Why Church? | The Family | Ephesians 2:11-22

Why Church? | The Family | Ephesians 2:11-22
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • When have you personally experienced feeling like an outsider? How does that shape the way you view others who feel disconnected today?

  • Paul tells believers to "remember who you were." Why is remembering our past alienation important for maintaining humility and unity in the present?

  • What kinds of visible or invisible walls tend to divide people in our culture, our community, or even our church?

  • The cross both humbles us and welcomes us. Which of those truths do you need to remember most right now, and why?

  • What is one practical way our Community Group can help someone experience the church as a place that feels more like "home" this week?

Prayer Points

  • Ask God to reveal any pride, prejudice, or barriers in your heart that keep you from loving others as brothers and sisters.

  • Pray that Sound City would be a church where outsiders are welcomed, walls come down, and people from different backgrounds experience the unity of Christ.

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

Why Church? | Why Bother with Church? | Matthew 16:13-23

Why Church? | Why Bother with Church? | Matthew 16:13-23
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • What comes to mind when you hear the word "church," and why?

  • Why do you think Jesus chose to build his kingdom through a people rather than individuals alone?

  • Which of the three reasons to live committed to the church stood out most to you: it is beloved, it holds the keys, or it is indestructible?

  • In what ways are you tempted to keep "one foot in and one foot out" of Christian community?

  • What is one practical step you can take to invest more deeply in the people of God this summer?

Prayer Points

  • Thank Jesus for calling you out of darkness and into his people, and ask him to deepen your love for the church.

  • Ask God to help you invest your life in what will last forever and to use you to help others find the hope of his Kingdom.

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | Finishing Well: Essentials for Lifelong Gospel Labor | Acts 28

WITNESS | Finishing Well: Essentials for Lifelong Gospel Labor | Acts 28
Jason Smith
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Discussion Questions

  • Describe how you experience God’s call to gospel labor.

  • What is something that you are passionate about, and how does that impact your life?

  • Who is someone you admire who has passion for the gospel?

  • How do partners make a difference in serving the Lord?

  • Why is perseverance important in gospel labor?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for increased gospel passion in your life and in our church.

  • Ask God to highlight the gospel partners in your life.

  • Pray that God will grant perseverance to continue serving him when times are challenging.

WITNESS | Navigating Life’s Storms | Acts 27

WITNESS | Navigating Life’s Storms | Acts 27
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Paul’s storm came while he was obeying God, not running from him. How does that challenge the way we normally think about suffering and hardship?

  • Which of the four points from the sermon do you most need right now: expect storms, trust the plan, act in wisdom, or remember who’s with you? Why?

  • Joseph, Job, and Paul all experienced storms without fully understanding what God was doing. Can you think of a season in your life where you had to trust God without clear answers?

  • The sermon said, “God only allows the storms into your life that you would allow if you knew everything he knew.” What emotions or questions does that statement raise for you?

  • When storms hit, do you tend to become passive (“God will handle it”) or overly controlling (“Everything depends on me”)? What would it look like to trust God’s sovereignty while also acting wisely?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for the storms that others in your group are facing

  • Ask God for an increased sense of his presence through whatever you’re facing

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | Paul Before the King | Acts 26

WITNESS | Paul Before the King | Acts 26
Myeong Hong
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Discussion Questions

  • Share someone who relationally invested in you and how it impacted your faith.

  • How can difficult or unexpected situations become opportunities to witness?

  • Do your conversations with unbelievers feel more like debates or relationships?

  • How does the gospel speak to both the heart and mind?

  • How does trusting God with the outcome change the way we witness?

  • Share one person God may be putting on your heart to intentionally love and witness to this summer.

Prayer Points

  • Pray that God would help us love people instead of seeing them as projects or debates to win.

  • Pray for the Spirit to help us recognize unexpected opportunities to witness.

  • Pray that the people of Sound City would speak with grace and truth, so that our words reflect Jesus and draw others to Him.

WITNESS | The Courage of Paul | Acts 21

WITNESS | The Courage of Paul | Acts 21
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where do you most feel fear or pressure right now? How are you responding to it?

  • What stands out to you about Paul’s courage in Acts 21–23? What made it unique?

  • Why do you think self-confidence alone eventually falls short as a source of courage?

  • How does looking to Jesus (his forgiveness, purpose, and hope) reshape the way we face fear?

  • What is one practical step you can take this week to act courageously in obedience to God?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to lift our eyes from ourselves to his exalted Son

  • Ask the Lord to make us people of courage

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly. How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one”this month?

WITNESS | The Church That Flourishes | Acts 20:17-38

WITNESS | The Church That Flourishes | Acts 20:17-38
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where do you find it hardest to speak the truth with both boldness and love?

  • Why do you think truth is often resisted in our culture today?

  • What does it look like practically to “live with people” in Christian community?

  • How have you experienced both joy and tears in relationships at church?

  • What helps you keep going when loving others feels costly or exhausting?

Prayer Points

  • Pray that our church would stay committed to truth, tears, and toil during this season of transition

  • Thank God for give the blood of his own Son to make the church possible

WITNESS | A City Full of Idols | Acts 19

WITNESS | A City Full of Idols | Acts 19
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where do you see “repentance without belief” in our culture or even in your own life?

  • Do you tend to lean more toward truth or experience in your faith? How might God be inviting you to grow in the other area?

  • What does it look like in real life to treat Jesus as an “accessory” instead of Lord?
    Where is that temptation strongest for you?

  • What “rival love” competes most for your heart right now? How can you actively replace it with a deeper love for Jesus this week?

Prayer Points

  • Ask God that give us heart that are fully devoted to him

  • Ask the Lord to spread his Kingdom through our church as we surrender all of our lives to him

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | The Gospel to the Philosopher | Acts 17:16-33

WITNESS | The Gospel to the Philosopher | Acts 17:16-33
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where do you tend to keep your faith separate from the rest of your life?

  • What are some “idols” people in our culture look to for meaning or security?

  • Why do you think Paul starts by affirming before challenging the philosophers?

  • How does the resurrection change whether Christianity is true or not?

  • What would it look like for you to respond to God not just intellectually, but relationally?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to provide opportunities to share the gospel with others in our life

  • Repent of the ways you keep your faith separate from certain areas of your life and ask God to show you how to integrate it more fully

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

A Living Hope | Palm Sunday | Hope Misunderstood | Luke 19:28-44

Palm Sunday | Hope Misunderstood | Luke 19:28-44
John Fox
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Discussion Questions

  • Luke concludes the narrative of Jesus’ march towards Jerusalem in this section. Why is it important that Jesus foretells the disciple where the colt is and how he will use it?

  • What were the three ways we try to answer the question of who we are by Henri Nouwen? How can we use them to discern what we are hoping in?

  • What hope is Jesus offering and how is it different from other hopes of this life?

  • How does Jesus’ emotional state affect you at the end of this passage? What does it communicate of his sadness for others? How does this relate to his impending crucifixion?

Prayer Points

  • Pray that God would give you an increased awareness of what you are daily hoping in that you might notice false hopes and turn back to Jesus.

  • Pray our church would grow in our encouragement of one another to place our hope in God and remind each other that nothing else truly satisfies but him.

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | Portraits of Transformation, Part 2 | Acts 16:25-34

WITNESS | Portraits of Transformation, Part 2 | Acts 16:25-34
Myeong Hong
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Discussion Questions

  1. How do crises or unexpected challenges shape the way we see our need for God?

  2. Who might be “watching and listening” to your life? Consider using your suffering to share honestly what you’re going through and how Jesus is helping you get through.

  3. Can you think of a time when someone’s faith or worship impacted you?

  4. When you see someone struggling, do you try to fix the situation or withdraw?

  5. Who in your life might be facing a crisis that you should move towards?

  6. In what ways can you show God’s love and truth to people who think they don’t need Him?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for humility to recognize areas in our lives where we rely on our own sufficiency instead of God.

  • Pray for eyes to see when someone is in crisis and courage to move toward them.

WITNESS | Portraits of Transformation, Part 1 | Acts 16:11-24

WITNESS | Portraits of Transformation, Part 1 | Acts 16:11-24
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • What stands out to you about the differences between Lydia and the slave girl? What does that teach us about how people come to faith?

  • Do you tend to think the gospel is more likely to reach certain “types” of people than others? Why do you think that is?

  • Which story do you resonate with more—Lydia’s search for meaning through religion or the girl’s experience of oppression and bondage? Why?

  • Who might be a “Lydia” or someone spiritually stuck in your life right now, and what might it look like to share the gospel with them?

  • How does remembering that “the Lord opened Lydia’s heart” shape the way we think about evangelism and our role in it?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to give us eyes to see those in our lives searching for a way to God.

  • Ask the Lord to show you what powers might be keeping you from full freedom in the Lord.

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | Gospel Clarity | Acts 15:1-35

WITNESS | Gospel Clarity | Acts 15:1-35
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • How have you seen the truth of the gospel lead to joy in your own life?

  • The sermon suggested many Christians live in a kind of “meh” spiritual state. Do you resonate with that? What do you think contributes to that lack of joy?

  • Why do you think the human heart struggles to accept the equation “Grace + nothing = salvation”?

  • What are some subtle ways people today add something to the gospel (Jesus + ___ = salvation)? Which of these are you most tempted toward?

  • If you truly believed that you were already forgiven, clean, and welcomed into God’s family, how might that change the way you live this week?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to clarify the glory of the gospel, not just to your mind, but also to your heart

  • Ask the Lord to grow us into a church marked by joy and gladness

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | The Gospel for the Pagan | Acts 14:8-23

WITNESS | The Gospel for the Pagan | Acts 14:8-23
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • How do you see Paul adjusting his approach in Acts 14 compared to Acts 13? Why does that matter for us?

  • What does it practically look like to “earn a hearing” in your current relationships?

  • What are the most common functional idols in our city? Why are they so compelling?

  • How can you tell when a good thing has become an ultimate thing in your life?

  • When you’re not trusting in Christ, where do you tend to look for meaning, value, and joy?

  • In conversations with non-Christians, how might you “complete the story” rather than simply argue against their beliefs?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to give you opportunities this week to “earn a hearing” through deeds of love

  • Ask the Lord to expose the idols you tend to run to when you’re not clinging to God

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?

WITNESS | The First Church Plant | Acts 13

WITNESS | The First Church Plant | Acts 13
John Fox
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Discussion Questions

  • What is the significance of the sending act of the Holy Spirit and the Christian community? How do they relate?

  • Why does Paul focus so intently (three times) on Jesus being raised from the dead? What does the word communicate?

  • What are the two strong reactions to the preaching of the gospel towards the end of the passage? What are the implications for you sharing the gospel?

  • How can you comfort someone this week, or yourself, with the truth that God has appointed some to hear and believe the gospel and receive eternal life?

Prayer Points

  • Pray we would be sensitive to asking the Lord where he is sending us throughout our daily lives, but also how he might send out a church plant from our church.

  • Pray our church would gain confidence in God’s power to raise us up with Christ regardless of the adversities we experience.

WITNESS | The Ministry of Barnabas | Acts 11:19-30

WITNESS | The Ministry of Barnabas | Acts 11:19-30
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Who is one person in your life you’re praying would come to know Jesus?

  • What fears or obstacles tend to keep you from speaking about Jesus in everyday life?

  • Where are you tempted to turn the gospel into “good advice” instead of “good news”?

  • Who has been a Barnabas (encourager) in your life, and what specifically did they do that strengthened you?

  • What is one practical way you could celebrate, catalyze, or call someone forward in faith this week?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to make our church more bold in our gospel proclamation.

  • Ask the Lord to give us eyes to see the grace in others lives that we might celebrate and cultivate it.

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one” this month?


WITNESS | The Gospel to the Outsider | Acts 10:1-48

WITNESS | The Gospel to the Outsider | Acts 10:1-48
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Have you ever had a moment of “disruption” that made you question how you see God, yourself, or the world? What was that like?

  • Why do you think seasons of doubt, confusion, or “darkness” are often necessary for real growth or change?

  • What’s the difference between being “spiritual” and actually being transformed?

  • Who might God be calling you to walk alongside—like Ananias—even if it feels uncomfortable or unlikely?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to bring divine disruptions into the lives of those who are far from him that they may begin a journey back to him.

  • Ask the Lord to show us who he wants us to journey with towards faith

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly.

How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one”this month?

WITNESS | The Unlikiest Convert of All | Acts 9:1-18

WITNESS | The Unlikiest Convert of All | Acts 9:1-18
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Have you ever had a moment of “disruption” that made you question how you see God, yourself, or the world? What was that like?

  • Why do you think seasons of doubt, confusion, or “darkness” are often necessary for real growth or change?

  • What’s the difference between being “spiritual” and actually being transformed?

  • Who might God be calling you to walk alongside—like Ananias—even if it feels uncomfortable or unlikely?

Prayer Points

  • Ask the Lord to bring divine disruptions into the lives of those who are far from him that they may begin a journey back to him.

  • Ask the Lord to show us who he wants us to journey with towards faith.

Reach One

As we continue to grow as Thoughtful Witnesses, we’re inviting everyone to “reach one” person that’s far from God by praying for them by name daily and engaging them in some way monthly (see the page below for ideas). To help encourage one another in this season, we’re asking each Community Group to discuss the following questions at least monthly. How can we pray for your “one”? How are you hoping to engage your “one”this month?