Isaiah 57:15 | The God of Heaven Dwells with the Humble
Pray
Church of the Week
Adobe Christian Church and Pastor Sean O’Kelly
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Isaiah 57:15 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
When you hear the word “revival,” what thoughts or emotions come to mind—and how have those shaped your expectations of God today?
Which part of prayer do you personally find most difficult: showing up consistently, surrendering control, trusting God’s will, or waiting on Him? Why?
Isaiah 57:15 says God dwells with the “contrite and lowly.” What do you think that means in everyday terms, and how is that different from how we usually think about spiritual maturity?
The sermon emphasized that prayer isn’t about bending God’s will to ours but offering our will to Him. How does that reshape the way you think about unanswered prayers?
Application
Pick up a 21 Days of Prayer Journal and Join one of the prayer meetings at Church each week.
1 John 3:1-3 | A Reset For Your Soul
1 John 3:1-3 | A Reset For Your Soul
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Valley Baptist Church and Pastor Alan Cross
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 3:1-3 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Reset your soul by focusing on 3 areas for the new year. Identity, Beliefs, & Standards:
Identity
Where have I settled for a smaller identity than Child of God?
Where am I trying to earn approval instead of resting in God's acceptance?
Beliefs
Where am I trusting my feeling over what God has said?
What truth from God's word do I need to take hold of right now?
Standards
Where have my choices not reflected God's love?
What habits or patterns are limiting what God made for me for?
Application
Read Psalm 23:3 and prayerfully ask, "where does my soul need a reset?" Write down where you sense God is leading you in this new year.
1 John 3:1-10 | What Did Jesus Come To Destroy
1 John 3:1-10 | What Did Jesus Come To Destroy
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Church of Christ and Pastor George Robertson
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries CRU Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 3:1-10 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What would you say is the reason for the Christmas season? Does Jesus coming to destroy the works of the devil fit into your idea of Christmas?
Where do you most see the temptation to live your own way instead of living God's way?
What changed for you upon surrendering to Christ for the first time? Why do you think we get desensitized to sin as we follow Jesus?
Have you ever felt that overcoming a particular sin in your life is impossible? What helps you to believe that victory over sin is possible?
Application
Respond to the message this week by stepping into the light:
What do you need to bring into the light so you will have victory?
Where have you become acclimated to the darkness?
What pattern, belief, or habit have you learned to live with instead of walking in victory?
Confess these to the Lord and ask for His help to overcome and walk in the light. Invite a trusted brother or sister in the Lord to pray with you.
1 John 2:28-3:2 | What Kind Of Love is This
1 John 2:28-3:2 | What Kind Of Love is This
Pray
Church of the Week
Petaluma Christian Church and Pastor Ryan Oelschlager
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 2:28-3:2 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Behold - Look at the love that is given
Take time to look at the love of God with fresh eyes. What is easy to miss because it is familiar but overflows your heart when meditated on more deeply
Experience God - How do you move from knowing the truths of God to experiencing them. Share a story of God ministering to you in the past that still impacts you today
See the miracle of God's Love
Do you struggle to believe that God's love is enough? Where to find yourself trying to earn or pay-back God for his love
What does it look like to receive the miracle of God's love and blessings with gratitude?
Respond to God's Love in 3 ways
Slow down (because looking takes time)
Return to wonder - thank God for 3 ordinary things.
Be filled with all the fullness of God Eph 3:18-19 - Let God overfill you on a daily basis (spend time with Him)
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 2:18-27 | Living in the Last Hour
Pray
Church of the Week
Penngrove Community Church and Pastor Conor Anderson
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 2:18-27 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
What is your initial response on hearing that we live in the last days how does Sunday's message help give clarity?
Discuss the 3 errors to avoid in living in the last days:
It’s so far off we don’t need to worry 2 Peter 3:8-9
It’s so close we don’t need to worry
It’s so far gone there is no point in praying, evangelizing, or looking for revival.
Discuss the 3 encouragements for living in the last days:
Guard your life with truth
Live your life with purpose
Stay connected to Christ
Why is it an advantage to us that Jesus went away and sent the Holy Spirit? John 16:7-13
How can you combat drifting and follow the command of abiding by building healthy rhythms of
Prayer
Community
Obedience
1 John 2:15-17 | Loving What Lasts
Pray
Church of the Week
Village Baptist Church and Pastor Shola Akognon
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 2:15-17 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
In your own words discuss what it means that we are commanded to not love the world and at the same time we are called to love the world.
Talk honestly about where you feel the temptations of the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life.
Where do you feel the strongest pull to love the world or the things of the world more than the will of God?
Which practice feels most like an invitation from God right now? (fasting, secret generosity, seeing supernaturally, obedience you've been postponing)
What will help you cultivate a greater love for Jesus in this season?
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
1 John 2:12-14 | The Power of Encouragement
Pray
Church of the Week
Hillside Church & Pastor Doug Manson
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries CRU Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 2:12-14 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Three Truths
Pastor Zach shared three truths from 1 John to strengthen you in the face of discouragement:
Your sins have been forgiven
You know God
Your have overcome the evil one
How do these truths encourage you in your Christian walk and in life?
Which truth is the hardest for you to believe? How can you resist the lies of Satan in that area?
Five Ways to Respond
On Sunday we were given five ways to respond to the message. Spend time in your group discussing how you can respond to each of the invitations for personal application. Be careful to avoid making general statements about how Christians in general should respond and look for specific actions and attitudes you can take in your life this next week. Share with your group and pray for one another this week as you respond.
Start and end each day in the truth - My Sins are forgiven because of His name.
Stop believing you can’t change
Embrace the messiness of Spiritual growth - read the quote from C.S. Lewis and discuss your experience and expectation of how God brings about spiritual growth.
“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Recognize you are in a spiritual battle - renovating your home in the midst of a warzone.
Seek encouragement - Look for others who are encouraging in the Christian walk and if you are in a season of discouragement start by finding someone in your life that you can encourage.
Proverbs 3:5-6 | The Posture of Faith
Proverbs 3:5-6 | The Posture of Faith
Pray
Church of the Week
Eastside Freewill Baptist Church & Pastor John Aranda
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Proverbs 3:5-6 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Trust
Pastor Rob Salvato encouraged us with a posture of trust in God. What area of God's character gives you the most confidence in Him?
God as creator
God as redeemer
God as sustainer
What does it look like when you only have partial trust in God?
Share an area where you want to grow more in your trust of Him.
How can you trust God when you can't see the whole plan?
Humility
Pastor Rob encouraged a posture of humility. Where is God calling you to adopt the face-down posture of humility?
How are you being called into humility by not leaning on your own understanding.
Worry
Pastor Rob warned against worry. What are the areas that you have assumed responsibility for, that God has called you to surrender to Him?
Surrender Control
Surrender Burdens
APPLICATION:
If you find yourself in a storm - cast all your cares upon Him.
Ask God where he is calling you to pursue Jesus as a disciple and not just a believer.
1 John 2:7-11 | Light & Love
Pray
Church of the Week
City Parish & Pastor Daniel Huskey
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 2:7-11 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Overcomplicating & Under Simplifying
Have you seen other people overcomplicate or under simplify truths? Where have you been guilty of these in life?
Where are you tempted to do this with the Christian Life?
Walk in the Light with Belief, Obedience, & Love
How do Belief, Obedience, & Love work together to help us walk in the light? What happens when we only walk in one or two of these?
Three Principles for walking in the light
Pastor Zach shared three principles to help us walk in the light. Discuss with your group practical ways you can adopt these principles.
Keep the Gospel Simple & Clear
Be a True Disciple
Don't Be a Hater
What obstacles keep you from walking in these principles?
APPLICATION:
Courageously share the Gospel and don't let worry or fear keep you from speaking the simple truth.
Ask God if there is an area you are lacking depth in your spiritual walk. Share with your group or another person for accountability and study and search God's Word, spend time with God's people, and grow in spiritual depth.
1 John 2:1-6 | Love & Obedience
1 John 2:1-6 | Love & Obedience
Pray
Church of the Week
Calvary Chapel Petaluma and Pastor Zach Vestnys
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 2:1-6 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Knowing God Through Obedience
John says, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.”
Question: How does obedience deepen your relationship with God rather than threaten it? Can you think of a time obedience helped you “know” God more personally?
The Authority of Scripture
The sermon contrasted judging Scripture versus submitting to it.
Question: When have you been tempted to “pick and choose” from the Bible? What helps you trust God’s authority even when His Word feels uncomfortable or confusing?
The Cost of Love
“Love will always confront your will and reshape it.”
Question: In what ways has God’s love reshaped your will recently? How has surrendering to His will changed your relationships or priorities?
Spiritual Immunotherapy
The sermon ended with the idea that God heals our souls by exposing us to obedience and growth, not protecting us from it.
Question: What “small doses” of obedience is God using right now to retrain your heart? Where might He be calling you to stop avoiding discomfort and trust Him instead?
Communion and Recalibration
This past Sunday we took communion together:
Question: How does regularly remembering Christ’s obedience and love help you heal from your own spiritual overreactions? What might it look like to “recalibrate” your heart this week?
APPLICATION:
Share Practical ways you can walk out these truths in your life this week.
1 John 1:5-10 | God is Light
1 John 1:5-10 | God is Light
Pray
Church of the Week
St. John’s Anglican Church & Pastor Josh Miller
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries: CRU Campus Ministry, Harvest Christian School, Redwood Gospel Mission, & Salvation Army
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 1:5-10 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
God is Light - What does it mean that "God is light and in Him is no darkness at all? How does this truth shape how we understand God's character and relate to Him?
If God's light defines reality, what happens when we try to define truth apart from Him?
What does "walking in the light" look like for you personally right now? Are there areas in your life where you have avoided the light of God's truth? What helps you move from hiding to honesty in those areas?
Why does John link confession with cleansing and forgiveness? What does this tell us about how grace works - and why exposure is part of healing, not just guilt?
"The light of God doesn't destroy what's true about you - it destroys what is false." What are some lies you are tempted to believe about yourself or others that God's light is challenging? What steps can you take this week to replace those lies with truth from Scripture?
Fellowship - Why do you think John connects walking in the light with fellowship among believers? What kind of relationships help you stay in the light - and what makes that kind of honesty difficult in Christian community? How could our group better reflect God's light to each other - through honesty, grace, or accountability?
APPLICATION:
Think of one or two people in your life who you can be vulnerable and transparent with?
Practice sharing and praying with them about what God is exposing in your life.
Scripture References:
2 Peter 1:4
1 John 1:1-4 | Complete Joy
1 John 1:1-4 | Complete Joy
Pray
Church of the Week
St. John’s Anglican Church & Pastor Josh Miller
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 1:1-4 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. Take turns sharing one of the happiest memory that you have?
2. Discuss a time or season where the truths of God's Word became more precious because of the circumstances surrounding you?
3. Pastor Zach shared how John puts doctrine at the center of Christian fellowship. How does doctrine build up fellowship?
4. Have you experienced the reality of community falling short of your ideal of Christian community? How can you follow John's lifelong pursuit of true fellowship with God and the Christian community even if you are discouraged?
5. Since fellowship means "to have in common," in what ways is God calling you to share more of your life with Him and more of your life with His community?
6. Is there a temporary joy that needs to fade away so you can experience the eternal unchanging joy of a life knowing God?
APPLICATION:
Pursue the ideal of life in the community of God personally and embrace the reality and challenges of life in the community of God.
Where do you need to take a step into the community of God today?
Ask God to give you true joy that makes you faithful, fruitful, and generational in you everyday activities.
What is the next step you need to take to experience that joy?
Scripture References:
John 17:3
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Jeremiah 29:11-13
1 John 5:19
1 John 1:1-5; 5:13 | 1 John Intro
Pray
Church of the Week
St. John’s Anglican Church & Pastor Josh Miller
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read 1 John 1:1-5 and 5:13 out loud together
Invite one person to read the verses for the week
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. Who was someone you were introduced to that changed your life?
2. 1 John 1:5 says that God is light - Is there any area of your life where you've been hesitant to bring something into the light?
3. 1 John 1:3 talks about our fellowship together with the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ. What gets in the way of deeper community for you?
4. 1 John 1:4 says that he writes "so that our joy may be complete". How would you describe your level of joy right now? What can you do to get more connected to Jesus?
5. Who can you introduce to Jesus this week? Take time as a group to pray for each person and for boldness.
APPLICATION:
Reintroduce yourself to Jesus
Make fellowship your priority
Walk in the light that you have
Plant your life in scripture
Check your joy
Introduce someone else to Jesus
Scripture References:
1 John 5:13
John 13:23
John 20:2-4
Romans 1:16
Micah 7:9-20 | God of Love and Fury
Pray
Church of the Week
St. James & St. Vincents
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 7:9-20 out loud together
Break it up so that everyone reads a few verses and participates.
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. Forgiveness
What is your experience with needing forgiveness for your sins and extending forgiveness towards others?
2. Second Exodus
Read the fulfillment of Micah 5:2 and 7:15 in Luke's description of the transfiguration. After reading Luke 9:28-36 discuss how Jesus ushers in a new exodus to free us from sin and death. How is it similar to His deliverance from Egypt? How is it better?
3. Justice
How does the Bible resolve the tension between God’s justice and His forgiveness? How does Exodus 34:6-7 and the cross help us understand God's ultimate plan? Does it challenge you to see the love and fury of God meet at the cross? Which characteristic of God is most challenging to you, God's Justice or God's Forgiveness?
4. Repentance
Discuss how repentance free's us up to experience all of God's forgiveness. In what way is repentance challenging for you?
Scripture References:
James 1:19
Exodus 34:6-7
1 John 1:9
Micah 7:15
Micah 5:2
Justice: The Foundation of a Christian Approach to Abuse By Jacob & Rachael Denhollander
https://www.fathommag.com/stories/justice-the-foundation-of-a-christian-approach-to-abuse
Find the latest discussion guide online at www.calvarypetaluma.org/discussionguide
Micah 6:9-7:8 | Do It Anyway
Church of the Week
Salvation Army and Major Lara Wycoff
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 6:9-7:8 out loud together
Break it up so that everyone reads a few verses and participates.
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. Influence and Integrity
Mother Teresa was influential not because of her power or position, but because she embodied her message. Who are the people in your life who have influenced you most deeply, and what made their influence so powerful?
2. Faithfulness in a Faithless World
Micah lived in a time of corruption and betrayal, yet he chose to keep looking to the Lord. What are some of the “faithless” patterns you see in our culture today? How can we resist the temptation to “play the game” and instead remain faithful to God’s ways?
3. Have You Experienced Division
Micah laments a corruption that is so deep it causes relational divides between neighbors and even the closest family members. Jesus quotes this passage and uses it to teach us that we will experience that same division when we follow Him. Have you experienced this?
4. Hope in the Midst of Discouragement
Micah declared, “When I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.” What practices or truths help you find hope when you feel invisible, discouraged, or tempted to give up?
5. Building for God’s Glory
The builders of Erfurt Cathedral worked their whole lives on something they never fully saw completed. In what areas of your life do you feel like you’re “laying stones” without seeing results? How does the perspective of building for God’s glory (not our own) encourage you?
Scripture References:
Hebrews 6:10
Matthew 10:35-36
Psalm 27:3
Micah 6:8 | Extra-Ordinary
Church of the Week
Petaluma Church of Christ and Pastor George Robertson
Missionary of the Week
Solomon & Mabel Charwi in Kehancha, Kenya
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 6:8 out loud together
Choose one person to read
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. Look at the list of "Ordinary Things" Pastor Danny Shared and discuss how they have impacted your walk in Christ
2. Where have you seen others practice "Ordinary Faith" to make a big difference?
3. Where is God calling you to commit to ordinary faith filled steps in an extra-ordinary way?
10 Ordinary Things Christians Do that change the World
Practice Forgiveness – Jesus first forgave you
Cultivate your relationship with God
Cultivate your relationship with God's People
Cultivate your relationship with your actual neighbors
Put down your devices and your televisions and radios and podcasts
Livie at the pace of Love - Slow down engage with people and care for them - Love takes a lot of time
Be bold in sharing your faith – Invite your actual neighbors to church
Let people surprise you in responding to invitation
Read the Bible and understand it in community
Sing- Ephesians 5:19 (ESV) addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
Pray as if prayer matters
for those who are in government
Champion Life – Jesus came to give abundant life
Champion Good – Remember it is a spiritual battle
BONUS
Champion Christ – In doing all of these ordinary everyday activities you advance the kingdom of Christ in your everyday life.
Cross References:
John 10:10
Ephesians 6:12
1 Corinthians 15:19–20
2 Peter 3:13
Micah 6:8
Matthew 22:37–40
Mark 9:35–36
1 Thessalonians 4:9–12
Ephesians 5:19
Micah 4:10 | Can God Work Here?
Church of the Week
Petaluma Church of Christ and Pastor George Robertson
Missionary of the Week
Caitlyn Christie (Hernandez) on furlough from Ministry in Guatemala
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 4:10 out loud together
Choose one person to read
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. What is happening in Israel
2 Chronicles 36:15-23 gives a summary of what is happening in Israel during this time and the way the nation struggles to obey God.
In what ways does the world and culture around you make it difficult to obey God.
How can God work here in this current moment to help you overcome these difficulties.
2. Deliverance from Difficulty
1 Timothy 3:1 promises difficulties in these days
Where have you experienced God delivering you from difficulty?
When have you experienced God's presence and peace delivering you in difficulty like it promises in Romans 8:28
How does our hope in Jesus give us confidence to be delivered through difficulty, "whether by life or by death" Philippians 1:19-21
3. You are never out of God's Reach
What is the most important next step for you to take in response to the promise of hope we have in God?
Repent of Sin
Stand with the Church
Look to Jesus
Cross References:
2 Chronicles 36:15-23
2 Timothy 3:1
Romans 8:28
Philippians 1:19-21
Micah 6:1-8 | What God Really Wants
Micah 6:1-8 | What God Really Wants
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 6:1-8 out loud together
Break it up so a few people can participate in reading.
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. God’s Faithfulness
Micah 6:1–5 shows God piling up reminders of His grace, not accusations.
How has God reminded you of His faithfulness in your own story?
Why do you think remembering His grace is essential before we can respond to His requirements?
2. Religion vs. Relationship
The people thought God wanted more sacrifices, but Micah says God wants relationship.
Where do you see the temptation in your own life to turn faith into performance?
How can we keep our walk with God centered on love rather than on “checking boxes”?
3. Doing Justice
Micah says God requires us to do justice.
What does doing justice look like in your everyday life—at home, at work, or in your community?
Can you think of someone in your life who has little or no power to give you anything in return, but who needs you to “do right by them”?
4. Loving Mercy
We don’t just show mercy—we are called to love it.
Why do you think we often prefer revenge or resentment over mercy?
Who might God be calling you to forgive, bless, or show compassion to this week?
5. Walking Humbly with God
Micah calls us to walk humbly—not ahead of God in pride, and not behind Him in fear.
Where do you sense you may be rushing ahead of God, or lagging behind Him, in your life right now?
What daily practices (prayer, dependence, surrender) help you stay in step with Him?
Micah 5:5-15 | Walk the Line
Micah 5:5-15 | Walk the Line
Church of the Week
Penngrove Community Church and Pastor Conor Anderson
Missionary of the Week
Local Ministries Redwood Gospel Mission
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 5:5-15 out loud together
Break it up so that everyone reads a few verses and participates.
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Defining the Line
Johnny Cash sang about “walking the line” and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that the line between good and evil runs through every human heart.How do you see the “line” between good and evil in your own life?
Who or what do you tend to let “define the line” for you – culture, yourself, or God?
Peace without Purity
Micah warned against leaders who cried “peace” when there was no peace (Micah 3:5).Where do you see our culture today offering “peace” that is really an illusion?
Have you ever experienced false peace by ignoring guilt or distracting yourself, and how did that compare to the real peace found in Jesus?
Failed Human Solutions
Micah 5 describes Israel trusting in human strength – armies, cities, idols – instead of God.What human solutions do we chase for peace (money, relationships, success, self-expression)?
Which of these temptations is most real for you right now?
Confession and Cleansing
1 John 1:9 promises forgiveness and cleansing through confession.Why do you think confession feels hard for many people?
Can you think of a time when confession actually brought freedom and peace?
Pursuing Peace with Others
Hebrews 12:14-15 warns about a “root of bitterness”Do you struggle with unforgiveness?
Is there anyone you need to forgive (or seek forgiveness from) in order to walk in God’s peace?
Scripture References:
Micah 3:5
Isaiah 57:20-21
1 John 1:7
Isaiah 32:17
Romans 5:1
1 John 1:9
James 5:16
Hebrews 12:14-15
Romans 12:18-21
Psalm 23
Micah 5:1-5 | Real Hope, False Hope, and the Gift of Hopelessness
Church of the Week
Village Baptist Church
Missionary of the Week
Shalom Christian Center on Mfangano Island
Suggested Outline for Your Group:
Share “God Stories”
Share testimonies of where you have seen God working in your life lately.
Read Micah 5:1-5 out loud together
Choose 1 person to read through
Go through the Discussion Questions:
Don’t feel like you need to get through them all
Use the ones that are the most helpful in stirring up meaningful conversation
Make sure you save enough time to pray together
Share prayer requests
Pray for one another
Thank God for the ways He’s answered the prayers of the group lately
Invite the Holy Spirit to speak through you as you wait on Him
Discussion Questions:
Real Hope vs. False Hope
Where do people today (including us) often place their hope? How can we discern if our hope is real (grounded in God’s promises) or false (based only on our own desires)?The Gift of Hopelessness
Think of a time when you felt hopeless: looking back, how did that experience bring clarity or lead you closer to God?Micah 5:1-5 The Surprising Source of Hope
What does it teach us that God chose Bethlehem – a small, unlikely place – for the birth of the Messiah? How might that encourage us when we feel small or weak?Prophecy and Promise
How does seeing prophecy fulfilled (like Micah 5:2) strengthen your confidence in God’s Word? Why is it important to anchor our hope in God’s promise rather than our circumstances?
Personal Application
What is an area of your life where you are most tempted to build a false hope? How can you redirect that hope toward Jesus, the Good Shepherd and Prince of Peace?
Scripture References:
Proverbs 14:12
Romans 15:13; 15:4
Psalm 42:5
1 Peter 1:3-5
8 Prophecies about Jesus:
Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2 > Luke 2:4-7
Called out of Egypt Hosea 11:1 > Matthew 2:14-15
Shining forth from Galilee Isaiah 9:1-2 > Matthew 4:12-16
Descended from Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, & David (Genesis 22:18; Numbers 24:17; Genesis 39:10; Jeremiah 23:5) > Matthew 1:1-16
Born of a virgin Isaiah 7:14 > Matthew 1:22-23
Betrayed by a close friend for thirty pieces of silver (Psalm 41:9; Zechariah 11:12-13) > Matthew 26:14-16; 27:9-10
Silent before His accusers Isaiah 53:7 > Matthew 27:12-14
Hands and Feet were pierced (Psalm 22:16; Zechariah 12:10) > John 20:25-27