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Sermon Discussion

Below you'll find the pastor's presentations associated with each sermon along with discussion questions for your Life Group to use in response to each week's sermon.

6/7/26

Genesis 5:1-2, Psalm 145:3-7
"Origins, pt. 17: Generations"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • How far back can you go back in your family line? What spiritual significance do you see in your own book of generations?

  • What traditions or things have been passed down through your family generations? What spiritual things have been passed down?

  • How have you been involved cross-generationally at Mars Hill? What have you learned through those interactions?

  • How does generational activity impact discipleship and spiritual growth?

5/17/26

Matthew 20:20-28

Dr. Stephen George

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  • How do you define “greatness?"

  • Jesus definition of greatness involves humility, faith and the way of the cross. Why do people have a such a hard time understanding this definition?

  • What does the phrase “the path of greatness lies through the cross” mean to you? What does it look like?

  • Suffering is a part of every humans life, and especially for the Christian. How does suffering tie into the idea of greatness?

  • Why do you think Jesus highlights serving as the model of greatness? What does that mean for us today?

5/10/26

Genesis 4:1-7
"Origins, pt. 14: Outside the Garden"

Pastor Aaron Crawford

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  • Appropriately with this being Mother’s Day weekend, we start with the birth of two boys.  What is significant about Eve’s response to becoming a mother? Why are children such a blessing from the Lord?

  • What do you make of Cain and Abel presenting offerings to the Lord before offerings were a specified part of worship?

  • How does Abels offering of “the best” correlate to how we should approach God in our lives? What does this look like for us?

  • Why do you think there is such an emphasis on “the heart” and “faith” being the key components in Abel’s sacrifice being accepted?

  • How is God’s mercy shown to Cain through the conversation they have? What do you think God wanted Cain to understand?

  • Aaron reminded us that our moments of failure and sin are not permanent. How does this play into our process of sanctification as Christians?

  • How would you describe sin? What types or forms of sin have you seen it take within your own life?

  • Do you think people typically underestimate their sinfulness? Why or why not?

  • God tells Cain that he can rule over the temptation to sin. How do we practically do that in our lives?

5/3/26

Genesis 3:20-24
"Origins, pt. 13: By Contrast"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • What are some of the mysteries of Scripture that you wish the Bible gave more details about?

  • What’s the difference in Adam and Eve having “academic knowledge” vs experiential knowledge of Gods command with the tree?

  • The enemy presents sin as “appearing to be good.” Why does that work so well? What has been your experience with this?

  • Since the theme of this week was “contrast,” take some time and read John 10:7-15. What contrasts does Jesus make in this passage?

  • How does this passage connect with Genesis 3 and everything we’ve studied so far?

  • How are Gods restrictions actually a means of grace? Why do you think people typically have a hard time seeing it that way?

4/26/26

Genesis 3:12-19, 1 Peter 3:3-7
"Origins, pt. 12: Consequences and Confessions"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • Tom started by talking about the Law of Sowing and Reaping. What are some examples in your life were you’ve seen this play out positively? Where have you seen it play out negatively (with consequences for your actions)?

  • How does Gods mercy overlap with the law of sowing and reaping? How do we reconcile both being true at the same time?

  • What is significant about both men and women’s consequences being fulfilling their purposes through pain?

  • Gods design of marriage and the marriage relationship is deeply affected now by sin. How do the laws of sowing/reaping and Gods love/mercy play into the marriage relationship?

  • What stands out to you about Gods curse on the serpent?

4/19/26

Genesis 3:1-6
"Origins, pt. 11: The Anatomy of Temptation"

Pastor Matt Russell

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  • When the serpent first approaches Eve, there is a shift from Yahweh Elohim to just Elohim.  Do you believe this shift from is significant? Why or why not? How does this possibly set the stage for successfully tempting Adam and Eve to rebellion?

  • We briefly looked at the grammatical difference between what Yahweh said would absolutely occur if they disobeyed and what Eve said to the serpent. How is this subtle shift significant when thinking about overcoming temptation in our own lives?

  • When have you been tempted to doubt Yahweh’s motives toward you? What do you believe would strengthen your resolve that Yahweh is good and loving in all things regardless of circumstances?

  • James identifies a progression of sin in 1:13-17. Take a look at that progression and see if you can overlay the progression we discussed from Genesis 3:1-7. (Deception, Desires, Reframe, Act, and Death)

  •  In James 4:7 we are exhorted to resist the devil.  What specific resistance do you think James might have in mind? Try to think about the first few tactics before action.

3/29/26

Genesis 2:22-25
"Origins, pt. 8: Marriage (It's Not About You)"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • Tom started by saying “marriage is not about you.” Where or how have you had to learn this in your marriage?

  • What are some of those independent identities do people pursue over marriage? What about now? What are some of the things that we are tempted to find identity in outside of the marriage God has blessed us with?

  • What have you learned about God and your spouse in the last year of your marriage?

  • Why do so many people expect Gods favor when they don’t practice Gods ways correctly? (Inside and outside of marriage)

  • Do you feel like you and your spouse have “leaved and cleaved” well to one another? How do you handle the extended “family dynamics” while balance your stewardship of your marriage and family?

3/1/26

Genesis 1:26-27
"Origins, pt. 4: Mankind's Mandate"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • How would you define “purpose?" Do you think we have more than one purpose in our lives?

  • How are God’s commands considered “blessings?"

  • The first command in the Creation Mandate is to “be fruitful.” What does this mean? How does this command connect to last week’s message about being image bearers?

  • What is the significance of the very first command that God gives humanity being the command to build families?

  • Now take that idea and apply it to a spiritual family. How do we fulfill this purpose from a spiritual perspective of being fruitful?

  • How else is the idea of fruitfulness used in Scripture?

  • Read John 15:1-8 and Matthew 28:18-20. How does Jesus look at fruitfulness and multiplication in these passages?

  • What does it look like for us to subdue and practice ruling over life and creation today?

2/22/26

Genesis 1:26-27
"Origins, pt. 3: The Image of God"

Pastor Matt Russell

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  • How would you describe being made in the image of God to someone who is unfamiliar with the idea?

  • What does it mean to you, that you are made in the image of God? How are you reminded of this on a daily basis?

  • Does knowing that you are Gods “tselem” or image / idol change how you view this idea of being made in His image?

  • What does it mean for us to be his resemblance in the world around us?

  • Revisit the first 3 commandments in Exodus 20. Why do you think God made such an emphasis on image bearing and worship?

  • How does the spread of humanity reflect Gods ownership of the earth?

  • What are the effects of the image being polluted by sin?

  • Why does the image need to be redeemed ? How does Jesus do this?

  • So after all this, how would you describe our role as the image bearers tasked to propagate the image to the world?

2/15/26

Psalm 71
"Old and On Mission"

Pastor Terry Thompson

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  • How can we continue to move forward in life with focus and perseverance in spiritual things? What can we do hep set us up for finishing our lives well?

  • What are those moments in the past that God uses to strengthen you for your present and future difficulties?

  • People on mission inspire others. Who in your life lived so “on mission” that it inspired you and your walk with the Lord?

  • What are things we can do to teach and invest in the generations behind us?

2/8/26

Genesis 1:2-25
"Origins, pt. 2: Very Good"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • What does God creating by the use of words teach us?

  • Why are words so powerful and have so much meaning?

  • What was Gods purpose in creating?

  • Why do you think God “took his time” in creating the universe, instead of doing it all at once?

  • What is the significance of Gods Word being both Scripture and the person of Jesus?

  • Read and discuss Hebrews 4:12 as a group. What stands out? What is it teaching us?

2/8/26

Genesis 1:2-25
"Origins, pt. 2: Very Good"

Pastor Tom Gray

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  • What does God creating by the use of words teach us?

  • Why are words so powerful and have so much meaning?

  • What was Gods purpose in creating?

  • Why do you think God “took his time” in creating the universe, instead of doing it all at once?

  • What is the significance of Gods Word being both Scripture and the person of Jesus?

  • Read and discuss Hebrews 4:12 as a group. What stands out? What is it teaching us?

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