SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE

"Leaving a Lasting Legacy" - Week 4 of God's Blueprint for a Thriving Family

OPENING PRAYER

Leader: Begin your group with this prayer or use your own words:

Lord, thank You for bringing us together as a family of believers. As we discuss how to leave a lasting legacy of faith, open our hearts to Your Word. Help us see how we can weave our faith into every part of our lives—not just on Sundays, but every day. Show us how to create spiritual rhythms in our homes that point to You. In Jesus' name, amen.

ICEBREAKER

Memory Lane: Share something small but meaningful that you remember vividly from your childhood home or from someone who influenced your faith. It might be a smell, a phrase, a tradition, or a habit you saw modeled consistently. Why do you think that particular memory has stuck with you?

SCRIPTURE FOCUS

Have different members read these passages aloud:

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 (NLT) "And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) "Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it."

MAIN DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Faith Starts in the Family

• In the sermon, we heard that "the first church God ever built wasn't a building... it was a family." How does this perspective change how you view your role in your immediate, church, or chosen family?

• The pastor said, "Faith is supposed to echo through your living room before it's broadcast through the speakers in an auditorium." What are some practical ways you've seen faith "echo" in everyday family moments?

• We heard that "kids don't remember sermons... they remember car rides... kitchen conversations... and bedtime prayers." Share a time when an everyday conversation became a significant spiritual moment for you or someone in your family.

2. Don't Just Wear Your Faith — Weave It

• The sermon distinguished between "displaying" faith and "demonstrating" faith. What's the difference, and why does it matter?

• We often compartmentalize our lives into different "modes" (work mode, family mode, church mode). What would it look like for you to live in "Kingdom mode" all the time? What's one area where you need to better integrate your faith?

• The pastor challenged us to "dig your spiritual well deep, so you are life-giving to everyone in your family." What spiritual practices help you dig that deep well?

• How might the statement "Faith isn't powerful because it's displayed... it's powerful when it's demonstrated" change how you approach your faith this week?

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Take 2-3 minutes of quiet time for everyone to reflect on these questions individually:

1. What spiritual legacy am I currently building through my daily habits and conversations?

2. If my faith were only caught (not taught) by those around me, what would they be learning?

3. What's one spiritual rhythm I could establish or strengthen this week that would help weave my faith into everyday life?

GROUP ACTIVITY: Legacy Letters

Materials needed: Paper and pens for each person

Instructions:

1. Take a few minutes to write a short "legacy letter" to someone in your life (child, friend, family member, etc.). This isn't a letter they'll necessarily receive right now—it's a chance to express what spiritual truths you hope they'll remember from your life.

2. In your letter, include:

   • One spiritual truth that has shaped your life
   • One way you've seen God work in your story
   • One hope you have for their spiritual journey

3. After everyone has written their letter, invite those who feel comfortable to share a portion of what they wrote.

4. Discuss: How did writing this letter help you clarify the spiritual legacy you want to leave? What steps can you take to make sure these important truths are "woven" into your regular interactions with this person?

TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE

Choose ONE of these practical ways to weave faith into your everyday life this week:

For Parents:

• Create a new faith rhythm with your children this week (car ride prayers, dinner table Bible verse, bedtime blessing, etc.)
• Make a visual reminder of God's Word to place somewhere prominent in your home
• Have an intentional spiritual conversation with each child at least once this week

For Everyone:

• Choose one of the Ten Commandments to focus on this week. Find ways to talk about it naturally in your conversations with others
• Text an encouraging Scripture to three different people this week with a personal note
• Identify one area where your faith feels "compartmentalized" and take a specific step to integrate it more fully

Group Accountability: Next week, we'll start by sharing how our take-home challenge went and what we learned.

CLOSING PRAYER

Leader: Close with this prayer or invite a group member to pray:

Father, thank You for the blueprint You've given us for thriving families. Help us not just to display our faith but to demonstrate it in every aspect of our lives. Give us creativity and intentionality as we weave Your truth into our everyday conversations and actions. May our legacy be one of authentic faith that inspires generations to come. In Jesus' name, amen.

Leader Note: Consider creating a group text or chat where members can share throughout the week how they're implementing their take-home challenge. Encourage photos of new visual reminders or brief stories of spiritual conversations to keep the momentum going between meetings.