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Explore recent reflections, teaching articles, and encouragement designed to support spiritual formation, faithful presence, and Kingdom living in everyday life.

• Kingdom Alignment Part 1 with Discussion Guide

  Kingdom Alignment Part 1 Discussion Guide

  Summary

  This sermon opens a new series on the Sermon on the Mount, focusing on Matthew 6 and the theme of “the Father who sees in secret.” The pastor draws a contrast between outward religious performance and genuine, inside-out transformation that flows from a close relationship with God. Using Job’s ancient question about how a mortal can be righteous before God, and Paul’s declaration in 2 Corinthians 5 that righteousness is a gift received in Christ, the message establishes that true righteousness is not earned through rule-following but received through grace and cultivated in relationship with the Father.

  Intro Prayer

  Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and willing spirits. We ask that you quiet the noise around us and within us so that we can hear what you want to speak to each of us today. As we gather to discuss your Word, remind us that you are not a God of condemnation but of grace and mercy. Help us to be honest with one another and with you, and may your Holy Spirit guide our conversation toward the things you most want us to receive. In Jesus name, Amen.

  Ice Breaker

  What is one place or time of day where you feel most at peace and able to just be yourself, with no pressure to perform or impress anyone?

  Key Verses

  • Job 9:2
  • 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
  • Matthew 6:4
  • Matthew 6:6
  • Matthew 6:18
  • John 15:4-5
  • Galatians 1:10

  Questions

  • The pastor described the difference between ‘performing a life’ and ‘living the life we are called to.’ What does that distinction mean to you personally, and which one do you find yourself doing more often?
  • Job asked how a mortal can be righteous before God. How would you have answered that question before hearing this sermon, and has your thinking shifted at all after hearing it?
  • The pastor pointed out that Jesus says ‘be careful’ at the start of Matthew 6, warning that it is possible to do the right things for the wrong reasons. Can you think of a time when your motives behind a good action were more about how others saw you than about honoring God?
  • Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 to let our light shine before others, and then in Matthew 6 He warns us not to practice our righteousness in front of others to be seen. How do you personally navigate that tension in your daily life?
  • The sermon emphasized that transformation happens in relationship with God, not through rule-following. What has your experience been with trying to change through willpower or rules versus through spending time with God?
  • John 15 describes abiding in Christ as the source of bearing fruit. What does abiding actually look like in your daily routine, and what gets in the way of it most often?
  • Paul asks in Galatians 1:10 whether he is trying to win the approval of people or of God. Who do you find yourself most trying to please in your everyday decisions, and what does that reveal about your heart?
  • The pastor mentioned that the hidden life with God, those quiet and unseen moments, is where character is formed and motives are purified. What is one practical step you could take this week to protect or create more of that hidden time with God?

  Life Application

  This week, set aside at least one intentional block of time each day for just you and God, with no agenda other than being present with Him. During that time, ask yourself two honest questions: Who am I living for? and Why am I doing what I am doing? Bring your answers to God openly, and invite Him to do the inside-out work that only He can do.

  Key Takeaways

  • Righteousness is not something we achieve through performance or rule-following. It is a gift of grace that flows out of a transformed heart, as Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5.
  • Jesus is not contradicting Himself between Matthew 5 and Matthew 6. He is clarifying that our visible lives should point people to God, while our private lives must be rooted in genuine relationship with the Father rather than in seeking human approval.
  • The kingdom life is formed in secret. The hidden moments we spend with God are where our character is shaped, our motives are purified, and the fruit that others eventually see is grown.
  • Abiding in Christ, as described in John 15, is the foundation of everything. Transformation happens in the presence of God, not under the pressure of trying to get everything right on our own.
  • Getting the order right matters deeply. We must first live for God and with God, and from that place He empowers us to love and serve people well. Reversing that order leads to exhaustion and empty performance.

  Ending Prayer

  Father, thank you for this time together and for the reminder that you are not a distant judge but a loving Father who sees us in our most private and honest moments. We confess that we sometimes drift toward performing for others rather than simply walking with you. Forgive us for that, and draw us back into the quiet place of abiding with you. As we go into this week, help each of us to live from the inside out, shaped by your grace and empowered by your Spirit. May the hidden moments we spend with you overflow into lives that naturally point others toward you. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus, who became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. Amen.

  Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.

• What You Believe Matters with Discussion Guide

  What You Believe Matters Discussion Guide

  Summary

  Pastor Kevin from Miami Vineyard delivered a powerful message about the importance of our beliefs and how they shape our lives. He emphasized that we often lie to ourselves and pick up false beliefs from various sources, which then impact our actions and behaviors. Using personal anecdotes and examples, he explained that our beliefs determine our behavior, whether we’re conscious of them or not. The pastor challenged the congregation to examine the lies they may be believing about themselves and others, and to instead subscribe to God’s truth found in His Word, which never changes, unlike the constantly shifting truths of our culture.

  Intro Prayer

  Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and minds, ready to receive what You have for us in this time together. We ask that You would help each person in this group to be receptive to Your truth and to what You want to speak into their lives today. Remove any distractions or barriers that might prevent us from hearing Your voice clearly. Help us to be honest with ourselves and with each other as we discuss Your Word. We invite Your Holy Spirit to guide our conversation and to reveal any lies we may be believing, replacing them with Your unchanging truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  Ice Breaker

  What’s one thing you believed as a child that you later found out wasn’t true? (For example, that chocolate milk comes from brown cows, or that if you swallow gum it stays in your stomach for seven years!)

  Key Verses

  • Revelation 3:20
  • Proverbs 4:23
  • Romans 3:4
  • Matthew 24:35
  • Psalm 139:14

  Questions

  • Pastor Kevin mentioned that ‘what we believe matters’ because our beliefs determine our behavior. Can you think of a time when a belief you held (true or false) significantly influenced a decision you made?
  • The sermon discussed common lies people believe, such as ‘all my problems are somebody else’s fault’ or ‘you’ll be happy if you can get everything you want.’ Which of these resonates with you, and why do you think these lies are so appealing?
  • Pastor Kevin shared about his friend who believed he would die at 39 and how that belief impacted every area of his life. How might limiting beliefs be affecting areas of your own life without you realizing it?
  • The pastor emphasized that we choose what we believe, and that even God doesn’t force beliefs on us. How does this responsibility of choice both empower and challenge you?
  • When Pastor Kevin talked about looking in the mirror and believing lies about ourselves, what came to mind for you? How can we practically replace negative self-talk with God’s truth?
  • The sermon mentioned that God’s truth doesn’t change, unlike cultural ‘truths’ that shift constantly. Why is it important to have an unchanging source of truth in our lives?
  • Pastor Kevin said that behind every action we take, there’s a belief (conscious or subconscious). Can you identify a positive belief that has led to good actions in your life?
  • How can we help each other in this group identify and ‘unsubscribe’ from lies we might be believing while ‘subscribing’ to God’s truth?

  Life Application

  This week, identify one lie you’ve been believing about yourself, others, or God. Find a specific Bible verse that speaks God’s truth into that area, write it down, and read it daily. When you catch yourself thinking the lie, immediately replace it with God’s truth from that verse. Share your verse with someone you trust and ask them to help hold you accountable to this practice.

  Key Takeaways

  • We choose what we believe – nobody can force beliefs on us, not even God
  • Our beliefs determine our behavior, whether we’re conscious of those beliefs or not
  • The only reliable source of truth is God and His Word, which never changes
  • We often pick up lies along the way that negatively impact our lives and relationships
  • God wants us to unsubscribe from lies and subscribe to His truth found in Scripture

  Ending Prayer

  Lord Jesus, thank You for this time of discussion and reflection. We’re grateful that You are the source of unchanging truth in a world that constantly shifts. Help us to take what we’ve learned today and apply it to our daily lives. Give us courage to identify and reject the lies we’ve been believing, and strength to embrace Your truth about who we are and who You are. Help us to be people who live according to Your truth rather than the deceptions of this world. Continue to transform our minds and hearts as we spend time in Your Word this week. May our beliefs align more closely with Yours, and may our actions reflect Your love and truth to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.