Small Group Guide

Discussion Guide

Pastor Mike explores the theme of anger through the story of David and Nabal in 1 Samuel 25. He begins by sharing personal stories of his own anger and how easily we can be triggered. The sermon examines how David, when insulted by the wealthy but foolish Nabal, nearly acted on his anger by planning to slaughter Nabal's entire household. Thankfully, Nabal's intelligent wife Abigail intervened with humility and wisdom, preventing bloodshed and turning David's heart toward patience. The pastor emphasizes the difference between righteous anger (directed at injustice against God) and unrighteous anger (stemming from personal offense)

In this sermon, Pastor Mike explores the theme of emotional triggers through the story of David in the Bible. He focuses on how anxiety distorts reality and drives us to make irrational decisions, using David's flight from King Saul as a primary example. The pastor explains how David, despite being a man after God's own heart, allowed fear and anxiety to lead him to deception and even pretending to be insane to escape danger. The sermon emphasizes that our emotional triggers can actually reveal where we need God's healing and trust the most.

In this sermon, Cody Bren discusses the 'Blessed Practices' framework for reaching others with the message of Jesus. He emphasizes that Christians are blessed to be a blessing to others, focusing particularly on the first practice: 'Begin with Prayer.' Using the parable of the Good Samaritan, he illustrates how prayer softens hearts, opens eyes, and fills believers with compassion for their neighbors. The sermon connects to Edge Community Church's '1 by 10 by 100' vision for community impact over the next five years.

In this sermon, the pastor discusses the spiritual discipline of fasting as a key to experiencing 'mountaintop moments' with God. He emphasizes that Jesus assumed his followers would fast, stating 'when you fast' rather than 'if you fast' in Matthew 6. The pastor explains that fasting is the voluntary choice to abstain from food for spiritual purposes, creating space for deeper awareness of God's presence, humbling our souls, helping discern God's will, bringing divine favor, and giving power over demonic forces.