This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - 12:45pm Sunday Service | Live from Rossview” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
A Life Well Built
Small Group Discussion Guide
Based on the Sermon: "A Life Well Built on Jesus" (Matthew 7:21-29)
For the Facilitator: This guide is designed to take approximately 60–90 minutes. You don't need to use every question — read through ahead of time and choose the ones that feel right for your group. The goal isn't to get through all the material; it's to have one or two genuine, meaningful conversations. Trust the Holy Spirit to lead the discussion. You've got this.
OVERVIEW
In this closing message of the Sermon on the Mount series, Pastor Jere walked us through Matthew 7:21–29, where Jesus challenges us to move beyond simply knowing about him to genuinely knowing him — and building our lives on his word. Using the vivid contrast of two builders (one on rock, one on sand), Jesus makes clear that what we build our lives on matters far more than how hard we work or how religious we appear. A life well built isn't about checking spiritual boxes; it's about genuine surrender, daily devotion, and trusting the authority of the living Word.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
A Note on Sensitive Content: This session touches on themes of surrender, spiritual authenticity, and the gap between what we say and how we live. These are personal topics. Create a safe, grace-filled environment where people feel free to be honest without fear of judgment. Remind your group at the start: "What's shared here, stays here."
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Choose one of the following to open your time together:
Option A (Fun/Light):
Pastor Jere shared a hilarious story about trying to bake a superhero birthday cake after watching too many cooking videos — the inspiration looked amazing, the result... less so. Tell us about a time you tried to do something after watching someone else make it look easy. How did it turn out?
Option B (Reflective):
Think about a house, building, or structure that has always felt solid and trustworthy to you — maybe a grandparent's home, a church building, or even just a sturdy old piece of furniture. What made it feel that way? What does "solid" and "dependable" look like to you?
[Leader Tip]: The icebreaker is just to warm people up and get them talking — don't let it run too long. Laugh together, then transition naturally: "That idea of building something that actually lasts is exactly what Jesus talked about in Sunday's message. Let's dig into it."
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Ask a volunteer to read the passage aloud. Invite the group to listen for a word or phrase that stands out to them.
Matthew 7:21–29 (ESV)
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'
Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."
Brief Context for the Leader to Share (optional, 1–2 minutes): This passage comes at the very end of what's called the Sermon on the Mount — Jesus' longest recorded teaching, spanning Matthew chapters 5–7. He's been describing what life in God's kingdom looks like from the inside out: how we treat people, how we pray, how we handle money, how we make decisions. Now, as he closes, he issues a challenge: Don't just admire what you've heard. Build your life on it.
After the reading, ask:
"Before we dive into questions — what word or phrase from that passage stood out to you? Just share it, no explanation needed yet."
(This simple exercise draws everyone in immediately, even quieter members.)
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many of these as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter/observational to deeper/personal. You do not need to use all of them. Aim for genuine conversation over covering ground.
THEME 1: Knowing God vs. Knowing About God
(Questions 1–3)
1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — a story, an idea, a moment of worship, or a specific scripture? Why did it stick with you?
[Leader Tip]: This is your "landing pad" question — it helps everyone re-engage with the sermon and gives you a sense of where the group's hearts are. There are no wrong answers here. Let several people share before moving on.
2. Pastor Jere pointed to Matthew 7:21–23, where Jesus says "I never knew you" to people who called him Lord, prophesied in his name, and did mighty works. That's a sobering passage. What do you think Jesus meant by "I never knew you"? What kind of "knowing" was missing?
[Leader Tip]: Help the group see that the Greek word for "knew" here (ginosko) implies intimate, relational knowledge — the kind that shapes your life. It's not about God lacking information; it's about the absence of genuine relationship and surrender. If the group gets stuck, try: "What's the difference between knowing someone's name and truly knowing them as a close friend?"
3. Pastor Jere referenced Isaiah 29, where God says, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." He described it this way: "Their public profession never became their private surrender." What do you think that gap between public profession and private surrender can look like in everyday life?
(You don't have to share your own story — just think about what that gap might look like in general.)
THEME 2: Building on the Rock
(Questions 4–6)
4. Pastor Jere made a point that in Jesus' parable, both builders heard the same message, built a house, and faced the same storm. The only difference was the foundation. What does it mean, practically, to "build your life on Jesus' words"? What does that actually look like day to day?
5. The pastor said: "Information alone does not create a strong foundation. It's the words that Jesus has given us that we must work into our lives and actually live them out." He also said he didn't want to be a pastor who had a marked Bible but had never been marked by the Bible. What's the difference between being impressed by God's Word and being transformed by it? Have you ever experienced that difference in your own life?
[Leader Tip]: This question often generates rich personal stories. Give people time to think. If it's quiet, share a brief example yourself — something simple, like a verse you've known for years but only recently started actually living. Vulnerability from the leader opens the door for others.
6. The pastor said we're all building something — relationships, habits, priorities, futures. He asked: "The question is not am I building — it's what am I building on?" What are some of the things (beyond Jesus) that people commonly build their lives on? What are some that you've personally been tempted to lean on?
(Examples might include: personal achievement, financial security, relationships, reputation, self-reliance, family expectations, etc.)
THEME 3: Storms, Surrender, and Devotion
(Questions 7–8)
7. Pastor Jere was clear: following Jesus doesn't make you immune to storms. He said, "A fully devoted life is not exempt from a storm-free life." How does that truth sit with you? How does knowing your foundation is solid change the way you experience a storm — even if it doesn't make the storm go away?
[Leader Tip]: Some people in your group may be in a storm right now. This question can open up real, honest sharing. Be attentive. Don't rush to fix or solve — sometimes just being heard is the point. You might say after someone shares: "Thank you for trusting us with that. We're going to hold that in prayer together."
8. The sermon opened with testimonies from people in the congregation — one person described being homeless and pregnant before coming to faith, another described going from agnosticism to full surrender. What do those kinds of stories stir in you? How does hearing someone else's journey of surrender affect your own?
THEME 4: The Authority of Jesus
(Question 9)
9. Matthew tells us the crowds were "astonished" at Jesus' teaching — not just because of what he said, but because of the authority with which he said it. Pastor Jere drew a distinction between being astonished by Jesus and actually letting that astonishment change your life. What's the next step after astonishment? What does it look like to move from being amazed by Jesus to actually following him?
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are for more personal, individual reflection. You may want to give people 2–3 minutes of quiet to think before sharing. Remind the group that no one is required to share their answers — but that honest sharing often encourages others.
1. Pastor Jere gave three key statements about what a life well built looks like:
- A life well built starts with knowing God.
- A life well built is fully devoted to Jesus.
- A life well built is built on the authority of Jesus.
Which of these three feels most alive and active in your life right now? Which one feels like the area where God might be inviting you to grow?
2. The pastor asked the congregation to sit with open hands as a posture of surrender and to identify the specific areas of life they hadn't yet fully surrendered to God. Without sharing more than you're comfortable with, what's one area of your life — a relationship, a fear, a habit, a decision — that you sense God is asking you to trust him with more fully?
[Leader Tip]: Model vulnerability here if you can. Sharing something real (even something small) gives others permission to do the same. If someone shares something heavy, resist the urge to immediately give advice. Simply say, "Thank you for sharing that," and bring it into the prayer time.
3. Pastor Jere said: "Don't allow his words to remain in the category of good advice. Invite his word in." What's one specific truth from Sunday's sermon — or from Scripture in general — that you've been treating as "good advice" rather than something to actually live by?
4. At the end of the service, people were encouraged to pick up invite cards and think of them as invitations to a life-giving relationship with Jesus. Who is one person in your life right now who might need to hear the message of this sermon — that Jesus is a firm foundation when everything else is shaking? How might you reach out to them this week?
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
(Choose one — or create your own)
Choose the option that feels like your next right step:
🪨 The Foundation Check: Take 15 minutes this week to journal or pray through this question honestly: "What am I actually building my life on right now?" Ask God to show you any area where you've been building on sand — and ask him what it would look like to rebuild on him.
📖 The Living Word: Read Matthew 5–7 (the full Sermon on the Mount) in one sitting this week. As you read, underline one verse per chapter that feels like it's speaking directly to your life right now. Bring those verses to your next group meeting.
🤝 The Surrender Posture: Once a day this week, physically open your hands (like the posture from Sunday's service) and name one specific thing you're surrendering to God. Let that moment become a daily act of worship.
💬 The Invitation: Reach out to one person this week — a text, a call, a coffee — and invite them to church or share something from this sermon that impacted you.
SECTION 5 — PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are some suggested prayer themes drawn from Sunday's message:
Pray together for:
Genuine relationship with Jesus — not just knowledge about him, but a real, surrendered, growing relationship with him.
Areas of surrender — whatever came to mind during the application time. Invite group members to name (aloud or silently) the specific thing they're releasing to God.
Strength in the storm — for anyone in the group who is walking through a difficult season. Pray that their foundation holds, and that they would feel the nearness of God.
Bold invitation — for courage to share Jesus with someone in your world this week. Pray for specific people by name.
The church community — that Life Point would be a place where people move from being astonished by Jesus to being transformed by him.
Suggested Prayer Format:
Open with a brief prayer of gratitude. Then invite 2–3 people to pray short, conversational prayers for the themes above. Close by praying together the prayer from Sunday's sermon:
"Lord Jesus, you are my king. Thank you for knowing me. I trust you with every part of my life. Teach me to know your word, to hear your word, and to follow your lead. I surrender my whole life to you. I choose to build my whole life on your word and with you. In Jesus' name, amen."
SECTION 6 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups with extra time or a desire to go deeper)
Bonus Question A — Going Deeper into the Text:
Read Ephesians 2:8–10 alongside Matthew 7:21–23. Pastor Jere was careful to say that Jesus isn't telling us we earn our way into heaven by doing good things. How do these two passages work together? What's the relationship between grace, faith, and the obedience Jesus is calling us to in this passage?
Ephesians 2:8–10 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Bonus Question B — Going Deeper into Application:
Pastor Jere said: "His kingdom is not based on my feelings. It's not subjected to what feels right for me. His kingdom is based on him and what his preferences are." That's a challenging statement in a culture that often tells us to "follow our hearts." How do you navigate the tension between your feelings and God's word when they seem to point in different directions? What helps you trust God's word over your own instincts?
Bonus Question C — Going Deeper into Community:
The sermon opened with personal testimonies from people in the congregation who experienced real transformation — from homelessness, from agnosticism, from confusion and lostness — through encountering Jesus. What role did community play in their stories? What role has Christian community played in your own journey of building your life on Jesus? How can this group be part of that for each other going forward?
SUPPLEMENTAL SCRIPTURES
(For Personal Study or Group Reference)
| Passage | Theme |
|---|---|
| Matthew 5–7 | The full Sermon on the Mount |
| Isaiah 29:13 | Honoring God with lips while hearts are far |
| Ephesians 2:8–10 | Saved by grace, created for good works |
| Romans 8:38–39 | Nothing can separate us from God's love |
| John 1:1–14 | The Word became flesh |
| Psalm 18:2 | God as our rock and fortress |
| James 1:22–25 | Doers of the word, not hearers only |
| Luke 6:46–49 | Luke's version of the two builders |
QUICK REFERENCE FOR FACILITATORS
| Section | Time |
|---|---|
| Icebreaker | 5–10 min |
| Scripture Reading | 5 min |
| Discussion Questions (choose 5–7) | 30–45 min |
| Personal Application (choose 2–3) | 10–15 min |
| Prayer Focus | 5–10 min |
| Total | 55–85 min |
Final Encouragement for the Facilitator: You don't have to have all the answers. Your job isn't to be the expert — it's to create space for people to encounter Jesus together. Ask good questions, listen well, and trust that God is at work in your group. The same living Word that Jesus preached on that mountainside is alive and active in your room this week. Lead with love, and let him do the rest.
Discussion guide prepared for Life Point Church Small Groups. For questions about this guide or small group resources, contact your campus pastor or small groups team.