A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.
Icebreaker Question: What’s one gift or ability you have that others might not know about? (This could be anything from cooking to listening well to fixing things.)
This week’s message focused on how God has lavishly poured out His love and gifts into our lives—not as an afterthought, but with intentional forethought. We explored how we’re called to be salt and light in the world, living as God’s masterpiece, created to do good works that He planned long ago. The challenge is moving from insecurity about our gifts to confidently living them out for God’s glory and the good of others.
Question: The sermon emphasized that we are “seated with Christ in heavenly realms” right now (Ephesians 2:6). What does it mean to live as though we’re already seated with Christ? How would our daily lives look different if we truly believed this?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh pointed out that Paul writes in present tense—we ARE seated with Christ, not we WILL BE. He asked, “Do we live as though we are seated with Christ right now? We don’t need to wait for heaven to live like we live in heaven. Let’s live like we’re there already.”
Leader Tip: Help the group wrestle with the practical implications. What attitudes, priorities, or behaviors would shift if we lived with this heavenly perspective?
Question: Jesus calls us to be “light” that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14-16). The sermon asked: “When you go to all of the places that you go, even at the gas pump…what is at the forefront of your heart and mind?” How intentional are you about being a light in everyday spaces?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh emphasized that “every day is a challenge to reveal how well we live out this life of being a light to the world.” He stressed that we should be aware that “everywhere that your feet go, that you should be and ought to be a light that reveals.”
Leader Tip: Encourage specific examples. Where do group members go regularly (work, gym, grocery store, school pickup) where they could be more intentional about reflecting Christ’s light?
Question: The sermon mentioned that we can be “gifted and yet be riddled with insecurity and doubt to the point that you don’t live out the life that you’ve been gifted to live out.” What insecurities hold you back from using your gifts? What would it look like to be “humble, but also confident” in what God has given you?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh acknowledged our tendency to diminish ourselves: “Not smart enough, there’s others that can do it better or whatever.” But he challenged us: “What we ought to be doing and how we ought to be living is be confident into the person that Jesus is creating you to be.”
Leader Tip: Create a safe space for vulnerability. Share your own insecurities first if needed. Help the group distinguish between false humility (diminishing God’s gifts) and true humility (acknowledging God as the source).
Question: The sermon stated, “You should not expect to lavish the love of Jesus on others if you are not connected to Jesus.” How connected do you feel to Jesus right now? What spiritual practices (prayer, Bible reading, Sabbath rest) do you need to strengthen to stay connected to the source?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh was direct: “If you don’t pray, you’re not going to live out the love of Jesus. If you are not in the Word of God…if this is the only Word that you get every week, I really would be curious how well you are living out the love of Christ.” He referenced John 15: “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”
Leader Tip: This isn’t about guilt but honest assessment. Help the group identify one practical step they can take this week to deepen their connection with Jesus.
Question: First Peter 4:10-11 gives two examples of using our gifts: speaking and serving. The sermon asked, “Do you speak as though God himself were speaking through you?” How do your words—both in church and outside of church—reflect (or fail to reflect) God’s character?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh got vulnerable here: “How many of y’all said something that you would not want to be on a microphone at church on a Sunday morning? I did.” He challenged the tendency to be encouraging on Sunday but use “digs” and “jabs” as our love language the rest of the week.
Leader Tip: This can be convicting. Focus on growth, not condemnation. Discuss practical ways to let our words build others up throughout the week.
Question: The sermon addressed feeling “exhausted, physically exhausted, mentally exhausted, spiritually exhausted” and said we can’t live out God’s gifts when we’re “hanging by a thread.” How well are you practicing Sabbath rest? What needs to change so you can serve from overflow rather than depletion?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh noted, “We can’t offer God’s best to others when we aren’t shutting things down and resting in His presence to be filled yet once again by him.” He emphasized that God’s people are distinguished by having “a rhythm of rest” and that “God does something in those spaces and in that time.”
Leader Tip: Help the group identify what true Sabbath rest looks like (not just “doing” different things). What would it mean to stop negotiating with God about what counts as rest?
Question: The GrowCard question asked: “Whether it’s word or deed, how will you speak to or serve someone this week who cannot repay you?” What did you write down? How can this group support you in following through?
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh framed this as living selflessly: “We should be people who move freely in the gifts that God has given so that we build his kingdom on Earth for the good of humanity…It’s for the good of those around us.”
Leader Tip: Have each person share what they wrote (if comfortable). Consider pairing up for accountability. Follow up next week to hear the stories of what happened.
Reflection: You are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10). The good works God wants to do through you are not an afterthought—they were planned “long ago.”
Challenge: This week, complete the action you wrote on your GrowCard. Additionally, identify one area where insecurity has kept you from using your gifts, and take one small step of faith to move past it.
Closing Prayer: Pray over the specific commitments group members shared. Ask God to fill each person with His power and ability to speak or serve this week, and to help them rest in His presence so they can serve from overflow.
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Identify strengths in each family member. Ask: “Who benefits when we use these gifts?”
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
The Challenge: Use your best skill or influence this week for someone who cannot repay you.
This Is Not Volunteering — This Is Deployment.
Concrete Action:
Rules:
