What We DoWhen We're Together (part 3): We Listen


Justin said on Sunday, “During this part of our worship, we listen to God as He speaks to us through the preaching of His Word. He meets us in this moment with something to say to us. We should come to this moment expectantly, open-handedly, and gratefully.”

Consider those three ways of listening—expectantly, open-handedly, and gratefully.

Do you usually expect God to speak to you through the sermon? Why or why not?

What do you do to prepare your heart for the sermon each Sunday? If you don’t have a regular practice, what could you do in the future to set yourself up to better receive God’s Word?

Are you able to keep an open mind during the sermon or is that hard for you? Why might it be valuable to reserve judgment until the end? What do our open hands enable God to accomplish in a sermon? How might closed hands get in the way of God’s active and living Word? 

How might you practice gratitude for the Word of God? What could that look like?

A few of the most important parts of active listening are reflection, seeking clarification, and summarization. What do you do after a sermon to be sure you’ve understood it, processed it, and made a plan to implement it. 

Preaching isn’t just for the preacher. One of the easiest ways for you to preach is just to share the message you’ve heard. What’s one way you might share what you’ve revived in a sermon?

What is most likely to distract you during a sermon? What could you do to intentionally minimize those distractions?

Think back to a favorite sermon or a sermon you remember especially well. Why was it so powerful? What did it inspire you to do?


Consider our scripture reading from Sunday, Nehemiah chapter 8. Read it together and consider these questions:

How do the people of Israel feel about listening to the Word of God? 

What’s their reaction to what they hear? Why do they react that way?

How might we learn from their example?

You might also read from Psalm 119 to consider all the ways the Word of God can bless us. 


This week pray for your preacher, that he’d be empowered to study, process, understand, and teach the word of God with passion and integrity. Pray whatever you feel moved to pray for him.

You might also pray for preachers the world over.

Finally, pray that every one of us would seek to share the Word of God—that we’d have wisdom and courage. 


If you have a preacher you really enjoy, be sure to share their name with the group. Use this opportunity to gather a list of good podcasts from churches around the world. Preaching, after all, isn’t just for Sundays. :)

What We Do When We're Together (part 2): We Eat & Drink


This week we’re talking about communion--a sacred meal created by Jesus for his followers to share. Go around the circle and share a meal you remember fondly (and why). A week ago, a year ago, 20 years ago--however long it was, try to focus on a memory that had to do with more than how delicious the food was.


During the message this week, we explored several of the layers of communion’s meaning and symbolism:

●  It’s both special and frequent

●  It’s sacred but the food itself is ordinary

●  It points us to the best and worst of humanity

●  It reminds us of both our sin and our forgiveness, our unworthiness and God’s welcome

●  It brings together past (Jesus’ death), present (the moment we eat and drink together),

and future (Jesus’ return)

Which of those sticks out to you as especially meaningful or interesting? Share why.

Do any other layers of meaning in communion come to mind?

This is probably a good time for anyone in the group to share any questions they may have about communion. Assure them it’s a safe place and talk through any questions as a group.

In this message, Justin mentioned how communion can possibly become less meaningful since it happens in our worship every week. Are there ways to combat this and keep our minds and hearts focused in fresh ways on communion? Think out loud together.


For a fresh appreciation of Jesus’ sacrificial death, read Luke 23:26-46 together.


This week, as usual, pray for one another. Consider one another’s needs. Lift up prayers for those among you who’re weak or struggling or doubting or discouraged. Too, you might pray that the next time you’re taking communion, God would remind you of the people in this room--that He’d remind you of the amazing way Christ’s shed blood not only brings you together with Him, but the way it brings you together with one another.

What We Do When We're Together (part 1): Sing


Leaders, this week we’re talking singing, and as you might have guessed, we’re suggesting you don’t just talk about singing--do it! This of course will take some preparation. Consider borrowing song books from the church building for your group (either our hymn books or the paper books we use for events like Plus One). You can also just Google songs. If you have the ability to search the Internet on a large monitor (like a tv screen), you can Google your favorite songs and follow along with the lyrics together that way. You can also sing along with worship groups or lyric videos on You Tube.


This week we talked about one thing “we do when we’re together”: singing.

Is singing something you like, love, dislike, hate, or tolerate? Explain your answer. (This is a safe zone. Any answer works so long as you’re honest.)

Did you grow up with singing in your home? How did you “learn” to sing? Who were your early examples or influences?

Singing is described in scripture as an expectation of the children of God. God’s people sing. Does that make sense to you? Is it something you embrace or something you struggle with? Is singing in church hard or awkward for you? If so, explain why you think that is.

What are your favorite kinds of songs to sing? Do you have a favorite song? What is it?

Why do you think might God encourage us to sing (as opposed to, let’s say, all of us giving speeches to one another or all of us reading lyrics out loud together)?


Read the following verses and answer the question, “Why do we sing?”




2 Samuel 22:1 “David sang to the Lord the words of this song when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”


Psalm 42:8 “By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”



Feel free to sing whatever you’d like. Take requests. Have a list of songs prepared. Whatever you think is best. But definitely, absolutely, no question, SING!


This week you might pray for bravery to sing more fully/passionately when you’re gathered with the saints or (for those who don’t enjoy singing) a heart to receive what God has for us in singing.

To end group, why don’t you sing a prayer of blessing over one another? You might sing “The Lord Bless You and Keep You.”

Know Your Church


You might start tonight by making travel postcards for RRCOC. Use blank index cards and markers and include a tagline. Something like “Visit Round Rock Church of Christ, home of the ___________.” Or “Visit Round Rock Church of Christ, where _____________.” Remember, anything good about this church is because of God’s generosity and love. It’s not braggy to say your church is (for one reason or another) a good home. It’s actually a statement of praise. 


This week our sermon was a little unconventional. Did you learn anything you didn’t know before? Were you surprised at all? Did you have any questions? See if you can crowdsource some answers. If your group has a question about Round Rock Church of Christ that you can’t answer from within your group, send us a message (jlgerhardt@rrcoc.org) and we’ll be happy to answer it. 

One thing we’d really love for you to share with your group is the name of your assigned elder. Each of our small groups has been assigned an elder who is the first one to call if one of your members is experiencing spiritual, physical, or mental unhealth. Make sure your members have his name and email address/phone number. 

Speaking of elders, pull out your elder trading cards. Have members share any positive interactions they’ve had with one of the elders. See if your group can share one positive thing about each elder (the point is to help your group get to know elders they don’t). Be sure to stop any negative talk--only what’s kind and builds others up. 

Take a moment tonight to revisit those core behaviors. Try to name all of them without looking.

Once you’ve talked RRCOC specifics, take a minute to zoom out and talk about big picture church stuff.

What do you enjoy about belonging to a church? Make a long list.

What’s hard about belonging to a church? 

Other than RRCOC, have you ever been a part of a church you really loved? Why did you love it so much? 


Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-27.

  • Why does Paul call the church a “body”?

  • Why does God give his people a “manifestation of the Spirit”? (vs 7)

  • How much do you depend on the church in your everyday life? Give an example of what that looks like for you.

  • In what ways do you make yourself available for the church to depend on you? How would you like to do that? What strengths/talents has God given you?

  • Have you ever wished God made you more like some other part of the body? Share.

  • Have you ever wished you didn’t have to depend on the body or tried to be all the parts yourself? How did that play out?


Let’s pray for our church tonight…

  • Pray for elders, deacons, ministry leaders, and staff members.

  • Pray for small group leaders.

  • Pray for young families.

  • Pray for singles.

  • Pray for teens. 

  • Pray for older members (perhaps struggling with their health or lonely).

  • Pray for too-busy professionals. 

  • Pray for those overcoming addictions. 

  • Pray for struggling marriages.

  • Pray that we’d live out our core behaviors (name them as you pray).

  • Pray that we’d reach out city.

  • Pray that we’d truly and deeply LIVE LOVE. 

Two Loves


To begin Michael’s sermon, he detailed a scene from Good Will Hunting in order to spark our imagination. Will, one of the main actors (played by Matt Damon) was abused as a child and has struggled to come to terms with the very real implications of that abuse on his life. Another main character, Sean (played by Robin Williams) is a therapist who is working with Will to come to terms with this reality. In this scene, Sean shows what it looks like to make someone feel truly loved. 

In light of this scene, a great way to begin group tonight would be to take time to consider this question: 

  • What memories do you have that make you feel loved? (Please spend some time sharing those memories with the group)



On Sunday, Michael reminded us of how necessary it is to truly experience a visceral love for God, a love that isn’t boring or vague but rather a love that moves us to transformation, to joy, and to expectation. A love that wraps you in the arms of God, which will never let go. Can you feel that love? Have you taken time to sit in that love knowing that if you sit with the phrase “God loves you”, things will never be the same?

Read John 3:16-21

  • Do you believe that it’s hard to know that God loves you in more than a cerebral way? 

  • Jesus has come to be the light of the world and he has come to eradicate the darkness with his love for us. Jesus clearly wants us to experience the love of God that casts out all hate and evil. 

  • Yet even if we believe this, we must ask ourselves a key question: what do I love and how do I recognize what I love? 

  • Here’s 5 questions to help:

    • How do I spend my money?

    • How do I spend my time?

    • What do I do impulsively?

    • What makes me mad or frustrated?

    • What do I worry about?

Take time to answer these questions in your group.=

What we come to realize through these questions is that we love things that are good, bad, and neutral. And even more, we come to realize that Jesus acts as a revealing light of all those things! A light that transforms but also a light that uncovers things we want kept hidden.

What would it mean for you to truly allow Jesus’s light to encroach upon you and to step on your toes a little? No need to answer that out loud but spend some time praying for Jesus to enable you to let him reveal those things to you! What if you came to realize that Jesus’ revealing light is meant to give you ETERNAL LIFE not to condemn you to death?

What might that change in your life?

Last question to group: Do you have trouble thinking about God loving you in a visceral way? If so, why?


Luke 15:11-24 , Zephaniah 3:17 and Revelation 21:3-4

  • These are examples of God’s emotional love for us that is by no means cerebral but is fully engaged with every part of our being… “GOD LOVES YOU” 

Pray that God might allow you to let your guard down so that He might be able to show you how much He loves you. Consider where you need God’s revealing love to transform your life and how you can make yourself vulnerable enough to let God and others love you. Share it with the group and pray to be changed! 

Rooted (part 4): Embracing What's Next


Tonight would be a fun night for a fruit bar! Consider putting out some weird/rare fruits and letting members guess what kind of fruit it is. 

Have you ever personally harvested fruit? Like real, delicious food-fruit? How’d it taste? Tell your group about your apple-picking, strawberry-picking, banana-plucking adventures!


This week we’re talking about the relationship between fruit and roots. So, what is it? Give us a basic botany lesson. Can you have fruit without roots?

Read John 15:1-8.

  • Just like a tree has roots, in this metaphor branches are attached to (abiding in) the vine. What does the vine represent here?

  • How does one “abide” in Christ? Other translations use the word “remain” or “stay.”

  • “Abiding in Christ” (“being rooted in Christ”) lead to what?

  • What happens if we don’t bear fruit?

  • What happens if we do bear fruit?

  • Do either of those answers concern you? Why or why not?

  • What is the purpose of our fruit?

So, to recap, where does fruit come from? What’s our part in bearing fruit? What action do we need to take in order to bear more fruit?

It is certainly possible that members of your group will examine their lives and determine that they are not actually bearing fruit. What can we do if we find ourselves barren? What practical next steps should we take?

In this series we’ve talked about being rooted in the context of a community and being rooted in God through trust. We’re defining fruit as “an outward manifestation of inner health that benefits others.” 

  • Consider the relationships in your life with the deepest roots. What fruit have you seen there?

  • Consider your relationship with God. What outward manifestations of growing health have you noticed?

  • What fruit have you seen in the lives of your fellow small group members? Share how you’ve seen one another grow.


Read Galatians 5:16-25 and Luke 6:43-45.

Different roots bear different fruits. 

  • What are the “fruits” of obeying the flesh?

  • What are the fruits of the Spirit?

Consider where you’ve planted yourself. Are you planted in the Spirit (in relationship with God and His Spirit-filled people) or have you put down roots in the flesh (rooting yourself in community with flesh-led people, anchoring yourself to your own desires and impulses)?

  • What roots might you need to tear up?


Pray for fruit! Where would you most like God to grow you right now? OR Where do you feel like God’s leading you to grow? Share it with the group and pray for roots bearing fruit. 


These time lapse videos of fruit growing have us mesmerized. You might play a couple and encourage group members to meditate on what fruit God’s growing (or wanting to grow) in them. 




Rooted (part 3): Testing the Waters


Two things, a little review and a game:

  1. Did you pray your seed prayer last week? It’s still early, but roots have to start somewhere, so... Did you feel like God answered your prayer in any particular way? Share any cool “baby roots” stories with your group. 

  2. Read the list below, one line at a time. Have group members raise their hands if they trust the person, institution, etc. Encourage members to choose immediately, no deliberation allowed. Just go with your gut (there’s no right answer--only funny ones). Here we go:

    Do you trust…

    The government?

    Mark Zuckerberg?

    Reality TV?





    Bill Nye the Science Guy?


    Yelp reviews?

    Your neighbor?


Early in his sermon this week Justin listed a series of synonyms for the word “rooted”: Established, Centered, Anchored, Mature, Unflappable, Fruitful, Nourished, Long-Lasting. Which of those words sticks out to you most as something you want to be? Why that word?

This week we’re talking about trusting in God. Is trust something that comes easy to you? Or do you struggle to trust? Explain. 

Share a time, season, or category in which you’ve struggled to trust God. 

Read Colossians 2:6-7. “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him.”

  • What does it mean to receive Christ Jesus as Lord?

  • Think of a decision you made today under the authority of Christ, your LORD--a time when you wanted to do something but Jesus wanted you to do something else and you went with what Jesus wanted. 

We said Sunday that trusting in God isn’t just sitting and waiting. Trust is active. Has that been your understanding of trust? Or does it challenge your idea of trust? Explain.

If trusting God is active, what might trust look like? Make a long list of things a person who trusts God might do. Don’t stop until you have at least 20 things. Any group that makes it to fifty receives a prize (just email your list to jlgerhardt@rrcoc.org).


Read Proverbs 3:1-12.

After you’ve read it, look again and list the blessings God wants to give to those who follow Him.

What do God’s people have to DO in order to get those blessings? 


Already in this series we’ve encouraged you to pray this prayer from Jeremiah:

Lord, bless me by teaching me to trust in You. 

Empower me to put my confidence in You. 

Plant me like a tree planted by the water.

Move me to send out roots / to the stream of Your love and power.

Make me like that tree, unafraid when heat comes;

     my leaves always green, alive.

Rescue me from worries in a year of drought

     because in You, I never fail to bear fruit.

Tonight, have group members share one way they’re feeling called to act in trust. What would it look like for you to take a step of trust right now? Then pray for each person, that God would empower that action. 

Rooted (part 2): Don't Go It Alone


Garth Brooks famously sang the line, “Blame it all on my roots.” What was he talking about? 

What are your roots? If you had to describe your “roots” in three adjectives, which would you choose?

If you’re in the mood for a game, don’t discuss your three adjectives together. Instead, have each group member write their three words on one index card. Collect the cards and spread them out on a table, then have each group member write the name of the person they think wrote the card on the back. See how many you can guess correctly!


Let’s start by re-reading Ephesians 3: 17b-18


Why is love such good soil?

According to this passage, being rooted in love (loving and being loved by others), enables us to better grasp God’s love. Has that been your experience? 

  • Have you ever had a human relationship that helped you understand the way God loves you? Tell the group about it. 


This week we have our prayer earlier in the discussion guide than usual. That’s because we’d love for you to discuss this prayer before you pray it. 

Consider the roots prayer we gave you on your seed packets Sunday (read it aloud):

Father, plant me among your people. 

Help me be rooted in relationships that anchor and nourish me. 

Strengthen me to stay in community even when it’s hard.

Make me patient as together we grow and bloom. 

Before you pray it, walk through it line by line:

  • What would it look like to be planted among your small group? What commitments should you make? How might you ensure that you’re devoting yourself to these relationships in a deep and meaningful way? Offer some practical steps you might take to get serious about putting down roots.

  • How have you seen your small group anchor or nourish you in the past? How do you hope your small group will anchor or nourish you in the future? What do you most need from this group? 

  • Is community hard for you? Are you good at long term relationships or do you struggle? What are some personality traits or skills you have that enable success in developing healthy relationships? What are some personality traits or weaknesses that cause frustration as you strive to develop healthy relationships? 

  • Are you generally patient with relationships? Why is it so important to persevere in friendship? Share a story/example of a relationship you’ve seen bloom over the years that took a while to get going. You might also tell your group about a relationship that’s directly influenced your spiritual growth over the years. 

Now, that you’ve discussed it, pray it together. You might have the leader say a line and then have the group repeat, almost like wedding vows. :)

You might also decide to pray your prayer from last week. Lots of prayer is always a good thing. 

Lord,  bless me by teaching me to trust in You. 

Empower me to put my confidence in You. 

Plant me like a tree planted by the water.

Move me to send out roots to the stream of Your love and power.

Make me like that tree, unafraid when heat comes;

my leaves always green, alive.

Rescue me from worries in a year of drought

because in You, I never fail to bear fruit.


Watch this video about Pando, the largest living organism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwHyEz0qSnA

  • What might we learn about community from this story?


If you’re looking for another passage of scripture to dig into this week, Romans chapter 12 would be a great place to go to discuss HOW we persevere in deep, enriching relationships. Hint: It takes sacrifice. 

Rooted (part 1): What's At Stake


Watch this video on tree roots: https://www.brightview.com/resources/ask-brightview/how-does-trees-root-system-form-and-what-its-purpose

  • What’s the purpose of a root system?

At the end of the video the horticulturist says that 50% of a tree is beneath the surface and we need to pay as much attention to what’s below the surface as we do to what’s above. 

As you proceed as a group tonight, remember that your group can’t see what’s below the surface unless you share it. Help them help you by being as open and honest as you can manage.


Justin began his sermon Sunday describing someone without roots, someone struggling to overcome bad habits, someone feeling lonely, someone who quits more things than he’d like, someone who isn’t much different today than he was five years ago. 

  • Did you relate to any of that? Have you ever experienced a season (or are you currently experiencing a season) marked by lack of growth or a feeling of being unanchored?

  • How does that feel? Describe your experience.

  • Would you say  you lack(ed) roots? Was that a surprising diagnosis? Why or why not?

  • What have been the consequences of not having deep roots? 

We said Sunday that roots anchor you and roots feed you. 

  • What are some of the places/people/systems (other than God) we look to for anchoring and feeding? Make a list.

  • Have you ever depended on a root system that let you down? Tell the group about it.

In the context of the parable of the sower, Jesus said in Matthew 13:21, “But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”

  • Why would roots be important in a season of trial or persecution? 

  • Share a time when either roots saved you or a lack of roots failed you as you weathered a difficult circumstance.

What are some of the reasons we might fail to develop roots? 

  • As this series goes on we’ll talk more about how to develop roots, for now, brainstorm with your group a list of ways you think you might pursue a deep and grounding relationship with God. 


Jeremiah 17:7-8

“Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,

    whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water

that sends out its roots by the stream.

It does not fear when heat comes;

    its leaves are always green.

It has no worries in a year of drought

    and never fails to bear fruit.”

Read this passage together.

Have you ever seen a mature tree growing near fresh water? What’s different about that tree versus the tree farther away from the river or lake? (Do you have a favorite place to go look at trees? Share with the group!)

During this series, let’s make this passage your group’s aspiration. Read it together aloud a few times. Then pray it together. Here’s a way to turn it into a prayer:

Lord,  bless me by teaching me to trust in You. 

Empower me to put my confidence in You. 

Plant me like a tree planted by the water.


Make me like that tree, unafraid when heat comes;

    my leaves always green, alive.

Rescue me from worries in a year of drought

    because in You, I never fail to bear fruit.

Watermark (part 2): Newly Alive


Write encouraging notes (or pass around a card to sign) for whoever was baptized on Sunday. If we don’t have any new baptisms, consider writing a note to someone recently baptized (a few members baptized this past year: Christine Taylor, Gregg Jones, Kate Hudson, Amanda Tuttle, and Josiah Nett).


Read Colossians 2:9-15.

  • Who has the power to rescue you? 

  • According to this verse, what happens in baptism?

  • When you were dead, God made you ________ in ________.

    • What does it mean to be alive with Christ?

  • What are the powers and authorities?

  • How does this verse portray Jesus? What’s He like? What’s He done?


Justin started his sermon this week with these words: “No matter who you are or what you’ve done (or haven’t done), God loves you and wants to rescue you from guilt and hopelessness--AND, best of all, he offers that rescue as a gift.”

Last week we talked about our baptisms and the moment when we first accessed God’s grace and received the gift of God’s rescue. This week, let’s talk about life after baptism. (If you have members who haven’t been baptized, consider ways to involve them in this discussion--perhaps encouraging them to ask honest, prying questions as the discussion unfolds).

  • Has your journey with God been a consistent upward climb since your baptism? Describe the shape of your journey with God.

  • Do you ever feel unloved, hopeless, or guilty nowadays? Are you still confident God loves you and wants to rescue from guilt and hopelessness? Why or why not? How does that make you feel? 

  • What do you do when your baptism feels too far in the rearview mirror? How do you come back to life in Christ? What do you do now that you’ve already been baptized to access God’s rescue? What are the ways God provides rescue for His children? Make a list of specific examples.

  • When/how has God rescued you lately (big or little)? Tell the group a rescue story from your walk with God. 

The promise of baptism is the promise of death to our old life and the promise of new life in Christ. What part of your old life have you been so thankful to see die? What part of this new life is your favorite?

In Romans 6:5 we read, “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

  • What does it mean to be resurrected like Jesus? (Hint in verse 6)

How might we position ourselves to better receive abundant life in Christ? How might we be getting in God’s way as He tries to rescue us?


Pray for anyone who might have been baptized this week. So often the days and weeks directly after a person’s baptism are some of the hardest of their walk with Christ. Let’s do all we can to intercede on their behalf and encourage them. 

If no one was baptized on Sunday, be praying for the people who contacted Justin this week and are considering baptism. 

Watermark (part 1): Rescued


Welcome back to small group discussion guides! If this is your group’s first week back together be sure to spend some time reconnecting. Maybe play a round of peaks and pits, summer edition. What was the best thing that happened in your life this summer? What was the worst? You might also spend some time setting a few small group goals for the year. Who do you want to be together? Make a plan.

If your group has been meeting for a few weeks already, feel free to jump right into this week’s discussion. 

This week we’re talking about baptism. Any idea where the idea of baptism came from? What did it mean originally? Who was the first person in the Bible to baptize someone? See what your group knows...

A: “Though today the word baptism generally evokes thoughts of identifying with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, baptism did not begin with Christians. For years before Christ, the Jews had used baptism in ritual cleansing ceremonies of Gentile proselytes. John the Baptist took baptism and applied it to the Jews themselves—it wasn’t just the Gentiles who needed cleansing. Many believed John’s message and were baptized by him (Matthew 3:5–6). The baptisms John performed had a specific purpose.

In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist mentions the purpose of his baptisms: “I baptize you with water for repentance.” Paul affirms this in Acts 19:4: “John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” John’s baptism had to do with repentance—it was a symbolic representation of changing one’s mind and going a new direction. “Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River” (Matthew 3:6). Being baptized by John demonstrated a recognition of one’s sin, a desire for spiritual cleansing, and a commitment to follow God’s law in anticipation of the Messiah’s arrival.” (gotquestions.org)

How was John’s baptism different from the Christian’s baptism?


Why would a person today need to be baptized? What does God accomplish through baptism?

This week we encourage you to go around the room sharing your personal baptism stories, answering at least these questions: When?  Where? Why?

Have you ever had an especially powerful experience watching someone else be baptized? 

If you have a group member who hasn’t been baptized be sure to ask if they have any questions or reservations about baptism. What might be standing between them and that decision? Be kind and helpful. 

What could you do in your everyday life to better remind yourself of what happened at your own baptism? How might you intentionally celebrate what God’s still doing in you? How could you help someone else celebrate their baptism?

Justin started Sunday’s sermon with these words:

“If you’ve ever felt guilt that just won’t leave you alone, if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, if you’ve ever felt hopeless, isolated, or like you were unseen or forgotten, this is a story (and a Sunday) for you.”

  • So, have you ever felt guilt that wouldn’t leave you alone? Have you ever felt hopeless or isolated? Forgotten? Share an example with the group. What lifted you out of that place?

  • Do you currently experience any of those feelings? If so, why do you think that is? What could change that for you?

  • Do you have people in your life who’re feeling that way? What might you do to be a reason for them to come home? Think through a couple practical steps. 

What questions do you have about baptism? 


How about another baptism story? Read Acts 8:26-40 together.

What is the eunuch reading when the Spirit moves Phillip to catch up with his chariot? What does Phillip teach him?

Why does that lead the eunuch to want to be baptized? What does the good news about Jesus have to do with baptism?

What is the eunuch’s response to his baptism?


Is there anyone in your group considering baptism? Pray for him.

If not, pray for the people attending our church who need to take this step. Pray that God would convict and compel someone to come home.

Good With Money (part 4): Return on Investment


What would you say was one of the best investments you’ve ever made? All answers welcome: funny, financial, and metaphoric.

***This week is the last week of small group discussion guides until the fall (mid August). We encourage your group to continue meeting over the summer, praying, sharing, and loving one another just as you always do.***


Eccl. 11:1 says, “Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return.”

  • What does that mean? How does “investment” work? Share a few examples of ways you might invest your time and money--including what you might hope to gain from the investment.

Consider a few of the purchases you’ve made this week. What did you invest in? Do you usually think of purchases as investments?

Our bottom line from the sermon this week was: “Do what you can with what you’ve got while there’s time.”

  • What does that mean?

  • Personally, how does that challenge you? Have you struggled to invest kingdom-wisely? Explain why that might be or how it’s played out.

  • Perhaps this gives you peace? If so, how/why?

  • What might living into this bottom line look like in your daily life?

Consider this sentence from Klyne Snodgrass: “The church should demonstrate by its use of money the reality of the gospel.”

  • Have you ever known anyone who demonstrated the reality of the gospel in their use of money? Share with the group. What did it look like? How did they invest their resources?

It can be hard to make choices here on earth in light of an eternity we can’t see or don’t always feel like we can understand. Take a minute to talk Heaven together. What’s it going to be like? Why is it going to be so good? What makes it worth the sacrifices here?

Has this series affected you in any particular way?  What are you thinking about differently? Have you made any decisions to act differently?


Read I Timothy 6:18-19.

According to this passage, what should we do with our money and stuff?

  • Why?

  • What does this phrase mean: “so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life”?

  • What do you think the “life that is truly life” will be like?


Don’t leave group tonight without having prayed about money. Here are a few things you might assign group members to pray for:

  • Freedom from slavery to money

  • Contentment

  • Generosity / Open Hands

  • Realistic expectations of what money can do

  • Wisdom

Good with Money (part 3): Enough is Enough


Start tonight with a little truth or dare. Every group member has to do either the truth or the dare--their choice.

TRUTH: What’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever put on a credit card or taken out a loan for?

DARE: Take a swig of one of the condiments in the fridge (BBQ sauce, mayo, mustard--anything you wouldn’t usually eat by itself).


What does it mean to be content?

On Sunday Justin said, “If you never feel like you have/make enough, you may very well love money.”

Did you find that convicting? Why or why not? Do you usually feel like you have enough? Or do you usually feel like you need more?

Justin said, “Many of us often feel like we don’t have extra or don’t have enough because we’ve tethered ourselves to our aspirations. We’ve blurred the line between what we want and what we need by  turning our wants into needs.”

Have you ever done that?

Have you ever allowed yourself to get in debt reaching for things you don’t need? Share an example.

How did it feel?

How do we decide how much is enough? What kinds of questions could we ask ourselves to determine an actual mile marker for “enough”?

With which of the following are you most likely to be discontent:

  • Your shoe collection

  • The amount of money in your 401K

  • Your vacations (or lack thereof)

  • What you eat for lunch every day

  • Your car

  • The nice-ness of your house

  • Your phone or TV

Why do you think that particular thing is a struggle? What could you do practically speaking to grow in contentment in that category?

How often do you find yourself shopping for things you don’t need? What rules could you put in place to prevent that?

Consider the following practical ways to fuel contentment and do one or two together:

Practicing Gratitude. Listing blessings often takes our eyes off what we don’t have and turns it toward the abundance of gifts we’ve been given. As a group make a list of ways God’s showing you his love and provision. End with a rousing, Thank you, God. We love it!

Remembering His promises. If you’re feeling like you won’t have enough, listen to God promise you will. Read the following passages as reminders:

  • Psalm 111:2-5

  • I Timothy 6:17

  • Luke 11:9-13

Looking Back. Think back to a time when you were less wealthy and happy. Share a memory of a time when you were delightfully content with less.


Read Luke 12:13-34.

Start with the parable. What’s the point? Have you ever made plans for bigger barns? How’d that go? If we aren’t supposed to make selfish plans for our wealth, what should we plan for the money we make? Should we not plan?

How does this parable challenge you personally?

Consider Jesus’ words about worry. What’s the relationship between worry and money/stuff?

Why does Jesus say we shouldn’t worry?

What does Jesus say we should seek? What will be the result?

Have you found seeking the kingdom to be a distraction from other kinds of worries? What does it mean to have treasure in Heaven?


If you didn’t make a list of blessings earlier in the night, use your prayer time to express gratitude. If you already did that, be sure to include a prayer for contentment, asking God to help you trust Him for enough and help you not be striving for more than you need.
























Prov 11:28



Good With Money (part 1): The Object of My Affection


Let’s take a trip back in time. How did you spend your very first paycheck? What’s the first big purchase you remember making with your own hard-earned money? How did it make you feel?


For the next few weeks we’ll be talking money. People aren’t always eager to talk about their money (their lack of it or their excess of it). Encourage your group to be vulnerable and remind them group is a safe place to be honest (both in our struggles and in our victories).

How would you describe your family’s relationship to money when you were growing up? Were you struggling? Did you have lots of extra?

Did your parents talk to you about how to handle money when you were a kid? If so, what did they say? If not, what effect did that have on you?

Justin offered a list on Sunday of ways you feel when hear the word money. Which of the following best describes your gut reaction? Why that word? Take some time to share your journey with money. How do you and money get along? What defines your relationship?

  • Frustration

  • Hope

  • Guilt

  • Betrayal

  • Longing

  • Confusion

  • Fear

  • Pride

  • Shame

  • Happiness

  • Sadness

  • Anger

We said on Sunday that the big question when it comes to being blessed by your money or cursed by it is this:  Do you love money, or do you love God? Justin shared four ways love behaves:

  • Devotion

  • Enthusiastic desire

  • Sacrifice

  • Fear associated with losing

Work through those four behaviors offering practical and personal examples. What would it look like to be devoted to money? How might an enthusiastic desire for money manifest in your life? What have you/would you sacrifice for money? Have you ever been afraid of losing money (or particularly shaken by the loss of money)? Share an example.


Read Luke 12:22-31.

This isn’t a passage about money, but also it definitely is. Are you tempted to worry about money? What does God say we should remember if we’re tempted to worry about our clothes or food (or other things money buys)? What does He say we should DO?


Tonight might be a good time for some confession and intercession. Do you think maybe you do love money? Tell the group and let them pray for you.

Jesus, Monarch (part 6): Resurrected and Reigning

This week we encourage you to get together with your group and celebrate the risen Christ. Eat dinner together (or some yummy dessert), and talk about where you’re experiencing new life. Be casual, but also intentional. Direct the conversation toward Christ. You might print off the following questions and let each member respond to one or two.

Where is Christ enabling resurrection in you? In the people you love?

When (recently) did you almost give up only to find God enabling your perseverance or victory?

Looking back over the past calendar year, where have you more fully turned over your life to Christ’s authority?

What do you have hope for right now?

What are you most looking forward to about Christ’s return?

You might end the night celebrating resurrection in prayer, thanking God for the hopes and victories you’ve shared, or with a reading. Consider I Corinthians chapter 15 or Philippians 3:7-14.

Jesus, Monarch (part 5): King on a Cross?


Tonight, set a mood of calm before group. Maybe light a few candles. Play some quiet, mellow music. Let’s make tonight meditative and leave space for emotion.


Spend a little time tonight in discussion, but be sure to move into the more meditative/devotional period.

Consider for a moment what the cross meant to the culture in which Jesus died. Consider that most people had seen many criminals killed on crosses in their lifetimes. How does that change the way you view the cross? How might Jesus have died today in America?

Does the idea that sacrifice is required for love make sense to you? Or do you think it’s a little strange that God “couldn’t” get around sending Jesus to the cross? Mull over the question, “Why did Jesus HAVE TO die?”

Consider the following statement from the sermon Sunday:

“Even flawed human beings like us know that you can’t just overlook evil. It can’t be dealt with, removed, or healed just by saying, ‘Forget it.’ It has to be paid for, and it’s usually expensive.”

When have you seen this to be true? Share an example from personal experience, history, or fiction.

What does the cross teach us about what kind of King Jesus is?

Justin said on Sunday that the cross teaches us something about suffering. He said, “He hangs there, testifying that though it is not the ideal, suffering is also not the ultimate evil. It is not something to be avoided at all costs….but instead something to which those who pursue true love will inevitably find themselves called. Something that is worth enduring for the sake of what’s on the other side.”

How do you generally feel about suffering?

What have you learned about suffering on your journey with Christ?


For this you may want to turn down the lights a little. Your choice.

Read together the story of the cross in John chapter 19. Try to imagine yourself in the moment, following Jesus to Golgotha. Don’t comment on it. Just listen and receive it.

When you’re done, listen to this song from Andrew Peterson, “Is He Worthy?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FEuAr8f6bo

This isn’t a song about the cross, but as you listen, keep your picture of Christ on the cross in the front of your mind. When the song ends, sit for about thirty seconds in the quiet. Then ask this question: What does it mean to you that your King died for you?

Go around the room and share answers. As each person shares, say together as a group, “Worthy is the lamb.”

Jesus, Monarch (part 4): More Dispatches from the Kingdom


This week we’re talking humility as the path to exaltation. So, how about we take some time to not boast about ourselves but rather to exalt one another in Christ? Have group members draw the name of another group member (write member names on a piece of paper and put it in a bowl for drawing). Then, have them create a blue ribbon for that person with the words “God’s made me at awesome at _______.” Then have members award the ribbons (pin or tape them onto one another’s shirts).

You’ll need thick paper, markers, and safety pins or double sided tape.


Justin started this week’s sermon with these two questions: Ever think you’re better than anybody else? Ever want credit for being better than other people?

Well? Do you? Give an example of a time you compared yourself to someone else in order to make yourself feel better. Funny and serious stories both welcomed.

Recap the parable Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14.

What do you find interesting or compelling about this story? Does it make you feel a certain way? Does it make you squirm? Explain.

Have you ever tried to justify yourself to God based on your good works? Tell your group about it. How’d it go?

Do you find yourself trying to do more good than the people around you in order to prove something or distinguish yourself? What are you trying to prove?

We said Sunday, A bad heart will nullify your good deeds. What can we do to be sure our heart is in the right place? What questions might we ask ourselves to take our heart’s temperature?

Consider this quote from John Stott:


  • Does reflecting on the cross have that effect on you? Why do you think that is?

  • D you regularly spend time contemplating the cross? What would it look like, practically speaking, to give more of your attention to the cross?

What would change if, instead of looking to other people to prove our worth (I’m better than they are), we instead looked at other people as equal participants in God’s mercy? How might some of your relationships inside the church be different? If you don’t need other Christians to be worse than you (and you don’t need to be “better” than other Christians), how does that affect the way you

  • Help/confront someone who’s struggling in sin?

  • Encourage (or don’t encourage) others?


Our parable this week ends with this gem from Jesus: “For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” That same phrase occurs as the bottom line in another of Jesus’ parables.

Read Luke 14:7-11.

What’s new in this parable? What’s the same as the parable in Luke 18? Which parable is more challenging to you? Why that one?


Consider going around the circle and repeating, person by person, the tax collector’s prayer: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Jesus, Monarch (part 3): Dispatches from the Kingdom


Parables are a little like codes or riddles. They take work to figure out. See if your group can figure out the riddles (answers at the bottom of the guide):



  3. David's father has three sons : Snap, Crackle and _____ ?




This week we looked at a parable. What do you know about parables? Do you like them? Are they confusing? Interesting? Why do you think Jesus used parables?

This week’s parable is found in Matthew 25:1-13. Go ahead and read it together again.

What questions do you have? What’s interesting? What’s confusing?

Logan said the main point of this parable was this message: Jesus is coming back! Be ready!

  • Do you often think about Jesus coming back? Do you feel like your life revolves around the return of Jesus?

  • What would it look like to live lives that were intentionally, actively waiting on the King?

  • If you knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow, what would you do? What wouldn’t you do that you’d be planning to do?

Do you think there’s a chance you’re sleepwalking through life a bit? What signs do you see that might be pointing that way? What could your small group do to help you wake up?

What four ways of growing complacent did we discuss in the message Sunday? (exhaustion, overindulgence, numbing, lack of disruption). Each of these patterns is sinful. Did you find any of those surprising to be on a list of sins?

In order to be ready, Logan suggested we do four things:

  • Rest

  • Pray

  • Meditate

  • Disrupt Rhythms

Which of those comes most naturally? Which comes hardest?

What does it look like to practice each of these?

Do you have experience learning to do one of these things? Share with the group.


Consider another waiting parable, this one also in Matthew 25 (verses 14 to 19).

Decode the parable: Who is the master? Who are the servants? What do the talents (or bags of gold) represent?

What do you learn about waiting for Jesus from the parable? What should life here be like in light of the life to come?


This week pray asking Jesus to come back. Tell Him reasons why you want Him to return.

Riddle answers:

  1. A penny

  2. The letter m

  3. David

  4. To keep the doctor away

  5. 9--one brother total.

Jesus, Monarch (part 2): Heir Apparent


We know you’re all adults, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun and play a game. How about a rousing round of Simon Says? See how good your members are at following orders. :)


Are you good at following a leader? Do you tend to be critical of leadership or generous? How do you respond to having a boss at work? Are you good or bad at giving up control? Explain.

Justin said Sunday that we humans tend to “eat our leaders.” Have you seen that to be true? Share an example.

Share a story of a time you depended on a leader/king and found yourself disappointed.

The Apostle Paul says in Colossians that Jesus has supremacy over everything. What does that mean exactly? What does it mean for you as you consider following Him?

What are differences between the dominion of darkness and Christ’s kingdom?

What would it look like if Jesus showed up today in Round Rock, TX to assert His claim to kingship?

  • How might he act?

  • Where might he teach?

  • What kinds of miracles might he do?

  • Who might he call to be His disciples?

  • Who would be offended/angry? Why?

  • Who would be accepting? Why?

What are the ways Jesus challenges our ideas of kingship/authority? In what ways is Jesus a surprising King?

Consider this quote from NT Wright in his book Simply Jesus: “We want someone to save our souls, not rule our world! Or, if we want a king, what we want is someone to implement the policies we already embrace.”

Is this true for you? When you decided to follow Jesus, what parts of your life were hard to give over to His reign? What parts of your life are you still struggling to put under the authority of Christ?


Read Revelation 11:15-19.

We said Sunday that Jesus’ kingdom hasn’t come yet partly to give more people the chance to submit to Christ’s authority. Consider this glimpse into Heaven on the day when Jesus does in fact, assert His power.

  • What do you learn about Jesus as monarch from this passage?

  • How will Jesus’ reign ultimately be received?

  • As you consider Jesus’ return and full reign, how does it make you feel personally? What emotions emerge?


This week work a prayer of allegiance into your group prayer time. Tell Jesus you submit to His reign and welcome His rule. Ask Him to show you how to walk under His authority.