Life Group - Study Guides

As we close our American Scheme series, we’re looking at one of the most subtle schemes of the enemy and our culture today: comfort, especially the kind that comes from distraction, digital noise, and endless entertainment. From social media scrolling to binge watching, to constant notifications, to always having something to fill silence. Our culture has created a comfort that numbs us spiritually rather than feeding our faith. Comfort isn't the problem, however if comfort becomes our goal, then that's a problem. When comfort leads, it slowly produces apathy, distractions, and spiritual self-reliance. But Jesus doesn't expose this to shame us—He exposes it to love us, discipline us, and call us back. Let’s discuss this idea.

As we chase after the “American Dream,” it’s easy—almost natural—to drift into pursuing comfort, success, and status more than more than we pursue God Himself. None of those things are wrong in and of themselves. In fact, living in America brings incredible blessings, opportunities, and freedoms that we can truly thank God for. But blessings can quietly become idols when they take primary place in our hearts. If you have ever been on a mission trip, you’ve probably noticed that believers who have far less than we do often carry far more joy, peace, and contentment in the Lord. Why? Because their treasure is rooted in God alone. So how do we, in a culture filled with abundance, keep our focus on the “main thing”, God’s purpose, God’s kingdom, and God’s calling for our lives?

We are beginning a series called the American Scheme! What some may see as an ideal (the American Dream) is instead a nicely packaged, destructive scheme that prevents us from achieving God’s best. This week we consider what happens when we allow comparison, jealousy, and envy to steal our contentment and gratitude. What an appropriate season to refocus from a scarcity mindset to how we can generously support and celebrate with others!

Last week we learned that tithing is an act of obedience and trust—giving back to God what already belongs to Him. This week we’ll explore what it means to go above and beyond—to live a generous life with our time, talents and treasures. Generosity is not just a transaction; it’s a transformation of the heart. It’s not about our works but that Jesus paid a high price for us, and we should have the desire to live that out. There is not a finish line in generosity. When we give from love, not obligation, we mirror the character of Christ—who gave everything for us.

Here at The Cove Church, one of our six core values is “We are generous.” For many people, generosity—especially the topic of tithing—can feel uncomfortable or confusing. Some think the church just wants their money. Of course, we have all heard or known churches that may have abused this area. We are sorry if you have experienced this kind of hurt. But the truth is, God doesn’t need our money—He wants our hearts. Scripture teaches that everything we have belongs to Him, and tithing is one way we express gratitude and trust. He invites us to be faithful and even tells us we can test Him in this area. This week we will look at what the bible teaches on this topic.

This is the final week of our More than a Feeling series, and we have discovered so much about the Holy Spirit. We have learned He is not just an emotion or mysterious force but a real and personal part of the Trinity—our Helper and constant companion, we’ve also seen that He can’t be controlled or fit into a formula that gets a certain answer, but He can be trusted to guide, empower, and transform us as we walk with Him. As we wrap up, remember this isn’t the end—it's the beginning of learning to walk daily with the Spirit. Keep digging into God’s Word, invite the Holy Spirit into your ordinary moments, and watch how He shapes your heart and steps each day.

This week, we continue our look at who the Holy Spirit is and how He works in our lives. Many people think of the Holy Spirit as a feeling or a moment of emotion, but He is so much more. He is the living, active presence of God in us. Today, we’ll explore one of the most challenging truths: the Holy Spirit cannot be controlled. As people, we like structure, predictability, and control. But following the Spirit often means releasing our grip and trusting His leading—even when it doesn’t fit our schedule or plans. Remember, this is a safe place, with no judgement, as we share and learn to recognize His voice together.

Don’t you just love God’s Word? This week we begin a brand-new series about the Holy Spirit. For many of us, the Holy Spirit feels like a mystery. Maybe you grew up in an environment that didn’t talk about Him much, or maybe you’ve only heard confusing or conflicting things about who He is and what He does. As a result, it can be tempting to ignore the Holy Spirit altogether or reduce Him to just a feeling or a force. But Jesus made it clear that the Holy Spirit is essential—He is God Himself living in us, guiding us, empowering us, and comforting us. Our goal in this series is to know Him more personally, understand His role more clearly, and learn to walk with Him more faithfully in everyday life.

This is our final stop in the series “Eden to Eternity.” We close with the book of Revelation—the unveiling of Jesus Christ. This vision was given to the apostle John while he was exiled on the Island of Patmos. Revelation is not written to frighten us or help us predict the date of the end times—Scripture is clear that no one knows the day or hour. It’s full of symbolism and mystery, much of which we can’t fully explain. Yet it is meant to strengthen our hope and remind us that God is in control and that one day He will make all things new. Let’s explore its truths and the principles that still shape our lives today.

God’s Word is alive—it speaks as clearly today as when it was first written. Throughout this series we traveled through the story of scripture. This week we reach one of its most awe-inspiring moments: the Gospels. The Old Testament closed in silence as Israel waited for the promised Messiah. Then the quite broke with the best news ever: God Himself came near in Jesus Christ! Four Gospels, one Messiah. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each present the same life-changing truth—Jesus is the Savior—yet each highlights unique details. Four eyewitnesses describing the same event from different vintage points, their perspectives weave together a rich, complete picture of who Jesus is.