The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Series: Summer Growth Series
Week's focus: "The Road Less Traveled"
Scriptures: Matthew 7:13-14
Week of: August 21, 2005

TRACKING THE WORD IN WORSHIP
How to find-and daily follow-the path that leads to life

1. The paths we choose to travel in life result in predictable OUTCOMES--and they DEFINE our lives even as we journey.

2. We are confronted with challenges to CHANGE our journey's manner and direction almost DAILY.

3. In contrast to following an obvious and EASIER way, Jesus invites us to SEEK, find, and walk the road less traveled.

4. Walking with us, Jesus promises JOY in the journey and direction for every CROSSROAD we face.

GUIDED STUDY / JOURNALING / DISCUSSION
For daily personal devotions or small group discussion

1. Make a short list of short-cuts that you have taken (or observed other people take) in such things as cooking, trips, studying, work, relationships, etc. Discuss or journal your responses. What was the result in each case? What makes a short-cut risky? For what choices and challenges in life would you NOT recommend taking a short-cut?

2. Read Matthew 7:13. What actions, attitudes, and/or choices do you think represent the wide road and wide gate that leads to destruction? List as many of these that come to mind; elaborate. Which of these "wide road" activities have you engaged in? Why do you think so many people so often follow the "wide road?" Discuss this in your group or reflect on it in your journal.

3. Read Matthew 7:24-27. In a story that reinforces the importance of choosing our manner and direction of life well, Jesus compares and contrasts the outcomes of houses built on two very different foundations. What are the life attitudes, actions, and/or choices that are represented by building a house on sand? What occurrences in the course of one's life reveal whether or not one's foundation is shifting or solid? Journal or discuss your responses. List three to five choices or actions you can take right now that will contribute to a solid foundation that will withstand storms in the future.

4. Read Matthew 7:14. What actions, attitudes, and/or choices do you think represent the narrow road and narrow gate that leads to life? List as many of these that come to mind; elaborate. Which of these "narrow road" choices have you made? Why do you think so few people so infrequently seek, find, and pursue the "narrow road?" Discuss this in your group or reflect on it in your journal.

5. Read Galatians 5:1-10. Paul makes clear that it is possible to be detracted from or pulled off the right path. In this instance, unnecessary religious rules that sounded "more holy" caught unsuspecting believers off guard. In what ways have you been negatively challenged to change your direction while following Jesus? How did you respond to the challenge? What can you do to strengthen your ability to stay on the "road less traveled" in the future?

MARKINGS LEFT BY PREVIOUS TRAVELERS
Selected quotes on following the road less traveled

A CAPACITY FOR FAITHFULNESS "What makes authentic disciples is not visions, ecstasies, biblical mastery of chapter and verse, or spectacular successes in ministry, but a capacity for faithfulness. Buffeted by the fickle winds of failure, battered by their own unruly emotions, and bruised by rejection and ridicule, authentic disciples may have stumbled and frequently fallen, endured lapses and relapses, gotten handcuffed to the fleshpots and wandered into a far country. Yet, they kept coming back to follow Jesus...Where sin abounded, grace much more abounded." - Brennan Manning in The Ragamuffin Gospel

HOW TO FIND YOURSELF "Center yourself on yourself and you will find yourself disintegrating, lost; lose yourself in some cause, or some Person outside yourself and you will find yourself coming back to you, realized, found. This cuts across the underlying philosophy of Western life, with its self-assertions, its self-advertisements and its competitions, to say nothing of its wars." -- E. Stanley Jones in Christ of the Mount

SAYING 'NO' IN ORDER TO SAY 'YES' "We have to say 'no' many times to many lesser things in order to say a bigger 'yes' to life." - William Stringfellow

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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