Small Group Guide

This sermon explores the importance of prayer as the main course of our spiritual life rather than a side dish. Using the story of a man who walked into the White House uninvited in 1985, the pastor illustrates how prayer gives us access to God's throne room - not because we deserve it, but because we're invited. The disciples, after witnessing Jesus' powerful prayer life, asked Him to teach them how to pray, leading to the Lord's Prayer. The message emphasizes that prayer should be persistent, specific, and focused on seeking God's heart rather than material possessions. The pastor challenges listeners to examine what people would notice about their prayer life and encourages developing a consistent rhythm of prayer that feeds the soul's hunger for God.

This sermon concludes the 'Ghosted' series by examining how Christians have 'ghosted' their responsibility to share the gospel. Using the story of four lepers in 2 Kings who discovered the enemy camp was empty but initially kept the good news to themselves, the pastor challenges believers to stop keeping the gospel to themselves. He draws parallels between ancient Athens and modern culture, showing how Paul boldly shared the gospel despite opposition. The message emphasizes that Christians have become too comfortable and distracted by lesser things (sports, entertainment, material pursuits) while neglecting the Great Commission. The pastor calls for believers to accept God's calling to be witnesses daily and to rely on God's power to share the life-changing gospel with those around them.

This sermon focuses on the story of the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4, emphasizing how one encounter with Jesus transformed her from someone hiding in shame to a bold witness who brought an entire community to faith. The message challenges believers to examine whether they are 'ghosting' God's call on their lives by keeping their faith hidden. Pastor Cody emphasizes that when God moves in our lives, it's never meant to stop with us - saved people are meant to become sent people. The woman's transformation from isolation to evangelism serves as a model for how believers should respond to Jesus' living water by sharing their story with others.

his sermon focuses on overcoming the tendency to 'ghost' evangelism and witnessing opportunities. Pastor Mike challenges believers who have been avoiding their calling to share the gospel with those far from God. Using Luke 9:57-62 and Luke 10:1-20, he addresses the excuses people make to avoid witnessing and emphasizes that Jesus sends us out as witnesses despite the challenges. The message highlights that 47% of Christians say evangelizing is wrong and 38% claim to have no non-Christian friends or family. The pastor stresses that being a witness is not optional but a clear command from Jesus, and encourages practical steps like praying for opportunities, planning to witness, and building genuine relationships before sharing the gospel.

In this sermon titled "Ghosted," Pastor Mike explores how Christians often "ghost" or disconnect from their responsibility to share their faith with others. He defines ghosting as abruptly cutting off contact with someone without explanation, and applies this concept to how believers sometimes fail to witness to those around them about what God has done in their lives. The pastor challenges the congregation to stop being "ghosts" in the world and instead actively share their testimonies with others who need to hear about Jesus.