Colossians 4:2-6 | Devoted to Prayer – March 1, 2026
Getting Going
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. What is something you are devoted to? What does your devotion look like?
Digging Deeper
1. Review/looking back:
a. What did you choose to celebrate? How did you take time to celebrate?
2. Pastor Travis defined prayer as “to have an intense commitment to speaking and
listening to God.” What would your definition be?
3. Colossians 4:2 tells us to devote ourselves to prayer. 1 Thess 5:17, Rom. 12:12, and
Eph 6:18, all seem to say the same thing in other ways. What is it about being devoted
to prayer that is so important to the life of a Christian?
4. Paul asks the church to pray for doors to be opened so the gospel may be shared. Why
do you think God has us pray for doors to open instead of just opening them? How have
you seen God open doors through prayer? (Bonus Read Acts 12:1-19)
5. Pastor Travis spoke about how prayer prepares us for what God wants to use us for.
How does this week’s passage point to us being prepared through prayer? (Reread
Colossians 4:2-6 if you need to)
Practical Preparation:
1. What would a day, a week, a month, a year of devoted prayer look like for you? What is
something you can work on this week to become more devoted to prayer?
2. Think about the doors for the gospel that need to be opened in either your life or in the
lives of those around you. Take some time to share them with each other and agree to
pray for God to open those doors.
3. We are challenged in our passage to make the most of every opportunity to share the
gospel. Are you being watchful to make the most of the opportunities around you? What
will you do to notice them and be ready for them this week?
Parting Prayer
1. Take some time now to listen to God. Ask him to develop in you a heart that is devoted
to prayer and take time to allow him to reveal how he wants to grow that in you.
2. Take time to pray for the doors that need to be opened in your life and the lives of those
around you.
3. Pray that you will notice and be ready for the opportunities to share the gospel with
those around you.
Optional Extra Question – If you were king or queen for a day, what would be your first decree?
The Book of Esther | God’s Presence in our Story – February 22, 2026
Opening Prayer
Ask God to open your eyes to His presence and faithfulness, especially in places you may have
overlooked.
1. God’s Hidden Presence
The book of Esther never mentions God directly, yet His presence is evident throughout the
story.
Read Esther 4:12–14 and 7:1–10 (or summarize together).
1. Where do you see God at work in this story, even though He is not named?
2. Why do you think God sometimes seems silent or hidden in our lives?
3. Can you recall a season where God felt absent at the time but, in hindsight, you can see
His hand?
2. Courage “For Such a Time as This”
Mordecai challenges Esther with the words: “And who knows but that you have come to your
royal position for such a time as this?”
1. What risks did Esther take? What gave her courage?
2. Have you experienced a moment where you sensed God placed you somewhere “for such
a time as this”? 3. What situation in your life right now may require courage and trust?
3. Reversal and Redemption
In Esther, what was meant for destruction became deliverance. Haman’s gallows became his
downfall. Fear turned into feasting.
1. Where do you see themes of reversal in this story?
2. How does Esther point forward to Jesus and the cross?
3. Have you experienced a “reversal” moment, a hardship God used for good?
4. The Practice of Remembering (Purim)
The Jewish people established Purim to intentionally remember God’s deliverance.
1. Why is remembering important for faith?
2. What practices help you notice and remember God’s work (journaling, prayer,
celebration, storytelling)?
3. What is one specific example of God’s faithfulness in your life that deserves to be named
and celebrated?
5. Personal Application
1. Where might God be at work in your current season, even if you don’t yet see the full
picture?
2. What would it look like to intentionally celebrate one evidence of God’s faithfulness this
week?
Closing Prayer
Thank God for His hidden but faithful presence.
Pray for eyes to notice, courage to act, and hearts that remember and celebrate His goodness
Matthew 4:1-11 | Lent: An Invitation to Holy Reset – February 15, 2026
Opening Prayer
Ask God to use this time to reveal areas where He is inviting growth and renewal.
A Culture of Indulgence
1. Where do you most feel the pull to indulge (food, phone, shopping, busyness, etc.)?
2. How does constant access and convenience affect your ability to wait or say no?
3. In what ways might indulgence be shaping your soul?
Jesus in the Wilderness
Read Matthew 4:1–11
1. What patterns do you notice in how Jesus responds to temptation?
2. How does Scripture strengthen resistance to temptation?
3. Why do you think fasting preceded His testing?
4. How might fasting prepare us to resist temptation?
5. Each temptation invited Jesus to meet a real need in a wrong way. Where are you tempted to meet legitimate needs in unhealthy or sinful ways?
Holy Resistance Training
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
1. What does Paul’s athletic imagery teach us about discipline in the Christian life?
2. Where do you personally need to grow in discipline or self-control?
3. How does practicing small acts of self-denial strengthen us for bigger spiritual battles?
4. How can fasting help us say no to temptation?
5. What is one area where you would like to grow in holy resistance?
Lent as a Holy Reset
1. Is there a habit that may be forming you in an unhealthy way?
2. What might God be inviting you to fast from during this season?
3. What healthy practice could replace it?
4. In what way can this group support and encourage you in this?
Gospel Reminder
Jesus gave up everything for us. Fasting is not about earning anything — it is about making space to be with Jesus and reorienting our hearts toward Him.
1. How does remembering what Christ gave up for you reshape your understanding of fasting?
2. How might fasting deepen your gratitude for the gospel?
Closing Prayer
Pray for clarity, courage, and accountability as you seek to practice holy resistance and deeper dependence on Christ.
A 2026 LENTEN RESET GUIDE
(Designed for personal use, families, or Life Groups)
Purpose of This Guide
Lent is a season to reset habits, retrain desire, and relearn freedom, all for the purpose of spiritual renewal and deepening relationship with God. This guide is not about perfection, but transformation.
Week 1 (Feb. 15-18): Awareness — What Has Gained Influence?
Memory Verse: Psalm 139:23–24
Practice:
- Track what you reach for when you are stressed, bored, or tired.
- Pray: invite God to reveal to you practices that have pulled your attention away from the Lord.
Reflection Questions:
- What habits feel automatic?
- Where do I turn first for comfort?
Decide: This Lent season (Feb. 18 – Apr. 2) I am going to fast from:
__________________________________________________________
Week 2 (Feb. 18-28) : Interruption — Creating Holy Resistance
Memory Verse: 1 Cor. 10:13; Scripture reading: Matthew 4:1–11
Practice:
- Begin your fast (food, media, spending, etc.).
- When the urge arises, pause and pray instead of immediately giving in.
Reflection Questions:
- What does my discomfort reveal?
- What lies does temptation whisper?
Week 3 (Mar. 1-7): Replacement — Turning Hunger Into Prayer
Memory Verse: Galatians 5:16–17
Practice:
- Replace the habit with Scripture, prayer, silence or solitude.
- Keep replacements simple and repeatable.
Reflection Questions:
- How is my awareness of God changing?
- What desires feel weaker? Which feel stronger?
Week 4 (Mar. 8-14): Examination — Naming What Needs to Change
Memory Verse: Hebrews 12:1
Practice:
- Identify “weights” that may not necessarily be sinful, but are unhelpful.
- Consider whether any habit needs longer-term boundaries.
Reflection Questions:
- What has lost its grip?
- What still resists surrender?
Week 5 (Mar. 15-23): Dependence — Learning to Rely on Grace
Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9
Practice:
- Fast with gratitude rather than grit.
- Acknowledge weakness openly before God.
Reflection Questions:
- How has God met me in this season?
- Where do I need ongoing support?
Week 6 (Mar. 24 – Apr.2): Preparation — Living the Reset Beyond Lent
Memory Verse: Romans 12:1–2
Practice:
- Decide what habits to reintroduce, adjust, or eliminate.
- Establish one sustainable spiritual rhythm moving forward.
Reflection Questions:
- What kind of freedom do I want to protect?
- What practices will help me say no when temptation comes?
Adult SS Class: An Invitation to a Holy Reset – Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22
You are invited to join us for a 4-week adult Sunday school elective where we will talk more about fasting and Lent and take time to pray for one another and keep us accountable.
Closing Encouragement for the Guide
Fasting during Lent does not fix everything in forty days – but it can reset habits, practice and the direction of a life. For what we practice in a season can reshape us for years.
Nehemiah 1-13 | Rebuild: Faithful to God’s Call – February 8, 2026
Getting Going
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. Can you think of a project or endeavor that you undertook that was undone by others not carrying on the work you started?
What was that like?
Digging Deeper
1. Review:
a) We were challenged to put God first in our lives, what was a way that you did that this week?
2. God is shown in Nehemiah to be constantly working for his people’s good. Take some time to look through the book of Nehemiah (and Ezra if you have time) and note all the ways that God was working. How does this shape your understanding of God?
3. Read Nehemiah 1:5-11 (and if you have time look through the book to find other prayers by Nehemiah). What stands out to you about his prayer? How would you describe Nehemiah’s heart towards God based upon his prayers? What can we learn from Nehemiah’s heart for God?
4. Read Nehemiah 8:9-12. What strikes you about the people’s response to the Law vs what the leaders encouraged them to do? What is your response to hearing the word of God?
5. Chapter 13 is a tragic ending to the book. Take time to note how all three big projects (temple, people, walls) are affected by sin. What do you think we are supposed to take away from the story of Ezra-Nehemiah (read Ezekiel 36:24-27)? What is the relevance to our lives today?
Practical Preparation:
1. The book of Nehemiah highlights the role of prayer, and commitment to the word can and should transform our hearts. How can this be a priority in your own life?
2. The book of Nehemiah also highlights what is possible with a heart soft towards God. What do you think God is calling you to do for his honour?
3. Nehemiah did so much good for the people, but even all that good did not change the people’s hearts. We need to be reminded that it is only God that changes hearts. Where do you need to apply this truth to in your life?
Parting Prayer
1. Pray that we would have soft hearts to God that long to do the good he is preparing for us to do.
2. Pray that God would soften the hearts of those that need to be saved and respond to the gospel.
Optional Extra Question – If you could bring back any fashion trend, what would it be?
Ezra 1-10 | First Things First – February 1, 2026
Getting Going
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. Can you think of a time where your priorities changed based on things being added or
removed from your life? What were your constant priorities? What priorities were added
or dropped?
Digging Deeper
1. Review: Daniel 1-3
a. What is a way this week that you turned to prayer, worship, and community to
overcome the pressure from society to conform to it over Christ.
2. The book of Ezra regularly highlights how God was working to help the Jews. Look
through Ezra and see if you can see how often and in what ways God’s help is noted in
the text. How does this shape your understanding of God?
3. Pastor Travis highlighted three tests of faith in Ezra (returning to Jerusalem, rebuilding
the temple in the midst of opposition, and removing sin from the community).
a. Which of these would be the most difficult for you? Why?
b. How do you deal with obstacles? How might you turn to God in them?
c. What sins do we tolerate in our community? In our own lives? What would it look
like to completely remove them like the Jews did?
4. Read Haggai 1:1-9 together. What stands out to you from this passage? Does this text
apply to where you or our church is at? Why or why not?
Practical Preparation:
1. Take some time to honestly share what your priorities in life are. If you are open to it,
allow others to speak into how they view your priorities as well.
2. In the book of Ezra putting God first can be described as obeying God’s call, seeking
God’s way instead of our own in hardship, and setting ourselves apart for God. How
might we put these into regular practice?
3. The Priest Ezra mourns and prays in chapter 9. In his prayer he highlights how gracious
and forgiving God has been to the Jews. Take some time to think about God’s grace
toward you. How might you respond to him in light of how he has treated you?
Parting Prayer
1. Take some time to pray together asking God to help us to prioritize him. Ask God to
convict us of when we place ourselves above him and to forgive us for the sin we allow
into our lives.
Optional Extra Question – Would you rather be too cold or too hot? Why?
Daniel 1–3 | Faith in Exile – January 25, 2026
1. Opening
When have you experienced entering a new environment (workplace, school, neighborhood, season of life) where you felt pressure to fit in or conform?
2. Exile and Identity (Daniel 1)
Babylon tried to reshape Daniel and his friends by changing their names, education, diet, and
loyalties.
a) What are some modern ways culture tries to reshape our identity today?
b) Which pressures feel strongest for you personally: success, acceptance, comfort, control,
or something else?
c) Why do you think faithfulness often begins with small, daily decisions rather than
dramatic moments?
d) Key Insight: Faithfulness in exile begins with remembering who you are and to whom
you belong.
3. Discernment and the Pressure to Redefine Truth
The sermon highlighted the cultural pressure to treat truth as personal and flexible rather than
revealed.
a) Where do you most often hear the message “What’s true for you isn’t true for me”?
b) How does this way of thinking affect moral decisions, relationships, or faith
conversations?
c) What helps you stay grounded in Christ as the truth (John 14:6)?
4. God’s Presence in the Fire (Daniel 3)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God’s sovereignty even without certainty of
deliverance.
a) Read Dan. 3:16-18. What stands out to you about their response?
b) How does knowing God is with us change how we face pressure or suffering?
c) Can you recall a time when God met you in a difficult season rather than removing it?
d) Can you recall a time when you needed profound wisdom or courage in a circumstance?
5. How do God’s people remain faithful to Him while living in this world?
The sermon emphasized Remembering your Identity (remember who you are and whom your
belong to), Prayer & Worship, and Community.
a) What are some ways we remind ourselves of our true identity in Christ?
b) How does prayer and worship re-orient your heart when fear or anxiety creep in?
c) Why is Christian community essential for discernment and perseverance?
6. Hope Beyond Babylon (Daniel 2)
God’s kingdom will outlast every earthly empire.
a) How does remembering God’s eternal kingdom shape how we engage politics, culture, or
news?
b) What does it look like to live with hope while waiting for a kingdom we cannot yet fully
see?
Closing Prayer
a) Invite group members to briefly share one pressure they are facing right now.
b) Pray for discernment, courage, faithfulness, and trust in God’s sovereign rule. c) Thank God that Babylon is not the end of the story—and that His kingdom will never
fail.
Take Home Question
“What is shaping me right now—and am I intentionally allowing God’s Word, Spirit, and people
to do that work?”
2 Kings 21-25 | Lament, Loss & the Faithfulness of God – January 18, 2026
Opening
- When life feels overwhelming, what is usually your first response (withdrawal, complaint, distraction, problem-solving, prayer, or something else)?
- Have you ever experienced a situation that felt like “everything came crashing down,” even if others didn’t see it that way?
Collapse and Consequence
Read 2 Kings 24:1-4
- The sermon emphasized that Judah’s fall was the result of long-ignored warnings.
Why do people often ignore spiritual or moral warnings? - How does this passage show God’s mercy even in judgment?
Exile and Shared Suffering
Read Psalm 137:1-4
- What emotions stand out in this Psalm?
- Why is it important to remember that faithful people also suffered in the exile?
Lament vs. Complaining
Key Idea: Lament turns toward God; Complaining turns away from Him.
- How would you describe the difference between lament and just complaining?
- Why do you think honest lament can feel uncomfortable for Christians (Read Ps. 137:8-9)?
- Have you ever tried to suppress grief or frustration with forced positivity? What was the result?
God’s Invitation to Honest Prayer
Read Romans 8:26
- What stands out to you about the Spirit’s role in prayer during weakness?
- How does this verse encourage you if you struggle to find words when praying?
- The sermon said, “The Psalms speak for us when we don’t have words.” How might that change the way you use the Psalms?
Hope Beyond Lament
Read John 16:33
- How does Jesus acknowledge both suffering and hope in this verse?
- The sermon connected Jehoiachin’s release to Christ’s ultimate victory. Why is it important that the Bible’s story does not end in exile?
- How does the gospel give us a place to anchor hope even when circumstances do not change?
Guided Prayer of Lament
- Begin by praising God for who He is
- Invite participants (silently or aloud) to name their lament
- Ask God for help, healing, endurance or deliverance from it
- End by affirming trust in Christ
Take Home Practice (optional)
Encourage group members this week to:
- Read one lament Psalm (e.g., Psalm 13, 42, 77, or 102)
- Write a short personal lament prayer using the pattern discussed
- Bring it honestly (and unfiltered) to God, trusting Him with it
2 Kings 17-19 | Two Kingdoms, Two Paths – January 11, 2026
Opening Reflection
- The sermon defined crisis as a time of intense difficulty, stress, or trouble. Why do you think crisis is such a universal human experience?
- When you hear the word crisis, what kinds of situations come to mind for you personally?
Crisis Reveals What is Already There
- The sermon emphasized that crisis does not create faith or unbelief—it reveals it. Why is that distinction important?
- Can you think of a time when a crisis revealed something about your faith, fears, or priorities that surprised you?
- Why do you think God sometimes allows crisis to expose what has been growing beneath the surface?
Israel’s Fall: Compromise Exposed (2 Kings 17)
6. The northern kingdom of Israel drifted gradually away from the Lord over many generations. The Assyrian crisis revealed Israel’s misplaced trust in foreign alliances rather than in God. What modern “alliances” do people often turn to instead of trusting the Lord?
7. The sermon said, “What we tolerate in peace will rule us in crisis.” What does that statement mean to you?
Judah and Hezekiah: Faith Revealed (2 Kings 18–19)
8. Judah faced essentially the same Assyrian threat as Israel. Read 2 Kings 19:1, 14 together. What stands out to you about Hezekiah’s first response to the crisis?
9. Read 2 Kings 19:14-19. How does Hezekiah’s prayer model honesty, humility, and trust in God?
Same Crisis, Different Responses
10. Why do you think two people—or two communities—can face similar crises and experience vastly different outcomes?
11. According to the sermon, what did the Assyrian crisis reveal about Israel? What did it reveal about Judah?
Crisis as an Invitation
12. When you personally face a crisis, what is usually your first instinct—to control, avoid, panic, withdraw, pray, or something else?
13. The sermon offered four practices for responding faithfully to crisis. Which one do you find most challenging? Why?
• Naming the crisis honestly before God
• Allowing the crisis to diagnose, not just disrupt
• Sharing the burden with God’s people
• Remembering God’s past faithfulness
14. What might it look like for a crisis to diagnose something unhealthy in your life rather than just disrupt it?
15. What fears or obstacles keep people from asking others for prayer or support?
Gospel Reflection
16. The sermon reminded us that Jesus entered fully into humanity’s greatest crisis—sin and separation from God. How does that truth shape the way you view your current or future crises?
Jeremiah 29:1-14 | The Prophets – January 4, 2026
Opening/Connection
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. Did you set any resolutions for 2026? If so, what are they? Why did you choose them?
Digging Deeper
1. Review: Was it visible in your life who it is that you worship?
2. President Dave summarized the work of the prophets as revealing the word and
character of God to the people. The prophets ask questions like: Who is God? What is
God’s character? What are the stipulations of God’s covenant with us? What does God
see in this situation? What is God wanting us to do?
a. Do these questions still apply to us today? How might we use them if they do?
3. Reading Jeremiah 29:1-14 we can easily read this passage looking at it selfishly. How
does a self focused reading miss the larger point that God is trying to make? How else
do we do this in our relationship with God?
4. A central point that President Dave made was understanding the long term vision.
Sometimes the point of a hardship is not for the betterment of the people right here and
now but for the betterment of people in the future (i.e the people will remain in exile for
70 years). How should we understand this in our own lives? What is something we need
to learn or go through to help others better worship God?
5. The Jeremiah 29 passage affirms that God’s blessing, his Shalom, does not depart from
his people,but that it dwells wherever they are. How have you witnessed this in your own
life or perhaps in the lives of the community of believers around you?
Practical Preparation
1. The prophets were meant to call attention back to God and the relationship we are to
have with him. What serves this role in your life? How can we be more sensitive and
responsive to the “voices” in our lives calling us back to God?
2. God’s blessing exists for his people, how might we use his blessing to work for the
betterment of those around us so that they may see Jesus and believe in him?
Parting Prayer
1. Pray that we might have ears to hear and soft hearts that respond to God speaking to
us, and calling us to his ways.
2. Pray that we see the Lord’s Shalom as not just for our benefit but to draw others to
Jesus.
Optional Extra Question – Was there ever a time in your life where it felt like a prophetic voice was
speaking into your life? What was that like?
1 Kings 11-16 | Why Worship Matters – December 28, 2025
Opening/Connection
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. What was the most fun or meaningful part of your Christmas season?
Digging Deeper
1. Rehoboam, Abijah, Jeroboam, Nadab, Baasha, Elah, Tirza, Omri, and Ahab were all
described as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord, while only Asa was described as doing
right in the eyes of the Lord. What differentiated Asa from all these kings? What does the
Bible reveal is needed to live a life pleasing to the Lord?
2. Based upon how God interacts with and treats the kings of Judah and Israel how would
you describe the character of God?
3. Pastor Travis made the observation that the text is showing us that worshipping the Lord
brings about God’s blessings; but that worshipping anything else brings about God’s
curses. How was this revealed in 1 Kings 12-16? Do you think this is still true? Why or
why not?
4. What we worship matters! This can be particularly seen in the lives of Asa and
Jeroboam. Their lives highlight the impact of how worship has upon their own lives but
also upon the lives of those around them. How have you seen this play out in both your
life and also in the lives of those around you?
Practical Preparation
1. Pastor Travis challenged us to really ask ourselves what we are worshipping. Take
some time to examine your life and think about what you are giving yourself to (your
time, energy, money, etc). What do you notice when you take the time to think about
this?
2. Have you seen God’s blessing in your life as you have faithfully worshipped him? In
what ways have you seen it? In what ways do you see hardship when people don’t
worship God?
3. How have you been impacted (either positively or negatively) by the worship (driving
focus) of others? What is something you can do this week to positively impact those
around you through your worship?
Parting Prayer
1. Spend time in prayer asking God to forgive us for when we fail to worship him as we
ought to. And spend time thanking him for his faithfulness and forgiveness.
2. Ask God to help us to realize the impact we make either positively or negatively on those
around us, and help us to seek to live out our faith so that we can impact others
positively.
Optional Extra Question – What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received? Why?
2 Samuel 7 | God is Building You – December 14, 2025
Opening/Connection
1. The sermon began with a reflection on serving at Bible camp. Can you think of a season in your life when you signed up to do something for God but later realized God was doing something significant in you?
2. When you hear the phrase “God is building you,” what emotions or thoughts does that stir up for you right now?
3. Why do you think it’s so easy for us to forget that God—not us—is the primary builder of our lives?
David and the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7)
4. Read 2 Samuel 7:8–11 together. What stands out to you about the way God retells David’s story?
5. How does seeing David’s accomplishments reframed as God’s work challenge the way we think about success, growth, or ministry today?
6. Read Luke 1:26-33. God promised a King and a Kingdom, from David’s line – a kingdom that would never end. Jesus is that promised King! What kind of thoughts come to mind as you reflect on who this King is, what He has done for you and what He continues to do in you?
God’s Faithfulness and Our Growth
7. The sermon highlighted that David’s journey to becoming king took many years and included hardship, waiting, and uncertainty. Why do you think God often chooses slow, difficult processes to shape His people?
8. How have past seasons of hardship or waiting contributed to your spiritual growth—even if you didn’t recognize it at the time?
9. Our culture celebrates being “self-made.” How does that mindset conflict with the Biblical picture of God as the Builder? Where are you most tempted to take credit for growth or success that may actually be the result of God’s work in your life?
Removing Debris
- The sermon compared God’s work in us to a renovation project that begins with demolition. Why is removing “debris” often harder than building something new?
- Are there habits, attitudes, relationships, or distractions God may be inviting you to let go of so He can continue His work in you?
- How does trusting God as a wise Builder help when the process feels painful, confusing, or disruptive?
Making Space for God’s Work
13. The sermon offered three practical ways to give space for God to build us:
Stop resisting, protect against distractions, and serve.
Which of these do you find most challenging right now? Why?
14. What might it look like for you, practically, to create more space for God to work in your life this week?
Living It Out
15. Philippians 1:6 promises that God will finish the work He began in us. How does that promise bring encouragement or reassurance to you today?
16. As you look ahead, what is one intentional step you can take to trust the Builder more fully rather than trying to control the outcome yourself?
Closing Reflection (Optional)
17. If you were to rewrite a season of your life from God’s perspective—as God did with David—what might He say about how He was building you?
1 Samuel 16:1-13 | God Looks at the Heart – December 7, 2025
Getting Going
1. What are you looking forward to or not looking forward to as Christmas approaches?
2. What emotions usually rise in you as Christmas approaches—anticipation, joy, stress,
dread, something else? Why?
Outward Appearance vs. the Heart
1. Read 1 Samuel 16:1–13 together.
2. In what ways does our culture pressure us to focus on outward appearance—physical
beauty, success, image, etc.?
3. How frequently and in what ways do you find yourself comparing or judging others by
outward appearance?
4. How would your relationships or your daily interactions change if you saw people the
way God sees them?
A Heart That Pursues the Lord
The sermon listed 5 qualities and contrasts of a heart that pursues the Lord:
A. Faith & Trust vs. Fear
B. Love for God’s Word & Prayer vs. Living by our own law
C. Humble, God-Centered Perspective vs. Pride & Self-centeredness
D. Gratitude & Praise vs. Complaining & Entitlement
E. Genuine Repentance vs. Excuses Denial & Hard-heartedness
1. Which of the five heart qualities do you sense the Spirit highlighting in your life right
now?
2. Is there an area where you’ve been resisting God’s transforming work?
3. What practice or step of obedience or surrender is God inviting you to take?
Connecting to Advent and the Gospel
1. What do you think people would choose in a king today?
2. The sermon highlighted that Jesus is a far better King than the one we would have
chosen. We often just want God to fix our circumstances. Can you think of a time when
God changed your heart, rather than just fixed your circumstances?
3. How does it change your view of Advent to think of Jesus as the King who transforms
hearts rather than just circumstances?
Closing Prayer:
Invite the Lord to transform your heart. Pray for…
o God to fill you with faith as you encounter the fears in your life.
o A deeper love for God’s Word and a soft, teachable heart.
o A spirit of Humility to see people & events through a God-centered perspective.
o Gratitude and praise to characterize your life.
o A soft, humble heart of repentance when faced with godly conviction.
1 Samuel 1-15 | Who is My King? – November 30, 2025
Getting Going
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. Pastor Travis shared a story about trying to get rid of smells instead of the problem. Can
you think of a time you tried to treat symptoms rather than the problem?
Digging Deeper
1. Review:
a. Think back to your own baptism. What did it mean to you then? What does it
mean to you now?
b. What were ways you reminded yourself of your need for redemption?
2. 1 Samuel 7 describes what happens when Israel follows the Lord. Why then in chapter 8
do you think Israel was ready to reject the system of Judges?
3. The book of 1 & 2 Kings characterizes each reign of the king as good or bad. How do
you think we are supposed to view the reign of Saul? Why?
4. 1 Samuel 13:13-14, and 1 Samuel 15:22-23 speak to the need to obey and follow God
wholeheartedly. What do these accounts reveal to us about Saul’s heart? What do they
reveal about our hearts?
5. We are like the Israelites trying to treat symptoms rather than causes. Why do you think
we do this?
Practical Preparation:
1. Think about a time when you simply treated spiritual symptoms instead of dealing with
the cause. Why did you decide to do what you did?
2. Saul is a complicated character because he looks like he should be a king, but he is
filled with fear and selfishness. Whereas, David is the youngest in his family and a lowly
shepherd; but he has a heart after God. How do we avoid seeking “Saul-like” solutions to
problems that we need “David-like” answers?
3. What is a practical thing you could do this week to better deal with the causes of your
spiritual problems?
Closing Prayer:
1. We often look for the easy fix instead of the actual fix. Spend time in prayer that we can
be honest with ourselves and allow God to do the heart work we often need.
2. It is not always easy to obey God. We struggle with fear and selfishness instead of
whole hearted desire to follow God. Pray that we might desire the Lord more than we
fear others. Pray that we would desire to obey God more than elevate self.
Optional Extra Question – If you came home and your house was completely filled with golf balls, how
would you deal with it?
Ruth 1-4 | Empty & Filled – November 16, 2025
Getting Going
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. Would you rather be the funniest or smartest person in the room? Why?
Digging Deeper
1. Review:
a) Judges is a tragedy about compromise and complacency. How have you combated these things in your walk with Jesus?
b) God promised to go into the land before Joshua. Thinking about your life, in what ways have you noticed God going before you?
2. Take time to read through Ruth and take note of every reference to God. How does the book describe God? How does it affect your opinion of him?
3. Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi are the three main characters in the book of Ruth. Is there a character that you relate more to? Why? Which of the three would you like to be most like? Why?
4. The book of Ruth describes how pain can make us feel empty and bitter; but contrasts this with how God makes us full. Is there an experience you can point to in your own life where God did this for you? What did this experience do for your faith?
5. The need for redemption is plain when we are powerless and destitute like Naomi. Do we see our own need for redemption? Why or why not? What would it take to see our need for redemption?
Practical Preparation:
1. Pain or disappointment can make us bitter. What is a way we can choose to trust God instead of becoming bitter?
2. What is something you can do this week to remind yourself of your need to cling to Jesus for your redemption?
3. God used Ruth and Boaz to bring redemption to Naomi, but also to Israel, and through Christ the world! How might God bring the redemption of Christ to others through you?
Closing Prayer:
1. Spend time in prayer thanking God for all he has done for us, be it the tangible blessings, or being present in our hurt and hard times. Pray that we might see his love even in hard times.
2. Pray that as we have experienced redemption through Christ, that we might be able to point others to this need as well. If there is someone that you know that needs to be redeemed by Jesus, spend time praying specifically for them.
Optional Extra Question – Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Judges 1-21 | Faithful in an Unfaithful Age – November 9, 2025
Getting Going
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer
2. Have you ever ignored something small — a car issue, a home repair, a health concern
— only to have it become a much bigger problem later? What made you ignore it in the
first place?
Digging Deeper
1. Review:
a. Thinking about your life, in what ways have you noticed God going before you?
b. How has wondering about “the wilderness” changed how you respond to God?
2. Read Judges 2:6-23, summarize the Judges cycle as a group. What does this reveal
about the Israelites? About God? (Sin, Suffering, Cry for help, Salvation)
3. The Israelites drifted into complacency and compromise time and again. What did their
compromise look like? What did their complacency look like? What might that drift look
like for us today? What are we called to do? (For some examples read Romans 8:13,
Hebrews 12:1-3, James 1:26-27)
4. In Judges 17-21 a line repeats “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they
saw fit.” This line explains the moral decline to the point where the Israelites are as
wicked as the Sodomites (compare Judges 19 and Genesis 19). Why is it when we
choose to do as we see fit that we see such drastic moral decay? How do we see it in
our society? Have you seen this in your own life?
5. In their suffering, the Israelites wanted relief more than repentance and God’s rescue
without His rule? Can you recall times where you can relate? Why?
6. The book of Judges is meant to be read as a tragedy. However, there is hope and grace
that appears often in the stories. How do you see the tragedy of Judges pointing to
hope, grace, and most importantly pointing to Christ?
7. “Compromise and complacency don’t announce themselves — they creep in quietly.” In
what ways have you felt them creep into your life?
Practical Preparation:
1. Pastor Jason gave us 4 application points as to not let the story of Judges become our
story. Spend some time thinking through these 4 points. Which of these 4 challenges
speaks to you the most, and why?
a. Remember what God has done
b. Refuse to make peace with sin
c. Devote yourself to God’s authority
d. Be missional
Closing Prayer (5 min)
1. Pray that we would not become complacent and compromise with sin and the world, but
that we would seek to wholly devote our lives to Christ.
2. Pray that in a world that does what it sees fit, that the good news of Jesus would
penetrate hearts and minds, and that we would be ready to share and live out this good
news.
Closing verse: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” — Joshua 24:15
Optional Extra Question – What is the best way to start your day?
BOOK OF JOSHUA | Faith Over Fear – November 2, 2025
Ice Breaker
Can you remember a time when you stood on the edge of something new — a new job, a move, a relationship, or another big life change?
How did you feel — excited, nervous, fearful, hopeful?
Scripture Focus
Read aloud together: Joshua 1:6–9
“Be strong and courageous… Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Discussion Section 1 – Standing on the Edge
1. What so you think the Israelites were feeling as they stood on the edge of the Promised Land after 40 years in the wilderness?
2. Why do you think God had to tell Joshua three times to be strong and courageous?
(Notice: God’s presence (“I will be with you”) is the foundation for courage, not self-confidence or favorable circumstances.)
3. What does it mean for us today to “walk by faith and not by sight”?
4. How does remembering God’s past faithfulness give us courage for new challenges?
Discussion Section 2 – God Goes Before Us
Read Joshua 2:8–11
1. What does Rahab’s story teach us about how God was preparing the way before Israel even entered the land?
2. Can you think of a time when you recognized that God had already been working ahead of you in a situation?
Discussion Section 3 – The Walls We Face
1. What “walls” in life can seem impossible to bring down without God’s help?
(Examples: bitterness, fear, addiction, broken relationships, conflict/division, etc.)
2. How does prayer help us trust God to do what only He can do?
3. What does it practically look like to “let the battle belong to the Lord”?
Discussion Section 4 – Hidden Sin and Faithful Obedience
Read Joshua 7:10–12 (The sin of Achan).
1. Why does hidden sin have such devastating consequences on individuals and communities?
2. What keeps people from confessing sin — fear, pride, shame?
3. How can confession and accountability actually strengthen faith?
Discussion Section 5 – Choose This Day
Read Joshua 24:14–15.
1. What idols or false gods are most tempting in our culture today?
2. What does it look like to “serve the Lord wholeheartedly” in your current season of life?
3. How can we help each other remain strong and courageous in our faith?
Application (5–10 min)
Invite reflection:
“Where do you find yourself in the story of Joshua today?”
• Standing on the edge of something new?
• Facing walls that seem too big?
• Needing to confess hidden sin?
• Choosing daily whom you will serve?
Ask: What one step of faith will you take this week to trust God more deeply?
Closing Prayer (5 min)
Pray for courage to obey God even when afraid, for awareness that God goes before us, and for hearts that remain faithful and wholehearted in devotion to Him.
“As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” – Joshua 24:15
NUMBERS 1-36 | Wondering about Wandering – October 26, 2025
Getting Going
- Settling in & Opening Prayer
- Share your best and worst road trip experience.
Digging Deeper
1. Review:
a. We were challenged to remember our salvation just as the Israelites remembered their deliverance. How did you do that this week?
b. God’s covenant with Israel (represented by the giving of the law) called the people to faithful obedience. Christ’s covenant through his shed blood calls us to this as well. What did obedience to Christ look like for you this past week?
2. Briefly look through the narrative sections in Numbers (11-14, 16-17, 20-25, 27, 32-33). What do you think this long wandering journey would have been like? Do you relate with the Israelites in their grumbling and complaining? Why or Why not?
3. The Israelites had the physical presence of the LORD present with them during their entire journey, as well as all the miracles that he did for the people. Why do you think the Israelites struggled to place their trust in God? What prevents us from trusting God?
4. Read Exodus 14:1-4, 19-23. How should this shape how we view our own sin? Yet in contrast Num. 21:1-9 reveals how God does not want us to die from our sins. How should we view God, that in spite of our sin needing to be dealt with, he does not long for us to die?
5. Hosea 2:14-15 reveals how God viewed the time in the wilderness. Why do you think God views time in the wilderness so differently than we do? How are our expectations different from God’s during these times?
Practical Preparation:
1. We are challenged by the wilderness wanderings to see what God has done, who he has revealed himself to be, and to place our trust in him. What do you need to remind yourself of this week so that you can trust God?
2. We are challenged by the wilderness wanderings to take our sin seriously. Is there any rebellion in your heart against God? Are there parts of your life you are not trusting him in? Are you holding any anger or bitterness against him? Take time to confess these things and ask for forgiveness.
3. We are challenged by the wilderness to see this time as a means of God drawing us close. How might we match our expectations of the wilderness seasons to God’s?
Parting Prayer (15 min)
Ultimately the wilderness wanderings ask us if we are willing to trust God. Pray that God would cultivate the faith in us to trust him and cling to him through all circumstances we will journey through.
Optional Extra Question – Does pineapple belong on pizza? Why or why not?
EXODUS 16-40 | Covenant and Tabernacle – October 19, 2025
Getting Going
- Settling in & Opening Prayer
- What is your secret talent? Or what are you good at that might surprise people to know?
Digging Deeper
1. Review:
a. We were challenged in the story of Joseph to view our challenges in light of how God was using them for something greater. How did this
change/challenge how you viewed your hardships?
b. We were challenged to remember our salvation just as the Israelites remembered their deliverance. How did you do that this week?
2. After being rescued from Egypt, God brought his people to Sinai and established a covenant with them (read Exodus 19:5-6). What is the significance of God making a covenant with people? How do we view our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ?
3. When Israel sinned against God by breaking the covenant by making a golden calf (Exodus 32:1-33:6), God had every right to reject his people but he didn’t. What does this illustrate about who God is? How does this shape how you view God?
4. The tabernacle represented God dwelling amongst his people. How would you respond to the smoke, the light, the voice of thunder of God’s physical presence? How does God’s glory dwell amongst us today (John 14:26, Ephesians 1:13-14)? How do you respond to it?
Bonus study: Read Exodus 34:6-7. This is one of the most quoted and referenced verses in scripture. What does it reveal about God? Why do you think it is so important that it is repeated or referenced over 20 times in scripture?
Practical Preparation:
1. To be faithful to the covenant was to obey all the commands and laws God gave the people (Exodus 20-23). Is obeying God still how we can express our faithfulness to God today (Read John 14:15-21)? How does Jesus call us to respond to our relationship with him?
2. Pastor Justin highlighted that the covenant relationship would set Israel apart as a “kingdom of priests.” This meant that Israel was meant to help people relate to, and come close to God. 1 Peter 2:9 picks this up and applies it to the church. How might we proclaim the praise of God so that others may know God and be close to him?
Parting Prayer (15 min)
1. Pray that we might think seriously about what it means to be in relationship with a Holy God and respond in obedience and love to his lavish gifts of grace.
2. Pray that we might understand our role as a holy priesthood which helps others encounter and know God. Pray for those that you know that do not know Jesus, and pray for the opportunity to help them encounter Jesus.
Optional Extra Question – What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
EXODUS 1-14 / Deliverance – October 12, 2025
Opening Connection
1. Think back on your life — what are some of the most significant, life-shaping moments you’ve experienced?
a) How did those moments change your direction, your priorities, or your faith?
2. The sermon said that the greatest, most defining moment in our lives is when we first said “yes” to Jesus.
a) When did that moment happen for you
b) How has that decision continued to shape your story since then?
The Big Picture
- In the same way that the Exodus was Israel’s salvation story, how is your story of coming to faith a kind of “Exodus” from slavery to freedom?
- Read Exodus 1:6–14. What stands out to you about the suffering and oppression of the Israelites?
- How do you see God’s hand quietly at work even in their hardship?
- Have you experienced times when God was working behind the scenes in your own difficulty?
God’s Preparation and Call
- Moses’ life seemed full of detours—palace, wilderness, exile—but God was preparing him for His purposes.
- Can you think of a time when God used a setback or “wilderness season” to prepare you for something later?
Salvation and Judgment
- The sermon mentioned that judgment is a hard but necessary truth — and that God’s mercy is always present alongside His justice.
- Why do we struggle with the idea of God’s judgment?
- How does the Passover story show both God’s justice and His mercy?
- Read Exodus 12:12–13. What does the blood on the doorposts represent?
- How does this foreshadow the cross of Christ?
- How does it change the way you see communion?
Crossing the Red Sea
1. Read Exodus 14:10–14.
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- What do these verses teach us about faith in moments of fear?
- What “Red Sea moments” have you faced — times when God asked you to trust Him when there seemed to be no way forward?
2. The sermon compared the crossing of the Red Sea to baptism — a symbol of leaving the old life behind and stepping into a new life with Christ.
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- How has following Jesus changed your sense of identity and belonging?
- What does it mean for you today to “stand firm” and trust the Lord to fight for you?
Jesus: The Greater Deliverer
- The sermon described the Passover pointing forward to Jesus — “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”
- Why is Jesus’ sacrifice considered the greater rescue?
- How does understanding the Exodus deepen your gratitude for what Jesus has done?
- When you think about communion — the bread and the cup — how does it help you remember your own salvation story?
Reflection and Response
1. The Israelites were called to remember their salvation every year through Passover.
- What helps you personally remember and celebrate what God has done in your life?
2. Are there areas where you still feel tempted to “go back to Egypt” — to live in old habits, fears, or ways of thinking?
- What would it look like for you to trust God to bring freedom in that area?
Prayer
- Remember what God has saved us from and what He has saved us for.
- Pray prayers of gratitude for Jesus, the true Passover Lamb.
- Pray for any other needs the group shares.
GENESIS 37-50 / From Tragedy to Testimony – October 5, 2025
Getting Going
- Settling in & Opening Prayer
- If each day was 30 hours, how would you use your “extra” time?
Digging Deeper
- Review: We were challenged to take a step out in faith last week, what was a step of faith you took? How might you continue to take steps of faith going forward?
2. Take some time to go over the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50). God was with Joseph in all of his hardest times. How did this shape and change Joseph (think of how he acted at the beginning of the story vs the end)? Can you relate to this? Why or why not?
3. Chapter 38 and 39 highlight the difference between poor character and godly character. What stands out in this stark comparison? How does this challenge us to live our lives?
4. Pastor Jason mentioned that it was through reflection or looking back that Joseph was able to see what God was doing in his life. How can you see God at work in your life upon reflection? How do some of those times feel at the moment?
5. The story of Joseph brings us as Pastor Jason said it “fractured to forgiveness” which foreshadows the life of Christ. How do you see the foreshadowing of Christ in the story of Joseph?
Practical Preparation:
1. Sin and suffering does not have the final word. Joseph reflected that the evil his brothers intended God used for good. Jesus also reveals this to us through the cross, that Christ took what was meant for evil and made it something good. How might you take hope in this truth for your own life?
2. Joseph had the opportunity to punish his brothers but ultimately chose to forgive them. Are there people in your life that you need to forgive? How might you work towards forgiveness this week?
3. God is at work in us, we just need to notice it. Spend time today (and this week) thinking about how God is at work in you and in those around you. How might you share what God is doing in your life to bring hope to someone that needs it?
Parting Prayer (15 min)
1. Pray that you might have eyes to see God at work in us and around us, even in the darkest times. If you are in a hard season, pray that God gives you the strength to trust him, and the openness to allow him to bring about good.
2. Pray for opportunities and courage to share the hope that Jesus brings in all circumstances of life.
Optional Extra Question – If you could only have a maximum of 3 apps on your phone which would you choose?
GENESIS 12-35 / Built by Faith – September 28, 2025
Getting Going (15 min)
- Settling in & Opening Prayer
- Describe your perfect day off.
Digging Deeper (40 min)
1. Review:
a. Did you take time to reflect on God’s grace toward you? Did it impact you? Were you able to extend God’s grace to others? What was that experience like?
2. How is God described and portrayed in Genesis 12-35? What stands out to you about God in these chapters?
3. Abraham is often the model of faith for us to follow. Why do you think Abraham was able to place his faith in God even when asked to do difficult things? How might we model this in our own lives?
4. Abraham’s life overall is a positive example of faith. However, as we worked through the narrative there were several times where Abraham grew impatient or doubted and took matters into his own hands. Can you relate to this feeling? How do those times turn out for you?
5. Jacob placed his faith in God after realizing all that God had done for him. Think about your life, what has God all done for you? How have you responded to God in light of what he has done?
BONUS QUESTION: Read Genesis 16, 21:8-20. How does God love and care for the outsider? How should this shape our attitude and actions toward outsiders?
Practical Preparation:
1. God asks us all to take steps of faith (regardless of the level of faith we have). Is there something he is asking you right now that you are struggling to do? What might help you step out in faith?
2. How might we remind ourselves that God will always bring about his promises, even if they do not happen on our time lines?
3. What is something you want to remind yourself about who God has revealed himself to be this week?
Parting Prayer (15 min)
1. Faith is about knowing and trusting the one we are placing our faith in. Pray that you may know and grow in trust of God.
2. If God is asking you to take a step of faith, or respond to what he has done in your life, pray that you will be willing to obey.
Optional Extra Question – What was your first car?
GENESIS 3-11 / The Fall – September 21, 2025
Getting Going (15 min)
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer.
2. If you had to describe your life using one popular song, what song would you choose? Why (if it is not obvious)?
Digging Deeper (40 min)
1. Review: In the Beginning
a. How have you taken time to wonder about God and his creation? How have you been living out our calling to be God’s royal representatives here on earth?
2. We might ask why something as small as eating fruit from a tree could cause such life altering consequences. Pastor Jason explained that is because this choice is saying that we know better than God. Have you ever considered this about sin before? Where does this line of thinking lead people? Us?
3. Sin promises freedom but what it delivers is death, shame, pain, and suffering. Why, in spite of being lied to by sin and experiencing pain and suffering, do we reject following God’s way?
4. Pastor Jason identified a pattern in chapters 3-11 of: Sin, God speaking against sin, God gives grace, God judges. What does this pattern reveal about God? What does it reveal about us?
5. Even though Genesis 3-11 are chapters about brokenness, we see the love of God. He offers grace and hope to his creation. God warns us, gives us time to repent, extends grace, and promises a future redemption. How have you observed God’s grace in the world? Personally? How did you respond in the moment? How do you respond to it now?
Practical Preparation:
1. Even in judgement, God is more gracious than we deserve. How have you experienced this? How might you become aware of this while experiencing God’s judgement?
2. God continues to reveal his grace and warn his creation of its need for him. We as the church are the city on the hill, and light in the darkness (read Matthew 5:14-16, Ephesians 5:8-14). What is something this week we can do to help extend the grace of God and warn those in need of Jesus?
Parting Prayer (15 min)
1. Spend some time in personal repentance. Pray also that those in sin might seek the grace of God and be forgiven of their sin.
2. God reveals his grace to us and warns people to repent and turn back to him. Pray that we might be effective witnesses to help those that need Jesus’ forgiveness to receive it.
Optional Extra Question – Has birth order in your family affected your personality? In what way?
GENESIS 1-2 / IN THE BEGINNING – September 14, 2025
Getting Going (15 min)
1. Settling in & Opening Prayer.
2. Pastor Jason said that we are all deeply shaped by story, share a lighthearted story from your life that actually had a large impact upon you.
Digging Deeper (40 min)
1. Read through Genesis 1-2 as a group. Based upon these 2 chapters what do you think God wants us to know about Him and about His creation?
2. The ancient cultures saw the creation of the world from a perspective of struggle and rivalry. How is our God different, what does that make you realize or think about our God?
3. The ancient people believed that the gods created us to be the gods slaves. However, in the bible God singled out people as a special part of creation by making us in His image to be his royal representatives. What does that say about how God values people? How does that shape how you view and treat yourself and others?
4. We were challenged in this sermon to ask the right questions when we approach the creation account. The questions Pastor Jason directed to were: Who is God? Who are we? Why are we here? How would you answer these questions?
Practical Preparation:
1. Do you ever take time to examine creation and wonder at God, and what he has done? How might you find time this week to wonder in awe at who God is and what he has done?
2. How should one respond to the almighty creator? Are there areas in your life where you are not responding to God in the way he is due? What is something this week you can do differently to respond to him as he is due?
3. Human beings have value and dignity beyond measure because we are made in the image of God. How might you live out that truth this week?
4. The creator of the universe has made us for a purpose, to be his royal representatives upon the earth. What is something you can do this week to live out this calling?
Parting Prayer (15 min)
1. Pray that as you view God as creator that it would cause you to want to treat Him with the reverence and respect that he is due.
2. Pray that God will give you the eyes to see yourself and others as deeply important and valued, regardless of stage of life, beliefs, or appearance.
3. Pray that as we read about our purpose from God that we might live it out for all to see.
Optional Extra Question – If you could describe your family in one word what would it be? Why?