Small Group Discussion Guide

Showcase - Cornerstone Fountain Valley | Glyn Barrett | Live - Sept. 27th, 2026

Cornerstone Fountain Valley

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This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - Cornerstone Fountain Valley | Glyn Barrett | Live - Sept. 27th, 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

"It's Not Over Yet: The God of Commas"

Based on the message by Pastor Glenn Barrett — Audacious Church, Manchester, England

A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed to be flexible. You don't need to use every question — choose what fits your group best. The goal isn't to get through all the material; it's to have one or two moments of genuine connection and spiritual insight. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead your time together.

SERMON OVERVIEW

Pastor Glenn Barrett brought a powerful message reminding us that God is the God of "commas" — meaning he always has more to say and more to do in our stories. Drawing from the pattern of endings throughout Scripture, Glenn showed us that what looks like a final chapter to us is never the final word with God. From the Old Testament prophets to the resurrection of Jesus, and through the repeated refrain of grace that closes the New Testament epistles, the message is clear: God's last word is always grace, and death — in any form — does not get the final word.

BEFORE YOUR GROUP MEETS

Suggested preparation for facilitators:

  • Read Isaiah 46:8–11 and Jeremiah 29:11 in full
  • Skim through the endings of a few New Testament letters (e.g., Galatians 6:18, Ephesians 6:24, Philippians 4:23)
  • Pray for each member of your group by name
  • Choose which questions fit your group's needs and circle them in advance

Materials needed:

  • Printed guides or digital access for each participant
  • Bibles or a Bible app
  • A whiteboard or notepad (optional, for capturing group responses)

SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER

"Getting Started" — 5–10 Minutes

Ask the group:

"Think about a movie, TV show, or book with an ending that either really satisfied you — or really disappointed you. What was it, and why did the ending matter so much?"

(Allow 2–3 people to share. This is a low-stakes, fun way to open the conversation and naturally leads into the sermon's theme about why endings matter.)

Transition to the message:

"Pastor Glenn used that same idea — how the ending of a story changes everything — to help us think about how God writes the endings of our lives and our seasons. Let's dig into what that means for us today."

SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING

"Setting the Foundation" — 5 Minutes

Have someone in the group read each passage aloud. Invite the group to listen for a word or phrase that stands out to them.

Isaiah 46:9–10 (NIV)

"Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please."

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Revelation 22:21 (NIV)

"The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen."

Numbers 6:24–26 (NIV)

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."

[Brief Context for Facilitators]: Pastor Glenn pointed out that Revelation 22:21 is the very last verse of the very last book of the Bible — the final word of all 66 books, written over 1,400 years by 40 different authors. That final word is grace. He also noted that 12 of Paul's 13 epistles end with a version of this same word: grace. That repetition is intentional and deeply meaningful.

SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

"Going Deeper Together" — 30–45 Minutes

Choose 5–7 questions that feel most relevant to your group. You don't need to use all of them.

THEME A: God Knows the Whole Story

Question 1 (Observational — Start here)

"Pastor Glenn used the image of watching a recorded football match when you already know the final score. What did that illustration say to you about how God sees your life right now?"

[Leader Tip]: This is a great opening question because it's grounded in the sermon's most memorable image and doesn't require deep biblical knowledge to engage with. Let several people respond before moving on.

Question 2 (Interpretive)

"Isaiah 46:10 says God makes known 'the end from the beginning.' What's the difference between God knowing how your story ends and God controlling every detail of it? How do you hold those two ideas together?"

[Leader Tip]: This may surface some theological tension around free will and sovereignty — that's okay. You don't need to resolve it. Acknowledge that Christians have wrestled with this for centuries and redirect to: "Whatever our view, what comfort does it give us that God sees the whole picture?"

Question 3 (Personal)

"Can you think of a time in your own life when something that felt like an ending turned out to be the beginning of something new? What did that season teach you about God?"

THEME B: Don't Put a Period Where God Puts a Comma

Question 4 (Observational/Personal)

"Pastor Glenn said, 'Don't confuse your current chapter with your final story.' What does it look like practically to live that way — especially when a current chapter is really painful or discouraging?"

[Leader Tip]: This question has the potential to draw out real vulnerability. Create space for honest answers. Avoid rushing to "fix" or offer platitudes. Sometimes the most powerful thing a group can do is simply say, "We hear you. We're with you."

Question 5 (Interpretive)

"Pastor Glenn walked through the endings of several books of the Bible — Habakkuk's 'yet will I rejoice,' Malachi's forward-looking silence, and the cross that looked like the end but wasn't. What pattern do you see in how God works through what looks like an ending?"

Optional follow-up if discussion stalls:

"Why do you think God often allows things to look finished before he moves?"

Question 6 (Application)

"Pastor Glenn said the cross looked like the end — Rome said it was finished, the religious leaders said it was over, even the stone over the grave said it was finished. And yet it wasn't. How does the resurrection change the way you face the 'stones' rolled across your own situations right now?"

THEME C: Grace Is the Final Word

Question 7 (Interpretive)

"Pastor Glenn pointed out that 12 of Paul's 13 letters end with the word grace. He said, 'Every other religion is based on what you do. Christianity is based on what he does.' How does that distinction change the way you approach your relationship with God day to day?"

[Leader Tip]: For newer believers or those from performance-driven backgrounds, this question can be genuinely freeing and emotional. Give it space. For more mature believers, push into: "Where do you still find yourself slipping into 'earning' mode?"

Question 8 (Personal)

"Pastor Glenn shared the image of carrying his children to bed — they didn't get themselves there, they were carried. He said, 'This whole time, the Lord's been carrying me.' Where in your life do you need to accept that you're being carried right now rather than trying to carry yourself?"

Question 9 (Community)

"Pastor Glenn mentioned that 'surrounding matters' — being part of a church community is part of how God carries us through hard seasons. How has this group, or your church community, helped you hold on during a difficult chapter? How can we do that better for each other?"

SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION

"Making It Personal" — 10–15 Minutes

These questions are designed for quieter, more individual reflection. You can invite people to share, but give permission to keep answers private if they prefer.

1. The "Full Stop" Check

"Is there an area of your life right now where you've mentally placed a period — where you've decided it's over, it's too late, or nothing will change? What would it look like to replace that period with a comma and invite God back into that sentence?"

2. Receiving Grace

"On a scale of 1–10, how easily do you receive grace — not just believe in it theologically, but actually live in it day to day? What makes it hard for you to accept that God's goodness toward you isn't based on your performance?"

3. The Key in the Door

"Pastor Glenn described death for a Christian as coming home after a long trip — putting the key in the door and sighing, 'I'm home.' How does that picture of eternity change the way you feel about the uncertainties in your life right now?"

4. Giving God the Pen

"Pastor Glenn closed with this line: 'If you're writing my story, I'm going to give you the pen back.' Is there a specific situation in your life where you need to surrender the pen this week? What's one concrete step you could take to do that?"

✏️ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one — or create your own:

  • Option A — The Comma Prayer: Each morning this week, identify one area where you've been tempted to give up or assume the story is over. Pray specifically: "Lord, I give you back the pen in this situation. I trust that this is a comma, not a period."

  • Option B — Grace Audit: Read the ending of one of Paul's letters each day this week (try Galatians 6:18, Ephesians 6:24, Philippians 4:23, Colossians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:28). Let the repetition of grace sink in. Journal one way that word applies to your current season.

  • Option C — Carry Someone: Think of someone in your life who is in a hard chapter right now — someone who might be tempted to put a period where God wants a comma. Reach out to them this week with a specific act of encouragement, a meal, a phone call, or a prayer.

SECTION 5: PRAYER FOCUS

"Bringing It to God Together" — 5–10 Minutes

Suggested prayer approach:

Before closing in prayer, invite the group to share briefly (one sentence each) in response to this prompt:

"What's one thing from today's conversation that you want to bring before God this week?"

Then pray together, covering these areas:

  • 🙏 Gratitude — for the grace that is always God's final word over our lives
  • 🙏 Surrender — for the courage to give God the pen in specific situations we're holding onto
  • 🙏 Those in hard chapters — for group members, family, and friends who are in painful or uncertain seasons
  • 🙏 New beginnings — for those who took a step of faith in Sunday's service, beginning or returning to a relationship with Jesus
  • 🙏 The church family — for those grieving (remembering Steve McCur's family), those expecting new life (Selle and Aaron), and all walking through transition

Suggested closing prayer or benediction:

(You may read this aloud as a group, or have the facilitator pray it over the group.)

"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. And may you go from this place knowing that wherever you are in your story, God is not finished. His grace is the final word — over your life, your family, your fears, and your future. In the name of Jesus. Amen." — Numbers 6:24–26, adapted

SECTION 6: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

"For Groups Who Want to Go Further"

Use these if your group has extra time, or assign them as personal study before your next meeting.

Deep Dive Question 1 — The Pattern of Grace

Read the endings of the following letters and notice the pattern: Galatians 6:18, Ephesians 6:24, Philippians 4:23, Colossians 4:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:28, 2 Thessalonians 3:18, 1 Timothy 6:21, 2 Timothy 4:22, Titus 3:15, Philemon 1:25, Hebrews 13:25.

"Why do you think the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to end nearly every letter with grace? What does the repetition communicate that a single mention couldn't? How does knowing this change the way you read the New Testament?"

Deep Dive Question 2 — The Resurrection as the Ultimate Comma

Read 1 Corinthians 15:54–58.

"Paul says death has been 'swallowed up in victory.' How does the resurrection of Jesus function as the ultimate proof that God always has the final word? And how does that future certainty give us courage to live differently in our present circumstances?"

Deep Dive Question 3 — Isaiah 46 in Full Context

Read Isaiah 46:1–13.

"This passage contrasts the gods of Babylon — which have to be carried — with the God of Israel, who carries his people. What does it mean to you personally that you serve a God who carries rather than a God who must be carried? Where in your life are you still trying to carry God rather than letting him carry you?"

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Related Scripture passages for personal study this week:

  • Romans 8:28–39 (Nothing separates us from the love of God)
  • Lamentations 3:19–24 (Great is your faithfulness — new mercies every morning)
  • Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd — the song echoed in Sunday's worship)
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (My grace is sufficient for you)
  • Revelation 21:1–5 (God makes all things new — the ultimate "comma")

QUICK-REFERENCE GUIDE FOR FACILITATORS

Section Time Purpose
Icebreaker 5–10 min Build warmth, introduce the theme naturally
Scripture Reading 5 min Ground the conversation in God's Word
Discussion Questions 30–45 min Explore, interpret, and apply the message
Personal Application 10–15 min Move from head to heart
Prayer Focus 5–10 min Bring it all before God together
Total 55–85 min Fits within a 60–90 minute group

Final Encouragement for Facilitators: Your job today is not to be a Bible expert or a perfect teacher. Your job is to create a space where people feel safe enough to be honest about where they are — and where they encounter the grace of God together. The best thing you can do is show up, be present, ask good questions, and trust that God will do the rest. He always has the final word.

Discussion guide prepared for Cornerstone Church small groups. For questions about small group resources, contact the church office.

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