Small Group Discussion Guide

"Dashboard Warnings & Divine Remedies"

Based on Psalms 14 & 19 | Father's Day Series

A Note to Facilitators: Welcome, and thank you for leading! This guide is designed to work whether you're an experienced elder or leading a group for the first time. You don't need all the answers — your job is to create space for honest conversation. Read through the guide before your meeting, choose the questions that feel right for your group, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the real work. Estimated total time: 75–90 minutes.

OVERVIEW

In this message from Psalms 14 and 19, Pastor Charles uses the image of a dashboard warning light to explore one of Scripture's most honest diagnoses of the human condition: our hearts are corrupted, our relationship with God is fractured, and we cannot fix ourselves. But the good news — the gospel — is that God has not left us broken. He has revealed himself through creation and through his Word, and he alone provides the salvation and transformation we desperately need.

Three Big Ideas from the Sermon:

1. Foolishness begins in the heart — rejecting or ignoring God
2. Sin corrupts us from the inside out — we need a new heart, not just better behavior
3. Salvation comes from God alone — through Christ, we become new creations

SCRIPTURE FOR THIS WEEK

Take a moment before your group meets to mark these passages in your Bible or have them ready on your device.

Psalm 14:1–7 (The "Dashboard Warning")

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad."

Psalm 19:1–2, 7–11, 14 (The "Window" — God's Revelation)

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Supporting Passages Referenced in the Sermon:

• Proverbs 1:7 — "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; fools despise wisdom and instruction."
• Jeremiah 17:9 — "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
• Romans 3:23–24 — "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."

SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER

⏱ 5–10 minutes

Start here to warm up the group and get everyone talking before diving into deeper content. There are no wrong answers — this is just to get the conversation flowing!

Choose one of the following:

Option A (lighter, more fun):

"Have you ever ignored a warning light on your car dashboard — or known someone who did? What happened?"

Option B (more reflective):

"Think about a time when someone gave you a warning you didn't want to hear — but it turned out they were right. What was that like?"

[Leader Tip]: This icebreaker connects directly to the sermon's central illustration, so it naturally leads into the discussion. Keep it light and fun. If someone shares a funny car story, let the group laugh — it builds community and lowers the walls for deeper sharing later.

SECTION 2 — GETTING INTO THE MESSAGE

⏱ 10–15 minutes

These questions help the group recall and process what they heard on Sunday before moving into deeper discussion.

1. What was one thing from Sunday's message that stuck with you — something that surprised you, challenged you, or that you're still thinking about?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great opening question because everyone can answer it, regardless of biblical knowledge. It also helps you gauge what resonated with your specific group and where the Spirit might already be at work. Don't rush past this one.

2. Pastor Charles described Psalm 14 as a "dashboard warning light" and Psalm 19 as a "window." In your own words, what do you think he meant by that contrast?

3. The sermon described two ways people respond to a warning light: cover it with electrical tape or address the actual problem. When it comes to spiritual "warning signs" in our lives — things like guilt, emptiness, or restlessness — which response do you think people tend to choose most often, and why?

SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

⏱ 30–45 minutes

Work through as many of these as time allows. You don't need to cover every question — follow the conversation where it naturally leads. Questions are organized from observational to personal to application.

THEME 1: The Heart of the Problem

Psalm 14:1–3 | Proverbs 1:7 | Jeremiah 17:9

4. Pastor Charles explained that the Hebrew word for "fool" in Psalm 14 isn't about intelligence — it describes someone who is morally and spiritually closed off to God. How does understanding that definition change the way you read this passage?

[Leader Tip]: Some group members may feel uncomfortable with the word "fool" being applied broadly to humanity. Reassure the group that David is describing a spiritual condition, not an insult — and that the sermon's good news is that this condition has a cure. Redirect toward the gospel if the conversation gets stuck on the diagnosis.

5. The sermon made the point that people don't reject God because they lack evidence — they reject God because of a heart condition. What do you think about that idea? Does it match what you've observed in your own life or in people you know?

6. Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things." Pastor Charles warned against the common advice to "just follow your heart." Why do you think that advice is so appealing — and what does Scripture say we need instead of a heart we follow on its own?

[Leader Tip]: This question can surface some honest and vulnerable sharing about times people trusted their own instincts and it led them astray. Create space for that. You can also gently ask: "What does it look like practically to seek God's heart instead of just following our own?"

THEME 2: God Has Not Been Silent — Creation Speaks

Psalm 19:1–2 | Romans 1:19–21

7. Psalm 19 says the heavens "declare the glory of God" — that creation itself is constantly preaching. Pastor Charles mentioned that kids on road trips used to stare out the window at creation, but now they're looking at screens. Where in your daily life do you find it hardest to slow down and notice what God might be saying through the world around you?

8. Romans 1:20 says that God's invisible qualities have been "clearly perceived" in creation, so that people are "without excuse." That's a bold claim. How does knowing that God has revealed himself through creation shape the way you think about people in your life who don't yet believe?

[Leader Tip]: This question can naturally lead to a conversation about evangelism and prayer for unbelieving family or friends. If the group goes there, let it — but keep the tone compassionate rather than judgmental. The sermon emphasized praying for and living faithfully before those who are far from God.

THEME 3: God Has Not Been Silent — His Word Restores

Psalm 19:7–11 | Psalm 119:9–16

9. Psalm 19:7–11 describes God's Word as perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true — and compares it to gold and honey. In your honest experience, how does your relationship with the Bible match up with that kind of description? What gets in the way of engaging with Scripture the way David describes here?

10. Pastor Charles shared a personal story about packing his Bible in a box during a move and not opening it for six months — and how that season affected him spiritually. Without sharing more than you're comfortable with, can you relate to a season when God's Word felt distant or neglected? What did that season feel like, and what helped you return?

[Leader Tip]: This question invites vulnerability, so model it by sharing briefly yourself if you're the facilitator. Normalize the experience — most Christians have gone through dry seasons. The goal isn't shame but honest reflection and encouragement toward returning to Scripture.

THEME 4: Salvation Comes from God Alone

Psalm 14:7 | Romans 3:23–24 | 2 Corinthians 5:17

11. The sermon quoted Tim Keller: "We are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared to believe, yet more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dared to hope." Which half of that statement do you find harder to fully believe — and why?

12. Pastor Charles argued that no amount of education, politics, technology, or social reform can fix what is fundamentally a heart problem. Where do you see people — maybe even yourself — placing hope in earthly solutions for what is ultimately a spiritual need? What does the gospel offer that those solutions can't?

SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION

⏱ 10–15 minutes

These questions are more reflective and personal. Encourage people to be honest but remind them they only share what they're comfortable sharing. Some people may prefer to sit quietly with these — that's okay.

Invite the group to take 2–3 minutes of quiet reflection before sharing.

A. Psalm 14 functions as a mirror, and Psalm 19 as a window. Right now, which do you need more — time in front of the mirror (honest self-examination before God) or time at the window (lifting your eyes to see who God is and what he's done)?

B. If God's Word is like a surgeon's scalpel — able to get at the heart of what's broken in us — what area of your heart or life might God be asking you to put on the operating table? What's making you hesitant to let him work there?

C. The sermon's closing image was of a "holy dependence" on God — the stumbling, bumbling follower of Jesus who says, "Lord, I need you every hour." What does that kind of daily dependence look like practically for you in this season of your life?

SECTION 5 — THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

⏱ 2–3 minutes to share and commit

Choose one of the following challenges for the coming week. Share your choice with someone in the group for accountability.

🌿 Option 1 — Creation Awareness Once each day this week, step outside for at least five minutes with no phone. Look up. Look around. Ask God to speak to you through what he's made. Journal one thing you noticed and what it reminded you about who God is.

📖 Option 2 — Open the Word If your Bible has been collecting dust — or if you've been inconsistent — commit to reading Psalm 19 and Psalm 119:1–16 each morning this week. Read it slowly. Let it be a prayer. Notice what stirs in you.

🙏 Option 3 — Pray for One Person Think of one person in your life who is far from God. Write their name down. Commit to praying for them by name every day this week — not just that they'd "find God," but that God would soften their heart and use you as a faithful witness in their life.

🤝 Option 4 — Community Investment If you're not yet connected to a small group, Wednesday night Bible study, or another community at Renew, take one step this week toward getting plugged in. Connection is part of how God shapes us — don't do this alone.

SECTION 6 — PRAYER FOCUS

⏱ 5–10 minutes

Close your time together in prayer. You can have one person pray, pray in pairs, or go around the group. Use the prompts below as a guide.

Suggested Prayer Topics:

• Gratitude — Thank God for revealing himself through creation and through his Word, and for not leaving us in our brokenness.
• Honesty — Ask God to show each person the "warning lights" in their own heart — the places where they've been covering the light instead of addressing the problem.
• Surrender — Pray for a posture of holy dependence — that the group would decrease and that Christ would increase in their lives this week.
• Those Far from God — Lift up by name (silently or aloud) the people in your lives who are rejecting or ignoring God. Pray for softened hearts and faithful witnesses.
• The Word — Ask God to make his Word come alive to each person this week — that it would be sweeter than honey and more desired than gold, as Psalm 19 describes.

You may want to close with this prayer from Psalm 19:14 together:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

For groups with extra time or those who want to go further

Bonus Question 1 — Going Deeper into Psalm 119 Read Psalm 119:9–16 aloud together slowly. The sermon mentioned that this passage was written to be memorized — and that the very act of memorizing it reinforced its message. What would it look like for your group to take on a shared Scripture memory challenge together? Is there a verse from this week's study you'd want to commit to memory?

Bonus Question 2 — The Problem of the Heart in the Gospels In John 15:24, Jesus says that people who saw his miracles firsthand still rejected him. In Mark 7:21, Jesus says, "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts..." Read those passages together. How does Jesus' own diagnosis of the human heart confirm what David wrote in Psalm 14 a thousand years earlier? What does it mean to you that the Bible is so consistent on this point across so many centuries?

Bonus Question 3 — The Mirror and the Window Pastor Charles described Psalm 14 as a mirror (showing us who we are without God) and Psalm 19 as a window (showing us who God is). Think about your own spiritual life: Do you tend to spend more time in self-examination or in beholding God? What does a healthy rhythm of both look like — and what practices help you maintain that balance?

QUICK REFERENCE FOR FACILITATORS

Facilitator's Reminder: You will likely not get through every question — and that's perfectly fine. A group that goes deep on two or three questions is better than one that races through all twelve. Follow the conversation. Follow the Spirit. Your goal is transformation, not completion.

Guide prepared for Renew Church Small Groups | Summer Psalms Series "Give our lives to see others made new in Christ"