Life Group - Study Guides

As we continue this series on prayer and fasting, we are looking closely at the example Jesus gave us in Matthew 6 through what we commonly call The Lord’s Prayer. Many people believe prayer matters yet feel intimidated by it—unsure how to pray or afraid of doing it “wrong.” Jesus did not give us a script to repeat, but a framework, pattern, and guide to shape how we pray. When prayer and fasting are practiced together, they bring alignment—aligning our hearts, desires, and will with God. If we fast without prayer, we’ve missed the point. Together, prayer and fasting create space for God to work in us.

At the beginning of a new year, many people focus on resolutions, goals, diets, exercise plans, or a “word for the year.” Others are completely over all of it. But whether we love or hate resolutions, most of us can agree on this: it's a natural time for a reset. What we need most isn’t just better habits—it's a heart and mind that hunger and thirst for God. Often, we assume nothing needs to change, or we tell ourselves that we will deal with spiritual things later. Over time, that delay can harden our hearts without us realizing it. Together, we want to be a church that intentionally seeks Jesus in 2026—not out of pressure or guilt, but out of desire and trust.

The New Year often feels like a fresh start. For some, it’s a reset in relationships, health, work, parenting, or faith. We set goals and make plans, but like diet and exercise, growth takes time—and sometimes we hit ruts or plateaus. As we approach 2026, what if our biggest goal wasn’t just external improvement, but spiritual growth? King David made it clear that above everything else, there was one thing he truly desired. Join us as we explore what it means to pursue God in a deeper way and how that pursuit can shape every area of our lives.

Jesus turned every expectation upside down. Instead of demanding service, He offered it freely. Instead of elevating Himself, He humbled Himself. Instead of claiming power, He laid it down. His greatness was found in His willingness to serve — and He invites us to follow in that same quiet strength.

Many hoped for a Messiah who would overthrow oppressors and claim a throne with force. Instead, Jesus arrived as a Shepherd — guiding, protecting, lifting up the broken and wandering. His strength was tender. His leadership was personal. His power looked like compassion.

Zacchaeus wasn’t the man anyone expected Jesus to pursue. His reputation was damaged, his choices had hurt others, and the crowd believed he didn’t deserve kindness. Yet, Jesus called him by name, stepped into his home, and changed his life. Grace came where no one expected it — and that’s exactly how Jesus still works.

It’s that time of year—Christmas at the Cove! Over the next few weeks, we’ll turn our hearts toward our Savior and explore key moments from His life and ministry to help us stay focused on Him this Christmas season. Jesus surprised everyone by the way He came into the world. Many expected Him to arrive with force—judging the wicked and rewarding the righteous. They wanted a conqueror on a war horse, but instead He arrived humbly. He came not to crush but to call, not to condemn but to offer repentance. And like we see in the story of Balaam’s donkey, Jesus often sees what we cannot and protects us in ways we often fail to recognize. Let’s explore why these things matter so much.

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!