTHING OR DOING SOMETHING, I WILL ALWAYS CHOOSE TO ACT.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
James 2:26 (NIV)
As the body without spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
James 1:22 (NIV)
But be doers of the word and not hearers only...
Hebrews 11 -THE FAITH CHAPTER
Every single time you take action, or you don’t - it matters.
ICEBREAKER:
As a kid, what was your biggest phobia?
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
1.
All throughout history we can look and be inspired by people who bravely stood up at a crossroad,
made a decision and changed the course of history as we all know it.
QUESTION: Other than the story of Joshua Chamberlin can you think of another man or woman in
history who took action and changed history?
LEADER’S SUGGESTED RESPONSE: All throughout the Bible God has found someone who would
trust him at his word to act in faith and God could do a miracle through them.
Read Hebrews 11 as a group and recount the hero’s of faith and their actions.
2.
It is often said that fear is paying interest on a bill that isn’t even owed.
QUESTION: Can you think of a time where thoughts of fear dominated your thinking and then was
completely unfounded? Did it keep you from moving forward with plans?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Our minds can quickly spiral on us if we don’t capture our thoughts
and replace the feelings of fear with faith. Faith comes by hearing, knowing and meditating on the
Word of God. What the Bible has to say about the matter at hand. It is so important, especially
in times of crisis, to know ahead of time what the Word of God says and surround ourselves with
others who will help us hold us accountable to our thinking.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
3.
The fear of man will always keep us from God’s best. The fear of what others might say or think of us
if we move forward with the plans that God has for us. The intimidation to stand up and or do what
is right in God’s eyes. When we focus on what other’s may say it always emphasizes the opinion of
others over what God has said and what God thinks about us.
QUESTION: What are some ways the fear of others can keep us from action. List (maybe even for
you personally) where you know the fear of man has interfered with your ability to walk by faith
and not by sight?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Refer back to the list of characters from Hebrews 11 and talk about
what others might have said about them before they stepped out in faith and action. Remember
those on the sidelines, the critics, those that don’t take action will always have something to say
about those who do take action because sitting on the sidelines and not taking action is always
more comfortable.
Hebrews 13:6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What
can Man do to me?”
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold
of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?
4.
For our final discussion question lets get practical. Many times what causes us to “freeze” in a
moment of action is not knowing if it is God or not but God cannot lead us if we are sitting still.
Remember it is easier to steer a car that is moving than one that is sitting in the driveway. God uses
our past experiences, our giftings and talents, and the position he has us in right now ALL to lead
us into His purpose for our lives ALL for His glory.
QUESTION: How do you see yourself? Write down 3 roles that you feel identify who you are and
what your life is about (visionary businessmen, extraordinary father/mother, etc.) What specific
actions can you take that are linked to each of these roles that you can take starting tomorrow that
will begin to move you toward what God is calling you do be?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: God is always wanting to stretch us. To have us grow in our
intimacy with Him that as we step out in faith we must rely on His power, His strength and His
direction to accomplish things in our lives. In our actions we our saying I will go for this but I know
I cannot without Your help. That is fearless living by faith.
II Timothy 1:7 For God gave us not a spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline
(a sound mind).
HOMEWORK:
Is there something that has been nagging at you to get started...maybe its a project or getting in shape.
But maybe it’s something big like a dream that’s been in your heart for years...starting a business or going
back to school. Whatever it is, think about it this week. Pray and then write it down and possibly share it
with the group next week. Lets encourage each other in our Fusion groups to face our fears, step out in
faith and be people of action. Add to that thought 3 action items you can do right now that will get you
on the path to accomplishment.
WEEK III - The Certain Principle"
I HAVE A DECIDED HEART. A DECIDED HEART FUELS YOUR ACTIONS. THE CLARITY
OF VISION YOU MAINTAIN IN YOUR MIND IS DIRECTLY PROPORTIONAL TO THE
EFFECTIVENESS OF YOUR ACTIONS. A DECIDED HEART IS UNWAVERING IN THE FACE
OF CONTINUAL CHALLENGES AND SETBACKS.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
James 1:6-8 (NIV)
But let him ask in faith, without doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by
the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-sided
man, unstable in all his ways.
What resolve do you need today? Where have you wavered?
ICEBREAKER:
Name a famous actor that comes to mind when you hear the word tenacity.
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
1.
Perseverance commonly suggests activity maintained in spite of difficulties or steadfast and
long-continued application: Endurance and perseverance combined to win in the end. It is regularly
used in a favorable sense. Persistence, which may be used in either a favorable or an unfavorable
sense, implies unremitting perseverance.
QUESTION: IS there any such thing as luck?
2.
Earlier, James 1:8 was referenced. It says, A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
QUESTION: Can you think of an example of having changed your mind about a decision based on
the level of the challenge?
3.
What does the word, ‘Vacillate’ mean?
vac·il·late/ˈvasəˌlāt/
Verb:
Alternate or waver between different opinions or actions; be indecisive.
Synonyms:
waver - wobble - hesitate - oscillate - fluctuate
4.
We can read throughout the Bible where God tested the heart of man.
(Ex. Job, Moses, the children of Israel, etc.)
QUESTION: What is the one thing you think that God is trying to find in us? Why?
HOMEWORK:
This week, journal at least five things you have believed about yourself that have presented major blocks
to your decided heart. It’s time to dismantle these negative beliefs and replace them with uplifting ones.
For each negative belief, determine it’s polar opposite. If you have a negative belief that says, “I’m too old
to be creative and inventive,” you might change it to, “My age gives me the wisdom and gift of creativity
and invention.”
Write down a new, positively stated belief for each negative one. Recite these new statements as positive
affirmations over the next thirty days. Through continual repitition of your affirmations, you’ll reprogram
your subconscious mind with your new belief (and erase the conflicting old one).
WEEK IV - The Joyful Principle"
TODAY I WILL CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY BECAUSE JOY IS NOT AN EMOTION BUT
A CHOICE.
ICEBREAKER:
What makes you happy?
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
1.
Only you know what your week has been like so far. You know what it took for you to show up to
your Fusion Group today. Forget about all of it and choose to be joyful.
QUESTION: To start off the questions...each tell a corny joke to the group. Remember to smile
while telling it! Now, share a time when something funny happened unexpectedly, in the middle of
a stressful situation. How did laughter cut the tension?
LEADER’S SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Choosing to be joyful is often as simple as choosing to forget
about the stresses of life and break for some laughter. If stress kills then laughter is the best medicine.
Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the
power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
2.
Joy is one of the fruit of God’s Spirit. Like all of the fruit of the Spirit it is not something that we
conjure up by our own strength but rely on God to bring forth in our lives. That is why joy is not just
an emotion but a something we choose to have and something others take notice of - when we have
joy even when our circumstances don’t warrant it.
QUESTION: List ways that exhibiting the fruit of the spirit when life gets difficult can be a witness
to the world? How are people attracted to this fruit? And is it wrong to “fake it, until we make it?”
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: The fruit of His Spirit is our witness and often is shown brightest
when our circumstances dictate otherwise. People are naturally drawn to happy people. We can be
a witness through our actions, our facial expressions, our words, our attitudes...all expressions of
bearing this fruit. Faking it until we make it is not unauthentic...it is an act of faith. Choosing joy over
our natural feelings.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness and self control.
3.
Choosing joy over our circumstances is a hallmark of the Christian faith. Paul said, “I have found
the secret to be content in all things.” It is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.
QUESTION: Does choosing joy in our challenges really change our circumstances? How?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Naturally speaking choosing joy stimulates chemicals and
hormones in our physical body. People who continually choose to be happy actually become happy
people! It changes them physically. Not just outwardly but inwardly too. When you choose joy you
choose to be grateful for what you do have not what you don’t have that changes your perspective
about what you are facing and gives you strength to carry on.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink the sweet wine
and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be
grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
4.
The trick to choosing joy is all about our perspective. What God has done for us, faith in what He has
promised will come to pass in our lives despite what we see in the midst of challenges.
QUESTION: Can one be happy all the time and what keeps us from that achievement? Is it wrong...
can it be sin to be unhappy?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Are we fully aware of all that God has done for us? Are we full
of thanksgiving for those things to the point that we live with constant joy? Do we know that even
though we might not see how God is at work in our lives that He is good and a faithful God? These
are all questions that calibrate our perspective to keep us choosing joy. Is it a sin to be unhappy? No,
but it can be. Being stressed, unhappy or frustrated is a natural response of our flesh but choosing
to be ungrateful, choosing to take matters into our own hands out of frustration or allowing anger
to dictate our response could lead to sin. Choosing joy often starts as just an act of faith.
I Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you
believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome
of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
HOMEWORK:
What is one thing in your life right now that is a source of stress or frustration? Put it at the top of a
page and then begin to list things you can be grateful for about it. Keep thinking about what you can be
grateful for about the topic until you can list 10 things beneath it. Pray and thank God for those things
every day for a week. Next week, share with the group how praying and being thankful for that list
changed your perspective about that challenge.
WEEK V - The Compassionate Principle
I WILL GREET THIS DAY WITH A FORGIVING SPIRIT. A FORGIVING SPIRIT ALLOWS
ME TO LET GO OF THE PAST AND EMBRACE A COMPELLING NEW FUTURE.
HARBORING ANGER AND RESENTMENT TOWARDS OTHERS POISONS MY SOUL
AND LIMITS MY GROWTH.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
James 2:13 (NIV)
For judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.
God’s word charges us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in
Christ forgave you.
Who do you need to forgive today?
Aren’t you weary of the pain of unforgivingness?
ICEBREAKER:
Name a song that comes to your mid when you hear the word “forgiveness”.
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
1.
If you were to ask 10 different people to give you their definition and perspective of forgiveness, you
would inevitably get 10 different responses. Sometimes we have a tendency to define things based
on our own experiences or pain.
QUESTION: Is forgiveness a conscious choice, or an emotional state?
LEADER’S SUGGESTED RESPONSE: I believe forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of
our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.
The Bible instructs us to forgive as the Lord forgave us:
Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against
one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)
2.
Quite honestly, none of us will EVER “feel” like forgiving. It is not even in our human nature to freely
and willingly forgive.
QUESTION: How do we forgive when we don’t feel like it? How do we translate the decision to
forgive into a change of heart?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes
against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not. We must trust God to do
the work in us that needs to be done so that the forgiveness will be complete.
I believe God honors our commitment to obey Him and our desire to please him when we choose to
forgive. He completes the work in His time. We must continue to forgive (our job), by faith, until the
work of forgiveness (the Lord’s job), is done in our hearts.
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, Who began the good work within you, will
continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (NLT)
3.
A common belief is that if I forgive an individual for offenses, the proof that I have truly forgiven is
when I forget, or cease to remember the offense.
QUESTION: IS it wrong to forgive and not forget?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Forgetting offenses against us does not mean we have amnesia
but that there is no special sting in us when we remember offenses. If it hurts us to remember
offenses against us, either we need healing or have not truly forgiven.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and
perfect will. (NIV)
4.
There is another common theory that apologies must be exchanged before the forgiveness process
can begin.
QUESTION: Must I forgive if the person offending me isn’t sorry?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Yes, for-giveness is before-giveness — to give pardon before
asked forgiveness or even if never asked forgiveness.
HOMEWORK:
In your deepest honesty, recall every individual you know you need to forgive.
When you get home, decide to accept God’s grace to forgive all who have sinned against you in any way.
Say: “By God’s grace, I decide to forgive ___ for ___.” Fill in the blanks and repeat this statement until
you have forgiven everyone who has ever offended you. Then make it a practice to thank Jesus daily for
the miracle of forgiveness.
WEEK VI - The Persistent Principle
I WILL PERSIST WITHOUT EXCEPTION
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
James 5:16 (NIV)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective,
fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
ICEBREAKER:
What is the longest you have ever stayed true to a new year’s resolution?
POINTS OF DISCUSSION:
1.
By persisting without exception my outcome and my success is assured. When failure is not an
option you find a way when there seems to be no way. Often times that is the “God Factor.” When
He shows up and does only what He can do.
QUESTION: Will you share with the group a story when you did all that you could - you had no other
options except God - and He did only what He could do?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: God loves to show up in the impossible because it is then that
without a doubt He gets all the glory. That there is no other explanation but that God delivered. We
can plan and we should...we can try and we should...but ultimately He delivers and He does.
Habakuk 1:5 I am doing something in your midst that you would not believe if you were told.
2.
There are things in our past that have defined beliefs about ourselves in our hearts. Many times
those are failures now limit our ability to try again because the pain was too great or the fear of
failing again is there or because we now believe we cannot succeed in that area. We now have
personal limiting obstacles.
QUESTION: Identify what have been those life failures in our past that we have allowed to define
our beliefs about what we are capable of doing? Now, form affirmations to those negative beliefs...
attributes you are committed to that are aligned with promises God has made and with your new
persistent spirit.
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: (Example: life failure - bankruptcy in business - affirmation - I can
succeed in business if God calls me because He is my provider - commitment - I will always trust
in Him not in my abilities as my source of provision). If we aren’t careful our failures can define our
future when persistence without exception can provide and new commitment to success. It may be
something as simple as reapplying something that God has promised us in His word that we don’t
apply in our area of failure. Andy Andrews, author of The Traveler’s Gift, says, “Fear is a poor chisel
with which to carve out tomorrow."
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we
ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
3.
Life habits many times surround the negative beliefs. With your list of life failures what are some
habits that you have developed that you can now identify to correct. It could be procrastination, not
relationally reaching out to others or even positively dreaming about your future.
QUESTION: What are some other potential habits that we have that can be linked to our past
experiences?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: We may believe God’s promises in one area of our life but not
apply those promises to others because we have developed habits or wrong thinking.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you
and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
4.
With a new commitment to persist without exception comes with it the ability to dream again
with clarity and confidence knowing that God has a plan and a future for you. Freed from the
entanglements of our past that may have kept us from fully embracing all that God has called us to.
QUESTION: What are the areas of our life that we will begin to pray and seek God for His best, for
His plans and purpose, for His will and not ours that before today we have ignored because of past
failure? Where do we commit again to dream?
LEADER SUGGESTED RESPONSE: Now we can boldly pursue all the things in our lives without
fear and take steps of action. And now commit to pursue those things with persistence without
exception - to go after success even when there seems to be no reason to go on because He is
with us.
Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And
be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
HOMEWORK:
Where has God been nagging at us to step out in faith that we have put off over and over again? Maybe
going back to school, maybe reaching back out to restore relationship, maybe step out in ministry that
we don’t fully feel equipped to do quite yet.
But because we are committing to the persistent decision we accept responsibility and seek wisdom - we
never stop being a person of action. We have a decided heart, without exception. We choose to be happy
and forgive each and every day - and every single one of those decisions hinges on our acceptance of
persisting without exception.