Click on the link below to open the sermon notes for September 28, 2025
Small Group Guide
Opening Prayer
Key Scripture: Mark 12:28-31
"28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Main Points:
1. Love God completely
2. Love ourselves correctly
3. Love others compassionately
Discussion Questions:
1. What stood out to you most from the sermon?
2. How do you typically view yourself? Do you tend towards "worm theology" (feeling worthless) or pride? How can seeing yourself as God sees you change your self-perception?
3. The sermon emphasized that we are "more sinful than you realize and more loved than you could ever imagine." How does holding both of these truths together impact your relationship with God and others?
4. What are some practical ways you can prioritize "undistracted space with God" in your daily life?
5. How might practicing gratitude help cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
6. The pastor challenged us to "make God look really good in every situation." What might this look like in your workplace, family, or community?
Key Takeaways:
• True satisfaction comes from a relationship with God, not from lesser things.
• We are defined by Christ's work, not our performance, past, or personality.
• Loving others compassionately involves being present, patient, and others-focused.
Practical Applications:
1. Choose one of the "10 Ts" mentioned in the sermon (e.g., Time, Thankfulness, Tenderness) and commit to practicing it for the next 7-21 days in one area of your life (loving God, yourself, or others).
2. Identify one relationship where you can take a practical step to show love more compassionately this week.
3. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day this week for undistracted time with God, focusing on gratitude and His love for you.
4. Before making decisions this week, pause and ask yourself, "Does this make God look good?"
Closing Prayer:
Thank God for His love and ask for His help in loving Him completely, seeing ourselves correctly, and loving others compassionately.-Additional Questions:How does the concept of loving God 'completely' challenge or expand your current understanding of your relationship with God?
Additional Questions:
In what ways might seeing ourselves 'correctly' as God sees us impact our daily lives and interactions with others?
How can we balance loving ourselves 'correctly' with the biblical call to deny ourselves and take up our cross?
What practical steps can we take to love others more 'compassionately' in our families, workplaces, and communities?
How might prioritizing 'undistracted space with God' transform our spiritual lives and overall well-being?
In what ways does the idea of an 'exchanged life' rather than just a 'changed life' challenge our understanding of Christian transformation?
How can we cultivate an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude as the 'soil' for spiritual growth?
What does it mean to 'make God look really good in every situation,' and how might this perspective change our decision-making?
How can we apply the concept of 'CBS' (Conceived, Born, Shaped) to better understand our own spiritual journey and those of others?
In what ways can we practically implement the '10 Ts' mentioned in the sermon to deepen our love for God, ourselves, and others?
Opening Prayer
Key Scripture: Mark 12:28-31
"28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Main Points:
1. Love God completely
2. Love ourselves correctly
3. Love others compassionately
Discussion Questions:
1. What stood out to you most from the sermon?
2. How do you typically view yourself? Do you tend towards "worm theology" (feeling worthless) or pride? How can seeing yourself as God sees you change your self-perception?
3. The sermon emphasized that we are "more sinful than you realize and more loved than you could ever imagine." How does holding both of these truths together impact your relationship with God and others?
4. What are some practical ways you can prioritize "undistracted space with God" in your daily life?
5. How might practicing gratitude help cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in your life?
6. The pastor challenged us to "make God look really good in every situation." What might this look like in your workplace, family, or community?
Key Takeaways:
• True satisfaction comes from a relationship with God, not from lesser things.
• We are defined by Christ's work, not our performance, past, or personality.
• Loving others compassionately involves being present, patient, and others-focused.
Practical Applications:
1. Choose one of the "10 Ts" mentioned in the sermon (e.g., Time, Thankfulness, Tenderness) and commit to practicing it for the next 7-21 days in one area of your life (loving God, yourself, or others).
2. Identify one relationship where you can take a practical step to show love more compassionately this week.
3. Set aside 10-15 minutes each day this week for undistracted time with God, focusing on gratitude and His love for you.
4. Before making decisions this week, pause and ask yourself, "Does this make God look good?"
Closing Prayer:
Thank God for His love and ask for His help in loving Him completely, seeing ourselves correctly, and loving others compassionately.-Additional Questions:How does the concept of loving God 'completely' challenge or expand your current understanding of your relationship with God?
Additional Questions:
In what ways might seeing ourselves 'correctly' as God sees us impact our daily lives and interactions with others?
How can we balance loving ourselves 'correctly' with the biblical call to deny ourselves and take up our cross?
What practical steps can we take to love others more 'compassionately' in our families, workplaces, and communities?
How might prioritizing 'undistracted space with God' transform our spiritual lives and overall well-being?
In what ways does the idea of an 'exchanged life' rather than just a 'changed life' challenge our understanding of Christian transformation?
How can we cultivate an attitude of thankfulness and gratitude as the 'soil' for spiritual growth?
What does it mean to 'make God look really good in every situation,' and how might this perspective change our decision-making?
How can we apply the concept of 'CBS' (Conceived, Born, Shaped) to better understand our own spiritual journey and those of others?
In what ways can we practically implement the '10 Ts' mentioned in the sermon to deepen our love for God, ourselves, and others?