The Sunday message is the open door to encountering what God has in store for you! Many of our Life Groups use the Sermon 2.0 Discussion Guide to go deeper into the passage of Scripture and application points from the weekend’s message. This is a time to have open conversation, ask questions, laugh a little or a lot, and learn from others. Our heart is to see your faith in God grow as you apply the truths of the Bible to your everyday life.

We believe you can encounter God through the context of relationships and want you to experience this in a Life Group! Apply the truths of the Bible and see your faith in God grow as you build new relationships with others in your group.

Icebreaker

What were your highlights from the last month?

Scripture

Take a moment and read Romans 8:1-17 that was referenced from this weekend’s sermon.

Observation

What do you observe within this passage of Scripture? Some basic observation questions are:

• What was happening right before this? Who is speaking and who are they speaking to? What words or themes repeat? What is confusing, is interesting, is humorous, etc? Where else within the Bible talks about a similar topic? If you were within this passage, what would you be experiencing and noticing?
• What is meant by living according to the flesh versus living according to the Spirit? How does this relate to living a narrow gate life?
• When we are led by the Spirit, what do we get to experience? How is this beneficial to us?

Last, what was the intended message to the audience this passage was written to?

Application

Based on the observations above, what can you apply to your life and your understanding of God?

Define what the narrow gate and the broad road are. What makes the broad road appear simple, attractive, and comfortable?

• Despite these characteristics, how is the broad road deceptively destructive?

The statement “few find it” demonstrates many will sadly go the way of the world and the wide road. Why do people follow the crowd of the broad road?

• How can you point the people close to you toward the narrow gate? This may include your children, friends, family, fellow Christians, etc.

Narrow is the road that leads to life. How does Jesus’s teaching and the truths of the Bible lead to a better life?

• How have you experienced the narrow road leading to a purpose filled and an abundant life? 

What are the challenges of the narrow gate? How do temptation, pain and suffering of life, opposition, and pride make the narrow gate life difficult?

• What can you do to be better prepared for these challenges? How does community help you be more prepared for these challenges?

The narrow gate life is not just being better people or doing more things. The narrow gate life is about knowing Jesus on a deeper and deeper personal level. As 2025 is beginning, what are you focused on to grow your personal relationship with Jesus?

Prayer

Take a few minutes to pray for specific truths from Scripture from this weekend’s message.

• Thank God that He has shown you the way to live in freedom. Thank Jesus that He has given you a way to an abundant life.
• Pray for your group members. Pray for their personal relationships with Jesus to thrive as they grow closer to Him. Pray for wisdom to continue to choose the narrow road with Jesus.
• Pray for those in your life that are choosing the broad road that leads to destruction. Pray for God to reveal His way to them. Pray that God will prepare you to be used to help show them to Him.