GUARDRAILS | Week 1
Week 1: DIRECT AND PROTECT
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
INTRODUCTION
Guardrails are designed to keep vehicles from straying into dangerous or off-limit areas.
They minimize damage by keeping us in the safety zone. But the highway isn’t the only place we need guardrails.
When was a time that your greatest regrets would have been avoided if you had established personal guardrails?
In the message, the Pastor listed four areas where guardrails may be helpful: finances, relationships, morality, and profession.
What is a guardrail you have established in one or more of these areas that has helped you the most?
What was your initial reaction to what the message referred to as the “Billy Graham Rule”?
Do you think it’s a good idea?
Is it too extreme?
Do you think it can penalize women in the workplace?
When we establish guardrails and safety zones, the culture can be confusing and often critical.
We can be accused of being judgmental when we are actually trying to have good judgement.
According to the message, what is the difference between being judgmental and having good judgment?
Being judgmental is me half-forming an opinion about you and your behavior.
Good judgment is about you, and I drawing conclusions from our own lives, considering my past experience, and knowing our own danger areas.
Read Ephesians 5:15–16.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
How does living carefully make us wise?
16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that make it possible to do something.
What does it mean to “make the most of every opportunity” and why are the days evil?
Read Ephesians 5:17–18
17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Do you think that we can overcomplicate and over-spiritualize what God’s will really is for us?
How can guardrails keep us moving forward in God’s will?
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
Have you, or ever known anyone who has made their best decision when they were drunk?
MOVING FORWARD
Stepping away from what has the potential to harm you is stepping in the direction of the One who loves you.
God isn’t trying to keep you away from something; he is drawing you toward someone—himself.