Sermon Guide

November 16: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Question: What happens after we die? Are our loved ones who believed already with Jesus, or are they waiting for Him to return? What about what we call “the Rapture?” What is heaven anyway?

Key Takeaway:

1. The Gospel foundation: The Bible tells us what God has done to earn our salvation through Jesus Christ, not what we must do to earn it.
2. Grief is real and okay: Being a Christian doesn't mean floating around like a "spiritual robot." Grief shows up because something mattered—it's a sign of great love, not a failure of faith.
3. Death doesn't change what matters most: If you're in Christ, nothing—including death—can separate you from God's love (Romans 8:38-39).
4. Christians who die are resting in Jesus: They immediately go into God's presence and are awaiting the resurrection.
5. The great reunion: When Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, and we will all be together—with Him and with each other—forever.
6. Heaven is Physical and Beautiful: It's not clouds and harps, but a recreated, perfected world where all good things exist without sin's stain.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 together. What stands out to you most from this passage? What questions does it raise for you?
2. Why do you think Paul uses the word "sleep" or "asleep" so many times when talking about death? What comfort does this metaphor provide?
3. Paul says we "do not grieve like the rest who have no hope" (v. 13). What's the difference between Christian grief and grief without hope?
4. Have you experienced the loss of a loved one? How did your faith (or lack of faith at the time) shape how you processed that grief?
5. Lament isn't just allowed—it's modeled, patterned, and necessary. Do you find it easy or difficult to be honest with God about your pain? Why?
6. Christians often argue about the timing of the rapture but that Paul "does not care about the timing" in this passage. Why do you think Paul focuses on what happens rather than when it happens?
7. How does the promise of bodily resurrection (not just spiritual existence) change the way we think about our physical world and bodies now?
8. Read Romans 8:38-39. How does this passage complement what Paul is saying in 1 Thessalonians 4?
9. For those grieving: What practical steps can you take this week to honestly bring your grief before God in prayer? (Consider journaling, praying the Psalms of lament, or sharing with a trusted friend)
10. For the whole group: How can we better support those in our church or community who are grieving? What should we say (or not say)?
11. How does the hope in the reminder that "one day we will see [Jesus] as we stand next to [our loved ones].” change the way you live today?

Practical Applications:

1. When you sin this week, practice plain confession without excuses, minimizing, or renaming. Simply say to God: "I sinned. I [specific sin]. Please forgive me." Then receive His forgiveness and move forward.
2. Set aside 15 minutes to look back over the past year. Write down specific ways Jesus has changed you, even small ones. Thank God for the progress, not perfection.
3. Memorize Romans 8:1 and 1 John 1:9. When you struggle with guilt or shame this week, speak these verses out loud as a declaration of truth.
4. Each day this week, notice when you're trying to "supplement" Jesus with your own efforts versus resting in Him as your substitute. Journal about what you discover.
5. Share one lie you've been believing about God's forgiveness or your standing with Him. Pray for each other, thanking God for Jesus as our substitute and asking for grace to walk in freedom.

Sermon Guide

November 30: Romans 8:18-30

Question: Why do bad things happen?

Key Takeaway:

1. God doesn't hide from our pain—He runs to it, enters it, and will ultimately reverse it.
2. "Good" in Romans 8:28 doesn't mean comfortable or easy—it means being conformed to the image of Christ.
3. God is not an all-powerful version of us; His ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than ours.
4. The Holy Spirit groans with us and prays the will of the Father over us when we don't know what to pray.
5. Bad things are actually bad—God hates the effects of sin, and it's okay to lament.

Discussion Questions:

1. How was your understanding of Romans 8:28 challenged? What does it mean that "good" is about being conformed to Christ's image rather than comfort?
2. We often treat God as "an all-powerful version of me." What does this look like practically? How does this misunderstanding affect our expectations during difficult times?
3. Read Romans 8:26-27. What comfort does it bring knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with groans when we don't know what to pray?
4. The sermon mentioned three categories of suffering:
1. Consequences of our own sin
2. Results of others' sinful choices
3. Situations that don't fit neatly (like the blind man in John 9)

How does identifying which category we're in help or not help? Why is it important not to assume we always know?

5. The pastor gave the example of Jesus weeping at Lazarus's tomb even though He knew He would raise him. What does this teach us about God's character in our suffering?
6. Discuss the "holy reversal" concept—how God turns graves into gardens and crosses into thrones. Where have you seen glimpses of this in your own life or the lives of others?
7. Have you ever been hurt by well-meaning Christians trying to explain your suffering? How can we better support each other without minimizing pain or offering "bad fortune cookie" theology?
8. The sermon emphasized that "lament is an honest cry of a child of God living in the tension of pain and future promises." How comfortable are you with bringing your honest frustration to God? What holds you back?
9. Where are you right now:
1. In the middle of suffering and needing to hear these truths?
2. In a season of peace and needing to prepare your theology for future trials?
3. Walking alongside someone in pain and needing wisdom?

Practical Applications:

1. Read through several Psalms of lament (Psalm 13, 22, 42, 88). Write your own honest prayer to God expressing your current struggles while also declaring His faithfulness. Share it with one trusted person if you feel comfortable
2. Identify someone in your life who is suffering. Instead of trying to explain or fix, simply be present. Text them: "I'm thinking of you. I don't have answers, but I'm here and praying for you.” Follow up with a specific act of service.
3. Memorize Romans 8:28-30 in its full context. Journal about what "being conformed to the image of Christ" looks like practically. Reflect on Jesus in Gethsemane as the model: "Not my will, but yours"

 Sermon Guide

December 7: Acts 12:1-17

Question: Why pray at all if God already has everything planned out?

Key Takeaway:

1. God doesn't need our prayers to act, but He chooses to work through them so we can participate in His story and witness His power.
2. Prayer changes us more than it changes our circumstances. It's where our hearts are aligned with God's will and our trust is deepened.
3. Different outcomes don't mean different levels of God's love. James died; Peter lived. Both were under God's sovereign care.
4. Imperfect faith is still faith. The early church prayed with shaky faith, yet God moved powerfully.
5. Prayer is relationship before it's a transaction. God wants the real you—messy, honest, and vulnerable.

Discussion Questions:

1. Read Acts 12:1-17 together. What stands out to you most about this passage? What surprises you?
2. In this story, the church prayed earnestly for Peter. James was killed, but Peter was miraculously freed. How do you reconcile these two different outcomes under the same sovereign God?
3. When Peter showed up at the door, the praying church didn't believe it was actually him (v. 15). What does this tell us about the relationship between faith, prayer, and God's answers?
4. Which of these misconceptions have you struggled with in your own prayer life?

• Prayer is not informing God
• Prayer is not convincing God
• Prayer is not magic that forces outcomes

5. Read Matthew 6:7-8. Jesus says the Father already knows what we need before we ask. If that's true, why do you think God still invites us to pray?
6. What does it mean that prayer is participation, not persuasion?  Can you think of a time when you felt like you were participating with God through prayer rather than trying to convince Him?
7. If prayer is more "climbing into God's lap" rather than "placing orders at a counter,” how does that change your perspective on prayer?
8. Read Matthew 26:36-39 (Jesus in Gethsemane). Jesus was honest, repetitive, and surrendered. How does His example give you freedom in your own prayer life?
9. When was the last time you spent time with God without a list of requests—just being present with Him?

Practical Applications:

1. Spend 10 minutes each day praying with complete honesty. Don't perform or use "holy" language. Just talk to God like you would a trusted friend. Share your fears, frustrations, confusion, and hopes.
2. Set aside 15 minutes this week to simply sit in God's presence without saying anything. No requests, no words—just being with your Father.
3. Follow Jesus' model: Be honest about what you're feeling, ask for what you desire, but end with surrender: "Not my will, but Yours be done."
4. Connect with someone in the group this week and pray together (in person, phone, or video call). Practice praying out loud with another person.
5. What's one barrier that keeps you from praying regularly or honestly? How can this group support you?
6. How can we pray for each other right now?

 Sermon Guide

December 14: Matthew 18

Question: How do you overcome the hurt brought on by someone you should be able to trust?

Key Takeaway:

1. Offense is serious because it damages our ability to trust both people and God
2. Forgiveness is a process that requires intentional steps: accounting, confrontation, compassion, and release
3. Forgiveness is obedience, not based on feelings or the other person's response
4. We cannot forgive alone—we need community and the power of Christ
5. The debt we owed God is infinitely greater than any debt owed to us

Discussion Questions:

1. Offense is an action that damages a person's ability to trust. How does this definition differ from how we typically use the word "offense" in Christian culture?
2. Read Matthew 18:6-9. Why does Jesus respond so severely to those who cause offenses? What does this tell us about God's heart toward those who've been hurt?
3. When trust breaks horizontally, it doesn't just stay horizontal—it starts bleeding vertically. Can you share (without naming names) an example of how broken trust with people has affected your trust in God?
4. Jesus outlines a pattern through the king's example:

• Do the accounting (know what you're forgiving)
• Do the confrontation (address it directly)
• Have compassion (see them as God sees them)
• Forgive the debt (release them from owing you)

        Which of these steps feels most difficult for you personally? Why?

5. Forgiveness is about obedience, not outcomes. How does this change the way you approach forgiving someone who may never acknowledge what they did?
6. Forgiveness doesn't mean "forgive and forget." What's the difference between forgiving someone and trusting them again? How do we navigate that tension wisely?
7. Be honest: When you heard the question "How many of you know God likes you?" how did you respond internally? What does your answer reveal about unhealed hurt in your life?
8. Read the parable in Matthew 18:23-35 again. Bob was forgiven $98.5 million but wouldn't forgive $100. What "debt" are you holding onto that pales in comparison to what Christ has forgiven you?
9. Time heals no wounds by itself. Healing requires prescribed activity. What's one specific step you need to take this week toward forgiveness—whether that's doing the math, having the conversation, or seeking help from a mature believer?

Practical Applications:

1. Write down the name of someone you need to forgive. Do the accounting—what specifically did they do or not do? How has it affected your life? If you're not ready to confront yet, write a letter (you don't have to send it) working through the forgiveness process.
2. Share with one trusted person in this group (or a mentor) about a hurt you're carrying. Ask them to pray with you and check in on your progress.
3. Ask God to help you see the person who hurt you the way He sees them—not minimizing their sin, but recognizing their humanity and need for grace.
4. Read through Matthew 18 daily this week, asking God to reveal any unforgiveness in your heart. Consider meeting with a pastor, counselor, or spiritual mentor if you're dealing with deep trauma or abuse
5. Memorize Matthew 18:21-22: "Then Peter approached him and asked, 'Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?' 'I tell you, not as many as seven,' Jesus replied, 'but seventy times seven.'"
6. How does Jesus' forgiveness of you on the cross motivate you toward forgiving others? What would change in your life if you truly released the debt you're holding against someone?