Ever wonder why your relationships keep cycling through the same painful patterns? Maybe you’re great at listening to truth, but something keeps you from actually doing what you’ve heard. What if the foundation you’re building your life on is the problem—and what would it look like to rebuild on solid ground?
Ever wonder why your relationships keep cycling through the same painful patterns? Maybe you’re great at listening to truth, but something keeps you from actually doing what you’ve heard. What if the foundation you’re building your life on is the problem—and what would it look like to rebuild on solid ground?
A weekly guide to carry the conversation beyond Sunday morning.
Icebreaker: Have you ever seen or lived in a house with foundation problems? What was that experience like? (This connects to the sermon’s central metaphor about foundation issues requiring digging, removal, and resetting.)
This week’s message challenged us to examine what we’re building our lives on. Pastor Josh reminded us that building your life on Christ doesn’t happen accidentally—it requires ongoing intentionality, daily dying to self, and patiently leaning into Jesus’ presence and Word. Just like we avoid buying houses with foundation problems, we need to address the “foundation issues” in our own lives before everything comes crashing down.
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh emphasized that Jesus said it’s not enough to only hear His teaching—we need to listen AND obey. He pointed out that many marriages hang by a thread, and relationships cycle through the same patterns because people do a lot of listening but not a lot of doing what they’ve heard.
Discussion Question: What’s one area of your life where you’ve been doing a lot of “listening” to God’s truth but struggling to actually do it? What makes obedience difficult in that specific area?
Leader Tip: Create a safe space for honesty. Share your own struggle first if needed. Remind the group that the sermon acknowledged we won’t live perfectly—humility and gratitude for Jesus are what matter.
Context from Sermon: The pastor asked directly: “What are you building your life on? What is the base of your life?” He explained that when we have areas of life that seem to be a vacuum of peace and joy, that should let us know we have a foundation issue. God nudges us through His Word, community, the Holy Spirit, dreams, and visions to address these foundation realities.
Discussion Question: If you were to honestly assess your life right now, what would you say you’ve been building on? (Examples might include: career success, others’ approval, comfort, control, Christ, etc.) Are there areas where you sense God nudging you about a “foundation problem”?
Leader Tip: Encourage specific, practical answers rather than general spiritualized responses. The goal is honest self-reflection.
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh walked through 1 Peter 2:4-12, emphasizing that we are “living stones,” “holy priests,” “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.” He called all of this “new DNA.” Our calling is to be moving vessels perpetually displaying and communicating God’s goodness—not His judgment—no matter what we’re facing.
Discussion Question: How does understanding your identity as “chosen, royal, holy, and God’s possession” change the way you approach difficult circumstances? In what specific situation this week could you display God’s goodness rather than complain or judge?
Leader Tip: Help the group connect theology to practical life. Push gently for real-world applications happening this week.
Context from Sermon: Peter warned us as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against our souls. Pastor Josh defined “worldly desires” as “animalistic appetites”—living by the five senses, always consuming to survive. He noted that we often live with more fear about what people on earth think of us than what God thinks of us, even though heaven is our native country.
Discussion Question: Pastor Josh said, “How much of our life is lived according to the fears we face around this place, more than we live according to the fear of that which is eternal?” What would change in your decision-making this week if you truly lived as a citizen of heaven first and an American second?
Leader Tip: This can get political quickly. Keep the focus on personal heart examination rather than cultural commentary.
Context from Sermon: One of the most practical sections focused on 1 Peter 3:8-12. Pastor Josh emphasized: “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, PAY them back with a blessing.” He clarified that “blessing” means PRAYER—specifically a prayer of blessing (eulogy). He challenged marriages and all relationships, noting that many operate in a pattern of “repayment and reaction” where whoever says the last word wins.
Discussion Question: Think about a relationship where you tend to operate in “repayment and retaliation” mode. What would it look like to practically “pay them back with a blessing” (prayer) instead? What might change in your heart—and possibly in the relationship—if you committed to this pattern?
Leader Tip: This is deeply convicting. Give space for silence. Consider praying as a group for specific relationships where people are struggling. Remind the group of the pastor’s guarantee: “The person may not change, but your heart will forever change.”
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh taught that being unified means sympathizing with each other—suffering with one another. He gave a hard word: “If you are only ever concerned about what you are going through, that might be a reason why you have a short list of community and friends…If you haven’t suffered with others recently, do it today.”
Discussion Question: Who in this group—or in your wider community—is going through something painful right now that you could “sympathize with” (suffer alongside) this week? What’s one practical way you could show up for them?
Leader Tip: This is a perfect opportunity to mobilize your group into action. Make a plan together to serve/support someone this week.
Context from Sermon: Pastor Josh closed by asking for a response rather than just answering a question. He suggested writing down what you’ve been building your life on, and if it’s not Christ, identifying 1-2 actions you’ll take to start building your life on Him. Some responses might be prayer, or committing to pay back with blessing rather than retaliation.
Application Activity: Give everyone a notecard or piece of paper. Ask them to write:
Optional: Have group members share one of these three things aloud for accountability.
Closing Prayer: Pray specifically for the actions people committed to. Ask God to help each person build their life on the solid foundation of Christ, to give grace when they fail, and to produce the new DNA of their heavenly citizenship in their daily lives.
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Share a practical example of obedience. Ask: “What happens when we actually live out what we believe?”
A weekly practice you can do beyond Sunday morning.
Challenge:
