This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - Calvary Church // Life Under the Sun // 9:00am Service 10/18/2026” 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
Fear or Faith? Trusting God with What You Can't Control
Based on Ecclesiastes 11:1–6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." — Proverbs 3:5–6
A NOTE TO YOUR FACILITATOR
Welcome! This guide is designed to help your group engage honestly and practically with Sunday's message from Ecclesiastes 11. You don't need to be a biblical scholar to lead a great discussion — your job is simply to ask good questions, listen well, and create space for honest conversation. All the tools you need are right here.
Suggested Total Time: 60–90 minutes Format: Flexible — use all sections or select what fits your group best Tip: Read through the entire guide before your meeting so you feel comfortable and can adapt on the fly.
OVERVIEW
(For the Facilitator — share this briefly to open, or read it aloud together)
In Ecclesiastes 11:1–6, Solomon offers timeless wisdom for navigating a world full of uncertainty: there are things we cannot control, and there are things we can — and the key to living well is knowing the difference. This week's sermon challenged us to stop trying to be "commander of the universe" and instead respond to life's uncertainties with two postures: peaceful trust in God with what we cannot control, and courageous, faithful action with what we can. Rather than being paralyzed by fear, we are called to cast our bread on the water, sow our seed in the morning, and trust God with the outcomes.
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Opening Question — Choose One:
Option A (lighter, fun):
"What's something you've tried to predict or plan for that turned out completely differently than you expected — and how did it go?"
Option B (slightly more reflective):
"Think of a time you hesitated to take a risk because you were afraid of what might happen. What was going through your mind?"
[Leader Tip]: Don't rush past this. A good icebreaker helps people relax and transition from their busy day into meaningful conversation. Share your own answer first to model openness, and keep it light — this isn't the time for deep sharing yet.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Ask a volunteer to read the passage aloud. Invite the group to listen for a word or phrase that stands out to them.
Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 (CSB)
"Send your bread on the surface of the water, for after many days you may find it. Give a portion to seven or even to eight, for you don't know what disaster may happen on earth. If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap. Just as you don't know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so also you don't know the work of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand rest, because you don't know which will succeed, whether one or the other, or both of them will be equally good."
Related Passage — Luke 6:38 (CSB)
"Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure — pressed down, shaken together, and running over — will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."
Quick Context for Facilitators: Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon, widely regarded as the wisest king in Israel's history. The book wrestles honestly with the meaning of life "under the sun" — life in a fallen, uncertain world. By chapter 11, Solomon isn't wallowing in despair; he's calling his readers to wise, courageous action in the face of what they cannot control. The imagery of bread on water likely refers to ancient merchants who loaded ships with goods and sent them into uncertain seas — a picture of risk-taking faith.
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group or linger on ones that spark great conversation.
PART A: What We Cannot Control
(Observational & Interpretive — 10–12 minutes)
1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — a story, an idea, a phrase, or a moment that stuck with you? Why do you think it landed that way?
2. The pastor described a vivid image: drawing dots all over a page to represent worries, then drawing a small circle around the few things we can actually control, and then a much larger circle representing God's circle — where nothing falls outside his reach. How does that image land with you? Does it bring comfort, challenge, or something else?
[Leader Tip]: This question helps people externalize anxiety in a non-threatening way. If your group is quiet, try asking: "What would your 'dot page' look like right now?" Be prepared for some vulnerable answers — respond with grace, not advice.
3. Solomon uses two vivid examples of things we can't control: clouds that pour out rain and a tree that falls to the north or south. What do these simple images communicate about the nature of life's uncertainties? Can you think of a modern-day equivalent — something in your own world that "just falls where it falls"?
4. The pastor pointed out that we can't control our circumstances, other people, or the future — but we can always control our response. How easy or difficult is it for you to accept that distinction in real life? Where does it break down for you?
[Leader Tip]: This question often surfaces real frustration. Validate that accepting what we can't control is genuinely hard — it's not a sign of weak faith to struggle here. Avoid letting the group turn this into a complaint session; gently redirect toward what the passage offers as a response.
PART B: What We Can Control — Faithful Action
(Interpretive & Personal — 12–15 minutes)
5. The sermon described two kinds of people: those who are paralyzed by what they can't control, and those who act with courageous faith despite uncertainty. Where do you tend to land on that spectrum — and has that changed at different seasons of your life?
6. "Cast your bread on the surface of the water" is a picture of risky, generous, forward-leaning faith. The sermon applied this to two areas: our wealth (generosity and financial faithfulness) and our work (taking action instead of waiting for perfect conditions). Which of those two areas feels most challenging for you personally right now, and why?
7. The pastor referenced the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25, where the servant who hid his talent out of fear was rebuked, while those who risked and multiplied what they were given were celebrated. What does this parable suggest about how God views fearful inaction compared to imperfect but faithful effort?
[Leader Tip]: Some group members may struggle with the idea that God would judge someone for being afraid — especially if they've experienced trauma or loss that made risk-taking genuinely dangerous. Acknowledge that fear is human and valid, while also exploring how faith invites us beyond it. The question isn't whether we feel fear, but whether we let it have the final word.
8. The sermon said: "The problem is not the ferocious beast. The problem is the fearful heart." And also: "About 90% of the lions you worry about aren't there." How much do you agree with that? What "lions" have you spent energy fearing that never actually showed up?
9. Verse 4 says: "One who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who looks at the clouds will not reap." The Living Bible paraphrases this as: "If you wait for perfect conditions, you never get anything done." Where in your life are you currently waiting for perfect conditions before taking a step of faith? What would it look like to take that step anyway?
[Leader Tip]: This is one of the most personally convicting questions in the guide. Give people a moment of quiet before asking for responses. Some people may not want to share publicly — that's okay. The personal application section will revisit this.
10. The pastor invited the congregation to "resign as commander of the universe." What would it actually look like — practically, day-to-day — to live with that posture? What habits, attitudes, or thought patterns would need to change?
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are designed for individual reflection. You may invite people to share with the whole group, with a partner, or simply to sit quietly with the question. Respect that some answers are personal.
Reflection Questions:
1. If you were to draw your own "dot page" right now, what are the top two or three worries or fears filling your page? Of those, which ones are genuinely inside your circle of control — and which ones do you need to release to God's larger circle?
2. The sermon asked: "What bread has God put in your hand that you're supposed to put on the water? What seed has he put in your hand that you're supposed to sow in the ground?" Sit with that question honestly. What comes to mind — even if it feels uncomfortable or uncertain?
3. The sermon offered a simple but searching choice: "You're going to live in fear, or you're going to live in faith." In the area where God is most clearly calling you to act right now, which posture are you choosing — and what would it take to choose differently?
4. Is there someone in your life — a family member, coworker, or friend — whom you've been trying to control or "fix"? What might it look like to release them to God's care while still loving them well?
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE — Choose One (or More):
Before your next group meeting, try at least one of the following:
The Dot Page Exercise: Grab a blank piece of paper. Write down everything weighing on you. Draw a small circle around the things you can actually do something about. Pray specifically over everything outside that circle, releasing it to God. Bring what's inside your circle to God and ask for wisdom and courage to act.
Cast Your Bread: Take one specific step of faith in an area where you've been waiting for "perfect conditions." It doesn't have to be big — just faithful. Tell someone in your group what you're going to do so they can hold you accountable.
Generosity as Faith: Prayerfully consider one act of financial generosity this week — giving to the church, supporting a missionary, or meeting a practical need in someone's life. Treat it as "casting your bread on the water" and trust God with the outcome.
Resign the Role: Write out the phrase "I hereby resign as commander of the universe" on a sticky note or in your journal. Put it somewhere you'll see it this week. Each time you see it, identify one thing you're trying to control that you need to release to God.
SECTION 5 — PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Use one of the following formats depending on your group's comfort level:
Option A — Guided Group Prayer (The facilitator leads, pausing at each prompt for silent or spoken prayer)
"Let's close by praying the spirit of the Serenity Prayer together. I'll guide us through three moments of prayer..."
Peaceful Trust: "Lord, bring to mind one thing you've been trying to control that you cannot. Offer it to God right now in silence." (Pause 30–60 seconds)
Courageous Faith: "Now think about one step of faith God may be calling you to take. Ask him for the courage to take it." (Pause 30–60 seconds)
Wisdom: "Finally, ask God for the wisdom to know the difference — to clearly see what is yours to carry and what is his." (Pause 30–60 seconds)
Close with a spoken prayer of blessing over the group.
Option B — Conversational Prayer Invite group members to share one brief prayer request connected to today's discussion — something they're trusting God with, or a step of faith they're asking for courage to take. Pray together over these as a group.
Option C — Written Prayer Give each person a notecard. Ask them to write a one-sentence prayer: "God, I trust you with _____________, and I'm asking for courage to _____________." Collect the cards (anonymously if preferred) and close by reading them aloud as a corporate prayer.
Suggested Prayer Themes:
- Peace in the face of circumstances we cannot change
- Courage to take steps of faith in specific areas
- Wisdom to distinguish between what we can and cannot control
- Freedom from fear and anxiety
- Generosity and trust in God's provision
- Boldness to share the gospel with neighbors and friends
SECTION 6 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For Groups Wanting to Go Further)
Use these questions if your group has extra time or wants to explore the biblical and theological dimensions more deeply.
Deep Dive 1 — The Theology of Providence
Read Proverbs 16:9: "A person's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps." And Proverbs 19:21: "Many plans are in a person's heart, but the Lord's decree will prevail."
How do these verses shape the way you think about planning, ambition, and faith? Is there a tension between human initiative and divine sovereignty — and if so, how do you hold both at the same time? What does it look like to plan wisely while holding your plans loosely?
Deep Dive 2 — Fear vs. Faith Throughout Scripture
The theme of "fear vs. faith" runs throughout the entire Bible. Consider these examples:
- Abraham left his homeland not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8)
- Moses faced Pharaoh despite his own inadequacy (Exodus 4)
- Gideon led an army of 300 against thousands (Judges 7)
- Peter stepped out of the boat onto the water (Matthew 14:28–29)
What do these stories have in common? What does the pattern of courageous faith in Scripture teach us about how God tends to work? What role does fear play in each of these stories — and what overcomes it?
Deep Dive 3 — Generosity as Spiritual Formation
The sermon connected "casting your bread on the water" directly to generous living, referencing Luke 6:38 and the Parable of the Talents. Consider this:
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." — Matthew 6:21
If our giving habits reveal the true state of our hearts, what does your current pattern of generosity — with money, time, and talent — reveal about where you're placing your trust? How might growing in generosity actually be a spiritual discipline that shapes faith, not just a financial decision?
SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURE FOR FURTHER STUDY
For personal devotion or group exploration during the week:
| Passage | Theme |
|---|---|
| Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 | This week's key text |
| Matthew 25:14–30 | The Parable of the Talents |
| Luke 6:38 | Generous living and God's return |
| Proverbs 3:5–6 | Trusting God with all your heart |
| Proverbs 16:9 | Human planning, divine direction |
| Philippians 4:6–7 | Peace that surpasses understanding |
| Matthew 6:19–21, 25–34 | Treasure, anxiety, and trust |
| Hebrews 11:1–12 | Faith as action despite uncertainty |
QUICK-REFERENCE SUMMARY FOR FACILITATORS
| Section | Purpose | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Icebreaker | Build connection, lower defenses | 5–10 min |
| Scripture Reading | Ground the group in God's Word | 5 min |
| Discussion Questions | Explore, interpret, and apply the message | 30–45 min |
| Personal Application | Individual reflection and response | 10–15 min |
| Prayer Focus | Respond to God together | 5–10 min |
| Deep Dive (optional) | Theological exploration for mature groups | 10–15 min |
| Total | 65–90 min |
Key Sermon Themes to Keep Returning To:
- There are things we cannot control — we must trust God with those.
- There are things we can control — we must act with courageous faith in those.
- The choice before us is simple but profound: fear or faith.
- Faithful living means casting our bread on the water — generous, risk-taking trust in God.
- Waiting for perfect conditions is not wisdom — it is fear dressed up as prudence.
"In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hand rest, because you don't know which will succeed, whether one or the other, or both of them will be equally good." — Ecclesiastes 11:6
This guide was prepared for small group use at Calvary Church. Permission granted to reproduce for group ministry purposes.