WALKING WITH GOD: A LIFE THAT PREACHES

Small Group Discussion Guide

OVERVIEW

This sermon explores the life of Enoch, who "walked with God" and whose faithful life preached a powerful message across generations. Through examining Enoch's example, we learn that our daily walk with God—our choices, words, and actions—preaches a sermon to those around us and potentially impacts generations to come.

ICEBREAKER (5-10 minutes)

Influential Walks: Think about someone whose "walk with God" has influenced your faith journey. What about their life "preached" to you, and how did it impact your own spiritual journey?

SCRIPTURE READING (5 minutes)

Genesis 5:21-24 "When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him."

Hebrews 11:5-6 "By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (30-45 minutes)

THE WALK OF FAITH

1. The sermon mentioned that the imagery of walking by faith appears over 300 times in Scripture. What does the metaphor of "walking with God" suggest about the nature of our relationship with Him? (5 min)

2. Read Micah 6:8 and Genesis 17:1. According to these verses and the sermon, what characterizes a walk that pleases God? (5 min)

   [Leader Tip: Highlight how Micah 6:8 emphasizes humility, justice, and kindness, while Genesis 17:1 focuses on living consciously before God's presence with blamelessness (integrity)]

3. Pastor Roger mentioned that Enoch's walk with God intensified after he became a father. How have life's responsibilities or challenges either deepened or challenged your walk with God? (7 min)

WORDS THAT MATTER

4. According to Jude 14-16, Enoch prophesied about judgment coming on ungodly deeds and harsh words. Why do you think our words are so important to God? (5 min)

5. The sermon emphasized that "God cares about what we do and God cares about what we say." Read Matthew 12:36. How does knowing we'll give account for every careless word change how we might approach our speech? (5 min)

   [Leader Tip: This might be uncomfortable for some. Emphasize God's grace while also acknowledging His call to holiness in our speech. Remind the group this isn't about perfection but direction.]

6. Pastor Roger identified "grumbling" as a "gateway sin" that can lead to further rebellion. What's the difference between honest lament before God and the kind of grumbling the Bible warns against? (7 min)

MULTI-GENERATIONAL IMPACT

7. Enoch never met his great-grandson Noah, yet his faithful walk influenced generations. How might our walk with God today impact people we may never meet? (5 min)

8. Proverbs 9:10-11 suggests that the fear of the Lord multiplies our days and impact. What does it look like to live with a healthy "fear of the Lord" in our everyday lives? (6 min)

   [Leader Tip: Help distinguish between unhealthy fear (terror) and healthy fear (reverent awe) of God. This concept is often misunderstood.]

PERSONAL APPLICATION (10-15 minutes)

1. What "sermon" is your life currently preaching to those around you? Is there alignment between your walk and your talk?

2. The sermon identified "malcontent" as someone who resents their God-assigned portion in life. Is there an area where you're struggling to accept God's pace or path for your life?

3. Pastor Roger said, "Walking with God accepts God's pace and God's path." Which of these is more challenging for you right now—accepting God's pace or God's path?

4. What is one specific step you can take this week to deepen your walk with God?

   [Leader Tip: Give people a moment of silence to reflect before sharing. Consider having them write down their response first.]

PRAYER FOCUS (5-10 minutes)

• Pray for alignment between our words and our walk
• Ask God to reveal areas where we might be grumbling instead of trusting
• Pray for patience to accept God's pace and path in our lives
• Thank God for faithful examples who have walked before us
• Pray that our lives would preach a sermon of faithfulness to future generations

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE (for groups with extra time)

1. Jude 14-16 describes how Enoch stood against the ungodly culture of his day. How do we balance standing against cultural sin while still engaging our culture with love and grace?

2. The sermon noted that Enoch and Adam were likely contemporaries. How might hearing firsthand accounts of walking with God in the Garden have shaped Enoch's perspective? How do the testimonies of others shape our faith?

3. Hebrews 11:6 says that God "rewards those who seek him." What does it mean to truly seek God, and what might those rewards look like in our lives?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one of these practical applications to focus on this week:

1. Word Watch: Pay attention to your speech this week. Each evening, reflect on whether your words aligned with your faith. Note patterns of grumbling or negativity.

2. Walking Partner: Commit to "walking with God" for 15 minutes each day—literally taking a walk while praying and listening to Him.

3. Generational Impact: Identify someone younger in faith whom you can intentionally influence. Take a step to invest in them this week.

"May those who come behind us find us faithful." – Pastor Roger

Scripture References for Further Study:

• Galatians 5:16 (walking by the Spirit)
• Colossians 2:6 (continuing as we began)
• 2 Corinthians 5:7 (walking by faith, not sight)
• Ephesians 4:1 (walking worthy of our calling)
• 2 Peter 3:9 (God's patience and desire for repentance)