Small Group Discussion Guide

"Trust and Hope in the Age of Anxiety"

Based on Matthew 6:25-34 | Series: Faith for the Real World

A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed for a 60–90 minute group meeting. You know your group best — feel free to skip questions, slow down on ones that spark great conversation, or adapt the language to fit your group's culture. There are no wrong answers here. Your job is to create a safe space where people can be honest and grow together. You've got this!

OVERVIEW

In this message, Pastor Gary walked us through Jesus's famous teaching on worry from the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:25-34). Using the imagery of birds and wildflowers — and the story of ten lepers in Luke 17 — he reminded us that worry steals our present, underestimates our value to God, and can cause us to act like people who don't know God at all. The antidote isn't simply "stop worrying" — it's actively choosing to trust Jesus, stay connected to community, seek God's kingdom first, and live one day at a time.

SCRIPTURE PASSAGES

Read aloud together, or ask a volunteer to read.

Primary Passage — Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Supporting Passage — Luke 17:11-19 (ESV)

"On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.' When he saw them he said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, 'Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?' And he said to him, 'Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.'"

SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Question:

What's something small and low-stakes that you tend to worry about more than you probably should? (Maybe it's being on time, losing your keys, checking the weather, or re-reading a text you sent — whatever it is, we all have something!)

[Leader Tip]: This question is intentionally lighthearted. The goal is to get people laughing and talking before you move into deeper territory. Share your own example first to break the ice and set a tone of honesty and humor. This helps quieter group members feel safe to open up later.

SECTION 2 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through as many of these questions as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter/observational to deeper/personal. Feel free to pick the ones that feel most relevant to your group.

THEME 1: Understanding Worry

(Observational — getting into the text together)

1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — a story, an idea, a scripture, or something else? Why did that particular thing stick with you?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great opener because there's no wrong answer. It also helps you quickly gauge what resonated with your group so you can spend more time on those areas. If someone mentions something you didn't plan to discuss, go with it — that's the Holy Spirit at work.

2. Pastor Gary said that worry does three things: it steals the present, it underestimates our true value, and it resembles unbelief. Which of those three hit closest to home for you, and why?

Optional follow-up if discussion stalls: "Think about a time you were really worried about something. Looking back, which of those three effects did you notice most?"

3. Jesus uses two images from nature — birds and wildflowers — to make a point about worry. What is he actually trying to say through those images? What does it tell us about God's character?

[Leader Tip]: Some people in your group may wonder, "But birds do work hard — they search for food!" Pastor Gary actually addressed this in the sermon. The point isn't that birds are lazy; it's that they don't panic — they work without anxiety. If this comes up, it's a great observation. The application is that we're called to be active and engaged, not passive, but without the crushing weight of anxiety.

THEME 2: Our Value to God

(Interpretive — going deeper into the meaning)

4. Jesus asks, "Are you not of more value than they?" — referring to birds and wildflowers. What does it mean to you personally that God considers you more valuable than the things he so carefully tends in creation? Is that easy or hard to believe? Why?

5. Pastor Gary shared the funny story about his grown kids thinking they'd grown up "poor" — when in reality, their needs had always been met. He used it to make the point that we sometimes confuse wants and needs, but God always provides what we truly need. How do you think about the difference between what you want and what you need in your own life right now? Where do you see God's provision when you look back?

Optional follow-up: "Is there an area of your life where it's hard to trust that God will provide what you need? What makes it hard?"

THEME 3: The Story of the Ten Lepers

(Reflective — connecting to the Luke 17 passage)

6. In the story of the ten lepers, all ten were healed — but only one came back to thank Jesus. Pastor Gary said, "Two people can look at the same thing and see something completely different — it's a matter of perspective." What was the difference in perspective between the nine who kept going and the one who returned? What does that difference reveal about the role gratitude plays in our relationship with God?

[Leader Tip]: This is a rich question. Some people may identify with the nine — they got what they needed and moved on. That's honest and worth exploring without judgment. The goal isn't to make people feel guilty but to help them see how gratitude and proximity to Jesus are connected. Pastor Gary's phrase — "Where you sit determines what you see" — is worth writing on a whiteboard or repeating aloud.

7. Pastor Gary said the lepers did two things right when they were overwhelmed and afraid: they stayed in the presence of Jesus and they called out to Jesus. What does "staying in the presence of Jesus" look like practically in your everyday life — especially in a hard season?

Optional follow-up: "What tends to pull you away from that presence when you're most stressed or anxious?"

THEME 4: Seeking God First and Living One Day at a Time

(Application — connecting to Matthew 6:33-34)

8. Matthew 6:33 says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Pastor Gary was clear this doesn't mean we stop planning or preparing for the future. So what does it actually mean to "seek God first" in the middle of real-life pressures — work, finances, relationships, health? What does that look like on a Tuesday morning?

9. Pastor Gary referenced the image of a lamp from Psalm 119:105 — "Your word is a lamp to my feet" — and pointed out that a lamp lights up what's right in front of you, not miles ahead. Where in your life right now are you struggling to focus on "what's right in front of you" because you're so worried about what's further down the road?

10. Pastor Gary encouraged people who are struggling with anxiety or worry to lean in rather than pull away — specifically to stay connected to community and find a place to serve. Why do you think serving others is such a powerful antidote to being overwhelmed by our own fears? Have you ever experienced that personally?

[Leader Tip]: This question connects naturally to the life of your church community. If it feels right, you can gently invite people to share ways they've found serving to be life-giving — or areas where they're looking to get more involved. This isn't a recruitment pitch; it's a genuine conversation about the spiritual value of serving.

SECTION 3 — PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are more reflective. You can ask people to share with the group, or give a few minutes of quiet reflection before inviting anyone to share. Some people may want to keep their answers private — that's completely okay.

1. On a scale of 1–10, how much would you say worry or anxiety is affecting your life right now? What's the main thing you're carrying?

2. Pastor Gary closed with six key scriptures on hope and trust. Here they are — take a moment to read them quietly:

Which of these six verses speaks most directly to where you are right now? Why?

3. Pastor Gary said, "Faith becomes real when it's tested." Describe a time in your life when your faith became more real because of something hard you walked through. What did you learn about God — or yourself — in that season?

4. Is there a specific area of your life where God might be inviting you to trust him more this week — to loosen your grip and seek his kingdom first? What would that actually look like in a practical, concrete way?

SECTION 4 — THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

(Choose one — or all three!)

These are personal action steps to carry the message beyond Sunday into your week:

• 📖 Scripture: Pick one of the six verses from the application section above. Write it on a sticky note, set it as your phone wallpaper, or memorize it this week. Return it to next week's group and share how it helped.

• 🙏 Prayer: Set a daily alarm this week — even just for 2 minutes — labeled "Don't Worry, Pray Instead." When it goes off, pause and pray about whatever you're most anxious about that day, surrendering it to God.

• 🤝 Community: If you've been pulling back from people during a hard season, take one small step toward reconnection this week — attend a service, text a friend, or sign up to serve somewhere at church. Let someone in.

• 📝 Gratitude: At the end of each day this week, write down three specific ways God provided for you that day — even small things. Practice noticing what he's already doing.

SECTION 5 — PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. Here are some suggested prayer topics. You can pray as a group, in pairs, or have one person close for everyone — whatever fits your group best.

Suggested prayer topics:

• 🙏 For anyone in the group carrying a heavy burden of worry, anxiety, or fear right now
• 🙏 For the ability to "seek first the kingdom" in the week ahead — to keep God at the center of decisions, relationships, and plans
• 🙏 For gratitude — to be like the one leper who returned, rather than the nine who moved on without giving thanks
• 🙏 For renewed strength for anyone who is emotionally or physically exhausted
• 🙏 For perspective — to see circumstances through God's eyes, not the world's

[Leader Tip]: Before closing in prayer, you might ask: "Is there anything specific you'd like the group to pray for you about this week?" Even if people don't share out loud, knowing you asked creates a culture of care. Consider following up with group members individually during the week — a simple text can go a long way.

SECTION 6 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

(For groups with extra time or who want to go further)

These bonus questions are great for groups with mature believers, extra time, or a desire to go deeper into the text.

Bonus 1: Matthew 6:25-34 is part of the larger Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Jesus is speaking to his followers — people who already believe in God. Why do you think anxiety and worry are still such a struggle even for committed believers? What does that tell us about the nature of faith and the ongoing need for trust?

Bonus 2: Pastor Gary made a careful distinction between clinical/medical anxiety and the kind of worry Jesus addresses in this passage. How should the church hold both of those realities together — taking mental health seriously and offering the hope of the gospel? How have you seen that done well, or not so well?

Bonus 3: The sermon emphasized community as a key antidote to worry — specifically, not isolating when things get hard. Read Galatians 6:2 ("Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ") and Hebrews 10:24-25 ("And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together..."). What does a community that truly "bears burdens" together look like? What would it take for your group to be that kind of community for each other?

QUICK-REFERENCE CARD FOR FACILITATORS

If you're running short on time: Prioritize Questions 2, 5, 7, and 8 from the Discussion section, and at least one Personal Application question. These four cover the core themes of the message.

If your group is quiet: Start with the icebreaker and share your own answer first. Normalize that there are no wrong answers. Try asking, "What's one word that describes how you felt listening to Sunday's message?" as a lower-stakes entry point.

If your group goes deep quickly: Let them! Skip earlier questions and lean into the ones generating the most energy. Your role is to guide, not to get through every question.

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." — Matthew 6:33

This guide was prepared for Cornerstone Church small groups based on the sermon "Trust and Hope in the Age of Anxiety" from the series Faith for the Real World.