Icebreaker: When you hear the phrase ‘led by the Holy Spirit,’ what example first comes to mind?
1-11-2026
Sermon Title: Authentic Church – ‘The Birth of the Church’ – Acts 2:1-41
Group Discussion:
Read John 14:26 & John 16:13-14 – The Holy Spirit will confirm and clarify Jesus’ message. How can we determine the difference between the Holy Spirit confirming and clarifying Jesus’ teaching versus our own preferences, emotions, or cultural influences shaping what we might “think” He is saying? Discuss strategies for how we can make these distinctions and be more aligned with His will.
Read John 15:26-27 & Acts 1:8 – The Holy Spirit will open doors for the gospel. So, recognizing that the Holy Spirit opens doors (i.e., opportunities), how can this reshape the way we approach witnessing to others in terms of being aware of when to speak, when to wait, and how to proceed? Discuss how we can be more attentive and responsive when those opportunities arise.
Read John 3:3, John 3:5-7, & Acts 2:36-38 – Repent and be baptized. How do these passages help us understand the necessary steps of repentance and baptism? Discuss how the physical act of baptism (i.e., water) is part of the process of being ‘born again’ (i.e., Spirit). And once we come to faith in Jesus and are baptized, what role should repentance play in our ongoing faith journey?
Read Hebrews 10:24-25, Colossians 3:16, Mark 16:15, & 1 Peter 2:9 – The Church gathers to worship Jesus and scatters as witnesses for Jesus. Since gathering for worship is where we are nurtured, and mobilizing as witnesses is where we carry out Jesus’ mission, what are challenges we may experience in our faith if these two necessary components become unbalanced? Discuss how the encouragement we experience from engaging in weekly worship, small groups, and mentoring will prepare us for the challenges we will face in our own walk and when we share the gospel with others.
Spiritual Disciplines: Find resources for this sermon on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like Who is the Holy Spirit and Outpouring of the Holy Spirit
Action Steps: (1) Listen for the Spirit’s guidance: Regularly pray and study scripture asking the Holy Spirit to confirm and clarify Jesus’ teachings, (2) Watch for open doors: Stay spiritually alert to opportunities the Holy Spirit prepares for you to share the gospel, (3) Respond with repentance and truth: Continually turn from sin toward Jesus and share how baptism is a clear, public response of faith, and (4) Gather to be sent: Commit to consistent worship and fellowship with other believers that exalts Jesus and intentionally equips and mobilizes you to live as His witness here, near, and far.
Icebreaker: Is church something you attend, something you believe, or a mission you engage in?
Sermon Title (Jan. 4, 2026): Authentic Church – “It’s About to Get Real” – Acts 1
Group Discussion:
Read Acts 1:1-2 & Ephesians 2:17-22 – Real church is Jesus centered and Apostle confirmed. How can we, as a body of believers, ensure that our foundation (i.e., the teachings we follow) are aligned with the “Cornerstone” (i.e., Jesus) and the Apostles’ witness rather than our own preferences?
Read Acts 1:3 & 1 John 1:1-3 – Real church is scripture grounded and evidence based. How should the physical nature of Jesus’ life and resurrection (i.e., numerous eye-witness accounts) change the way we accept and follow the authority of the New Testament scriptures? Jesus spent 40 days after His resurrection providing evidence (i.e., proofs) for His disciples, so discuss how these events can serve as a foundation for our faith and the truth we must share with others.
Read Acts 1:8, Acts 1:12-14, & Romans 12:3-5 – Real church is people and mission driven. Since we are a “body of believers” on a local and global “rescue mission,” discuss the dangers that exist when we treat the church simply as “services we attend” rather than a “body we belong to.” And how can this passive mentality impact Jesus’ mission? Discuss how we can stay on mission even as we experience significant growth (e.g., our current body and those we are welcoming into the body).
Read John 14:15-18, John 16:23-24, & 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Real church is Holy Spirit and prayer empowered. How do these passages challenge common assumptions about what makes a church “healthy” or “effective?” Discuss examples of, and ways we can avoid, the dangers of relying on self-sufficiency. Conversely, how can we be more Holy Spirit driven and prayer-dependent?
Spiritual Disciplines: Find resources for this sermon on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like Authentic Church Reading Plan and Jesus’ Church Study Guide
Action Steps: (1) Anchor everything to Jesus and Scripture: Regularly examine what you believe, teach, and follow by measuring it against Jesus as the Cornerstone and the Apostles’ eyewitness testimonies in scripture, (2) Actively participate in the mission: Identify one concrete way you can function as part of the body (e.g., serve, mentor, invite, or support mission efforts), rejecting a passive “church consumer” mentality to engage with Jesus’ rescue mission, and (3) Intentionally depend on the Holy Spirit through prayer: Establish rhythms of prayer, gratitude, and obedience by asking the Lord to reveal truth and provide guidance from the Holy Spirit.
Icebreaker: Finish this thought: Jesus’ love is…
Sermon Title: “Medicine for the Well” – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Group Discussion:
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10a, John 13:35, & 1 John 4:7-12 & 4:16 – Love is God-Taught. Our love comes down from above. The Apostle John argues that because God is love, we are compelled to love. Discuss how the realization that love is an extension of God’s spirit, rather than just a moral command, should change our approach when loving others and sharing the gospel, especially with people who may challenge us or be difficult to communicate with.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:10b-11 & Luke 2:49 – Love is Simple. Lead a quiet life, mind our own business, and work with our hands. Paul tells the Thessalonians to make it their ambition to “lead a quiet life.” How can “quietness” be an intentional act of love toward our neighbors and in our communities? Discuss how “minding our own business” can be a simple way of loving. For instance, how can gossip or meddling (i.e., the opposite of a quiet life) obstruct “God-taught love” discussed in the earlier verses? And how can we discern when the Lord wants us to speak up and be assertive?
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:12, Matthew 5:14-16, & Galatians 5:22-23 – Love is Witness. We are to live quietly rather than silently. Discuss how we can live a quiet life while letting our light shine. Light is more than our words; it involves tangible actions, so what specific “good deeds” in a modern workplace or community will serve as “light” without being “loud” or overbearing?
Read 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 – Love Even More. Since love is the only thing we take with us into eternity, how does that change the way we value our relationships versus our personal achievements or agendas? And because love is “the greatest of these,” discuss how our weekly schedules might look different if we used love as our primary metric for accomplishment and happiness.
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Find resources for this sermon on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like God’s Love and Relationships, Love, & Discipleship As you venture into the new year, learn to “Love Even More” by “seeking first His Kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). Loving even more in 2026 does not mean doing everything; it does mean doing the next right thing: So, mentor someone, stay a little longer, give a little extra, forgive a little faster, cry a little harder, sing a little louder, pray more frequently, and study scripture more consistently (Galatians 5:22-24).
12–28–2025
Icebreaker: If you could give one gift to King Jesus this Christmas, what would it be and why?
Sermon Title: “We Three Kings” – Matthew 2:1-12
Group Discussion:
Read Matthew 2:1-12 – The Magi – We see how the Magi responded with worship and sacrifice, while King Herod responded with fear and control. What do these contrasting responses reveal about how people react when confronted with Jesus’ Kingship today? Where might we notice these same tendencies in our own lives (e.g., worship, sacrifice, fear, control); how can we be more Magi-like?
Read Luke 2:1-2, Matthew 2:16-20, & John 10:7-10 – The rival kings – Caesar ruled through decree, Herod through fear, and Jesus rules through absolute truth and sacrificial love. How can recognizing the nuances of these competing approaches to authority influence our allegiances and loyalties? And discuss what we will experience when our worldview, mentality, and actions reflect allegiance to Jesus’ Kingdom rather than the kingdoms of this world.
Read Galatians 5:16-17, Romans 7:15-20, & 1 John 2:15-17 – The desires that rule us (e.g., our own desire, the enemy’s desire, Jesus’ desire) – How can these scriptures help us comprehend why we might sometimes feel conflicted. What worldly desires are most persuasive in our culture today, and what practical steps can we take to resist their temptations and center our desires on Jesus’ eternity.
Read Isaiah 9:6, Matthew 2:2, & Mark 13:26–27 – Discuss the truth and hope we have in Jesus as our Prophesied King, Worshiped King, and Returning King. For example, since the prophets were proven correct in their prophecies about Jesus’ birth, His ministry, and His death-resurrection, why would we waver in our surrender and worship, and why would we doubt His prophesized return?
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Find resources for this series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like The Wise Men: 5 Insights & Jesus’ Promised Return
– Prayerfully consider what God is inviting you to release, pursue, or reorient in your life so that your response to Jesus closely reflects the Magi’s worship and sacrifice rather than King Herod’s fear.
– And consistently engage in these daily practices: (1) self-examination, (2) prayer, scripture reading, worship, and fellowship with other believers, and (3) boundaries and accountability: Identify specific areas where desires and temptations are strongest and create practical guardrails and accountability.
Icebreaker: What is a reminder during Christmas season that Jesus is our High Priest?
Sermon Title: “A Priest is Born” – Hebrews 3:1-6 & 4:14-16
Group Discussion:
Read Hebrews 3:1-6 – Jesus is not just like Moses; He is greater than all those before Him! Describe the comparison of Jesus and Moses in these verses. How do we see Jesus surpass the legacy of Moses? Discuss how these verses and truth of Jesus’ supremacy are relevant to us today.
Read Hebrews 5:1 – Jesus was sent out to represent God to the people as High Priest. Discuss reasons why we need Jesus to represent us before the Father? In what ways does knowing Jesus is our Priest reshape how we perceive our relationship with the Son and how we approach the Father?
Four truths we can understand about Jesus as our Great High Priest from the Day of Atonement:
Payment – Jesus ransomed us from the debt of sin (1 Timothy 2:5-6).
Purification – Jesus cleansed us of the effects of sin (1 John 1:5-9).
Presence – Jesus granted us access to the Father (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Promise – Jesus will eradicate sin; but until then, repentance is our ritual (Acts 3:19).
So why did God set up the sacrificial system in the Old Testament? Explore each of the above gifts we receive from Jesus as our Great High Priest. How are each of these relevant to us today? Which truth speaks to you most profoundly at this stage in your walk with Jesus?
Read Mark 10:45 & 1 Peter 2:24 – Jesus is the Great High Priest and the Perfect Sacrifice. Discuss how these truths can shape our understanding of why Jesus gave His life and what that means for how we should live in response? Discuss how we can convey these truths to the people we mentor.
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Review resources for this series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, such as Jesus Christ: High Priest & Mediator.
Read Hebrews 2:17-17 & 9:11-15 – Respond to Jesus’ High Priestly Position: Are there areas in your life where you are not yet reconciled with God? Offer honest prayer asking Jesus to search your heart and practice repentance as He reveals areas that need to be surrendered (Psalm 139:23-24).
Icebreaker: When you think of a prophet, what is the first thing that comes to mind and why?
Series: Prophet, Priest, and King – Sermon Title: “The Ultimate Prophet” – Hebrews 1:1-3
Group Discussion:
Read Luke 2:10-11, Hebrews 1:1-3, & Revelation 17:14 and then explore the truths below:
Jesus is a Prophet who reveals God (e.g., read Deuteronomy 18:15, & 18:18-19).
Jesus is a Priest who reconciles to God (e.g., read Isaiah 53:10-12).
Jesus is a King who reigns with God (e.g., read Isaiah 9:6-7).
So, what is unique about how we see prophets, priests, and kings set apart in the Old Testament? How can the New Testament verses above help us see Jesus as the ultimate “Anointed One” fulfilling all these roles?
Read John 7:16 & John 17:6-8 – Jesus is the Prophet who speaks. How should Jesus’ complete alignment with the Father’s message reshape the way we evaluate truth, authority, and the voices (i.e., influences) we choose to follow today? Discuss practical ways we can align with His message.
Read John 1:1 & 14 & John 14:6-11 – Jesus is the message; He IS God’s Word in the flesh! Discuss how we can comprehend and explain that Jesus is God incarnate. How should the fact that Jesus is both God’s final Word and His living revelation influence our mission and witness as His disciples?
Read Matthew 11:28-30, John 14:1-3, & John 14:15-21 – Jesus is the Prophet who saves. Discuss connections we might observe between the future hope Jesus promises and the present comfort He gives to those who have come to faith, confession, repentance, and baptism.
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Review resources for this series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like “Jesus: A Prophet Like Moses?”
Respond to Jesus’ Prophetic Voice: Choose one area of current pressure (e.g., fear, temptation, decision-making, or discouragement) and commit it to Jesus’ saving authority by praying a specific promise He gives (e.g., Matthew 11:28–30; John 14:1; John 14:18). Write down what surrender and obedience look like in that exact situation and then take specific steps toward resolution and victory.
Icebreaker: In one brief sentence, define what “sacrificial living” means to you.
Sermon Title: Life in the Red Letters – “Sacrificial Living” – Matthew 16:21-26
Group Discussion:
Read Matthew 16:21-23 & Romans 12:1-2 – Allow God to change your perspective (i.e., worldview).
Allowing Jesus to change our worldview means shifting from human concerns and seeking His will.
Discuss how we can recognize when our worldview is being shaped more by cultural trends or selfish
preferences than by Jesus. How can we actively cooperate with Jesus to transform the way we think
to rise above our old way of viewing the world to align with His view of the world?
Read Mark 8:34-38 – Allow God to change your plans. When a Jesus-centered worldview becomes
the priority, our role in serving Him and living sacrificially is more distinct. Discuss ways our own
plans can subtly pull us toward “world-gaining” rather than “soul-shaping?” When have you sensed
Jesus redirecting your plans, and what did that reveal about your attachments and expectations?
Now, take time to explore the multiple ways we might respond to verses like these that express
the idea of “denying yourself” (e.g., denial, defensive, regret, inspiration, enthusiasm).
Read John 10:10 & Mark 10:29-30 – God wants you to change your portion. When Jesus says He
came to give us “life to the full,” how should this influence the way we think about heaven as a future
destination but also as a present reality we can experience daily? Discuss how this truth should
influence the way we live sacrificially today to answer Jesus’ call and advance His kingdom.
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Review resources for this series on our Church Center app:
Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, like Biblical Worldview: Definitions, Dilemmas, Dangers
In your devotions this week read Philippians 4:4-7 & Philippians 2:13 – Becoming someone who fully
embraces a sacrificial life comes with perks: (1) You can experience the Lord working in you and
through you in ways you would have never imagined and (2) When the storms of life come, you will
feel it, but you can endure it through His solid foundation (Luke 6:46-49).
Living sacrificially is simply this: I belong to God and everything I have is His. Through prayer,
meditation, and fasting, consider what the Lord is calling you to lay down so he can do more through
you. Commit to living more sacrificially; and share your convictions with a friend, mentor, or family
member and pursue them through to fruition.
11-30-2025
Icebreaker: How has discipling someone, or being discipled, influenced your walk with Jesus?
Sermon Title: Life in the Red Letters – “Famous First and Last Words” – Matthew 28:18-20
Group Discussion:
Read John 8:31-32, 13:34-35, & 15:8 – The best way to make a disciple is to be the best disciple you can be. Using these scriptures, define what a disciple of Jesus is meant to look like. How can we use these as a “disciple litmus test” to self-evaluate as we strive to become lifelong disciples?
Read John 17:6-19 – The best way to make a disciple is to do it like the best disciple-maker. Spend some time exploring how we can routinely practice each of these Seven Rhythms presented by Jeff in his sermon: (1) Prayer and fasting, (2) Inviting people along, (3) Eating together, (4) Serving together, (5) Lifelong learning, (6) Resting-Sabbath, and (7) Maturing and Multiplying. Also, this week review the 7 Disciple Making Rhythms resource in the Sermon Study Resources on our Church Center app.
Read Acts 6:7, Acts 17:6, & Ephesians 2:20 – The best way to make a disciple is to learn from the best disciple-makers. The original 12 disciples’ teaching, leadership, and faithfulness produced measurable growth; their impact was disruptive and far-reaching, and their teaching and authority formed the doctrinal and structural foundation of the early church. Considering these truths, why is it important to be wise about who we allow to shape us spiritually? Discuss signs that may help us discern whether someone is genuinely living by faith rather than simply appearing spiritual.
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Review resources for this series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, such as the 7 Disciple Making Rhythms resource along with the FREE book downloads offered on that site: https://discipleship.org/blog/7-disciple-making-rhythms-for-your-group/ and Family Discipleship: Present & Future: https://renew.org/the-present-future-state-of-family-discipleship/
In your devotion time this week, read Acts 2:42-47 & 1 Thessalonians 2:8 and then prayerfully consider the nuances and value of relational discipleship. Explore what this kind of “life-on-life” discipleship-mentorship can look like for you today (e.g., whether by being discipled or discipling others or preferably both), and what steps can you take to cultivate it more intentionally within your own life. Who could you ask to be your mentor; likewise, who could you mentor?
Icebreaker: If you have been baptized, share what that experience means to you.
Sermon Title: Life in the Red Letters – “Faith & Belief” – John 3:1-18
Group Discussion:
Read John 3:1-4 & John 1:12-13 – To enter the Kingdom of God, a person must be born again. Discuss why it was significant for Nicodemus, born a Jew, to be told he must be born again. How does what Nicodemus thought he knew about God change considering Jesus’ message that “to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God?”
Read John 3:5-12 & Ezekiel 36:25-27 – To be born of the Spirit means we are made clean and new. How does Jesus use the imagery of wind and water to emphasize the impact of the Holy Spirit? And how are Jesus’ words to Nicodemus relevant to us today as we share the Gospel: “we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still, you people do not accept our testimony?”
Read John 3:13-18, Numbers 21:4-9, & Romans 6:23 – God is love and He is just. How does the image of Moses lifting up a snake in the wilderness coincide with the Gospel message? Discuss where we see the reality of both truth and grace in our eternal destination. How can living with both in mind help us strengthen each other in becoming lifelong disciples of Jesus?
▪ Believe that Jesus is who He said He is and that He has done what He said He would do. Read James 2:19 – Knowing the word “believe” can also mean faith, trust, or allegiance in these verses, what can we learn about what Jesus expects of us?
▪ Baptism – It is important because Jesus commanded it. Read Matthew 28:19-20a – Discuss with your group, or study partner, how to explain baptism explicitly and concisely to others.
▪ Beginning – It is not the end! Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 – Share ways your group, your family, or network can effectively encourage each other in your walk with Jesus.
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Review resources for this series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, such as Baptism & the Bible: An Article by RENEW
(1) Believe and Belong: If you have not yet done so, prayerfully consider placing your trust in Jesus by surrendering your life to Him and publicly declaring your faith through baptism.
(2) Begin Anew: If you have been baptized, live each day as a new creation in Jesus by seeking the Spirit’s leading, leaving old patterns behind, and actively sharing the hope of the Gospel with others.
Icebreaker: If you could shine your “light” in one area of this community, where would it be and why?
Sermon Title: Life in the Red Letters – “You are Salt & Light” – Matthew 5:13-16
Group Discussion:
Read Matthew 5:13a – Identity before Activity: “You are the salt of the earth.” What does it mean for believers to be “salt” in a spiritual sense? Discuss how embracing Jesus’ truth that “you are” rather than “you should be” might shape our awareness of identity, purpose, and mission as disciples.
In his sermon, Justin shared these points: Salt preserves; Salt makes you thirsty; Salt makes everything taste better. Explore how these truths apply to our journey and when discipling others.
Read Matthew 5:13b & Luke 6:49 – Saltless salt is useless: “But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again…?” Why do you think Jesus used such intense language about how it is “no longer good for anything?” Compare this warning to Jesus’ warning in Luke 6:49 “its destruction was complete.” And what can this teach us about the consequences of a faith that becomes complacent? Discuss practical ways we can guard against becoming spiritually decayed.
Read John 8:12 & Matthew 5:14-16 – Light overcomes darkness: “I am the light of the world” and “You are the light of the world.” Discuss how Jesus being “the light of the world” can empower us and define what it means for us to be “the light of the world.” In our culture, what does it look like for a believer to reflect Jesus’ light daily (e.g., share examples; and how we can implement such light)?
Read Galatians 1:10 & Philippians 2:14-15 – Things to avoid: Pride, fear, & distraction. How can we prevent pride from shifting our focus so that we can maintain a Jesus-centered mentality rather than a self-centered mentality? How can we overcome fear of rejection, criticism, or failure that may hinder our witness? How can we limit distractions that interfere with our focus on Jesus’ mission?
Spiritual Disciplines & Action Steps: Review resources for this series on our Church Center app: Church Center / Home / Sermon Resources, such as the one titled Salt & Light: Living with Purpose.
In addition, (1) Execute one visible, loving act each day that points others to Jesus (e.g., be generous, serve selflessly, invite someone to church, or share a brief testimony), and (2) Identify one prideful trait, one fear, and one distraction in your life this week, share with an accountability partner, and implement strategies to remove them while establishing boundaries to prevent future obstacles.