A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.
Begin by asking God to help your group be honest and open about areas where they struggle with obedience and holiness. Pray that the Holy Spirit would give each person courage to identify what keeps them from deeper intimacy with God.
Question: What’s one thing you’re really committed to in your life right now (fitness, a hobby, a project, etc.)? What does that commitment practically look like day-to-day?
This helps ease into the discussion while setting up the contrast between our commitments to other things versus our commitment to following Jesus.
Question: The sermon emphasized that once we begin following Jesus, there’s an expectation placed on our lives. How does this idea of “expectation” sit with you? Does it feel like pressure, invitation, or something else?
Context from the sermon: The pastor opened by saying, “There is an expectation placed upon our life the moment we begin following Jesus. Prior to Jesus, there’s an understanding. He understands that we don’t know better. But once we have a relationship with Jesus, we are on this path… where every ounce of our life belongs to Him.” Peter uses the word “must” multiple times—this isn’t selective followership, but a call to live as God’s obedient children in everything.
Leader tip: Let people be honest if this feels heavy. The goal isn’t to shame anyone but to acknowledge that following Jesus is comprehensive, not compartmentalized.
Question: The sermon said, “Be holy in everything you do” includes our conduct AND our conversations. What’s one area of your life (thoughts, words, social media, relationships, etc.) where pursuing holiness feels most challenging?
Context from the sermon: The pastor said, “Be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. This is in conduct and conversation. I hope we are getting our conversations messed with this week. How much unholy rhetoric flows from your mouth.” He challenged the group about what we scroll through, the comedians we follow, the memes we share, and asked, “What do those pursuits have anything to do with my holiness?”
Leader tip: Create a safe space for vulnerability. You might want to share first to model openness. Remind the group that conviction is different from condemnation—God wants to draw us closer, not shame us.
Question: One of the hardest parts of the sermon was the call to “show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters… love each other deeply with all your heart.” The pastor admitted, “I would rather see justice than love unconditionally.” How do you wrestle with loving people who’ve done genuinely harmful things?
Context from the sermon: The pastor shared that in the men’s group, this topic got “raw and good” because loving like-minded people is easy, but the mandate is to love ALL of humanity. He said, “There are some stories out there of really jacked up people making very harmful, irresponsible, painful, malicious actions toward one another. And so you’re telling me… you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters… And there’s this wrestling match. We want to know where justice fits in.”
Leader tip: This is a heavy topic. Don’t rush to easy answers. Let people process the tension. Remind the group that God is both just and merciful, and we’re called to reflect His heart. Point people to the example of David who didn’t take revenge on Saul or his own son.
Question: The sermon quoted John Bevere saying most people love Jesus fine—they just don’t fear Him enough. What does healthy “fear of the Lord” look like? How is that different from being afraid of God?
Context from the sermon: The pastor explained, “There is an appropriate measure of living in awe, living in reverent fear of God. But it’s also fearing living outside of his presence. The fear of God is I fear where my decisions will go if I live outside of his presence. I fear where my eyes will go. I fear the words that I will say.” He also reminded us that Peter says we “must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as temporary residents.”
Leader tip: Help people distinguish between cowering in terror versus living in awe and reverence. The fear of the Lord is recognizing His holiness and our accountability to Him, which should draw us closer, not push us away.
Question: The sermon ended with a sobering truth from Hebrews 12:14: “Those who are not holy will not see the Lord.” How does understanding that holiness is connected to intimacy with God change your perspective on pursuing it?
Context from the sermon: The pastor said, “When we choose to live these days according to our desires and not his desires, the greatest cost to living that way is we throw in the towel to any form of intimacy with God. So all of those statements are like, ‘I go to church all the time and I’m reading the Bible, but I still feel distant from him.’ That’s because… there’s something in your life where you are making decisions for yourself and not him.”
Leader tip: This isn’t meant to create anxiety but urgency. Help people see that holiness isn’t about earning God’s love—it’s about experiencing closeness with Him. What we hold onto instead of Him costs us the intimacy we long for.
Question: The sermon asked two questions at the end:
Take a few minutes of silence for everyone to honestly answer these questions for themselves. Then, if anyone feels comfortable, share what God is putting on your heart to lay down this week.
Context from the sermon: The pastor said, “I want to invite you to hold that, whatever that one thing is in your mind and your heart.” He prayed, “When we hold onto that, what we are saying is, I’d rather hold onto this instead of holding onto you. And so, in Jesus’ name, I pray that for each of us that one thing would be laid down today.”
Leader tip: Give genuine silence—at least 2-3 minutes. Don’t rush this. Then invite (don’t pressure) sharing. Close by praying specifically for what people have shared, asking God to help them die to the right things and come alive to Him.
Pray over your group:
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Explain holiness as belonging to God, not being perfect. Ask: “What’s one way our choices can reflect God’s character?”
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Challenge: Interrupt an Old Pattern
The Challenge: Identify one habitual sin or reflex and actively interrupt it this week.
Concrete Action:
