This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - 9AM Worship Service” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Let's Have Church
Small Group Discussion Guide
Based on the sermon "Let's Have Church" by Pastor Grant McCrae Franklin Avenue Baptist Church
"Rend your heart and not your garments. Now, therefore, turn to Me with all your heart." — Joel 2:13 (NKJV)
A NOTE TO YOUR FACILITATOR
Welcome, and thank you for leading this group! You don't need to be a theological expert to guide a meaningful conversation — your job is simply to create a safe, open space where people can share honestly and grow together. This guide gives you everything you need. Trust the process, trust your group, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the real work.
Estimated Total Time: 60–90 minutes Best Group Size: 4–12 people
SERMON OVERVIEW
In his message "Let's Have Church," Pastor Grant McCrae challenged us to examine the difference between doing church and having church — between going through the motions and genuinely encountering God. Drawing from Joel 2:13, Psalm 124, Psalm 103, and Hebrews 10, he called us to three things: cultivate a spirit that says "I'm just glad I made it," remember the struggle God brought us through so we don't take His grace for granted, and come back home to authentic, surrendered worship. The central invitation was this: don't let what God gave you cause you to forget who gave it to you.
SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Opening Question — Choose ONE based on your group's personality:
Option A (lighter, fun):
Think about a time you showed up somewhere and were just genuinely glad to be there — a concert, a reunion, a celebration, anything. What was it, and what made it feel so good just to be in the room?
Option B (a little more reflective):
What's one word that describes how you typically feel when you walk into church on a Sunday morning? Don't overthink it — just whatever comes to mind first.
[Leader Tip] The icebreaker is just to get people talking and comfortable. Don't let it run past 10 minutes. Affirm whatever people share without judgment — this sets the tone for the whole conversation.
SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Have someone in the group read each passage aloud. You may want to assign them ahead of time.
Joel 2:12–13 (NKJV) "Now, therefore," says the Lord, "Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning." So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm."
Psalm 124:1–2 (NKJV) "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side," let Israel now say — "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us..."
Psalm 103:1–5 (NKJV) "Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."
Hebrews 10:19–22 (NKJV) "Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."
Brief Context for Facilitators: Joel 2 was written during a time of national crisis in Israel. The prophet called the people to stop just going through religious rituals — literally, tearing their clothes as a sign of grief — and instead bring God their real hearts. It's a call to authenticity over performance. Pastor McCrae used this text to challenge us about the same tendency today.
SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many questions as time allows. You don't have to cover them all. Follow the energy of your group.
THEME 1: Doing Church vs. Having Church
(Questions 1–3)
1. Pastor McCrae described the difference between "doing church" and "having church." In your own words, how would you explain that difference to someone who wasn't in the room Sunday?
[Leader Tip] This is your opening question, so keep it accessible. There's no wrong answer here. If the group is quiet, you can share your own take first to model vulnerability: "When I heard that, I thought about..."
2. He said, "Some of us have gotten really good at doing church — we know the songs, we know when to clap, we know how to look saved." Without calling anyone out, why do you think it's so easy to slip into performance mode at church? What makes it feel safer to perform than to be real?
3. Pastor McCrae used a vivid illustration about seating levels in the sanctuary — the idea that people in the upper level, the "third floor," often have a different kind of praise because they're just glad to be in the room. What does a "third floor praise" look like in real life? Have you ever experienced a season where your praise felt like that?
[Leader Tip] This question invites personal storytelling, which is where the conversation will get rich. Give people time to think. Silence is okay — don't rush to fill it. If needed, prompt with: "Think about a season when life was really hard — how did you approach God differently then?"
THEME 2: The Danger of Forgetting
(Questions 4–6)
4. In Psalm 103:2, David literally talks to his own soul: "Forget not all His benefits." Why do you think David felt like he had to remind himself not to forget? What does that tell us about human nature — and about our own tendency to drift?
5. Pastor McCrae gave a powerful list of things that can make us forget what God brought us through — a new house can make you forget the old one, a good doctor's report can make you forget the night you cried waiting for the phone call, a full refrigerator can make you forget the seasons when you didn't know what to eat for dinner. What's something in your own life — a blessing, a promotion, a season of comfort — that has ever tempted you to forget how desperately you once needed God?
[Leader Tip] This question requires real vulnerability. Model it yourself if you can. Remind the group that this isn't about guilt — it's about honest reflection. The goal isn't to feel bad about being blessed; it's to stay connected to the Blesser. You might say: "Pastor McCrae was clear — God doesn't want you broke again. He just doesn't want you to forget."
6. The preacher said: "If you forget the struggle, you'll start taking the grace for granted. And that's dangerous because we can get to a place where we stop saying 'Lord, I need you' and start saying 'Lord, I got it.'" How do you personally guard against that kind of spiritual drift in your own life? What habits or practices help you stay grounded in dependence on God?
THEME 3: Coming Back Home
(Questions 7–9)
7. Pastor McCrae made a distinction that stopped a lot of people in their tracks: he said going back to God isn't going backward — it's going home. What's the difference between those two things? Why does that distinction matter?
[Leader Tip] This is a theologically rich moment. If the group needs a nudge, you might point out that "going backward" implies regression or failure, while "going home" implies belonging, welcome, and restoration. The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is a beautiful parallel here if your group wants to go there.
8. Hebrews 10:19 tells us we have boldness to enter God's presence because of Jesus — the veil has been torn. Pastor McCrae pointed out that the veil was torn from bottom to top, not top to bottom, meaning God opened the door, not us. How does that truth change the way you think about approaching God — especially when you feel unworthy, ashamed, or like you've drifted away?
9. The sermon closed with this definition of worship: "Worship is not what happens when the music starts. Worship is what happens when your life belongs to God." How does that definition expand or challenge the way you've thought about worship before? What would it look like for your daily life — not just Sunday mornings — to be an act of worship?
SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are for individual reflection. You can share with the group, journal privately, or take them home to sit with this week. There are no wrong answers.
1. If you're honest with yourself, which of these three challenges from the sermon do you most need to work on right now?
- Cultivating a spirit that says, "I'm just glad I made it"
- Remembering the struggle and not forgetting what God brought you through
- Coming back home — returning to authentic, surrendered worship
What's one specific step you could take this week toward that?
2. Pastor McCrae asked: "Where would you be if God hadn't stepped in?" Take a moment and actually answer that question for yourself. What situation, decision, or season are you thinking of? How does remembering that shape your gratitude today?
3. Is there an area of your life right now where you've been trying to handle things on your own — where you've been doing life instead of having life with God? What would it look like to bring that area to Him this week in genuine, surrendered prayer?
4. The sermon mentioned that "the old saints" used to sit around and spend 20 minutes just remembering and thanking God for one thing He did — and that remembrance produced worship. Try it right now: think of one specific thing God has done for you. Just one. What is it, and when did it happen?
[Leader Tip] If your group is comfortable, invite people to share their answers to Question 4 out loud. This can become a spontaneous moment of testimony and gratitude that naturally flows into your prayer time. Don't force it — but watch for it.
SECTION 5: THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Send people home with this)
Choose one of the following to practice before your group meets again:
🙏 The Remembrance Practice: Set a daily reminder on your phone this week. When it goes off, stop for two minutes and recall one specific thing God has done for you. Just one thing. Let that memory produce worship — whether that's a prayer, a song, a moment of stillness, or a word of thanks.
📖 The Scripture Practice: Read Psalm 103 every day this week. Each day, notice a different phrase or verse that stands out. Write it down. At the end of the week, reflect on what God has shown you through that passage.
💬 The Testimony Practice: Find one person this week — a friend, family member, or someone in your group — and share a story of something God brought you through. Tell them the real version, not the polished one. Practice "having church" outside of Sunday.
✍️ The Journal Practice: Write out your personal "If it had not been for the Lord..." statement. Finish the sentence as honestly and specifically as you can. Keep it somewhere you'll see it this week.
SECTION 6: PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are suggested focus areas — feel free to pray through them as a group, in pairs, or have one person lead:
Gratitude — Thank God for specific things He has done for your group members. Invite people to share one-sentence prayers of thanksgiving.
Authenticity — Ask God to help your group (and your church) move from doing church to having church — to show up with real hearts, not polished performances.
Those who are drifting — Pray for anyone who has grown comfortable or distant from God — including yourselves. Ask God to stir a hunger for His presence.
Boldness — Based on Hebrews 10:19, pray that each person in your group would approach God with boldness this week — especially in the hard moments, the quiet moments, and the moments when they feel unworthy.
Your church community — Pray for Franklin Avenue Baptist Church, for the ministries happening this season, and for those who responded to the invitation during Sunday's service.
[Leader Tip] If your group isn't used to praying out loud together, don't force it. You can invite people to pray silently while you pray aloud on behalf of the group. Or invite anyone who wants to share a one-sentence prayer to do so. The goal is connection with God, not performance — which is exactly what the sermon was about.
SECTION 7: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups that want to go further)
Use these questions if your group has extra time, wants to dig deeper into Scripture, or is made up of more mature believers.
Deep Dive 1 — The Rending of the Heart (Joel 2:12–13)
In Joel's time, tearing one's garments was a public, visible sign of grief and repentance. God, through Joel, said: stop tearing your clothes and start tearing your heart.
"What's the difference between outward religious expression and inward transformation? Can you think of examples — from the Bible or from your own life — where someone (or you yourself) went through the motions of faith without the heart being truly engaged? What eventually changed that?"
For further study: Compare Joel 2:12–13 with Matthew 23:25–28, where Jesus confronts the Pharisees about the same tendency. What parallels do you see?
Deep Dive 2 — The Torn Veil (Hebrews 10:19–22; Matthew 27:50–51)
Pastor McCrae pointed out that when Jesus died, the veil in the Temple was torn from bottom to top — meaning God tore it, not man. This veil had separated the Holy of Holies (God's presence) from the people. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year.
"Read Matthew 27:50–51. What does it mean to you personally that God tore the veil — that He opened the door from His side? How does that change the way you think about prayer, worship, and your access to God on an ordinary Tuesday afternoon?"
For further study: Read Hebrews 4:14–16 alongside Hebrews 10:19–22. What does the writer of Hebrews want us to do with the access Jesus has given us?
Deep Dive 3 — Romans 12:1 and the Meaning of Worship
Pastor McCrae quoted Romans 12:1 to redefine worship beyond Sunday morning music.
Romans 12:1 (NKJV): "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
"The phrase 'reasonable service' has also been translated as 'true worship' or 'spiritual act of worship.' What does it look like practically to offer your body — your time, your work, your relationships, your decisions — as an act of worship? Where is that most challenging for you right now?"
RELATED SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER READING
| Passage | Theme |
|---|---|
| Psalm 34:1–3 | Blessing God at all times |
| Psalm 40:1–3 | Waiting on the Lord and the new song |
| Psalm 100 | Entering His gates with thanksgiving |
| Luke 15:11–24 | The prodigal son — coming back home |
| Philippians 4:6–7 | Exchanging anxiety for gratitude |
| Lamentations 3:19–23 | Remembering God's faithfulness in hard seasons |
QUICK REFERENCE: SERMON OUTLINE
For your convenience, here is the three-point structure from Pastor McCrae's message:
| Point | Theme | Key Scripture |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | "I'm Just Glad I Made It" — A spirit of gratitude connected to remembrance | Psalm 124:1 |
| 2 | "Don't Forget the Struggle" — Remembrance produces worship; don't let comfort breed forgetfulness | Psalm 103:1–5 |
| 3 | "Come Back Home" — True worship is surrender, not performance; the door is open because of Jesus | Hebrews 10:19; Joel 2:13 |
Central Text: Joel 2:13 — "Rend your heart and not your garments." Central Invitation: "Let's have church."
FACILITATOR CHECKLIST
Before your group meets, take five minutes to review this list:
- Read through the entire guide at least once
- Choose which icebreaker option fits your group best
- Select 5–7 discussion questions you want to prioritize (you won't get to all of them)
- Decide how you want to handle the personal application section (share out loud, journal silently, or take home)
- Think of one personal story or reflection from the sermon you're willing to share to model vulnerability
- Decide who will open and close in prayer
- Print copies for your group or share the guide digitally ahead of time
This guide was prepared for Franklin Avenue Baptist Church small group ministry. "This is the place that we exalt the Savior, equip the Saints, and evangelize the sinners — on the Avenue."
Questions about this guide? Contact your small group coordinator or ministry leader.