Life Group - Study Guides

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.

This week, we will explore a few common misconceptions about this idea that “God will never give you more than you can handle.” In this life, we will still have temptations and struggles. God doesn’t promise that there won’t be a fight or that it will be an easy road. He just might give you more than you can handle—alone! But don’t despair; His plan is that you will overcome temptation when you look to Him for the way out and for His strength to take that escape. We will also look at how we can get through the hardships of this life, like illness, death, and loss.

Every religion claims to be the truth, so how do we know if belief in Jesus as the resurrected Savior of the world really is the Truth? This week, we learned about the only Way to God and how we can experience Him. We can find comfort and answers to our concerns in the compassionate Truth found in the Bible.

World peace is a dream for many of us. Yet when we look at the news, we see chaos, disunity, and violence all around us. World peace was the dream God had for us, yet when Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation changed. This week, we will discuss what God’s Word says about peace and how we should respond.

Even Solomon said in the Book of Ecclesiastes that life is full of oppression, toil, and trouble. How do we find joy and meaning? If we will learn to celebrate God’s way, we’ll find the renewed strength we need to be successful, to be refreshed. If you need to be restored, encouraged, empowered, healed, and challenged, choose to be grateful. Take time to celebrate all that God has already done for you!

Are you all in? This week we learn what it looks like to live a committed life. Commitment is more than a decision or thought. Commitment requires action, lasting change and persistence over time even when we don’t have all the answers up front. God wants to be in close relationship with us, but we must be willing to commit all we have to Him each day.

Are you all in? This week we learn what it looks like to live a surrendered life. Surrender is hard and something we have to do every day, but it makes for the most fulfilling life. Our church is made up of you and me; each of us has an important role to play. God wants to use us, but we must be willing to surrender all we have to Him each day.