Sermon Guide

May 3: John 15

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus is the True Vine: He claimed the identity that Israel failed to live up to and is the channel through which God's love, blessing, and character flow to the world. Apart from Him, we can do nothing of eternal significance
2. We Are Branches, Not Admirers: We're not called to admire Jesus from a distance but to be connected to Him. Fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) is the natural byproduct of connection. Branches don't strategize or strain to produce fruit—they simply stay attached
3. Abiding Means Being in Two Places at Once: Abiding is maintaining ongoing awareness of Jesus' presence throughout your daily life. It’s not just a morning quiet time—it's carrying that posture into every moment intentionally but not faking it.
4. Pruning is Intimacy, Not Abandonment: God prunes branches that ARE producing fruit so they'll produce MORE. The gardener is closest to the plant during pruning, so remember that difficult seasons aren't evidence of God's absence but of His nearness.

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does understanding Israel as "the vine" in the Old Testament change your understanding of Jesus' claim in John 15?
2. Read Galatians 5:22-23 together. Which aspect of the fruit of the Spirit do you most long to see grow in your life? Why that one?
3. Which of these practical definitions of the Fruit of the Spirit resonates most with a current struggle in your life? Love is choosing good when it feels better not to, peace is staying steady when everything is shaking, or self-control is stopping when everything in you wants to keep going
4. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your current "connectedness" to Jesus? What influences that rating?
5. We all check our phones 60-100 times per day. What would change if you "returned to Jesus" with that same frequency? What might that look like practically?
6. What's the difference between "spiritual disciplines" and "abiding"? How do they work together?
7. Share about a time when you experienced God's "pruning" in your life. Looking back, can you see how He was close to you during that season?
8. Abiding means "being in two places at once"—fully present in your circumstances while aware of Jesus' presence. What makes this difficult? When have you experienced this successfully?
9. What are the biggest obstacles that keep you from remaining/abiding in Christ throughout your day? Busyness? Noise and distraction? Shame or guilt? Feeling unworthy? Not knowing how?
10. How does our culture's emphasis on productivity and performance make it harder to trust that fruit comes from connection rather than effort?

Practical Applications:

1. Personal Reflection: What specific practice will you commit to this week? How will you remember to do it? Who will you ask to check in with you about it?
2. The Five-Minute Practice: Set aside 5 minutes each day for silence then ask three questions: Who are You? Who am I? How are we? Share your experience with the group next week
3. The Hourly Return: Set a gentle reminder on your phone every 1-2 hours. When it goes off, take 30 seconds to acknowledge Jesus' presence. Pray a simple prayer some thing like "Jesus, I'm here. You're here. We're together."
4. The Two-Places Practice: Choose one routine activity (commute, exercise, household chore)  to practice being "in two places at once.” Do the activity while conversing with Jesus and then journal about what you notice.
5. Spiritual Discipline Reset: Choose one spiritual discipline to practice this week (Scripture reading, prayer, Sabbath, etc.) Don't do it to check a box. Do it as a way to stay rooted in the vine. Reflect: How did this practice help you remain connected?
6. Communion is a physical reminder that we are attached to Jesus. How does taking communion help you remember your connection to the vine?

 Sermon Guide

May 10: John 21

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Jesus doesn't discard us when we fail - Our worst moments don't define us; His grace does.
2. Jesus meets us in our shame - He deliberately walks into our darkest moments to bring healing, not condemnation.
3. Restoration requires vulnerability - Jesus can't heal what we won't let Him touch.
4. Our identity is in Christ, not our failures - We are defined by His wounds, not ours.
5. God uses broken people - Jesus is the king of using screw-ups and the least qualified to accomplish great things.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Peter's personality was extreme - high highs and low lows. How do you relate to Peter's "all in or not at all" approach to life? Where do you see yourself in his story?
2. In John 21, Peter went back to fishing after Jesus' death. What are the "fishing boats" in your life - the familiar places or habits you return to when you're confused or hurting?
3. Why do you think Jesus specifically asked the angel to mention Peter by name ("Go tell the disciples and Peter")? What does this tell us about how God sees us in our failure?
4. Jesus intentionally built a charcoal fire - the same kind of fire where Peter denied Him. Why would Jesus recreate that painful memory? How does this change your understanding of how Jesus deals with our shame?
5. Jesus doesn't heal what you don't let him touch. What wounds or failures have you been hiding from Jesus (or others) that need His healing touch?
6. Jesus asked Peter "Do you love me?" three times - once for each denial. How does this surgical approach to restoration speak to you? What might Jesus be asking you three times?
7. After Peter's failure, Jesus gave him the most important job: "Feed my sheep." What does this teach us about how God views our usefulness after we've messed up?
8. Jesus told Peter "mind your business" when Peter asked about John's future. In what ways do you compare your journey to others? How does this comparison steal your focus from following Jesus?
9. You are not your screw-up, you are not your vice, you are not your addiction, you are not your failures. In Christ, you're His. Which of these false identities do you struggle with most? How can this truth set you free?
10. Peter went from denying Jesus by a fire to dying for Jesus on a cross. What do you think made the difference? How can we experience that same transformation?
11. Your love for Jesus is real and it matters, but it's not the thing that holds us all together. It's His love for you. How does shifting focus from our love to His love change the way you approach your relationship with God?

Practical Applications:

1. Identify one area of shame or failure you've been hiding. Share it with a trusted Christian friend or this small group, and ask them to pray for you specifically about this area.
2. Write down the lies you believe about yourself based on your failures. Next to each lie, write the truth from Scripture about who you are in Christ. Read these truths aloud each morning this week.
3. Notice when you compare yourself to others this week. Each time you catch yourself, pray: "Jesus, help me follow YOU, not them.” Journal about what unique calling or personality trait God might be redeeming in you.
4. Build your own "charcoal fire” by Identifying a specific failure or moment of shame in your past, and invite Jesus into that memory through prayer. Ask Him to show you how He was present even then and how He wants to redeem it.
5. Scripture for Further Study
1. Luke 5:1-11 - Peter's first encounter with Jesus and the miraculous catch
2. Matthew 16:13-23 - Peter's confession and immediate rebuke
3. Matthew 26:69-75 - Peter's denial
4. Acts 2:14-41 - Peter's Pentecost sermon
5. Acts 4:1-20 - Peter's boldness before the religious leaders
6. Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
7. 2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come"

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 Sermon Guide May 17:  Acts 4

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Go to Your People - In crisis, the apostles immediately went to their community of believers for support and prayer.
2. Prayer Should Be Our First Instinct - They didn't strategize first; they prayed first, acknowledging God's sovereignty.
3. Ground Yourself in Scripture - Knowing God's Word helps us understand what He has and hasn't promised, giving us proper expectations.
4. Ask for Boldness, Not Just Relief - Their prayer wasn't to remove the problem but to give them courage to remain obedient.
5. Boldness Comes from God's Presence - The Holy Spirit empowers us to do what God calls us to do.

Discussion Questions: 

1. Read Acts 4:23-31. Break down the apostles' prayer. What did they acknowledge about God before making their request? Why is this significant?
2. Who are "your people"—the community you turn to in times of crisis? If you don't have this, what steps can you take to find or build this community?
3. Is prayer your first instinct? Be honest—what is typically your first response when facing a problem or crisis? How can you make prayer more instinctual?
4. The apostles prayed for boldness to continue being obedient rather than for God to remove the threat. When have you prayed for relief instead of for strength to remain faithful? What would change if you shifted your prayers?
5. Knowing Scripture helps us understand what God has and hasn't promised. What are some things people commonly expect from God that He hasn't actually promised? What has He promised?
6. What does "living boldly" look like in your everyday life? Consider these areas:
1. At work or school
2. In your neighborhood
3. On social media
4. In your family relationships
5. In your church community
7. Three weapons Satan uses against the church are deception (abandoning truth), seduction (abandoning holiness), and persecution. Which of these do you see most prevalent in today's culture? In your own life?
8. Like the example about needing a fresh reminder of God's Holy Spirit during a stressful mission trip. When have you experienced God's presence in a tangible way during a difficult time?

Practical Applications:

1. Build Your Community: Reach out to someone in the group or church to develop a deeper friendship. Invite someone to coffee or lunch specifically to build relationship. Join a serving team or ministry to connect with others.
2. Scripture Grounding: Memorize one promise from Scripture that brings you comfort or courage. Study one passage that reminds you of God's sovereignty. Write down 3-5 biblical truths you can return to during difficult times.
3. Practice Bold Obedience: Invite a coworker or neighbor to lunch with the intention of building relationship. Share your testimony with someone this week. Take a step of obedience you've been putting off (serving, giving, reconciling a relationship).
4. Prayer Focus: Each day this week, start your prayers by acknowledging God's sovereignty (as creator, as revealed in Scripture, as active in history). Pray specifically for boldness in one area where you've been holding back. Ask God for a fresh reminder of His Holy Spirit's presence

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 Sermon Guide May 24:  Acts 9

What stood out to you most from the sermon? Why? 

Key Takeaways:

1. Saul's Confrontation (Acts 9:1-9) God's grace initiates our salvation, not our seeking.
2. Saul's Conversion (Acts 9:10-19) God used an ordinary believer (Ananias) in extraordinary obedience. True conversion leads to immediate life change.
3. Saul's Confession (Acts 9:20-22) The scandal: the least likely person was chosen and transformed

Discussion Questions: 

1. Why do you think Jesus asked Saul, "Why are you persecuting ME?" instead of "Why are you persecuting my followers?" What does this teach us about the relationship between Jesus and His church?
2. What was risky about God's instructions to Ananias? How did Ananias respond, and what can we learn from his example?
3. Where is God asking you to obey? Take a moment to reflect silently, then share if comfortable. What is God calling you to do that makes you uncomfortable or afraid?
4. Some of us have dramatic conversion experiences like Paul, while others are raised in godly homes. Share your own faith journey. How did you come to know Jesus?
5. "What scales need to fall from your eyes?" What areas of spiritual blindness might God be revealing in your life right now? Legalism (trusting in good works)? Prejudice against certain people? Materialism or other distractions? Self-righteousness?
6. The gospel, when it was on its way to you, it was on its way to someone else. Who has God placed in your life that needs to hear about Jesus? What's holding you back from sharing with them?
7. Who is your Saul? Who is someone you think is too far gone for God to save? How does Saul's story challenge that belief?
8. Saul's changed LIFE proved Jesus was the Messiah, not just his words. If someone observed your life this past week without hearing you speak, would they know you follow Jesus? Why or why not?
9. Saul was baptized immediately after regaining his sight—before even eating. If you've been baptized, what did that mean to you? If you haven't been baptized but have accepted Christ, what's holding you back?

Practical Applications:

1. Identify Your "Saul": Write down the name of one person you think is "too far gone" and commit to praying for their salvation daily this week.
2. Obedience Over Comfort: Identify one specific area where God is calling you to obey despite fear. Share it with one person in the group for accountability.
3. Examine Your Trust: List the "good things" you might be trusting in instead of Jesus (career, family, reputation, good works). Confess these and surrender them to Christ.
4. Public Confession: If your faith has been a "private secret," take one step this week to make it public (share your testimony with a friend, post something meaningful about your faith, have a spiritual conversation with a coworker).
5. Pray for Bold Obedience: Commit to praying for each other's specific areas of obedience throughout the week. Pair up with another in your group and check in mid-week about how you're doing with your commitment.

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