Clean Slate | Week 3 (Discussion Guide)

Note: this Guide is available for download as a .pdf here.

Life Group Discussion Guide :: Sunday, January 6, 2013 (JXG) 

Sandy Lake Wesleyan :: Pastor Shawn

Clean Slate | Week 3

Remember, this Guide is not intended as an exhaustive list of what can be discussed, but is best used as a guide to help your Group process what God is teaching them. Read through the discussion points below and prayerfully consider what the Holy Spirit would have you work through.

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 Be sure to pray for, encourage each other, 

and share the victories God is giving your Group.

Read Isaiah 43:18-19

What are ways we can be tempted to dwell in the past? What are symptoms of doing this??

How can we be blind to the what God is causing to spring up...the new thing(s) he is doing?

What are ways that we can position ourselves to be aware and receptive to the new thing(s) God is seeking to bring about in our lives?

What are some reasons that new life, new opportunities, and ‘clean slate’ moments seem short-lived? 

Have you ever experienced a ‘new start,’ only to find that it seems the ‘old junk’ pulls us back into what was?

How is living in the reality of a ‘clean slate’ more of a journey than a singular decision?

Read Is 53:6

How does the fact that Jesus has ‘done the work’ help us as we step into forgiveness, freedom, and holiness?

Even though God has ‘done the work’ how does living a clean-slate reality require action on our part?

Read Psalm 51

What is the difference between wanting to be forgiven vs. the desire to be clean?

How is the desire to be clean seen in David’s prayer?

David recognizes being made clean must be something God does, and his desire is for open relationship with God. What are symptoms that we’re seeking forgiveness without restoration?

What is significant in this Psalm about what happens AFTER David experienced forgiveness/being cleaned--what does this mean for us?

How do we see in this that a ‘clean slate is an empty slate...incomplete and unused? What do we see about a properly filled slate.

Pastor Shawn shared that our ‘clean slate’ journey includes 

calling & confessing --> 

letting go & letting God -->

remaining & receiving

What are ways that we stop at each step along the way? 

What are symptoms that we may have stalled in this journey?

How have you experienced the ‘filled slate’ of ‘remaining & receiving’ in your life?

Last week, we were asked to reflect on this question:

What’s keeping you from experiencing freedom and a clean slate?

Spend time as a group praying through this with and for each other. Be sure to pray for each other during the weeks ahead, that the Holy Spirit would clearly show you if you’re not experiencing freedom...and the thing(s) holding you back.

How can you journey with each other through these things? What are ways you can live a clean slate reality as a group?

This week, we were called to engage in the journey (calling & confessing, letting go & letting God; remaining & receiving). Pray with your group that the Holy Spirit would show you individually and collectively where you are in this journey and what He is calling you to next. Share the answer(s) you receive over the next several weeks and invite Him to lead you into your next steps. Leaders, help your Groups ‘call each other to more’ (for more on this, check out the video at this link).