Announcers Tear into Sorority Girls at a Baseball Game

Main Point:  Our world often overly focuses on outward appearance and getting that perfect selfie, but God looks into our hearts and wants to see our hearts be the best part of who we are.

The Discussion Starter:  Have you ever thought about how much we focus on our outward appearance? Everyone does to a degree or else nobody would shower, wear nice clothes, or ever look in a mirror.  Have you ever thought about how God looks at us? While so many look at us and see our outward appearance, God looks at our hearts and sees who we really are.

In this video, the girls are captured taking selfies at a baseball game.  The announcers have some fun with their commentary, pointing out the faces they make and how hard they seem to be working to capture that perfect selfie.

The Video Clip:  This clip is available online at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4URj2bICgQM&feature=youtu.be

Transitional Statement:  This video was popular as people enjoy watching other people act in ridiculous ways.  There is also truth to how much we can enjoy mocking other people. Few people would watch this video and not come to the opinion that the girls are acting silly, though to a degree many of us have engaged in similar behavior.  During this time, we are not going to focus so much on the girls in the video, but instead let’s discuss focusing on the outward appearance versus the inward, and what God truly desires for us.

Divide into Small Groups:  Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format – a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions: 

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: How many selfies do you currently have in the photos on your phone?  Would you be willing to share one with us that you think is funny?

2. ASK A FEW: What is the one physical feature you always check before you leave the house?  (hair, teeth, face, etc.)

3. ASK A FEW: What did you think was funny about this video?

4. ASK A FEW: How do you think social media has impacted how people experience things such as a baseball game?  (dive into their responses)

5. ASK A FEW: What are the internal qualities you think are most important for someone to have?

6. ASK A FEW: People can work out or clean themselves up or even dress different to work on their outward appearance.  How do you think people can work on their inward appearance?

Read the following passage:

Samuel 16:7  But the Lord said to Samuel, do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.  The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

7. ASK A FEW: In the passage above, God is rejecting Saul as king of Israel, in favor of David. Read 1 Samuel 9:1-2.  What do we learn about Saul?

8. ASK A FEW: In light of Saul’s appearance, what do you think God means when he says that people look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart?

9. ASK A FEW: What are some ways you see the world focusing on the outward appearance?  What are the ways where you see the world lifting up the importance of the inward appearance?

10. ASK A FEW: What are some things we can do as followers of Jesus to make our inward selves even more beautiful than the outside?

Read the following passage:

Psalm 119:11  I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

11. ASK A FEW: What does it mean to hide God’s Word in your heart?

12. ASK A FEW: How does hiding God’s Word in our hearts help us to not sin against God?

13. ASK A FEW: What are some ways we can make sure we hide God’s Word in our hearts? (go beyond just “read it” and get practical and specific. Consider introducing them to bible apps and reading plans).

Read the following passage:

James 1:22-23 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

14. ASK A FEW: What is the difference between reading the Bible and what James is saying in these verses?

15. ASK A FEW: We all look in the mirror before we leave the house, and in the same way James is saying the Bible is the mirror for our hearts. Share about one way the Bible has shown you something in your own heart that you know God is working to change.

Wrap Up:
During our time here, we talked about the focus on our outward appearance versus God’s focus on our hearts. There is value in our outward appearance, though we talked about the girls in the video and how it was funny to see them obsess over getting the perfect selfie.

We looked at three Bible passages to help us know how we can shift our mindset from focusing on the outward appearance and think through how to make sure we are letting God change our hearts.

God wrote a book for us that is designed to serve as a mirror in our lives.  When we read the Bible we can better see our own hearts and have a deeper understanding of how God has called us to live.

The most amazing part is that God doesn’t just ask us to change our behavior.  He gives us His Spirit to live inside us and change us from the inside out.  The goal here isn’t to just act differently, but to let God transform us to be different.

Take a moment now and ask God to bring transformation into your heart.  Ask the Holy Spirit to show you something that you need to confess, something you need to ask for help with, or something you need to tell someone about.

(Pause for them to take a moment and pray silently about these things)

God wants our hearts to be the best part of who we are.  Outward beauty fades, but inward beauty lasts forever.  Let’s be people who invite God to come into our lives each day by reading His Word, hiding it in our hearts, and doing what it says.  Let’s spend time with Him asking His Spirit how He wants to change us to make us more like Jesus, one day at a time.

Close in prayer together.