Life Group - Study Guides

Jesus said, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” There is a cost to following Jesus. The Gospel is not only useful for improving our lives. The larger purpose of the gospels is to inspire us by introducing a God who is not only all-powerful and all-knowing but also extravagantly faithful and loving. This world is full of traps that can keep us from knowing God better or having a saving faith. Fear of man is one such trap that takes us away from the wisdom God provides. We may want to fit in with the people around us. However, when we acknowledge and submit to God’s greater authority we please Him, become more like Jesus, and His holiness shines through us – a light in the darkness.

When we read the Old Testament, it’s easy to “fear God” while His power is on full display. As we enter the New Testament, Jesus displays a more merciful and peaceful God, making it seem counterintuitive to fear this loving God. However, the “fear of God” refers to a deep respect and reverence of Him. We can see that as we grow closer to God, we will also grow in our awe of Him. This week we will see how respecting His authority can change the way we live.

Our days are filled with so many things; even good, important, purposeful things. Yet our constant efforts and busyness—even for lovely things like parenting, providing well for our families, ministry, or service—do not restore us. We need rest and communion with our God to heal us and give us peace.

Our world is full of noise, of choices, and information. This week we are talking about media, specifically social media and how it affects our need for approval. Ultimately our lives are meant to bring God glory, not ourselves. We aren’t meant to glorify others either – and sometimes social media leads us towards both of those. Some of us use it for good, some of us had to get off, and some of us aren’t sure what role social media has in our lives. Let's discuss what the Bible says—not specifically about social media, but rather about self-promotion, comparison, and the use of our time.

Our world is full of noise, of choices, and information. We seldom do “nothing.” We do not sit, think, or listen. Instead, we listen to music, podcasts, play games, or talk. Elijah, overwhelmed by his life and circumstances, finds that God is found in the silence.

In this series, we’ve seen so many ways the Old Testament predicts Jesus’ coming. This weekend we focus on Jacob, who is given a dream from God that will impact the generations to come. We can find hope in his story, as Jacob meets the Living God.

After God had fulfilled His promise to Abraham of giving him a son in his old age, God asks him to sacrifice this child of promise. Through this story we learn that, though testing is difficult and does not make sense, we can trust God. In this study, let’s learn how to be faithful when tested.

Christmas can be a time of frustration. Everyone has a plan. Everyone has their own expectations or traditions. Our lives can be lived in a cycle of what I want, deserve, expect...and anger at what did not go as planned. Ego says we should be treated a certain way, and when we’re not, problems arise. Humility is forgiving those who have wronged us and offering them help and healing – like the servant girl, like Jesus. This Christmas season, let’s follow the example of the Servant King who, even though He was above everything, made Himself above nothing for us.

The time between the last book of the Old Testament and the New Testament is referred to as “the 400 years of silence.” Just from the time that Isaiah prophesied the virgin birth as a sign of the coming Messiah until the birth of Jesus was approximately 700 years. In contemplating this timeline, we find reassurance and hope in the consistency of God's character and His promises. He is steadfast in being who He claims to be and fulfilling what He declares. This week, let's fix our gaze on Jesus and allow the power of His peace to govern our hearts and minds.

At The Cove Church, we value authenticity—keeping it real. Sometimes, folks misunderstand this as a license to say anything without filters. However, “keeping it real” does not mean criticism, condemnation, or gossip. It means being genuine and sincere in our words and opinions, without hypocrisy. Similarly, claiming “Only God can judge me” can be a way to justify and deny our own issues. This week, we'll explore the problems with this mindset and discover ways to live – and even judge, when necessary –with a more compassionate and understanding outlook towards others.