This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - Your Greatest Pain Might Be Your Greatest Purpose | Pastor Josh Howerton” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.

There Is More: Endgame

Small Group Discussion Guide — Acts 28

Series: There Is More | Week: Endgame (Series Finale) Main Passage: Acts 28:1–31 | Estimated Meeting Time: 60–90 minutes

A NOTE TO YOUR FACILITATOR

Welcome! This guide is designed to help anyone lead a great discussion — whether you've been leading groups for years or this is your first time. You don't need to be a Bible expert. Your job is simply to create space for honest conversation and help your group connect with God and each other. Read through the guide before your meeting, choose the questions that feel right for your group, and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest. Leader tips are marked in [Leader Tip] boxes throughout.

OVERVIEW

In the final chapter of Acts, the Apostle Paul arrives on the island of Malta after surviving a shipwreck — and promptly gets bitten by a poisonous snake. Rather than despairing, Paul shakes it off and continues sharing Jesus, ultimately sparking a spiritual awakening on the entire island. Pastor Josh used this passage to explore a powerful truth: God doesn't waste our pain. The sermon identified three sources of suffering — general sin (the brokenness of the fallen world), human sin (others' choices or our own), and demonic attack — and challenged us to stop squandering our suffering and start letting God transform our pain into a platform, our trials into testimony, and our misery into ministry.

ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Choose one of the following to open your time together:

Option A (Lighter):

"Think of a time when something went wrong that later turned out to be surprisingly good. It could be something small — a wrong turn, a cancelled plan, a missed opportunity. What happened, and how did it turn out?"

Option B (A little deeper):

"Has anyone in your life modeled the ability to stay joyful or hopeful through a really hard season? Who comes to mind, and what made them stand out?"

[Leader Tip]: Don't rush the icebreaker — this is where trust gets built. If your group is quiet, share your own answer first to model vulnerability. Keep it light and fun at this stage; the deeper questions come later.

SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Ask a volunteer to read each passage aloud. Encourage everyone to follow along in their own Bible or phone.

Primary Passage — Acts 28:1–6, 16, 30–31

"Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, 'This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.' But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god."

"When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him."

"For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ — with all boldness and without hindrance!" — Acts 28:1–6, 16, 30–31 (NIV)

Supporting Passage — Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Supporting Passage — Philippians 4:11–13

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." — Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV)

[Leader Tip]: After reading, give the group 30 seconds of quiet before jumping to questions. A simple prompt like "What word or phrase jumped out at you?" can be a gentle bridge into discussion.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Work through these questions as time allows. You don't need to cover all of them — choose the ones that feel most relevant to your group. Questions are arranged from lighter to deeper.

SECTION 1: WHAT WE NOTICED

Observational questions to get everyone talking (5–8 minutes)

1. What was one thing from Sunday's sermon that stuck with you — something that surprised you, challenged you, or that you're still thinking about?

[Leader Tip]: This is a great opener because there's no wrong answer. It also helps you gauge what resonated most with your specific group, which can guide which later questions to emphasize.

2. Pastor Josh described Paul's situation on Malta: after surviving a mob, assassination plots, a hurricane, and a shipwreck, Paul finally gets to warm himself by a fire — and a snake immediately bites him. What do you think most people's natural reaction would be in that moment? What was Paul's reaction, and what does that tell us about him?

SECTION 2: THREE SOURCES OF PAIN

Interpretive questions exploring the sermon's framework (10–12 minutes)

3. Pastor Josh outlined three sources of pain we experience in life:

General sin — the brokenness that entered the world through Adam's fall, affecting all of creation (Romans 5)
Human sin — pain caused by others' choices or our own choices
Demonic attack — spiritual opposition, like what Job experienced

Which of these three categories was most new or surprising to you? Which one do you find most difficult to accept or believe?

[Leader Tip]: Some group members may be skeptical about the demonic category — that's okay. Invite honest responses without pressure. You might say: "It's fine if this feels unfamiliar. What questions does it raise for you?" The goal is reflection, not agreement.

4. The sermon pointed out that Job's friends only understood two of the three categories — they assumed all suffering must be caused by personal sin. How does that limited understanding show up in our world today? Have you ever experienced someone applying that kind of thinking to your pain — or have you ever applied it to someone else's?

5. Pastor Josh made a distinction between happiness and joy:

"Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is based on Jesus."

In your own words, what's the difference between the two? What does it look like practically to have joy that isn't dependent on your circumstances going well?

[Leader Tip]: If discussion stalls, try this follow-up: "Think about someone you know who seems to have this kind of joy. What do you notice about how they live?" This moves the concept from abstract to concrete.

SECTION 3: PAIN BECOMES PLATFORM

Application questions connecting the message to real life (12–15 minutes)

6. Romans 8:28 says God works "in all things" for the good of those who love him. Pastor Josh was careful to say the debate isn't whether God causes or allows pain — but that God always uses it. What's the difference between those two ideas? Why does it matter how we frame that in our minds?

7. The sermon described how Paul's imprisonment in Rome — which must have felt like a setback — actually became the opportunity through which he wrote four books of the New Testament (Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians) and led members of Caesar's own household to faith in Jesus. Paul was chained to Roman soldiers, but he saw it the other way: they were chained to him.

Can you think of a time — in your own life or someone else's — when what looked like a closed door or a painful limitation turned out to be an unexpected open door for something meaningful?

8. Pastor Josh shared the story of Kelly Gudro, a Lake Point member who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and responded by asking, "How can I use this for ministry?" He went on to create Hope Bags — Bibles highlighting encouraging scriptures, sent to cancer patients in 40 states, 8 countries, and 2 languages.

What do you think made Kelly's response possible? What would need to be true about a person's relationship with God for them to respond to suffering that way?

[Leader Tip]: This question often surfaces deep emotion — be ready to slow down and make space. If someone shares a current painful situation, resist the urge to fix it or move on quickly. A simple "Thank you for sharing that — would you like us to pray for you at the end?" can go a long way.

9. Pastor Josh said:

"The happiest people you'll ever meet aren't people with fewer problems than you. They're people who have a purpose that's greater than their problems — that makes all their problems worth it."

Do you agree with that? What does it look like to have a purpose that's bigger than your problems? What helps you stay connected to that purpose when life gets hard?

SECTION 4: COMMUNITY & ACCOUNTABILITY

Questions about doing this together (5–8 minutes)

10. Pastor Josh emphasized the importance of having people in your life who love you enough to speak truth to you — people you've given permission to call you out when you're heading in the wrong direction. Do you have people like that in your life right now? What makes that kind of relationship hard to build — and what makes it worth it?

[Leader Tip]: This question is an invitation for your small group itself to go deeper in relationship. You might gently name that: "One of the reasons we're here together is to be exactly this for each other."

PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

These questions are for personal reflection. You can invite people to share if they feel comfortable, but make clear there's no pressure — some of these may be things people sit with privately.

1. Which of the three sources of pain (general sin, human sin, demonic attack) best describes something difficult you're walking through right now? How might naming the source of your pain change how you respond to it?

2. Is there an area of pain, loss, or struggle in your life that you've been carrying alone — or that you've been trying to escape rather than allow God to redeem? What would it look like to bring that to God and ask, "What do you want to do with this?"

3. Paul wrote Philippians — one of the most joyful books in the Bible — from a prison cell. What is one small, practical step you could take this week to root your heart more in Jesus than in your circumstances? (Examples: a worship playlist on your commute, a scripture written on a sticky note, a walk where you pray out loud, a conversation you've been avoiding)

4. Is there someone in your life right now who is suffering — and who might need a "hope bag" of their own? Not necessarily a literal bag, but a tangible expression of God's love and presence? What could you do this week to bring hope to that person?

5. The sermon ended with this challenge: God wants to turn your pain into a platform, your trial into a testimony, and your misery into ministry. What would it look like for you — specifically, in your current season — to begin living that out?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

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

🔵 Worship Through It: If you're in a hard season, set aside 15–20 minutes this week to worship — not as a performance, but as a way of reminding your heart that God is bigger than your problems. Use hymns, contemporary worship, or whatever connects you to God most deeply.

🟢 Name Your Pain: Take a few minutes to journal or pray through the question: "Which of the three sources of pain best describes what I'm facing right now — and how does that change how I respond?"

🟡 Bring Hope to Someone: Identify one person in your life who is suffering and do something tangible to bring them hope this week — a meal, a handwritten note, a phone call, a prayer, or simply showing up.

🔴 Give Someone a Badge: Think about whether you have people in your life who love you enough to speak truth to you. If not, consider asking someone you trust to play that role — and be willing to do the same for them.

PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. Here are some suggested areas to pray over as a group:

1. For those in pain right now — Pray for anyone in your group (or in your lives) who is walking through suffering. Ask God to draw near to them, to bring comfort, and to begin redeeming their pain for his purposes.

2. For perspective — Ask God to help your group root their joy in Jesus rather than in circumstances — to have the kind of contentment Paul described that doesn't rise and fall with life's happenings.

3. For courage — Pray for boldness to share your faith, like Paul did — even in the hard seasons, even when it's inconvenient, even when you feel chained down.

4. For the hurting around you — Ask God to open your eyes to people in your life who need hope, and give you the creativity and courage to bring it to them.

5. In memory and gratitude — If your group feels led, take a moment to thank God for people like Kelly Gudro — men and women whose faith through suffering has pointed others to Jesus. Ask God to make your group that kind of people.

Suggested closing prayer (feel free to use your own words):

"Lord, thank you that you don't waste anything — not our pain, not our losses, not our hard seasons. We believe your word that you work all things together for the good of those who love you. Help us to trust you in the middle of the hard things, not just when we can see the outcome. Give us joy that isn't shaken by our circumstances, because it's rooted in you. And Lord, make us people who turn our pain into platforms for your glory. We love you. Amen."

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

For groups wanting to go further — great for mature believers or extended discussion

Deep Dive 1: The Book of Job

Read Job 1:6–12 and Job 38:1–7. Pastor Josh summarized the book of Job this way: Job never got an answer to why he was suffering, but he got the presence of God — and the presence of God was better than an answer.

How does that reframe the way you think about unanswered prayers or unexplained suffering? What does it mean to you personally that God's presence might be more valuable than God's explanation?

Deep Dive 2: The "Federal Head" Concept

The sermon introduced the theological idea that Adam was the "federal head" of humanity — meaning his decision to sin had consequences that were passed down to all of creation (Romans 5:12). Romans 5:15–19 goes on to show that just as one man's sin brought condemnation, one man's righteousness (Jesus) brings justification and life.

How does understanding Adam's role as "federal head" — and Jesus as the "second Adam" — change how you think about the brokenness in the world? How does it change how you think about the hope we have in Christ?

Deep Dive 3: Contentment as a Learned Skill

Philippians 4:11 says Paul "learned" to be content — he didn't say it came naturally. He learned it through experience.

What do you think the process of "learning contentment" actually looks like? What experiences, disciplines, or relationships have contributed most to your own growth in this area? What's one area where you're still in the learning process?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES FOR FURTHER STUDY

For groups or individuals who want to explore these themes more deeply during the week:

Theme	Passage
Joy through suffering	James 1:2–4
God's nearness to the brokenhearted	Psalm 34:18
The armor of God against spiritual attack	Ephesians 6:10–18
Comfort that becomes ministry	2 Corinthians 1:3–7
The fallen world and future restoration	Romans 8:18–25
Paul's "thorn in the flesh"	2 Corinthians 12:7–10
The full story of Job's restoration	Job 42:1–17

QUICK REFERENCE FOR FACILITATORS

Section	Estimated Time
Icebreaker	5–10 min
Scripture Reading	5 min
Discussion Questions	30–45 min
Personal Application	10–15 min
Prayer Focus	5–10 min
Total	55–85 min

If you're short on time, prioritize Questions 1, 5, 7, and 8, plus one Personal Application question, and close in prayer.

If your group is quiet, share your own answers first, ask follow-up questions like "Can anyone relate to that?" or "What would you add?", and give people permission to pass.

If your group goes deep fast, trust it — let the Spirit lead. It's okay to skip questions. A group that goes deep on two questions is better than a group that skims ten.

This guide was prepared for Lake Point Church small groups. For questions about small groups, connection opportunities, or prayer support, visit your campus or reach out through the church.