Not Jesus

Culture says a lot of things that sound spiritual, inspiring, and even “Jesus-y” — but Jesus never actually said them. In this new teaching series, we’ll unpack some of the most common cultural clichés about purpose, identity, faith, and church… and discover the better, deeper, life-giving truth Jesus really offered. Because sometimes the biggest thing standing between us and real life is believing the wrong version of Jesus.

P.S. And if you know someone who could use a talk like this, invite them to come sit with you!

5.21+24.26 – Week 992 – Curt Walters – “Follow Your Heart”

Curt Walters unpacks the popular phrase “Follow Your Heart” and why it may not lead where we think – and what Jesus said instead.

LISTEN ONLINE

Heard in The Venue

Small Group Guide

Week 1: Follow Your Heart

This is the opportunity for your group to discover what God might be saying to you out of the
weekend experience, and how you can respond through a group discussion.

*These questions are designed to help you create meaningful conversations. Adjust the
questions as needed, and don’t feel like you need to answer all of them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Start Off
1. We kicked off the series “Not Jesus: Things Jesus Never Said” with the saying “follow your
heart.” Why do you think “follow your heart” is such a popular message in culture?

2. Can you think of a decision where you “followed your heart” and let feelings lead more than
wisdom or faith? What happened?

Reflect on What Jesus Said

3. Read Luke 14:27-30. From this passage, we looked at the following guardrail for decision-
making: “Count the cost before you make the call.” How can counting the cost help with
making a good decision?

4. Read Matthew 6:22-23 and Proverbs 4:23. These passages encourage us to “Guard
what shapes your heart.” What are some common “inputs” (social media, entertainment,
relationships) that most influence your heart right now?

5. Read Matthew 6:31-34. The third guardrail for us was “Seek first, decide second.” What
does it practically look like for you to seek God first before making decisions?

Go Deeper

6. Where in your life are you most tempted to follow your feelings right now?

7. What is one decision you need to slow down and “count the cost” on this week?

8. How would your life look differently if you consistently put God first in decisions?

PRAY: Let’s end our time praying together. You can say something like: “God, help us this
week to seek you first in each decision — big and small – and to pause … then follow your
lead. Amen.”

5.28+31.26 – Week 993 – Curt Walters – “You Do You”

Curt Walters unpacks the problem with “you do you” spiritually—and why Jesus pointed us toward something bigger and better.

LISTEN ONLINE

Heard in The Venue

Small Group Guide

Week 2: Find Your Purpose Within

This is the opportunity for your group to discover what God might be saying to you out of the
weekend experience, and how you can respond through a group discussion.

*These questions are designed to help you create meaningful conversations. Adjust the
questions as needed, and don’t feel like you need to answer all of them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Start Off

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up, and why?
When it comes to purpose, why do you think people tend to focus more on the what of life rather than the why?

Reflect on What Jesus Said

Read Luke 9:23-25. What do you think Jesus is saying in this passage, and how does that relate to finding our purpose?

Go Deeper

Curt shared that he decided to follow Jesus when he was in high school going into high school. If you have made the decision to follow Jesus, when did that happen for you? What was your life like before and after that decision?
Curt also said, “Jesus is inviting us to patriciate in the work of God – bringing light to dark places, hope to hopeless places, and bring ins a restoring to the broken places in this world. The invitation is to join him in his redemptive mission.” How would your daily life change if your primary “why” became following Jesus instead of pursuing personal success or comfort?
What is one area (work, school, family, relationships) where you can live out God’s purpose more intentionally this week?
Read the following quote by Andy Stanley: “Blessed is the one who gets the opportunity to devote his life to something bigger than himself and to find himself surrounded by friends who share his passion. In this way I have been disproportionally blessed.” What steps can we as a group take to live into this?

PRAY

Let’s end our time praying together. You can say something like: “God, help us to live with a renews awareness of your purposes as our “why” in whatever “what” we find ourself in this week!. Amen.”

6.11+14.26 – Week 995 – Abbie Craig – “God Helps Those Who Help Themselves”

Abbie Craig helps us see why Jesus wasn’t looking for self-made people and why that’s good news for the rest of us.

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Heard in The Venue

Small Group Guide

Week 3: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

This is the opportunity for your group to discover what God might be saying to you out of the weekend experience, and how you can respond through a group discussion.

*These questions are designed to help you create meaningful conversations. Adjust the questions as needed, and don’t feel like you need to answer all of them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

When people come to you for help, what is the most common thing they ask for?
What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves”? In what ways have you operated as if that were true?
In what areas of your life do you tend to try to “climb a ladder” to reach a level of success? How often do you attempt to control outcomes by working hard enough or earn your way toward a particular kind of life?
When are you most likely to compare yourself to other people?
This weekend, we talked about how Jesus levels the playing field through the blessings and woes in Luke 6:20-26. What stands out or challenges you in these words of Jesus?
Does the idea that “the way things are are not the way things will always be” land as a comfort or caution to you right now?
What is one way that God may be inviting you to trade self-sufficiency for dependence on him? What might it look like for you to receive help from God this week?
What might shift in your life if you viewed everyone as someone for whom Jesus made space at his table?
What’s one step you want to take this week to follow Jesus’ example of helping those who cannot help themselves?

PRAY: Let’s end our time praying together. You can say something like: “God, thank you for making space for us at Your table. Help us to see the opportunities you place in our path this week to receive and extend help. Amen.”

6.18+21.26 – Week 996 – Curt Walters – “Speak It Into Existence”

Curt Walters takes on one of the most popular myths about prayer and uncovers why God’s greatest answer isn’t always the one we ask for.

LISTEN ONLINE

Heard in The Venue

Small Group Guide

Week 4: SPEAK IT INTO EXISTENCE

This is the opportunity for your group to discover what God might be saying to you out of the
weekend experience, and how you can respond through a group discussion.

*These questions are designed to help you create meaningful conversations. Adjust the
questions as needed, and don’t feel like you need to answer all of them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Start Off

1. This week’s message is about the phrase “Name it and claim it” or “Speak It Into
Existence” – What comes to mind when you hear these phrases?

2. What is one prayer God answered in a way you hoped for, and one he answered
differently than you expected?

Reflect on what Jesus said

3. Read Luke 11:5-13. From this passage, what is Jesus trying to teach us about prayer
and God our Father?

4. In these verses, Jesus wasn’t saying God is obligated to do whatever we ask, like a
genie in a bottle. Looking at the key phrases or qualifiers, how does praying “in Jesus’
name” and “according to his will” change our approach to prayer?

5. When we pray, God gives us more of himself through the Holy Spirit, and we open our
lives to God’s presence. How does this change or inform how you see God answering
our prayers?

Go Deeper

6. Why do you think “unanswered” prayer can sometimes cause doubt or
discouragement?

7. Are there prayers you’ve been tempted to give up on? What might “keep asking,
seeking, and knocking” look like there?

PRAY: Let’s end our time praying together. You can say something like: “God, help us to
see your hand and become more and more in sync with your heart this week as we ask, seek
and knock. Amen.”

6.25+28.26 – Week 997 – Curt Walters – “Do What Makes You Happy”

Curt Walters unpacks one of culture’s favorite messages, “Do What Makes You Happy,” and reveals the deeper life Jesus invites us to pursue.

LISTEN ONLINE

Heard in The Venue

Small Group Guide

Week 5: GO DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY

This is the opportunity for your group to discover what God might be saying to you out of the
weekend experience, and how you can respond through a group discussion.

*These questions are designed to help you create meaningful conversations. Adjust the
questions as needed, and don’t feel like you need to answer all of them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Start Off

1. When you hear the phrase, “Do what makes you happy,” what’s your initial reaction?
Have you ever followed that advice and found it led somewhere good—or somewhere
you later regretted?

2. What stood out to you most from the message this past weekend? What do you
believe God may be saying to you?

Reflect on what Jesus said

3. Jesus didn’t condemn the woman caught in adultery, but He also didn’t tell her, “Go do
whatever makes you happy.” What stands out to you most about the way Jesus
responded with both grace and truth?

4. Curt said, “Sin promises a satisfaction it can’t fully deliver at a cost and eventual pain
to you.” Where do you see that principle playing out in our culture—or even in your
own life?

5. Psalm 16 says, “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”How have you experienced a
deeper sense of joy or purpose by following Jesus rather than simply chasing
happiness? What practices help you stay connected to Him?

Go Deeper

6. The fish-on-the-beach illustration reminded us that we weren’t created to find lasting
satisfaction in the things of this world. What are some “beach” pursuits (success,
relationships, money, approval, experiences, etc.) that people often expect to satisfy
them but ultimately don’t?

7. This week, where do you sense God inviting you to stop chasing temporary satisfaction and
pursue something deeper? Is there one practical step you can take—or one area you can
surrender—to move toward lasting joy?

8. PRAY: Let’s end our time praying together. You can say something like: “God, show
us where we’ve been looking for satisfaction in the wrong places. Fill us with the joy
that only You can give, and help us become humans who find our purpose and
happiness in You. Amen.”

5.21+24.26 – Week 992 – Curt Walters – “Follow Your Heart”

5.28+31.26 – Week 993 – Curt Walters – “You Do You”

6.11+14.26 – Week 995 – Abbie Craig – “God Helps Those Who Help Themselves”

6.18+21.26 – Week 996 – Curt Walters – “Speak It Into Existence”

6.25+28.26 – Week 997 – Curt Walters – “Do What Makes You Happy”

Spark 2026

Here To There

Easter 2026

Navigating Us

Game Day 2026

NAVIGATE

FISHERS CAMPUS

5.21+24.26 – Week 992 – Curt Walters – “Follow Your Heart”

5.28+31.26 – Week 993 – Curt Walters – “You Do You”

6.11+14.26 – Week 995 – Abbie Craig – “God Helps Those Who Help Themselves”

6.18+21.26 – Week 996 – Curt Walters – “Speak It Into Existence”

6.25+28.26 – Week 997 – Curt Walters – “Do What Makes You Happy”

Spark 2026

Not Jesus

Here To There

Easter 2026

Navigating Us

Game Day 2026

Follow Us!

NAVIGATE

FISHERS CAMPUS