The Path to Restoration
Discussion Questions

Download the The Path to Restoration Teaching Slides


Big Idea

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.Proverbs 10:11-12

In our relationship struggles, wisdom tells us to look at our own heart before we speak so that we can speak words of life rather than words of death.

  • Unasked for advice is a form of rejection.
  • Meet a person as a person.
  • Our words are our best weapon for spiritual warfare.
  • Wisdom always brings us back home to reflect on our own heart.



Ice Breaker

Share with the group one of the most painful things that someone has said to you (notice how enduring the wound is), and then share one of the most life giving things that was said to you (also very enduring, right?).

Think of words like a stone dropped into the water where the outward ripples endure far beyond the initial impact.


Next Step

Discuss :: What are some of the bids you give and receive daily? Of the 4 responses, which one(s) do you typically give?

Do :: What is one life-giving response you can begin using today?


Additional Discussion Questions

  1. Someone once said that an enemy can be used by God to reveal our own heart to us, thereby inviting us back to His table of grace. Take a moment to reflect on either a current or past tough relationship. What is being revealed to you about your own heart? Let Him invite you to His table of grace: first for you and then for the other person in the conflict.

    Even in the tough relationships when you see the bad flowing from you, try to see the good in your heart too. Sometimes the good is found in a surprising place, like in how we grieve over how poorly we are handling a relationship. Consider inviting the group to pray that you will taste of God’s grace and that you will bring life in the tough relationships of your life.

  2. Think of your destructive responses and figure out what you desire in them (e.g. respect, longing to be heard, acceptance). Next, think about what you are doing with God in that moment.
    Now, imagine cultivating more and more trust in God to fulfill these desires. How could this free you to respond well?