Small Group Discussion Guide

Protecting Our Kids in a Digital World: Walking Through Fire Together

Based on Brian Montgomery's testimony and message

A Note to Facilitators Before You Begin

This discussion guide covers deeply sensitive content, including the loss of a child to suicide following sextortion. Please read through the entire guide before your group meets so you can prepare emotionally and spiritually. Some members of your group may carry personal trauma related to suicide, sexual exploitation, or the loss of a child. Create a safe, grace-filled environment from the very beginning. You do not need to be an expert in digital safety or grief to lead this discussion well — your role is simply to create space for honest conversation and point people toward Christ and one another.

Crisis Resources to Have Available:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (24/7)
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Cybertipline: 1-800-843-5678 or CyberTipline.org
• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center: IC3.gov

If anyone in your group appears to be in distress during or after your meeting, please connect them with your pastor or a trained counselor before they leave.

OVERVIEW

Brian Montgomery shared the heartbreaking story of losing his sixteen-year-old son Walker to suicide following a sextortion attack through Instagram — a crime that unfolded in a single night. Through his grief, Brian has become a voice for digital safety awareness, legislative reform, and the hope of the gospel, calling parents, grandparents, and communities to wake up to the very real dangers their children face online. Anchored in 1 Peter 1:6–7, this message challenges us to let our trials purify our faith while taking courageous, practical action to protect the next generation.

ICEBREAKER (5–10 minutes)

Choose one of the following based on your group's comfort level:

Option A (lighter, good for groups just getting started)

"Think about a time when you learned that something you thought was safe actually carried a hidden danger — maybe a food, a road, a neighborhood, or even a relationship. What did that moment of discovery feel like, and how did it change your behavior?"

Option B (slightly deeper, good for groups with some trust built)

"Brian described the world his family lived in — eating supper together, watching Andy Griffith, hunting on weekends — and said it still wasn't enough protection from what happened. What's one thing you do as a family or individual to try to create safety and connection, and why does it matter to you?"

[Leader Tip]: Keep this opening light and conversational. You're warming up the room, not diving into the deep end yet. Affirm whatever people share. If the group is quiet, share your own answer first to model vulnerability.

SCRIPTURE READING (5 minutes)

Primary Passage — Read aloud together or ask a volunteer to read:

1 Peter 1:6–7 (ESV)

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

Secondary Passage — Read aloud or silently:

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (ESV)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Brief Context for Facilitators: The first letter of Peter was written to Christians living under real suffering and persecution. Peter doesn't pretend the trials aren't hard — he acknowledges grief directly. But he frames suffering as something God uses purposefully, the way a metalworker uses fire to purify gold. The 2 Corinthians passage, referenced in the opening prayer of the service, adds another dimension: our comfort in suffering equips us to comfort others. Both passages together describe exactly what Brian Montgomery is living out.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (30–45 minutes)

Work through as many questions as time allows. You don't need to cover every question — choose the ones that feel most relevant to your group. Questions are arranged from observational to personal to applicational.

THEME 1: Understanding the Danger (~10 minutes)

1. What was the most surprising or eye-opening thing you heard in Brian's message — either about sextortion specifically or about the broader dangers children face online?

[Leader Tip]: This is a safe, observational entry point. Let people share freely. You may get a wide range of responses — some people will be shocked by the speed of what happened to Walker, others by the legislative realities, others by the algorithm discussion. All responses are valid starting points for deeper conversation.

2. Brian compared handing a child a smartphone without guidance to dropping a toddler in a four-lane highway — the child doesn't understand the danger. How does that comparison land with you? Where do you think we've underestimated the risks?

Follow-up if discussion slows: "Brian said he didn't appreciate the dangers. What would it have taken for him — or for any of us — to take this more seriously before a crisis?"

3. Brian explained how social media algorithms work — learning what you slow down for, feeding you more of it, and making you visible to people with similar interests, including predators. Before hearing this, how much did you understand about how these platforms actually function?

[Leader Tip]: Some group members may feel defensive here, especially those with teenagers who are active on social media. Resist the urge to create a "good parent vs. bad parent" dynamic. Emphasize that Brian himself didn't know — and he was a very present, engaged father. The point isn't guilt; it's awareness.

THEME 2: Honest Conversations About Human Vulnerability (~10 minutes)

4. Brian made a bold statement when he said that what Walker did in a moment of weakness — something sinful that was then weaponized against him — is something every person in the room has done in some form. We've all had moments we'd be ashamed of if they were on video. How did that statement hit you, and why do you think Brian chose to say it that way?

Follow-up if discussion slows: "What does it do to our ability to protect our kids when we're unwilling to be honest about our own vulnerabilities?"

[Leader Tip]: This is one of the most important questions in the guide. Brian's point was not to excuse Walker's behavior but to dismantle the "that would never happen to my kid" mentality and to create empathy. Encourage honesty without forcing confession. If the group gets quiet, that silence may itself be meaningful — acknowledge it gently.

5. Brian talked about two specific "blind spots" — men being wired toward visual/sexual attraction and women being wired toward emotional connection and attention — and said that both are God-given but both can be exploited. How does naming these blind spots help us have better conversations with the young people in our lives?

Follow-up if discussion slows: "Why do you think it's so hard for families and churches to talk openly about these things? What gets in the way?"

THEME 3: Faith in the Furnace (~10 minutes)

6. Brian returned several times to the idea that God is sovereign — that nothing happens outside of His awareness or permission — even while acknowledging that what happened to Walker "doesn't make sense." How do you hold those two things together: God's sovereignty and the reality of devastating, senseless loss?

[Leader Tip]: This is a theologically rich and emotionally tender question. There are no easy answers here, and that's okay. Don't rush to resolve the tension. Let people sit with the mystery. If someone expresses doubt or anger at God, receive it with grace — that's an honest and biblical response to suffering (see Psalms of lament). The goal isn't to defend God but to explore what trusting Him looks like in the dark.

7. Read 1 Peter 1:6–7 again. Peter says our faith — when tested — becomes "more precious than gold." Brian said he would not be standing before an audience sharing the gospel without the loss of Walker. What does that tell us about how God works through the worst moments of our lives? Have you seen this kind of "gold refined by fire" in your own story or in someone else's?

8. The closing pastor mentioned that we have a "compassionate high priest who came to us" — Jesus, who was "in every way tempted just as we are, yet without sin." How does knowing that Jesus entered fully into human suffering and temptation change the way you think about bringing your pain, your failures, or your fears to Him?

[Leader Tip]: This question can open meaningful conversation for people who feel that God is distant from their suffering or that their sin disqualifies them from His comfort. Hebrews 4:15–16 is a beautiful companion passage if you want to read it aloud here.

THEME 4: Taking Action Together (~10 minutes)

9. Brian outlined three areas of response: government regulation, private-sector tools (like content filters), and community awareness. Which of these three areas do you feel most equipped to engage with right now, and which feels most out of reach? What would it take to move toward the one that feels out of reach?

10. Brian described "Walker's Promise" — a commitment to keep phones out of bedrooms and bathrooms, and no electronics overnight — as the one practical change he believes could have saved Walker's life. What would it look like for your family, or for our group as a community, to make and keep a commitment like that together?

Follow-up if discussion slows: "What makes commitments like this hard to keep, and how can we help each other follow through?"

PERSONAL APPLICATION (10–15 minutes)

Invite group members to reflect quietly for a moment before sharing. These questions are more personal — remind the group that no one is required to share anything they're not comfortable with.

1. Where do you sense the most urgency after hearing Brian's message — in your own home, with a specific child or grandchild, in your own digital habits, or somewhere else? What's one honest step you could take this week in that area?

2. Brian said that awareness is "really the only real defense we have right now." Think of one person in your life — a neighbor, a coworker, a fellow parent, a family member — who needs to hear what you heard this week. How might you share it with them?

3. 2 Corinthians 1:3–4 says God comforts us so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we've received. Brian is living that passage. What comfort have you received — from God, from others, through your own hard seasons — that you might be uniquely positioned to offer someone else?

4. Is there a conversation you've been avoiding — with your child, your spouse, your parent, or a friend — about digital safety, sexual vulnerability, or mental health? What would it look like to have that conversation this week, even imperfectly?

[Leader Tip]: Some people in your group may feel convicted and overwhelmed at the same time. Affirm that imperfect action is still action. Encourage them to pick one small, concrete step rather than trying to overhaul everything at once.

✅ THIS WEEK CHALLENGE (Choose One or More)

Invite each person to choose at least one of the following before your group meets again:

• The Conversation: Have one honest, age-appropriate conversation with a child, grandchild, or young person in your life about online safety and the dangers of sextortion.
• The Commitment: Implement "Walker's Promise" in your home — no phones in bedrooms or bathrooms overnight. Start tonight.
• The Tool: Research and set up one content filtering or monitoring tool (such as Bark, Covenant Eyes, or your phone's built-in screen time features) on a device in your home.
• The Advocate: Contact your local or federal representative about the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) or similar legislation. Brian's website and Walker's Mission social media pages have resources to help.
• The Share: Share Brian's story or Walker's Mission with at least one other parent or grandparent this week.
• The Prayer: Commit to praying daily this week for families affected by sextortion and online exploitation, for legislators and advocates working on these issues, and for wisdom in your own home.

PRAYER FOCUS (5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You may pray as a group, invite specific people to pray, or use the prompts below as a guide. Consider breaking into smaller groups of 2–3 for more intimate prayer if your group is comfortable with that.

Suggested Prayer Topics:

• Gratitude: Thank God for Brian's courage in sharing Walker's story, and for the ways God brings beauty and purpose from devastating loss.

• Protection: Pray specifically for the children and teenagers in your group members' lives — by name, if the group is willing. Ask for God's protection over them digitally, emotionally, and spiritually.

• Wisdom: Ask for wisdom for parents, grandparents, and caregivers as they navigate conversations about digital safety, sexuality, and mental health with the young people in their care.

• Healing: Pray for anyone in the room carrying grief, trauma, or shame related to the topics discussed tonight — whether their own experiences or those of someone they love.

• Courage: Ask God for the courage to have hard conversations, make hard changes, and engage in advocacy even when it's uncomfortable.

• Legislation and Leadership: Pray for legislators, advocates, and tech whistleblowers working to protect children online. Pray for wisdom in the halls of government.

• Hope: Close by anchoring the group in the hope of the gospel — that Jesus has entered our suffering, that He is making all things new, and that nothing — not even the most devastating loss — is outside His redemptive reach.

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE (For Groups Wanting to Go Further)

Use these questions if your group has extra time or wants to explore the biblical and theological themes more deeply.

Deep Dive 1: The Theology of Suffering

Read Romans 8:28 alongside 1 Peter 1:6–7:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Brian was careful to say he doesn't fully understand how God uses hard things, but he knows that He does. Romans 8:28 is one of the most quoted — and most misunderstood — verses in the Bible. What does it mean that "all things work together for good"? Does it mean everything that happens is good? Does it mean God causes evil in order to bring good? How do you reconcile this promise with the reality of Walker's death? What does "good" mean in this context, and for whom?

Deep Dive 2: Accountability and Community

Read Galatians 6:1–2:

"Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." — Galatians 6:1–2 (ESV)

Brian said he believes that if Walker had known his dad would understand — that there was a way out — things might have been different. This passage describes a community where people can be "caught in transgression" and restored rather than destroyed. What would it take for our group, our families, and our church to be that kind of community? What gets in the way of us being a place where people — including our teenagers — feel safe enough to say "I made a mistake and I need help"?

Deep Dive 3: Righteous Anger and Advocacy

Read Proverbs 31:8–9:

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the poor and needy." — Proverbs 31:8–9 (ESV)

Brian has channeled his grief into advocacy — legislation, awareness campaigns, congressional testimony. He believes Christians have a responsibility to engage the political process to protect vulnerable children. Do you agree? Where does the Bible call us to engage systems and structures, not just individuals? What does faithful advocacy look like for ordinary people who aren't lobbyists or lawmakers? What's one systemic issue affecting children in your community where your voice could make a difference?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For Families:

• Walker's Mission — Follow on Facebook and Instagram for ongoing awareness and resources
• Bark (bark.us) — Content monitoring for families
• Covenant Eyes (covenanteyes.com) — Accountability and filtering software
• Common Sense Media (commonsensemedia.org) — Age-based reviews and digital literacy resources

For Reporting:

• NCMEC CyberTipline: CyberTipline.org or 1-800-843-5678
• FBI IC3: IC3.gov
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

For Further Study:

• The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
• Raising Humans in a Digital World by Diana Graber
• Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis (classic exploration of how temptation works)

Scripture for Continued Reflection:

• Psalm 34:18 — "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
• Hebrews 4:15–16 — Our compassionate high priest
• James 1:2–4 — Trials producing steadfastness
• Isaiah 61:1–3 — Beauty from ashes

This guide was prepared for small group use. Please feel free to reproduce it for your group members. For questions about this guide or Walker's Mission, speak with your group leader or church staff.

"In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith — more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire — may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." — 1 Peter 1:6–7