Review: How are you doing on the "extending mercy" front?  Have you had any recent experience forgiving others for either big or even little, daily, nagging sins? 

 Review (pt. 2):  Did you try praying the Lord's Prayer last week?  How was that experience for you?

Take a moment in prayer, welcoming the Spirit's presence.  Then read over the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:2-12). Then read again specifically Matthew 5:8.  ​

Phil told the story of Curly (from the movie City Slickers) who said the secret of life is "one thing."  Jesus says, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."  This idea of purity involves being wholly surrendered to one thing, unmixed, single-minded.  Do you have trouble being wholly surrendered to Jesus?  What gets in the way of that for you? 

We have trouble with "one thing" because we often want MORE than one thing!  Phil talked about letting his kids choose any ONE candy bar they wanted at camp, but said they would inevitably come back wanting "just one … or maybe two … more." We like to have lots of options, don't we?  Does it feel limiting somehow to have to limit ourselves to just one thing–even if that one thing is Jesus? What "candy bars" compete for your love and attention?

Even though we are made to long for just one thing – God – do you find the old hymn to be true:  "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love."  We do love God – so why would we ever be "prone" to leave Him?

 Read Jeremiah 2:9-13. Phil said we have very often chosen to put all of our devotion into "broken cisterns" that let us down in the end.  He mentioned two remedies, the first one being:  REPENT, which means to make a 180 degree turn from our sin toward God.  This repenting, this turning, is always more effective when we are not only turning from something (saying NO), but turning toward something (saying YES).  What deeper and higher YES do you need to say today in order to say NO to some smaller, lesser thing?

The second remedy Phil mentioned was to KEEP GOING.  Many of us are already doing well pursuing the "one thing."  We're growing our families, serving well, building strong relationships, all of which are the fruit of a people who are following, trusting, and abiding in Jesus.  In Jesus we gain a "heart that beats pure."  How can you keep seeking the kingdom of God?  Read 1 John 3:2-3 and discuss how those verses relate to all this.

Finally consider, as we have been these entire series (Matthew 7:24):

1. What is the Holy Spirit saying to me?

2. Where is He calling me to obedience?