This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - 12:45pm Sunday Service | Live from Rossview” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"The Way of Jesus Is Way Better Than Any Other Way"
Based on Matthew 7 | Week 8 of the Sermon on the Mount Series
A Note to Facilitators: Welcome! This guide is designed to help you lead a meaningful 60–90 minute conversation. You don't need to be a biblical expert — your job is to create a safe space for honest dialogue and help people connect Sunday's message to their real lives. Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group, and never feel pressure to cover everything. The best discussions often come from lingering on one question longer than planned. Trust the Holy Spirit, and enjoy the conversation.
OVERVIEW
In this eighth week of the Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Mike explored how Jesus consistently disrupts our stubborn, self-sufficient ways and invites us into something far better — his way of living. Drawing from Matthew 7, the message focused on three transformative practices: pursuing God through asking, seeking, and knocking; living out the Golden Rule as a daily discipline; and choosing the narrow gate even when the wide road is far more crowded. The central theme woven through all of it: the way of Jesus is way better than any other way.
SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Choose one of the following to open your time together:
Option A (Lighter/Funnier):
Pastor Mike confessed he's stubborn about his driving, always making his bed, and where he puts his keys and wallet. What's one area of life where you're a little stubborn or set in your ways — and why do you think you're like that?
Option B (More Reflective):
Think back to a time when you were convinced your way was the right way — only to discover later that a different approach was actually better. What was that experience like, and what did it take for you to change course?
[Leader Tip: Keep this light and fun. The goal is simply to get people talking and laughing together. Share your own answer first to model vulnerability and set the tone. This question also naturally leads into the sermon's central theme of stubbornness.]
SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Ask a volunteer to read the following passages aloud. You may want to read them in two rounds — once for familiarity, once for deeper listening.
Matthew 7:7–12 (ESV)
"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."
A Connecting Passage — Hebrews 12:2 (ESV) (Referenced in the opening prayer of the service)
"...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Quick Context for Facilitators: Matthew 7 is the final chapter of the Sermon on the Mount — a longer teaching that begins in Matthew 5. Throughout this sermon, Jesus has been painting a picture of what life in God's kingdom actually looks like. It's consistently countercultural, challenging our instincts and habits. By the time we reach chapter 7, Jesus is drawing his listeners toward a decision: whose way will you follow?
SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through these questions at your group's pace. You don't need to cover all of them — quality conversation matters more than quantity. Questions are arranged from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal.
THEME A: OUR STUBBORN WAYS
(Approx. 8–10 minutes)
1. Pastor Mike said, "The greatest problem for truly stubborn people is Jesus — because Jesus comes along and says, 'My way is better than your way.'" What do you think he meant by that? In what ways does following Jesus require us to change direction?
[Leader Tip: This is a good opening discussion question because it's observational and not too personal yet. Encourage people to think about specific examples from the sermon — like Jesus saying "you've heard it said... but I say to you." If the group is quiet, try asking: "Can you think of a teaching of Jesus that felt like it pushed back against something you naturally wanted to do?"]
2. Pastor Mike mentioned a concept called "confirmation bias" — the tendency to seek out information that confirms what we already believe. How do you see this showing up in the way people approach faith, church, or even reading the Bible?
3. The sermon included this quote: "A teachable person can change direction without changing their convictions." What's the difference between being stubborn and being convicted? How do you know which one you're being in a given moment?
THEME B: ASKING, SEEKING, AND KNOCKING
(Approx. 10–12 minutes)
4. Jesus uses three escalating words in Matthew 7:7 — ask, seek, knock. Pastor Mike suggested these represent a progressive and ongoing pursuit of God, not a one-time request. How does that change the way you think about prayer? What does it look like practically to "keep asking" and "keep seeking"?
[Leader Tip: Some people in your group may have had experiences where they prayed and felt like nothing happened. This question might surface some honest frustration or doubt — that's okay and actually healthy. Acknowledge those feelings with grace. You might follow up with: "Has there been a time when God's answer of 'not yet' or 'no' turned out to be the right answer in hindsight?"]
5. The sermon made the point that God is like a good father who gives good gifts — not a prankster or a punisher. How has your understanding of God as a "heavenly Father" shaped the way you approach him in prayer? Has that image ever been difficult for you to embrace?
Related Scripture — Matthew 7:9–11: "Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"
6. Pastor Mike challenged the group to evaluate their asking, seeking, and knocking: "How is your asking the Lord going? How's your seeking him truly going?" How would you honestly answer those questions right now? What tends to get in the way of consistent, expectant prayer in your own life?
THEME C: THE GOLDEN RULE
(Approx. 10–12 minutes)
7. The Golden Rule — "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" — is one of the most well-known principles in the world, yet Pastor Mike said we live in a culture that is "the exact opposite of that." Where do you most clearly see the gap between the Golden Rule and how people (including yourself) actually behave?
8. Pastor Mike made a striking statement: "If we treat others the way they treat us, then actually they're our God — because they're leading us, not the Lord." What do you think of that idea? How does it reframe the way we think about responding to difficult people or situations?
[Leader Tip: This is one of the most thought-provoking points in the sermon and may spark good discussion. Some people may push back — that's great! Encourage the group to wrestle with it honestly. A helpful follow-up: "Can you think of a relationship or situation where someone else's behavior has been 'leading' your behavior more than Jesus has?"]
9. Pastor Mike asked the group to consider "golden-ruling Jesus" — treating the Lord the way we want the Lord to treat us. He asked: "We all want Jesus to bless us, but are you a blessing to him? We all want his grace, but are we gracious to him and his people?" How does this reframe your relationship with God? What might it look like to be more intentional about giving to God what you're hoping to receive from him?
THEME D: THE NARROW GATE
(Approx. 8–10 minutes)
10. Jesus says the narrow gate is hard and few find it, while the wide gate is easy and many enter it. Pastor Mike said the wide path "looks like sin and sexual immorality and greed and vengeance and lust — everything our world has to offer." Without pointing fingers at others, what are some ways the wide path tempts you personally? What makes it feel so much easier in the moment?
[Leader Tip: Encourage honesty here, but keep the tone grace-filled and non-judgmental. You might model vulnerability by sharing something from your own experience first. Remind the group that this is a safe space. If someone shares something sensitive, affirm their honesty before moving on.]
11. Pastor Mike said: "Just because a lot of people follow the broad path does not make it the right path." In a culture where Christianity is often in the minority, how do you stay encouraged and committed to the narrow way? What — or who — helps you hold the line?
SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are more personal and reflective. You may want to give people 2–3 minutes of quiet to think before sharing, or invite people to share only what they're comfortable with.
1. Of the three themes from today's message — pursuing God through prayer, living the Golden Rule, and choosing the narrow gate — which one feels most relevant to where you are right now? Why?
2. Is there a relationship in your life right now where you've been letting the other person's behavior determine your behavior — treating them how they've treated you instead of how you'd want to be treated? What would it look like to apply the Golden Rule in that situation this week?
3. Pastor Mike said that God answers every prayer with yes, no, or not yet — and that "no" is still an answer. Is there something you've been asking God about where you're struggling to trust his answer? What would it look like to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking — even in the waiting?
4. Think about the areas of your life where you've been most "stubborn" — doing things your way. Is there one area where you sense God inviting you to lay down your stubbornness and trust his way instead? What's the first step in that direction?
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) of the following to put into practice before your group meets again:
The Prayer Challenge: Set a specific time each day this week to ask, seek, and knock. Don't just drop off a prayer list — linger. Wait. Listen. Journal what you notice.
The Golden Rule Challenge: Identify one relationship where you want to be treated better than you've been treating the other person. Take one concrete step this week to treat them the way you'd want to be treated — regardless of what they do first.
The Narrow Gate Challenge: Identify one area where the "wide path" has been pulling at you. Share it with a trusted friend or your small group and ask them to check in with you about it next week.
The Church Connection: If you haven't joined a small group, a serving team (Dream Team), or started giving regularly — consider taking one of those next steps this week. These are all ways of choosing the narrow, intentional path of discipleship over passivity.
SECTION 5: PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. You can use one of the formats below based on your group's comfort level.
Option A — Open Group Prayer: Invite anyone who wants to pray aloud to do so. Suggest focusing on one of the following themes:
- Gratitude for a God who is a good Father and gives good gifts
- Honesty about areas where we've been stubborn and done things our own way
- Courage to live the Golden Rule, especially in hard relationships
- Commitment to the narrow way, even when the wide path is tempting
- Specific needs in the group that have surfaced during discussion
Option B — Guided Prayer (read by the facilitator):
Father, thank you for being a God who invites us to ask, seek, and knock — and who promises to answer. We confess that we're stubborn people. We like our way. We like doing things on our own terms. But today we lay that down. We ask you to change our hearts before you change our habits. Teach us to treat others the way we want to be treated — not because they've earned it, but because that's your way, and your way is better. Give us the courage to walk the narrow road this week, even when it's lonely or hard. And remind us that we don't walk it alone — we walk it with you and with each other. In Jesus' name, amen.
Option C — Conversational Prayer Prompts: Go around the circle and invite each person to complete one of these sentences in prayer:
- "God, I want to ask you for..."
- "This week, help me to treat _______ the way I want to be treated by..."
- "I want to choose the narrow gate in this area of my life:..."
SECTION 6: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups with extra time or wanting to go further)
Bonus Question 1 — Going Deeper on Prayer: Read Luke 18:1–8 (the Parable of the Persistent Widow). Jesus tells this parable specifically to teach his disciples "that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." How does this parable expand your understanding of what it means to "keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking"? What does persistent prayer say about our trust in God's character?
Bonus Question 2 — Going Deeper on the Golden Rule: In Mark 12:30–31, Jesus says the two greatest commandments are to love God with everything you have and to love your neighbor as yourself. How are these two commandments connected? Is it possible to genuinely love your neighbor if you're not first rooted in loving God? What does that relationship look like in your daily life?
Bonus Question 3 — Going Deeper on the Narrow Gate: Read John 14:6, where Jesus says: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This is one of the most exclusive — and most debated — claims Jesus ever made. How do you personally respond to this claim? How do you hold this truth with both conviction and compassion when talking to people who believe differently?
[Leader Tip: This is a theologically rich and culturally sensitive question. Make sure your group has enough trust and time built up before going here. Encourage honest wrestling — the goal isn't to win an argument but to understand what we believe and why, and how to hold it with grace.]
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
To revisit or share the sermon:
- Available on the church website, YouTube channel, and podcast (search Spotify or your preferred podcast app)
- Study notes for every sermon are available on the church website
Want to go deeper this week? Read through the full Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5–7 (it takes about 15–20 minutes to read straight through). Notice what surprises you, challenges you, or comforts you.
Related Scriptures for Further Study:
- Jeremiah 29:13 — "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart."
- Proverbs 3:5–6 — "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding..."
- Romans 12:17–21 — A powerful New Testament expression of the Golden Rule in action
- Philippians 4:6–7 — On anxiety, prayer, and the peace of God
QUICK-REFERENCE GUIDE FOR FACILITATORS
| Section | Suggested Time |
|---|---|
| Icebreaker | 5–10 min |
| Scripture Reading | 5 min |
| Discussion Questions | 30–45 min |
| Personal Application | 10–15 min |
| Prayer Focus | 5–10 min |
| Total | 55–85 min |
Closing Encouragement for Facilitators: You did something important today. You created space for people to be honest, to wrestle with Scripture, and to grow together. That's not a small thing. Thank you for saying yes to leading. Remember — you don't have to have all the answers. Your job is to ask good questions, listen well, and point people back to Jesus. See you next week.
Life Point Church Small Groups | "We are never meant to do life alone."