SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

Sermon: The Woman God Uses Scriptures: Proverbs 31:25 | 1 Samuel 1 | Esther 4:14–16 | Luke 8:1–3 Time Needed: 60–90 minutes

OPENING PRAYER (2–3 minutes)

Leader, open with this prayer or pray in your own words:

Father, thank You for the women You have placed in our lives and in Your Word who show us what it looks like to follow You with strength, prayer, courage, and faithfulness. As we open our hearts to Your truth tonight, speak to each of us — wherever we are in our journey. Show us what You see when You look at us, and help us leave here changed. In Jesus' name, amen.

ICEBREAKER QUESTION (5–10 minutes)

Invite everyone to share briefly — keep it light and fun!

Think of a woman who shaped who you are today — a mother, grandmother, aunt, teacher, or mentor. What is one word you would use to describe her, and why?

Leader note: This question warms the room and connects naturally to the sermon's theme. Don't rush it — let people enjoy this moment together.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS (5–10 minutes)

Primary Passage: Proverbs 31:25 and Esther 4:14–16

Invite two volunteers to read these passages aloud.

Proverbs 31:25 — "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future."

Esther 4:14–16 — "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

Observation Questions:

1. What word or phrase from either of these passages stands out most to you, and why?
2. What do you notice about the posture of the woman described in Proverbs 31 — what does she seem to believe about God or the future?
3. What strikes you about Esther's response to Mordecai — what does she do before she acts?

MAIN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (30–40 minutes)

Sermon Understanding

1. The sermon walked through five types of women God uses: women of strength, prayer, courage, testimony, and faithful service. Which of these five resonated most with you, and what was it about that particular woman's story that connected?

2. The pastor pointed out that the Samaritan woman's past was not a disqualifier — it was actually part of what made her testimony powerful. How does that challenge the way we typically think about who God can or cannot use?

Personal Application

3. Proverbs 31:25 says the woman of strength "laughs without fear of the future." That's not described as the absence of hard circumstances — it's described as a posture of trust. Where in your own life is it hardest to laugh without fear right now, and what would it take to get there?

4. Hannah prayed honest, desperate, pour-it-all-out prayers — even when she was misunderstood. When is the last time you prayed that kind of prayer? What tends to hold you back from that kind of raw honesty with God?

5. Esther gathered her community to fast and pray before she walked through the hard door. Think about a courageous step you're facing or avoiding right now. Who is walking with you? Who is praying alongside you?

Spiritual Growth

6. Luke 8:1–3 names women who followed and served Jesus faithfully — and then says "and many others." Many others whose names we don't know. How do you feel about the kind of faithfulness that doesn't come with recognition? What does that kind of service require of us spiritually?

7. The sermon asked: "What door is God asking you to walk through that scares you?" Sit with that question for a moment. What do you sense God might be saying to you — not just about women in Scripture, but about your own life for such a time as this?

PERSONAL REFLECTION (5–10 minutes)

Invite the group to pause for 2–3 minutes of quiet, individual reflection. Let them know these questions are just for them — no pressure to share.

Reflection Questions:

1. Of the five women in this sermon — the woman of strength, prayer, courage, testimony, and faithful service — which one are you most like right now? Which one do you most want to grow toward?
2. Is there a part of your story — something you've been hiding or feeling ashamed of — that God might want to use as a testimony for someone else?
3. What is one specific thing God is asking you to do in response to this message, and what has been keeping you from doing it?

After 2–3 minutes, gently invite anyone who wants to share something from their reflection. Never require it.

GROUP ACTIVITY (10–15 minutes)

Activity Title: "She Is Clothed With…"

Materials needed: Index cards or small slips of paper, pens

Instructions:

1. Give each person one index card and a pen.
2. Ask everyone to write one woman's name at the top of their card — someone in their life (past or present) who has reflected one of the five qualities from the sermon: strength, prayer, courage, testimony, or faithful service.
3. Below the name, ask them to write one sentence describing what that woman's example has meant to them.
4. Next, ask them to write one sentence about themselves — completing this phrase: "With God's help, I want to be a person who…"
5. Invite anyone who is willing to share the name they wrote and the quality they associated with that person. (The personal sentence is optional to share.)

Purpose: This activity honors the real women in our lives while also inviting each person to own their own calling. It connects the sermon's biblical examples to lived experience and moves from observation to personal commitment.

CLOSING PRAYER (3–5 minutes)

Consider closing in one of these ways:

Option A — Conversational Prayer: Invite anyone who wants to pray aloud to offer a short sentence prayer, thanking God for a specific woman in their life or asking God for one of the qualities from the sermon.

Option B — Leader-Led Prayer: Close with this prayer:

Lord, thank You for the women in Your Word who showed us what it looks like to trust You — Hannah who poured out her soul, Esther who walked through the terrifying door, the Samaritan woman who ran to tell her story, and the faithful women in Luke 8 who followed quietly and gave what they had. Thank You for the women in our own lives who have done the same. Now, Lord, shape each of us — men and women alike — into people who are clothed with strength, rooted in prayer, willing to be courageous, unashamed of our testimony, and faithful in service. We trust You with the future. In Jesus' name, amen.

TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE

This Week: Honor Someone and Take One Step

The sermon ended with a simple, direct call: "Go home today and tell somebody. Tell the woman in your life what she means."

This week, your challenge has two parts:

Part One — Honor Someone: Identify one woman in your life who has reflected strength, prayer, courage, a powerful testimony, or faithful service. Reach out to her this week — a phone call, a handwritten note, a text, or a face-to-face conversation — and tell her specifically what her example has meant to you. Be specific. Don't just say "you've been an inspiration." Tell her why.

Part Two — Take One Step: Go back to the question the sermon asked: "What door is God asking you to walk through that scares you?" Identify one concrete step you can take this week toward that door — a conversation you've been avoiding, a commitment you've been putting off, a prayer you've been afraid to pray. Tell someone in this group what that step is so they can pray with you and ask you about it next time.

Why this matters: Esther didn't act alone, and neither should we. Courage grows in community. Bring your update back to the group next week — what did you say, what step did you take, and what happened?

This guide was designed for volunteer small group leaders. You don't need to ask every question — follow the Spirit and the conversation. Your job is to create space for honest discussion, not to cover every point. Trust the process, and trust your group.