This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - Live” 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
"Who Do You Trust?" — Rooted in God Through Life's Heat and Drought
Based on Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green and is not anxious in the year of the drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." — Jeremiah 17:7-8
OVERVIEW
This week's sermon explored one of life's most important questions: Who do you trust? Drawing from Jeremiah 17:7-8, the message reminded us that everyone faces seasons of intense heat and spiritual drought — but those whose roots are planted deep in God and His Word will not wither, will not panic, and will continue to bear fruit even in the hardest times. The sermon challenged us to examine where we are truly placing our trust and to deepen our roots in the living water that only God provides.
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
A Note for Facilitators: You don't need to be a Bible expert to lead this discussion well. Your most important job is to create a safe, welcoming space where people feel free to share honestly. Read through this guide ahead of time, choose the questions that feel right for your group, and don't feel pressured to cover everything. A great conversation about two or three questions is better than rushing through all of them. Pray before your group meets and trust God to work through the discussion.
Estimated Total Time: 60–90 minutes Materials Needed: Bibles or printed scripture (provided below), pens for personal application section (optional)
SECTION 1 — ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Start here to warm up the group and ease into conversation. There's no wrong answer — the goal is simply to get people talking and laughing a little before diving deeper.
Question:
Think of a time when you had to decide whether to trust someone — maybe a mechanic, a doctor, a friend, or even a GPS giving you directions. What made you decide to trust them (or not)?
[Leader Tip]: Keep this light and fun. Let two or three people share briefly. This question opens the door naturally to the sermon's theme of trust without feeling heavy right away. If your group is quiet, share your own story first to model the kind of sharing you're inviting.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Have someone in the group read the passage aloud. You may want to have two different people read it — once from a traditional translation and once from a more modern one if available. Then take a moment of quiet reflection before moving into discussion.
Primary Passage — Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Supporting Passage — Proverbs 12:2-3 (ESV)
"A good man obtains favor from the Lord, but a man of evil devices he condemns. No one is established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will never be moved."
Supporting Passage — John 7:38 (ESV)
"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'"
A Little Context for the Passage: Jeremiah was a prophet who spoke God's words to the nation of Judah during one of the most turbulent periods in their history. The nation was drifting away from God, trusting in political alliances and their own strength instead of the Lord. God, through Jeremiah, used the image of a tree — deeply rooted versus shallow-rooted — to contrast the life of someone who trusts in God versus someone who trusts in human strength alone. The full contrast appears in verses 5-8, where verses 5-6 describe the person who trusts in people and their own efforts (like a shrub in the desert), while verses 7-8 describe the person who trusts in God (like a thriving tree by a stream).
SECTION 3 — DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many of these questions as time allows. They are organized to move from observation (what does this say?) to interpretation (what does it mean?) to application (what does it mean for me?). Feel free to skip questions that don't fit your group or spend more time on the ones that spark the best conversation.
THEME A: Understanding the Image — The Tree and Its Roots
(Observational & Interpretive — approximately 8–10 minutes)
1. What details stand out to you in Jeremiah's picture of the tree planted by the water? What do you think each part of the image represents?
(Think about: the roots, the stream, the heat, the drought, the green leaves, the fruit.)
[Leader Tip]: This is a good "entry-level" question that lets everyone engage, regardless of Bible knowledge. There are no wrong answers here — you're simply helping the group notice what the text is saying before asking what it means for their lives. If the group gets stuck, ask: "What's the difference between a tree with deep roots and one with shallow roots when a storm or drought hits?"
2. The sermon pointed out that God doesn't always "cool things off" or remove the heat from our lives — but He does promise that those who trust in Him won't wither. What's the difference between God removing a hard situation and God sustaining us through it? Why do you think that distinction matters?
THEME B: Seasons of Heat
(Personal & Interpretive — approximately 10–12 minutes)
3. The sermon described "seasons of heat" as those intense, difficult periods when life feels overwhelming — circumstances we can't escape or cool down. Without sharing more than you're comfortable with, what does a "season of heat" tend to look like in your own life? What are some common sources of that kind of pressure?
[Leader Tip]: This question invites personal sharing and may bring up genuinely painful experiences. Create space for honesty, but don't push anyone to share more than they want to. Affirm responses with simple phrases like "Thank you for sharing that" before moving on. Watch for anyone who seems to be in a current crisis — they may need pastoral follow-up after the group.
4. The sermon referenced John 7:38 — "Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." How does staying connected to God through His Word, prayer, and community act like a root system during those heated seasons? What does that connection actually look like in practical, day-to-day terms?
THEME C: Seasons of Drought
(Personal & Application — approximately 10–12 minutes)
5. Spiritual drought was described as those times when we feel distant from God — when prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, when faith feels dry, and when God seems far away. Have you ever experienced a season like that? What did it feel like, and what — if anything — helped you through it?
[Leader Tip]: Spiritual dryness is something almost every believer experiences at some point, but many people feel ashamed to admit it. Normalize this by acknowledging it's a common experience even among deeply faithful people. If helpful, you might mention that figures like David in the Psalms, Elijah, and even Mother Teresa wrote about seasons of spiritual darkness.
Optional follow-up if discussion stalls: "What's the difference between a spiritual drought that draws us closer to God eventually, and one that pulls us away from Him?"
6. The sermon mentioned that even in drought, a deeply rooted person "continues to produce fruit" and can be a blessing to others while suffering themselves. Can you think of someone in your life — or a biblical figure — who modeled that kind of fruitfulness in a hard season? What made their faith visible even in difficulty?
THEME D: The Question of Trust
(Core Application — approximately 10–12 minutes)
7. The central question of the sermon was: "Who do you trust?" When life gets hard — when the heat rises or the drought sets in — what are some of the things people (including ourselves) tend to reach for instead of God? Why do you think those alternatives feel appealing in the moment?
8. Jeremiah 17:7 says, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust IS the Lord." The sermon emphasized that this is not just about trusting God for specific things, but about God Himself being our trust — our foundation. What's the difference between trusting God to fix a problem and trusting God as the foundation of your life? How does that distinction change the way we handle hard seasons?
[Leader Tip]: This is one of the deeper theological questions in the guide. Don't feel like you need to resolve it fully — the goal is to get people thinking. A simple way to frame it: "It's the difference between trusting a friend to help you move a couch and trusting that friend with your whole life."
9. The sermon asked: "How deep are your spiritual roots?" What are the practices, habits, or relationships that you believe most help a person develop deep spiritual roots? Which of those feel strong in your own life right now, and which might need some attention?
SECTION 4 — PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are designed for more personal, reflective sharing. You might give people a minute to think quietly before opening it up, or invite people to share with just one other person before sharing with the whole group.
1. If you're honest with yourself, which season feels more familiar to you right now — a season of heat (intense pressure and difficulty) or a season of drought (spiritual dryness and distance from God)? What would it look like to trust God specifically in that season this week?
2. The sermon used the image of roots growing toward a water source. What is one concrete step you could take this week to send your roots deeper toward God — through Scripture, prayer, worship, community, or service?
3. The sermon mentioned the 9:38 Initiative — praying daily at 9:38 AM or PM based on Matthew 9:38, asking God to send laborers for His harvest. It also mentioned the Bless App as a way to pray for neighbors by name. How might intentional, consistent prayer like this actually help deepen your own roots, not just impact others?
4. Is there someone in your life who is currently going through a season of heat or drought — someone who might need the support of a friend or a community? What is one way you could reach out to them this week?
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) of the following to put into practice before your group meets again:
- Root Builder: Commit to reading Jeremiah 17:5-10 each morning this week, and spend five minutes asking God: "Where am I placing my trust today?"
- Prayer Rhythm: Set an alarm on your phone for 9:38 AM or PM (or both) and pray for God to send laborers — pastors, workers, and servants — to churches in need. Add a prayer for someone in your own life who is in a hard season.
- Neighbor Prayer: Download the Bless App (nafwb.org/bless) and pray for the five neighbors it gives you each day this week.
- Reach Out: Contact one person you know who is in a season of heat or drought — a text, a call, a card — just to let them know they are not forgotten.
- Go Deeper: Read all of Jeremiah 17:5-10 to see the full contrast between the person who trusts in human strength and the person who trusts in God.
SECTION 5 — PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, invite individuals to pray out loud, or have the facilitator close in prayer while others agree silently. Here are some suggested prayer topics drawn directly from the message:
Suggested Prayer Topics:
🌿 For Deep Roots — Ask God to help each person in your group develop deeper spiritual roots through His Word, prayer, and community, so that when heat and drought come, they are prepared and sustained.
🔥 For Those in Seasons of Heat — Pray for anyone in the group (or in your church family) who is facing an overwhelming season right now — that they would feel God's presence, find His strength, and not wither.
💧 For Those in Spiritual Drought — Pray for those who feel spiritually dry or distant from God — that He would refresh them, draw near to them, and remind them that He has not moved.
🌾 For Laborers — Pray the 9:38 prayer together: ask God to raise up pastors, church leaders, and workers for His harvest, both in your own church and in churches across the country that are without pastoral leadership.
🏘️ For Neighbors — Pray briefly for your neighborhoods and the people on your streets who don't yet know Jesus — that God would open doors and soften hearts.
🙏 For Trust — Ask God to reveal any areas where your group members are trusting in themselves, others, or circumstances instead of Him — and invite His help to reorient that trust.
Closing Prayer Prompt (for the facilitator to use or adapt):
"Lord, thank You that You are trustworthy — that You don't change with the seasons, that You are with us in the heat and in the drought. Help us to send our roots deeper into You this week. Where we are struggling, sustain us. Where we are dry, refresh us. Where we are bearing fruit, keep us humble and dependent on You. We trust You — not because life is easy, but because You are good. Amen."
SECTION 6 — OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
(For groups wanting to go further — 15–20 additional minutes)
These questions are for groups with more time, more biblical background, or a desire to explore the theme at a deeper level. They work well as a follow-up for the following week or for groups that finish early.
Deep Dive Question 1:
Read the full passage in context — Jeremiah 17:5-10. Verses 5-6 describe the person who trusts in human strength as "a shrub in the desert." Compare that image to the tree in verses 7-8. What are the specific contrasts Jeremiah draws? What does this suggest about the long-term consequences of misplaced trust — not just spiritually, but practically in how we live?
Deep Dive Question 2:
The sermon referenced Israel's history of drought under King Ahab's reign — a period when the prophet Elijah was also present. Read 1 Kings 18:41-46, where Elijah prays for rain to return after years of drought. What does Elijah's posture in prayer — persistent, expectant, humble — teach us about how to pray and trust God during our own seasons of spiritual drought?
Deep Dive Question 3:
Jesus described Himself as "living water" in John 4:10-14 and 7:37-38. How does understanding Jesus as the source of living water change the way you read Jeremiah 17:7-8? In what ways is trusting in Jesus not just a spiritual metaphor but a daily, practical reality for how you face difficult seasons?
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE FOR FURTHER STUDY
These passages connect to the themes of the sermon and can be used for personal devotion or future group discussion:
| Passage | Theme |
|---|---|
| Jeremiah 17:5-10 | Full context of the tree/shrub contrast |
| Psalm 1:1-3 | Another tree-by-water image; the blessed person |
| Psalm 46:1-3 | God as refuge in times of trouble |
| Isaiah 40:28-31 | Renewed strength for those who wait on the Lord |
| John 4:10-14 | Jesus as living water |
| Matthew 9:36-38 | The 9:38 prayer for laborers |
| Romans 5:3-5 | Suffering producing perseverance and hope |
| Philippians 4:6-7 | Peace that guards against anxiety |
FACILITATOR'S QUICK REFERENCE
Tear out or screenshot this section for easy reference during your group.
| 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 |
Key Sermon Points to Keep in Mind:
- Those who trust in God are blessed in seasons of heat — they don't wither.
- Those who trust in God are blessed in seasons of drought — they don't panic or become anxious.
- The key is the depth of our spiritual roots — planted in God's Word and in Christ, the Living Water.
- The central question: Who do you trust?
If Your Discussion Stalls:
- Return to the text: "What does this verse actually say?"
- Make it personal: "Has anyone experienced something like this?"
- Invite quieter voices: "[Name], I'd love to hear your perspective on this."
- Simplify: "In one sentence, what do you think God is saying to us through this passage?"
If Someone Shares Something Heavy: Acknowledge it warmly, thank them for their honesty, and don't rush past it. After the group, check in with that person privately. Some situations may need pastoral follow-up — don't hesitate to connect them with church leadership.
This guide was prepared for small group use following the Sunday morning sermon. Permission granted for local church use and reproduction.