Genesis | The Origins of the World | Genesis 1:1-2:3

Genesis | The Origins of the World | Genesis 1:1-2:3
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • What competing stories shape how you see God, yourself, and the world?

  • Where do you need to trust God’s control instead of trying to control everything yourself?

  • How does knowing God created you with purpose change your everyday life?

  • What good gift could you enjoy more without making it more important than God?

  • How would your life be different if you lived every moment with the “very good” of God echoing in your soul?

Prayer Points

  • Thank God for the fact of your existence. That he made you with care and purpose.

  • Thank God for specific gifts that reveal his generosity, and ask him to turn your enjoyment into worship.

  • Thank Jesus for bearing your sin, and ask him to help you rest in God’s love and live as his new creation.

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?

Rhythms of Grace | A Sent People | Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Rhythms of Grace | A Sent People | Luke 10:1-12, 17-20
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Jesus sends seventy-two “others,” beyond the twelve apostles (Luke 10:1). How does this challenge the way you think about your role in his mission?

  • What makes it difficult for you to build meaningful friendships with people who don’t follow Jesus? What might need to change for you to make room for those relationships?

  • In Luke 10:9, Jesus tells his followers to both heal and speak. Which comes more naturally to you: demonstrating Jesus’ love through actions or inviting people to follow him through words? How could you grow in the other?

  • A Kingdom Outpost is a place Jesus sends you to make his Kingdom known. What might that place be in your life, and what is one practical step you could take this week to invest in the people there?

Prayer Points

  • Ask Jesus to show you where he is sending you to and to give you courage to follow.

  • Pray by name for people who don’t know Jesus. Ask for opportunities to serve them and invite them to follow him.

  • Thank Jesus that you belong to him by grace. Ask him to free you from needing to prove yourself and help you persevere in love, whatever the results.

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?

Rhythms of Grace | An Equipped People | Ephesians 4:7-16

Rhythms of Grace | An Equipped People | Ephesians 4:7-16
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where do you currently see yourself becoming more like Jesus? Where do you see the surrounding culture shaping you in another direction?

  • Paul says spiritual immaturity leaves us vulnerable to being “tossed to and fro” (Eph. 4:14). Where are you most susceptible to instability or outside influence right now?

  • What gift or ministry has God entrusted to you? Where are you actively using it to build others up, and where might you be neglecting your gifts?

  • The sermon challenged us to “Bring what you have. Pursue what you lack.” What do you have that others in the church need? What do you lack that you need to receive from others?

  • What is one area of your life in which you want to become more mature in Christ? Who could you intentionally invite to help equip you in that area?

Prayer Points

  • Ask God to reveal areas of spiritual immaturity and continue forming us into the likeness of Christ.

  • Thank Jesus for the grace he has given his church, and ask for courage and humility to faithfully use our gifts to build others up.

  • Pray that Sound City would become a church where every member brings what they have and pursues what they lack.

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?

Rhythms of Grace | A Loving People | Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17

Rhythms of Grace | A Loving People | Colossians 3:1-4, 12-17
Myeong Hong
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Discussion Questions

  • How have you experienced the love of Jesus through Christian community?

  • How does your identity in Jesus change the way you relate to people in your Community Group? 

  • How can we move from “knowing facts about someone” to actually helping one another see Jesus?

  • From the three practices of community - prioritizing time together, connecting authentically, and serving sacrificially- which is God inviting you to grow in? Why?

Prayer Points

  • Give thanks to God for the people He has placed in our lives who have shown us the love of Jesus through sacrificial love.

  • Pray that our Community Groups would be places where people experience the love of Jesus.

  • Pray that God would give us the courage and humility to let others know us authentically. 

Rhythms of Grace | A Worshiping People | Hebrews 10:19-25

Rhythms of Grace | A Worshiping People | Hebrews 10:19-25
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where do you most want to become more like Jesus right now?

  • Why do you think God designed us to draw near to him together, not just individually?

  • What obstacles do you face in gathering with God’s people consistently? If regularity isn’t a struggle, how are you able to be so consistent?

  • What competing “gospel” or story are you most tempted to believe during the week?

  • How does Jesus being cast out to bring us in change the way we relate to imperfect people in the church?

Prayer Points

  • Ask God to make us a people who prioritize gathering and come expectant to meet with him.

  • Ask God to use our church community to help us hold fast to what is true 

  • Thank Jesus for being cast out so that we could be brought into the presence and love of 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?

Praying With Jesus | Praying the Gospel | Psalm 103

Praying with Jesus | Praying the Gospel | Psalm 103
John Fox
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Discussion Questions

  • What are some of the benefits of God David recalls?

  • What is significant about the relationship between recalling God’s benefits and God’s character?

  • What contrast does David use to highlight the love of God?

  • What does David summon to praise God besides his own soul? How does God’s sovereignty relate to why God should be praised?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for patience and endurance to practice this kind of spiritual discipline.

  • Pray Sound City would become better at engaging our whole self in worship

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Angry | Psalm 137

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Angry | Psalm 137
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • What does it look like to acknowledge our anger without letting it control you?

  • When can anger be a good and appropriate response?

  • What tends to make you disproportionately angry, and what might that reveal?

  • How does trusting God as the ultimate judge help us limit our anger?

  • How does the gospel move us from anger toward forgiveness?

Prayer Points

  • Ask God for the courage to honestly bring our anger to him rather than suppressing it.

  • Ask God to reveal the idols beneath our anger and help us surrender them.

  • Thank Jesus for bearing judgment for us, and ask for grace to forgive as we’ve been forgiven.

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?

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Exhausted | Psalm 127

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Exhausted | Psalm 127
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • Where are you most tempted toward “anxious toil” right now? What makes that particular area hard for you to entrust to God?

  • The sermon identifies two roots of anxious toil: believing everything depends on us and looking to our work to give us a name. Which is the greater temptation for you, and how does it show up?

  • “Your job is faithfulness; the fruit belongs to God.” What would change about the way you approach your work, parenting, ministry, or responsibilities if you really believed that?

  • Solomon could rest when he remembered his name: “beloved of the Lord.” Where are you most tempted to build a name for yourself rather than receive your identity from God?

  • The sermon ends with two invitations: “Remember who gives the fruit. Remember your name. And go to sleep.” What is one concrete way you could practice that this week?

Prayer Points

  • Thank God for the gift of work.

  • Surrender the fruit of your work to God.

  • Thank God for the name you’ve already received in Christ

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Doubtful | Psalm 73

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Doubtful | Psalm 73
Myeong Hong
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Discussion Questions

  • What does Psalm 73 teach us about God when it comes to our doubts?

  • What’s significant about Asaph saying,"It is good to be near God"in verse 28?

  • How can our church become a place where people feel safe bringing questions and doubts?

  • How can our own experiences of doubt help us share Jesus to others?

Prayer Points

  • Praise God for His patience and invitation to bring our doubts to Him in prayer.

  • Pray that God would become our greatest treasure rather than the temporary things of this world.

  • Pray that our church would grow in compassion for those who are struggling with doubt.

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Abandoned | Psalm 88

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Abandoned | Psalm 88
John Fox
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Discussion Questions

  • What is the combination of crying out the psalmist uses to begin the psalm? Why do we need both things?

  • What would it look like for you to pour out your deepest sorrows? Have you done that with the Lord before?

  • What biblical precedent do we have for making an appeal for our good based off of God’s glory? How might you pray with this motive in mind?

  • How did Jesus experience darkness for his people? How is our experience different from ours?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for grace to honestly deal with our deepest sorrows with the Lord’s strength.

  • Pray our church would be known for engaging with others in their darkness because Jesus has done that for us.

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?

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Guilty | Psalm 51

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Guilty | Psalm 51
Tim Smith | July 26, 2026

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Guilty
Tim Smith
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Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Grateful | Psalm 40

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Grateful | Psalm 40
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • How has God shown his goodness towards you recently? 

  • Which of the three responses to God's goodness—declaring His goodness, delighting in His will, or depending on Him again—comes most naturally to you? Which is most difficult?

  • Why do you think it's often easier to focus on what's wrong than to celebrate what God is doing?

  • How does remembering what Jesus has done for us give us hope even when life feels uncertain or difficult?

  • What is one practical way you can become someone who highlights God's goodness this week?

Prayer Points

  • Pray that God would help us notice and celebrate His goodness with grateful hearts.

  • Pray for the courage to share stories of God's faithfulness with our families, friends, and church.

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?

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Afraid | Psalm 27

Praying with Jesus | When We Feel Afraid | Psalm 27
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • When anxiety or fear takes hold, how does it tend to change you?

  • David faced uncertainty about his safety, his calling, and even his closest relationships (Psalm 27). Which area of uncertainty is hardest for you to trust God with right now?

  • The sermon described three responses to fear: remembering God's past faithfulness, staying on God's path, and seeking God's presence. Which of those comes most naturally to you? Which is the biggest challenge? Why?

  • David's greatest request wasn't that God would remove his problems, but that he could dwell in God's presence and behold His beauty (Psalm 27:4). Has there ever been a time when the greatest desire of your heart was to behold the beauty of God? Explain.

  • Verse 14 ends with, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage." What does waiting on the Lord look like in a practical way this week?

Prayer Points

  • Thank God for specific ways He has proven faithful in your life, and ask Him to help you remember His faithfulness when fear begins to take over.

  • Ask God for courage to remain on His path, even in areas where you're tempted to take control or act out of anxiety.

  • Pray that the Holy Spirit would deepen your desire for Christ's presence, so that your confidence would rest more in Him than in your circumstances.

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?

Praying with Jesus | An Invitation to Silence | Psalm 62

Praying with Jesus | An Invitation to Silence | Psalm 62
Reece Woodruff
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Discussion Questions

  • What "waves" are you facing in this season of life, and how have you been responding to them?

  • What are some of the biggest sources of noise and distraction that make it difficult for you to hear God's voice?

  • David says that people are "a breath" but that power and steadfast love belong to God. How does remembering those truths change the way we face anxiety, fear, or discouragement?

  • What's one practical step you could take this week to build a rhythm of silence and stillness before God?

Prayer Points

  • Pray for discipline to regularly make space for silence in God's presence.

  • Pray that God would remind us of our weakness and deepen our confidence in his power and steadfast love.

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? | The Priesthood | 1 Peter 2:4-12

Why Church? | The Priesthood | 1 Peter 2:4-123:16-17
Myeong Hong
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Discussion Questions

  • What does it mean to you that Jesus has “bridged the gap” between you and God?

  • Where do you most often look for identity besides Jesus (success, relationships, performance, etc.)?

  • Do you tend to view church more as something you receive from, or something you participate in as a priesthood with others?

  • Where in your everyday life (work, school, neighborhood, family) do you see a “gap” in people’s lives that God might be calling you to step into?

Prayer Points

  • Praise Jesus, our High Priest, who bridged a way for us to God.

  • Pray that the Holy Spirit helps us notice the people around us who are hurting or searching.

  • Pray that Sound City would be known for people who pray, serve others, and live on mission in everyday life.

Why Church? | The Temple | 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Why Church? | The Temple | 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
John Fox
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Discussion Questions

  • What was the biblical progression of temple worship? How do we see this theme run through the Scriptures?

  • From the Bible’s perspective, why do people continue to seek out forms of worship? How does this relate to SBNR people?

  • What was going on in the church of Corinth that Paul would need to use a rhetorical question to rebuke them over?

  • Temples involved sacrifice or atonement. How does Jesus’ atonement relate to making our local church God’s temple?

Prayer Points

  • Pray we would have a growing awareness of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit and a receptivity to His leading.

  • Pray divisions would not creep into our church but we would have an increased sense of unity and holiness that is appropriate for God’s temple. 

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? | 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?