Week of May 24 - What Does The Bible Teach About Origins?

On Sunday, May 31st, Walter will be addressing the topic of origins and the biblical creation account. Our church asked two questions concerning all of this:

1. “Why aren’t dinosaurs mentioned in the Bible?”

2. “What did God make the universe from?”

To work through these questions, the sermon will cover Genesis 1:1-2:3, asking, “What does the Bible really say about how God created everything? Your group should discuss the Genesis passage on the week before May 31st.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Read through Genesis 1:1-2:3

Before your group meets, text these passages to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the texts in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate each passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of May 17 - How Should Christians Respond to the LBGTQIA+ Community?

This coming Sunday, May 24th, Walter will be addressing the topic of Christians and the LGBTQIA+ community. Three specific questions were asked by our church concerning this issue:

1. “Should we kick LGBTQIA+ people out of the church?”

2. “How does our church treat divorce?”

3. “If the church treats divorced people differently now than it did years ago, does that mean that things will change for LGBTQ+ people in the future? Why and how might church attitude concerning these sensitive topics change?”

To work through these questions, the sermon will start in Genesis 1:26-28 and 2:18-25, looking at God’s original blueprint for human relationships. Jesus refers back to this passage in his teaching in Matthew 19:1-11, which makes the Genesis pattern authoritative for Christians today. We’ll also touch on John 8:1-11.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Read through Genesis 1:26-28, 2:18-25, and Matthew 19:1-11 (Bonus: John 8:1-11)

Before your group meets, text these passages to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the texts in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate each passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

May 10th - Evil in the World

Hey all,

Sorry it is Thursday and I’m just now posting. Been chewing on this topic for some time now and still struggling to find a home base in Scripture.

The questions I look to answer this week are:

• #5 “Why does violence have to exist?”

• #20 “Why did God have to subject (ὑποτάσσω) creation to futility (Rom 8:20)?”

• #24 “Why does a good God allow so much bad to happen?”

I plan to start our journey on Sunday in Genesis 3 (fall of humanity and its consequences), Job 1-2, and Romans 1. All three of those passages show the downfall of either humanity or the fact that God allows us his creation to be subject to evil/struggle (especially in Job). There are plenty of places I could go:

• 2 Cor 1:3-4 - suffering

• Isaiah 41:10 - don’t fear, I am with you

• PSALM 34:18

• PSALM 46:1

• JEREMIAH 29:11

• ISAIAH 26:3

• Revelation 21:4

• PSALM 147:3

I simply don’t know where I want to land the plane other than I will dig into Romans 8:20ff - that God is our hope.

Conversations you could have with your group:

• Why do you think God allows evil?

• How do we deal with faith when life gets hard? How do we balance it?

• How does our hope in God help us to endure the world?

• How does the hope we have help us live in the Spirit and bring about its fruit in our lives and others in the midst of the broken world?
  

This Sunday - May 3, 2026

Hey all,

My sermon this week is on Faith and Action. I will land in James 2:14-26. I’ll also be all over scripture, probably bouncing in Galatians 5:22-23 and the bad list before the fruit of the spirit. I will be answering the following questions collectively.

Buckle up!

Worshipping HIm with my life,
Wally

(Topic: Identity/sanctification)

#3 “I’m a good person. Why shouldn’t I go to heaven?

#8 “Justification v. Sanctification”

#12 “What does it mean when Jesus says we are the salt of the earth (Matt 6:13)?”

#21 “Is swearing unbiblical?”

Week of April 19 - Serve Sunday 2026

We’re taking a break from our regular routines to serve together as a church this Sunday, April 26th. There will be no sermon that day, but a good text for your group to discuss in preparation is John 13:1-17. Also, take time during your conversation to talk about how your group can serve together on the 26th!

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Read through John 13:1-17.

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of April 12 - Baptism

For week 2 of our Asking for a Friend series, we’re talking about baptism. The four questions about this topic that came in were:

• Is water baptism required for salvation?

• Must you be baptized to be saved?

• If our church believes salvation starts at baptism, then why do we sometimes have people wait or insist on talking/meeting with them to be baptized?

• Why was Jesus baptized?

To address these questions, we’re working through a few different texts: Acts 2:37-39, Romans 5:8, 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, Galatians 3:26-29, and Colossians 2:11-12. Feel free to lead your group through a discussion of all of these, or just highlight one or two. Alternatively, you could flip to the concordance in the back of most Bibles, and have your group look up every mention of “baptize” or “baptism,” and then talk about what you find.

Walter will be preaching about this all on Sunday, April 19. You’ll want to have your discussion on this topic between now and then!

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Read various Bible passages on baptism.

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of April 5 - Worldview

We’re starting our new series this week, entitled Asking for a Friend. We’re excited to work through all the questions that our church submitted! The question we’re dealing with this week is, “Don’t all religions lead to heaven?” Our texts are Acts 4:8-12 and John 14:6, but feel free to throw in some of your favorite passages about truth and the exclusivity of the gospel. As always, you’ll want to have your discussion leading up to Sunday, April 12, when Walter will be preaching on this topic in a sermon entitled, Is Jesus the only way?.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Acts 4:8-12 & John 14:6.

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of March 29 - Matthew 28

Happy Easter Week Everyone! For our final sermon of the Jesus Speaks series, Walter will be preaching from the entire chapter of Matthew 28. This will happen on Easter Sunday, April 5, so you’ll want to have your group discussion on this passage before then.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 28

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of March 22 - Matthew 21:1-17

As we near then end of our Jesus Speaks series, Walter will be preaching on Matthew 21:1-17. This sermon will happen on Sunday, March 29, so you’ll want to have your discussions on Matthew 21 in the week leading up to it.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 21:1-17

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of March 15 - Matthew 19:16-30

On Sunday the 22nd of March, Wally and Hannah will be preaching on Matthew 19:16-30, and talking about Jesus’ interaction with a rich man. You’ll want to discuss this passage in the week leading up to that Sunday.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 19:16-30

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of March 8 - Matthew 14:22-33

For Jesus Speaks Week 3, we’ll be reading Matthew 14:22-33 and talking about Peter walking on water. Walter will be preaching on this passage on the 15th, and we’ll learn that “Jesus is the best solution for a faith that’s sinking.” You’ll want to discuss Matthew 14 before that Sunday.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 14:22-33

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of March 1 - Matthew 8:1-13

For Week 2 of our Easter series - Jesus Speaks - we’ll be working through Jesus’ interactions with a two outsiders. Their story is found in Matthew 8:1-13, and you’ll want to discuss this passage this week, leading up to Walter’s sermon on it on March 8th.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 8:1-13

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of February 22 - Matthew 4:1-11

Wally’s kicking off a new series this Sunday, March 1st, which will lead us up to Easter. We will be following Jesus through his earthly ministry and through the cross, as recounted by Matthew. Our first sermon will be on Matthew 4:1-11. You’ll want to discuss this passage by March 1st.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 4:1-11

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of February 15 - Acts 8:26-40

For the final week of this series, we’re discussing how Christians are ready for anything. Walter will be preaching on Acts 8:26-40. You’ll want to discuss that passage in the week leading up to Sunday, February 22nd.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Acts 8:26-40

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of February 8 - Acts 18:1-3 & I Corinthians 9:19-23

For Week 3 of our series on evangelism, we’ll be talking about living out your faith. On February 15, Walter will be sharing from Acts 18:1-4 & I Corinthians 9:19-23. You’ll want to discuss these two passages in the week leading up to that Sunday.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Acts 18:1-4 & I Corinthians 9:19-23

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of February 1 - Acts 2:14-41 & 3:15

For Week 2 of our series on evangelism, we’ll be talking about sharing your story and sharing God’s story. On February 8, Walter will be sharing from Acts 2:14-41 & 3:15. You’ll want to discuss these two passages in the week leading up to that Sunday.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Acts 2:14-41 & 3:15

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of January 25 - Mark 1:14-20 & Matthew 28:18-20

For the month of February, we’re going through a series on evangelism and sharing the good news. On our first Sunday (February 1st), Walter will be preaching from Mark 1:14-20 and Matthew 28:18-20. He’ll be sharing that “all Christians should be preparing to make disciples.” You’ll want to discuss these two passages in the week leading up to that Sunday.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Mark 1:14-20, Matthew 28:18-20.

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of January 18 - Matthew 5:38-47

For the final week of this series, we’re talking about mercy. Walter will preach from Matthew 5:38-47 on Sunday, January 25th. You’ll want to have your group discussion on this text by then.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 5:38-47

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of January 11 - Matthew 5:33-37

This week in our Are We Still These People series, we’re talking about doing the right thing. Walter will preach from Matthew 5:33-37 on Sunday, January 18. You’ll want to have your group discussion on this text by then.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 5:33-37

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”

Week of January 4 - Matthew 5:27-32

It’s Week 2 of our first series of the year, entitled Are We Still These People. It’s all about taking Jesus at his word, and living out his radical teachings from Matthew Chapter 5. This coming Sunday, January 11, Walter will be preaching out of Matthew 5:27-32. You’ll want to have your group discussion on this text by then.

Followup from Last Week

1. To kick off your group discussion, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”

2. Secondly, it’s important that we are sharing God’s truth with those around us. Your second question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”

Step 1: Assignment - Matthew 5:27-32

Before your group meets, text this passage to them and ask them to read it at least once.

Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the text in at least two different translations.

Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate the passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!

Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.

1. What does this passage teach us about God?

2. What does this passage teach us about human beings?

Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”