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Religion With A Heartbeat

January 19 | Discipleship Guide

Be Real Together:

Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DG, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DG share their story.

Read Together: Matthew 15:1-20 CSB

This week, we explored the tension between religion and relationship, emphasizing the need for both structure and intimacy in our walk with God. In Matthew 15:1-20, Jesus challenges the Pharisees, exposing the emptiness of their legalism while teaching that true purity comes from the heart. Our faith must go beyond external actions to reflect a transformed heart that loves God deeply and genuinely.

The One Question:
Ask this question at your family meal or Discipleship Group.

How can you ensure that your faith is both grounded in truth AND marked by genuine love for God?

Grow Together:
Use these questions to go deeper with your DG or for personal study.

  1. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for honoring God with their lips while their hearts were far from Him. Are there areas in your life where external habits or traditions have taken precedence over heartfelt worship?
  2. How do you guard your heart against the things that defile it, such as negative thoughts, attitudes, or influences?
  3. Ezekiel 36:26 speaks of God replacing a "heart of stone" with a "heart of flesh." What steps can you take to allow God to transform your heart and align it with His will?

Pray Together:

Take time to pray with and for each other.

Suggested Prayer Prompts:
  • Ask God to examine your heart, revealing areas that need transformation or alignment with His will.
  • Pray for a balance between structured faith (grounded in God’s Word) and relational intimacy with Him.
  • Lift up any specific struggles or distractions that may be keeping group members from fully engaging in their relationship with God.