Small Group Discussion Guide

"Watch Your Step: How to Come Into the Presence of God"

Based on Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

For the Facilitator: This guide is designed for a 60–90 minute group meeting. You don't need to cover every question — choose the ones that best fit your group. Questions marked with [Leader Tip] include brief coaching notes to help you facilitate well. Estimated times are suggestions, not rules. The goal is genuine conversation and life change, not covering all the material.

OVERVIEW

In this sermon from Ecclesiastes 5:1-7, we explored what it means to truly come into God's presence — not just show up to church, but genuinely encounter the living God. Solomon gives timeless wisdom about worship: we should come with a humble heart (ready to listen and obey, not just go through the motions), maintain a listening ear (letting God speak rather than filling the room with our own words and opinions), and leave with an obedient resolve (taking our commitments to God seriously and following through). The central challenge is this: Are we critics or are we hungry? Are we performing or are we truly seeking God?

ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Start here — keep it light and fun!

Question: Have you ever accidentally walked into a situation where someone important or surprising was present — a celebrity, a boss, someone you deeply respect — and you had to quickly change how you were acting? What happened, and how did it feel?

(If the group needs a nudge, the sermon mentioned Queen Elizabeth's encounter with a cleaning lady in an elevator — feel free to share that story as an example.)

SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Ask a volunteer to read the passage aloud. Encourage everyone to follow along in their own Bible or on their phone.

Primary Text: Ecclesiastes 5:1–7

"Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to approach in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong. Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven, and you are on the earth, so let your words be few. Just as dreams accompany much labor, so also a fool's voice comes with many words. When you make a vow to God, don't delay fulfilling it, because he does not delight in fools. Fulfill what you vow. Better that you do not vow than that you vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth bring guilt on you, and do not say in the presence of the messenger, 'That was a mistake.' Why should God be angry with your words and destroy the work of your hands? For many dreams bring futility, so do many words. Therefore, fear God." — Ecclesiastes 5:1–7 (CSB)

Supporting Text: Luke 18:10–14

"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: 'God, I thank you that I'm not like other people — greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." — Luke 18:10–14 (CSB)

Context Note for Facilitators: Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon — one of the wisest and wealthiest kings in Israel's history. He spent much of his life pursuing meaning and purpose "under the sun" (meaning life apart from God) and found it all empty. In chapter 5, he shifts to give practical wisdom about worship. His words here are as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through as many questions as time allows. Don't rush — a great conversation on two or three questions is better than a rushed tour through all of them.

THEME 1: How We Come — A Humble Heart

(Questions 1–3)

1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — a story, an idea, a Scripture, or a phrase that stuck with you? Why do you think it caught your attention?

[Leader Tip] This is a great opening question because it invites everyone to share something specific without requiring deep theological knowledge. It also helps you see what resonated most with your group so you can emphasize those themes.

2. Solomon says it's "better to approach in obedience" (or to listen) than to offer sacrifices like a fool who "ignorantly does wrong." In your own words, what's the difference between going through the motions of worship and truly entering God's presence?

[Leader Tip] If the group gets stuck, try this follow-up: "Can you think of a time when you were physically present in a worship service but mentally or spiritually somewhere else? What was going on?" Normalize this — it's a shared human experience, not a shameful confession.

3. The sermon used the image of a food critic versus a hungry person to describe two ways people can come to church. Which of those two postures do you think is most tempting for you personally — and what tends to pull you in that direction?

THEME 2: What We Do — A Listening Ear

(Questions 4–6)

4. Solomon warns against "hasty speech" and says "a fool's voice comes with many words." What do you think it looks like practically to come to worship with a listening ear rather than a talking mouth? How might that change how you prepare for a Sunday morning or a time of prayer?

5. In the parable from Luke 18, the Pharisee had an impressive resume of religious activity — fasting, tithing, moral living. But Jesus said the tax collector, with only seven words ("God, have mercy on me, a sinner"), was the one who left right with God. What does that tell us about what God is actually looking for when we worship?

[Leader Tip] This question can go deep quickly. Watch for people who might feel convicted about religious performance in their own lives. Create space for honest reflection. You might say: "I think most of us have a little Pharisee in us — I know I do. What would it look like to pray more like the tax collector this week?"

6. C.S. Lewis wrote — imagining a demon coaching another demon — that one of the easiest ways to ruin someone's worship is to turn their attention away from God and toward themselves or others around them (noticing who's off-tune, who has an annoying habit, who's dressed strangely). Have you ever found your attention drifting that direction during worship? What helps you re-center on God?

THEME 3: How We Leave — An Obedient Resolve

(Questions 7–9)

7. Solomon is serious about vows — commitments made to God. He says it's better not to make a vow than to make one and break it. What do you think it means to make a genuine commitment to God in the context of worship? What kinds of commitments are we making — even implicitly — when we gather together as a church?

[Leader Tip] The sermon mentioned three specific commitments: (1) a commitment to Jesus as Lord, (2) a commitment to a local church body, and (3) a commitment to go on mission. You can use these as anchor points if the conversation needs direction.

8. The sermon ended with a challenge to "gather, grow, and go." Which of those three feels most natural to you right now — and which feels most challenging? What's one honest reason it feels hard?

9. The sermon said: "I can tell everything about your life by seeing what you're committed to." If someone looked at your calendar and your bank account this past month, what would they say you're most committed to? How does that line up with what you want to be committed to?

[Leader Tip] This is a vulnerable question. Model openness by being willing to share honestly yourself if you're the facilitator. Remind the group that this is a safe, grace-filled space — the goal isn't guilt but honest reflection and growth.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are for quieter, more personal reflection. You can invite people to share, but don't pressure anyone. Some groups like to journal their answers first before sharing.

1. On a scale of 1–10, how would you honestly rate the intentionality with which you've been approaching worship lately — whether Sunday services, personal prayer, or daily life? What's one thing that might help you move that number up?

2. Is there an area of your life where you sense God has been speaking — through Scripture, a sermon, a conversation, or a quiet nudge — but you haven't yet responded in obedience? What's holding you back?

3. The sermon reminded us that how we come to God matters as much as that we come at all. What's one practical thing you could do before next Sunday's service to prepare your heart to truly encounter God rather than just attend a service?

4. Is there a commitment — to God, to your church family, or to someone in your life — that you've made but haven't fully followed through on? What would it look like to take one step toward honoring that this week?

✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) of the following before your group meets again:

• Prepare before you worship. Before next Sunday, take 5 minutes in the car, at home, or wherever you are to quiet your heart and pray: "God, I'm coming to listen. Speak to me."

• Examine yourself. Spend 10 minutes this week in quiet prayer asking God to show you any area where you've been going through the motions spiritually. Write down what comes to mind and one step you can take.

• Follow through on one commitment. Identify one commitment to God or your church community that you've been putting off — and take one concrete step to honor it this week.

• Serve or connect. If you've been attending but not yet planted yourself in community, take a step: join a small group, sign up to serve, or stop by the connection hub after a service.

PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead. Use these prompts to guide your prayer:

Suggested Prayer Topics:

• Humility: Ask God to help each person approach Him with a genuinely humble heart — not performing, not critiquing, but listening and ready to obey.

• Openness: Pray that God would open the ears and hearts of your group to hear clearly from Him — in Sunday services, in Scripture, and in daily life.

• Follow-through: Ask for the courage and grace to honor commitments made to God — especially where you've fallen short.

• Missionaries: Pray specifically for Andrew and Emily (mentioned in the sermon), who are heading to Hiroshima, Japan — for protection, boldness, wisdom, and fruitfulness.

• Each other: Take a moment for group members to share one personal prayer request, then pray for one another.

Suggested Closing Prayer (for facilitators who want a guide):

"Father, thank you for inviting us into your presence — not because we deserve it, but because of Jesus. Forgive us for the times we've shown up without really showing up — going through the motions while our hearts were somewhere else. Help us to come to you with humble hearts, ready to listen and ready to obey. Teach us what it means to truly worship you — not just on Sunday, but in every part of our lives. And Lord, where we've made commitments and fallen short, give us grace to begin again. We love you. We need you. In Jesus' name, amen."

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

(For groups with extra time or wanting to go further)

Bonus Question 1: The sermon referenced 1 Corinthians 11, where Paul told a church that their worship gatherings were doing "more harm than good" because of how they were approaching the Lord's Supper. Read 1 Corinthians 11:27–32 together. What does Paul mean by eating and drinking "in an unworthy manner"? How does this challenge or shape the way you think about participating in communion?

"So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and weak among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we were properly evaluating ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world." — 1 Corinthians 11:27–32 (CSB)

Bonus Question 2: Jesus told the woman at the well in John 4:23–24 that "true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth." The sermon touched on this briefly. What do you think it means to worship "in Spirit and in truth"? What happens when a church has one without the other — all emotion but no truth, or all doctrine but no life?

Bonus Question 3: The sermon quoted C.S. Lewis's The Screwtape Letters, where a demon says: "The search for a suitable church makes the man a critic where the enemy wants him to be a pupil." How do you think a person can hold a healthy, discerning perspective about a church while still coming as a learner rather than a judge? Where's the line between wise discernment and unhealthy consumerism?

RELATED SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY

FACILITATOR CHECKLIST

Before your group meets, review this quick checklist:

• Read through the entire guide and Ecclesiastes 5:1–7
• Choose which discussion questions fit your group best (you don't need all of them)
• Decide which application question(s) to focus on
• Prepare a brief personal story or reflection to model openness
• Pray for your group members by name before they arrive
• Have a Bible or Bible app available in case anyone needs one
• Plan to end on time — honor people's schedules

This discussion guide was prepared for Calvary Church small groups. Questions? Contact your campus small groups coordinator.