Trinity Church

Questions for SG or Personal Reflection
“Seek First” (Matthew 6:31–33)

What stood out to you most from Sunday’s message or from Matthew 6:31–33?

Jesus connects worry with what we seek. Why do you think seeking God first is the antidote to anxiety?

What does it practically mean to “seek” God’s Kingdom — not just believe in it?

When is it hardest for you to put God first instead of fitting Him in around other priorities?

How would you describe the Kingdom of God in your own words?

Where do you see glimpses of God’s Kingdom in your life, community, or relationships?

The sermon said, “To seek first the Kingdom means prioritizing love over survival.”
– What might that look like for you this week?

What’s the difference between my righteousness and His righteousness?

How can trusting God’s provision (“all these things”) bring peace even when life feels uncertain?

What’s one practical way you can seek God’s Kingdom first this week?

Small Group/Reflection Questions:

1. Why do you think God was angry at all of Israel because of one man’s sin? (See Joshua 7:1)
2. Achan did one stupid/selfish thing. Did he and his whole family really deserve to be killed? (see Joshua 7:25) How do we reconcile this with our own sin?
3. Quote from sermon: “That’s essentially what sin is!….when we take the things that are of God, from God, and for His glory and say no no no…that’s going to be about me”. Thoughts? Agree/Disagree? What are examples of this?
4. What other definitions of sin have you found helpful?
5. In addition to prayers of confession/repentance, what are other ways we experience/access God’s grace which is always available to us?

Small Group Questions from 9-14-25
Main Text: Joshua 6:1-21

1. Read Joshua 5:13-15. What about this strange interaction informs our understanding that “The battle is the Lord’s”?
2. How can/should we approach our battles today with that mindset?
3. Read, silently to yourselves, Joshua 6:1-21. What word/phrase/sentence stood out most to you? How did this passage make you feel?
4. In the sermon it was said that when it comes to the violence of the Old Testament, the reasoning for it boils down to two words: Promise and Protection. What does that mean?
5. What do we do with the uneasiness we may feel about passages like Joshua 6:21?
6. Two prayers of trust were mentioned in the sermon: Lord, I trust in your power when the challenges are way bigger than me….Lord, I trust in your goodness when I don’t have all the answers. How can we practically live out that trust?

Listen in as we discuss the spies Joshua sent into the land and Rahab the prostitute who protected them.

Small Group Questions:

Read Joshua Chapter 1 out loud

When you try to put yourself in Joshua’s place, how do you feel? (Excited, motivated, intimidated, confused…)

In what ways did God prepare Joshua in advance for this role/calling?

Share a time when you had to take up a position of leadership. How did you feel? How did God prepare you in advance for it?

What similarities do you see between Joshua’s calling and the calling of the Church?

Take some time and share some of your personal experiences with God’s: Promises, Provision, Presence, and People.
In what ways have these enabled you to be “Be Strong and Courageous” ?

Read Psalm 127:1. How does this passage relate to Joshua’s calling and the Church’s calling?

As we wrap up the series, what does it cost to be a disciple/apprentice of Jesus? Check it out and use the questions below in a small group or for personal reflection:

Opening Reflection
Over the past three weeks, we’ve asked:

How much have you been forgiven?
What kind of soil are you?
Is it personal?

Which of these questions has challenged you the most, and why?

In your own words, what do you think keeps people from becoming more like Jesus?

How have you experienced that in your own life?

Scripture Engagement
Luke 9:23–26
What does “deny yourself” mean in your daily life?
How is that different from simply saying “no” to certain behaviors?

Jesus uses “If… then…” statements in this passage. Which one hits you the hardest right now? Why?

Luke 14:26–33
Why do you think Jesus uses such strong language (“hate” family, “give up everything”)?
What was He really trying to get across to His hearers?
How do you “count the cost” of following Jesus in your own cultural context?

Psalm 27:4
What would it look like for this to truly be the one thing you seek?

How can this verse guide your focus away from self and toward God?

Cultural Context & Challenge
In 2 Timothy 3:1–5, Paul describes a self-focused culture.
Where do you see these traits showing up in our society—and even in the Church?

How does our culture’s focus on self (comfort, pleasure, possessions) compete with Jesus’ call to “deny yourself”?

The sermon shared a story about a little girl giving up fake jewelry for real pearls. What’s one “fake pearl” in your life that God might be asking you to surrender?

Personal Application
Jesus says, “Take up your cross daily.”
What does “daily” look like for you—not just in crisis moments, but in your ordinary routine?

Which is harder for you:
Denying yourself
Following Jesus wholeheartedly
Giving up your possessions or priorities

Why do you think that is?

What’s one specific step you could take this week to shift your focus from yourself to God and others?

Prayer & Response
How can we pray for one another to have the courage to “count the cost” and follow Jesus fully?

Let’s spend time praying Psalm 27:4 together—asking God to make Him our “one thing.”

Dwayne Jackson with Hoops on Mission shares truth from 1 Corinthians and personal experience challenging us to ask the question of our relationship to Jesus: Is it Personal?

🏈 1st Quarter: Is Your Walk with God Personal?
Scripture: Galatians 2:20, Matthew 5:14, Hebrews 13:8
What does it mean to have a personal relationship with Jesus?

How do you know if your faith is personal or just part of your routine?

What areas of your life reflect that Christ is living in you?

“Krispy Kreme faith” means only living for Jesus when the light’s on. Where are you tempted to be like that?

God’s love is personal and never-changing. How does that truth impact your daily walk?


🏀 2nd Quarter: What Are You Willing to Do for the Gospel?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
What stood out to you about Paul’s willingness to become “all things to all people”?

Have you ever given something up to reach someone for Jesus?

What’s one comfort or habit that could be keeping you from living out your faith fully?

What does your faith currently cost you?

What would it look like for you to make your faith more personal through action?


🏆 3rd Quarter: What Does “Personal” Feel Like?
Scripture: 1 Samuel 17:45, 1 Corinthians 9:20
What’s something you’ve felt deeply about — like a sports team or a cause?

Why do we sometimes get emotional about things like sports, but not about our faith?

When has your walk with God felt personal?

David faced Goliath because of his deep trust in God. What’s your “Goliath” right now?

What does it look like for your faith to stir real emotion, boldness, and connection?


⏳ 4th Quarter: What Are We Going to Do?
Scripture: Galatians 1:10
“It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” What needs to change in how you’re finishing?

Are you more afraid of rejection or disobedience? Why?

What is currently holding you back from going all in with Jesus?

What is one thing you could do this week that would show your faith is personal — not just on Sunday, but every day?

Finish this sentence: “If my faith was personal, I would…”

✍️ Weekly Challenge
Take one bold, personal step of faith this week:
- Invite someone into a spiritual conversation.
- Pray with your family or friends.
- Share your testimony.
- Serve where it's inconvenient.
- Start a new spiritual habit — and stick with it.

Reflection Verse:
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:22

Do you love MUCH or love little?
Listen in to find out.


Ice Breaker:
What is one of your favorite ways to connect with God during warm weather months? Is it any different from the rest of the year?

What does it look like to respond to Jesus with PRIDE versus responding with WORSHIP?

Why is it impossible to understand God’s GRACE without first understanding the depths of our own sin nature?

Do you think it’s enough to admit your sin to God, or does there need to be a human element? Why or why not?

Is it ever difficult for you to receive forgiveness from someone? Why or why not?

What does “worship” mean to you?

As a group, take a look at the closing challenge questions and see what, if any, resonate with you:
- Have I truly received the forgiveness Jesus offers?
- Is there any pride or judgment in me that keeps me from seeing my need for forgiveness?
- Am I responding with worship that flows from a heart of gratitude?

Main Text: Galatians 6:1-10

It was said in the sermon: “It is the Holy Spirit’s job to convict. It is the Church’s job to support.” Agree/Disagree? Why? How do we practically support someone who has felt convicted of sin?

How would you describe what it means to be “grounded”? Who has been a good example of this in your life?

In what way(s) does comparing ourselves with others hurt us? How can it hurt the church?

It was said in the sermon: “A church’s health is better measured by how many they send, rather than how many they retain.” Agree/Disagree? Why? How can basing the health of a church only on the numbers (attendance, budget, etc.) be potentially harmful?

Of the 5 “G” Words (Gracious, Genuine, Grounded, Generous, and Going) which do you feel Trinity does the best at? Which one could we use some work? What could help us improve in that way as a church?

Questions for Reflection:

Main Text:
Galatians 5
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

- Have you noticed the “Eeyore” mentality (“Im just a sinner, what are ya gunna do?”) in others and/or yourself? What leads us to be in that mental/spiritual place?

- What is your response to the phrase “Sin is not inevitable” ?

- What does it practically look like to live as a citizen of the Kingdom of God?

- What is your response to the phrase “Holiness is not inevitable”? Does it change your view of the Fruit of the Spirit to view them as “Fruit of Holiness”?

- Read Luke 22:42. What has helped you live this out?

- What can our small group do to help one another to keep in step with the Spirit?