ALL IN: Reflecting Christ in Our Relationships

Small Group Discussion Guide | Week 1

Series: All In — Leveraging Everything for God and His Kingdom Sermon Text: Philippians 2:1–11 | Supporting Text: 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 Estimated Meeting Time: 60–90 minutes

A NOTE TO YOUR FACILITATOR

Welcome! This guide is designed to work for any leader — whether you've led groups for years or this is your first time. You don't need to be a theological expert. Your job is simply to create space for honest conversation and help your group connect Sunday's message to real life. Read through the guide before your meeting, but don't feel pressure to cover every question. Follow the conversation where it goes, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest.

Feel free to adapt questions for your specific group's needs and time.

OVERVIEW

This week's sermon launched a new series called All In, exploring what it looks like to fully surrender every area of life to God and His kingdom — not just a portion of it. Using Philippians 2:1–11, the message challenged us to stop "tithing" our lives to Christ (giving Him a small, tidy portion) and instead go all in: receiving from Christ daily so we can pour out to others, living with shocking selflessness, and sharing the gospel with urgency because people around us are spiritually starving.

The three-part framework for this week:

1. Go all in with Christ — Be filled by Him daily
2. Live all in for others — Serve with selfless humility
3. Be all in for the gospel — Share the good news with urgency

ICEBREAKER (5–10 minutes)

Choose one of the following to open your time together:

Option A (Lighter/Funny):

The sermon opened with a story about someone trusted with $300 to buy drinks for 20 friends — who promptly spent it all on scratch-off lottery tickets. Tell us about a time you had one job and things didn't go quite as planned. What happened?

Option B (Reflective):

Think about someone in your life who modeled what it looks like to be "all in" for others — someone whose generosity, faith, or selflessness left a mark on you. Who comes to mind, and what did they do?

SCRIPTURE READING (5 minutes)

Have someone in the group read each passage aloud, or ask different people to read one passage each.

Philippians 2:1–11 (ESV)

"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 (ESV)

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Brief Context for Leaders: Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. Despite his circumstances, he wrote with joy and urgency, calling the church in Philippi to unity and selfless love. The passage in verses 5–11 is known as the "Christ Hymn" — one of the most beautiful descriptions of Jesus' humility and sacrifice in all of Scripture. Paul holds up Jesus not just as our Savior, but as our model for how to live.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (30–45 minutes)

Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized from observational (easier) to applicational (deeper). You don't need to cover them all — choose what fits your group best.

SECTION 1: Going All In with Christ

(Being filled by Him so we can pour out to others)

1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — a story, an idea, a phrase, or a challenge that stuck with you?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great opening question because it has no wrong answer. It helps you quickly discover what resonated with different people in your group and gives quieter members an easy on-ramp to share. Give everyone a chance to respond briefly before going deeper.

2. The sermon used the image of a water bottle: water only comes out because water is inside. How does this image connect to your own spiritual life right now? What does it look like for you to be "filled" by Christ on a regular basis?

[Leader Tip]: Some people may struggle with what "being filled" practically looks like. If conversation stalls, prompt with: "What spiritual habits or rhythms help you stay connected to God? What happens when those rhythms slip?"

3. The sermon drew a distinction between "tithing" your relationship with God (giving Him a neat, contained portion of your life) and going all in. Be honest — what areas of your life do you tend to keep separate from your faith? Why do you think we do that?

[Leader Tip]: This question invites vulnerability. Model openness by sharing your own honest answer first if you're the leader. Affirm that this is a safe space for honesty, not performance. Remind the group that the goal isn't shame — it's growth.

SECTION 2: Living All In for Others

(Serving with selfless humility)

4. Philippians 2:3–4 says, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." The sermon called this verse "so easy to read and so impossible to live." Where do you find this verse hardest to apply in your everyday relationships — at home, at work, at school, or somewhere else?

5. The sermon suggested that humility isn't thinking less of yourself — it's thinking of yourself less. What's the difference? How does that reframe the way you think about humility in your own life?

6. The story of the mother in Haiti who sold the medicinal peanut butter meant to save her child's life was meant to be a mirror. The sermon asked: are we doing the same thing with the gospel — keeping it for ourselves while people around us are spiritually starving? How did that image land with you, and what does it stir up?

[Leader Tip]: This is an emotionally weighty question. Give people space to sit with it. Some may feel convicted; others may feel defensive; some may feel genuinely burdened. All of those responses are valid starting points for honest conversation. Don't rush past the discomfort.

7. The sermon challenged us to be marked by "shocking selflessness" — the kind that surprises people because it's so countercultural. Can you think of a time when someone's selflessness genuinely shocked you? What made it stand out?

SECTION 3: Being All In for the Gospel

(Sharing the good news with urgency)

8. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says we are "ambassadors for Christ." An ambassador represents someone else — their message, their values, their authority — in a foreign land. What does it mean to you personally to live as an ambassador for Christ in your specific context (your neighborhood, workplace, school, or family)?

9. The sermon made a bold claim: "To know Christ and not share Christ is the height of selfishness." Do you agree or disagree? What makes gospel-sharing feel natural for some people and so difficult for others?

[Leader Tip]: This question may surface fear, guilt, or past negative experiences with evangelism. Be careful not to let this become a shame spiral. Redirect toward grace: "What would it look like to share the gospel from a place of love and overflow rather than obligation or fear?"

10. The sermon reframed the famous quote "Preach the gospel always; when necessary, use words" to: "Live the gospel always — and use words. It's necessary." What do you think is the relationship between how we live and what we say when it comes to sharing our faith? Where does your natural tendency lean, and why?

PERSONAL APPLICATION (10–15 minutes)

These questions are more personal and reflective. You might invite people to share with a partner or in the full group, depending on your group's comfort level.

1. On a scale of 1–10, how "all in" would you say you are with Christ right now — not in terms of church attendance or activity, but in terms of daily dependence on Him and surrender to Him? What would it take to move one number higher?

2. Think about the people God has placed in your immediate world — coworkers, neighbors, classmates, family members, the people you see regularly. Who comes to mind as someone who might be spiritually hungry? What is one specific, small step you could take toward them this week?

3. The sermon ended with a bingo card challenge — a practical, tangible way to live out the message this week. Which square on that card feels most natural for you? Which one feels most uncomfortable or challenging? What does that tell you about where God might be inviting you to grow?

If your group doesn't have the bingo cards, here are the action items from the sermon:

• Ask someone how you can pray for them
• Invite someone to church
• Serve and encourage someone
• Share the gospel
• Read the Bible daily
• Put your phone away daily and pray
• Memorize Philippians 2:3
• Forgive all who come to mind

4. The sermon encouraged us to memorize Philippians 2:3 together as a church: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Read it aloud together as a group right now. What would change in your relationships this week if you actually lived by this verse?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) of the following to put into practice before your group meets again:

🔲 The Prayer Offer — Ask at least one person outside your usual faith circle, "Is there anything I can pray for you about?" and then actually pray for them — right then if they're open to it.

🔲 The Invitation — Invite someone who doesn't attend church to join you at a service this week or in the coming weeks.

🔲 The Memorization — Commit Philippians 2:3 to memory. Write it on a sticky note. Put it somewhere you'll see it every day.

🔲 The Awareness — Go through your week paying attention to moments where you default to selfishness. When you notice it, pause and ask: "What would it look like to count this person as more significant than myself right now?"

🔲 The Gospel Conversation — Look for a natural opening to move a conversation toward spiritual things — not as a script, but as a genuine expression of care for someone's soul.

PRAYER FOCUS (5–10 minutes)

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

Pray together for:

1. Filling — Ask God to fill each person in your group with His Spirit this week, so that what overflows from your lives is genuinely Him — not just good intentions or willpower.

2. Specific people — Invite each person to silently bring to mind one person in their life who doesn't know Jesus. Spend a moment in quiet prayer for those people by name. Then pray together that God would open doors and give your group boldness and love to share the gospel.

3. Selflessness — Confess together the ways your group — individually and collectively — tends toward selfishness. Ask God for the humility described in Philippians 2:3–4 to become real and visible in your everyday relationships.

4. Urgency — Pray that God would give your group a holy urgency — not driven by guilt, but by genuine love for people who are spiritually starving and need the bread of life.

5. One another — Close by praying for the specific needs in your group. Ask if anyone has a prayer request, and lift those up together.

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

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

Bonus Question 1: The "Christ Hymn" in Philippians 2:5–11 describes Jesus as one who "did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself." Jesus gave up the privileges of divinity to become a servant. In what areas of your life do you tend to "grasp" — holding tightly to status, comfort, control, or recognition? What would it look like to "empty yourself" in that area for the sake of others?

Bonus Question 2: The sermon pointed out that Philippians 2:10–11 says every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord — "in heaven, on earth, and under the earth." The "under the earth" refers to those who have already died without faith in Christ. How does the reality of eternity — heaven and hell — shape the urgency with which you approach the people in your life? Is that urgency something you feel, or does it feel distant or abstract?

Bonus Question 3: Read Ephesians 5:18 together: "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit." The original Greek verb "be filled" is in the present continuous tense — it literally means "keep on being filled." This suggests that being filled with the Spirit isn't a one-time event but an ongoing, daily dependence. What does a lifestyle of continual filling look like practically? What gets in the way of it for you?

RELATED SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY

For individuals or groups who want to explore the themes of this sermon more deeply during the week:

QUICK-REFERENCE SUMMARY FOR LEADERS

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." — Philippians 2:3

This week's memory verse. Say it together before you leave.

Discussion guide prepared for Harris Creek Baptist Church small groups. For questions or feedback, contact your Life Group coordinator.