This small group discussion guide draws directly from Josh Howerton's sermon “Showcase - How to Trust God When Everything Goes Wrong | Pastor Jonathan Pokluda | Full Worship Experience” 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
"When You Can't Control the Storm"
Based on Acts 27 | Sermon by Jonathan Pokluda
A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed for a 60–90 minute meeting. You know your group best — feel free to skip questions, linger where conversation is rich, or swap in the Optional Deep Dive questions if your group is ready to go further. Every question is designed to be open-ended, so there are no wrong answers. Your job isn't to have all the answers — it's to create space for honest conversation. You've got this.
OVERVIEW
In Acts 27, the Apostle Paul finds himself on a storm-tossed ship as a prisoner, surrounded by frightened sailors and soldiers who have given up all hope of survival. Pastor Jonathan Pokluda used this dramatic chapter to remind us that storms in life are not the exception — they're the norm. Through Paul's example, we discover three anchoring truths: stay calm by remembering who controls the outcome, recognize that the storm is where your faith is actually seen, and do your part while trusting God for the rest.
BEFORE YOUR GROUP MEETS
For the Facilitator — A Quick Prep Checklist:
- Read Acts 27 in full (it's a long chapter — even a quick skim will help you feel confident)
- Identify which questions feel most relevant to where your group is right now
- Print or share this guide digitally ahead of time if possible
- Pray for your group members by name before they arrive
- Have a Bible or Bible app available for the Scripture Reading section
SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Start here to warm up the room and help people transition from the busyness of their week into the conversation. This question is intentionally light — don't rush it, but don't let it run past 10 minutes.
Opening Question:
Think about a time when you were completely out of control — maybe a scary flight, a road trip gone wrong, a medical situation, or even just a chaotic season of life. What was it like to feel that loss of control, and what did you do with it?
[Leader Tip]: Pastor Pokluda opened with a funny, relatable story about his fear of flying. If your group needs a little more warmup, you could briefly retell that story before asking this question — it almost always gets people laughing and opens the door to more honest sharing. The goal is simply to surface the feeling of being out of control before you dive into the Scripture.
SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING
(5 minutes)
Before diving into discussion, ground the group in the text. You can read this aloud yourself, ask a volunteer to read it, or divide it into sections for multiple readers. Don't feel pressure to explain everything — the questions will guide the conversation.
Context to Share Before Reading:
The Apostle Paul is a prisoner being transported by ship to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. He's already been through multiple hearings and has appealed to the highest court in the land. He knows God has called him to Rome — he just didn't expect to get there in chains. On board are 276 people: sailors, soldiers, a Roman centurion named Julius, and Paul's companions Luke and Aristarchus. They're sailing in late October — well past the safe sailing season.
Acts 27:9–11, 20–26, 33–36 (NIV)
"Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, 'Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.' But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship."
"When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved."
"After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: 'Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, "Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you." So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.'"
"Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. 'For the last fourteen days,' he said, 'you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food — you haven't eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.' After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves."
Additional Key Passages Referenced in the Sermon:
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." — Romans 8:28 (NIV)
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." — Genesis 50:20 (NIV)
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." — 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
These questions move from observation to interpretation to personal application. You don't need to get through all of them — choose 5–7 that feel most relevant to your group. Questions marked with ★ are the highest priority if you need to narrow it down.
THEME A: NAMING THE STORM
Getting honest about where we actually are
Question 1 (Observational — start here)
Before the sermon even got to the Scripture, Pastor Pokluda listed a whole range of storms people might be facing right now — a struggling marriage, a child making destructive choices, job loss, health challenges, loneliness, and more. Which of those resonated with you, or what would you add to that list?
[Leader Tip]: This question invites people to name their reality without having to go deep immediately. Some people will share openly; others will stay general. Both are okay. You might model vulnerability by briefly naming something you're navigating yourself. Avoid pressing anyone who seems hesitant — trust builds over time.
★ Question 2 (Personal — goes a little deeper)
Pastor Pokluda said, "You're either in a storm, coming out of one, or headed toward one." Without going into more detail than you're comfortable sharing — which of those three categories describes where you are right now?
THEME B: STAYING CALM WHEN YOU'RE NOT IN CONTROL
Point 1 from the sermon
★ Question 3 (Interpretive + Personal)
Paul was a prisoner on that ship — he had no official authority, no rank, and no power to change the situation. And yet he was the calmest person on board. What do you think gave him that calm? And where does that kind of calm come from in your own life when things feel out of control?
[Leader Tip]: The sermon's key phrase here is "Confidence in God produces calm in the chaos." If discussion slows down, you can offer that phrase and ask: "What does it actually look like to have that kind of confidence — not just as a concept, but in a real moment of crisis?" This can unlock a lot of honest conversation.
Question 4 (Application — connects to real life)
Pastor Pokluda made an interesting observation: Paul didn't determine his obedience based on his predicted outcome. He warned the centurion even though he knew the centurion probably wouldn't listen. Is there a situation in your life right now where you've been holding back from doing what you know is right because you're not sure it will work? What's stopping you?
THEME C: THE STORM IS WHERE FAITH IS SEEN
Point 2 from the sermon
★ Question 5 (Personal + Community)
The sermon told the story of John Wesley — a trained minister, seminary graduate, and chaplain of a ship — who was not actually a follower of Jesus until a storm revealed the gap between his head knowledge and his heart faith. Have you ever had a storm reveal something about your own faith — either a weakness you didn't know was there, or a depth of trust you didn't know you had?
[Leader Tip]: This question can go deep quickly, especially for people who've been through significant hardship. Give space for silence after asking it — don't rush to fill quiet. If someone shares something painful, resist the urge to fix it or immediately pivot. A simple "Thank you for sharing that" goes a long way.
Question 6 (Community-focused)
The Moravian missionaries on Wesley's ship didn't give a sermon or hand out a tract — they just sang hymns with peaceful faces in the middle of a terrifying storm, and that changed Wesley's life forever. Who in your life has modeled that kind of faith under pressure? What did it look like, and what impact did it have on you?
Question 7 (Interpretive)
Pastor Pokluda said, "Your storm is your greatest opportunity to believe what you say you believe — and to show others that you believe it." That's a challenging idea. Do you think that's true? What makes it hard to see a storm as an opportunity rather than just a problem to get through?
THEME D: DO YOUR PART AND TRUST GOD FOR THE REST
Point 3 from the sermon
★ Question 8 (Interpretive + Application)
In the middle of a 14-day hurricane, Paul stopped everything and told the crew to eat. He essentially said, "I know you're panicking — but you can't afford to skip the basics." Pastor Pokluda applied this to spiritual disciplines: prayer, Scripture, community, worship. When life gets stormy, which of these "basics" do you tend to drop first — and why do you think that is?
[Leader Tip]: This question often surfaces some honest self-awareness. Be ready for people to name specific things — scrolling social media, binge-watching, withdrawing from community, etc. The goal isn't guilt, but recognition. You might gently follow up with: "What's one basic you could protect this week, even if everything else feels chaotic?"
Question 9 (Application — connects to the grocery cart illustration)
Pastor Pokluda told a story about his 4-year-old daughter steering a grocery cart, convinced she was in control, while he quietly guided them where they actually needed to go. When has God redirected you somewhere you didn't want to go — and looking back, how do you feel about that now?
Question 10 (Closing Discussion Question)
At the end of the sermon, Pastor Pokluda asked the congregation to "consider the experience of the pilot" — meaning, to think about how trustworthy God is based on His track record. He listed a string of things God has done throughout history and Scripture. If you were to make your own personal list — the moments where God showed up in your life — what would be on it? What does that list tell you about whether He can be trusted with your current storm?
[Leader Tip]: This is a great question to end the discussion section on because it naturally moves the group toward gratitude and prayer. If time allows, you might invite two or three people to share one item from their personal list — it often becomes a powerful moment of testimony and encouragement for the whole group.
SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are designed for quieter, more personal reflection. You can handle this section a few different ways:
- Ask everyone to take 2–3 minutes to journal or think quietly before sharing
- Go around the circle and invite each person to respond to just one question
- Let people choose which question speaks most to them
Reflection Questions:
1. What is the specific storm — or the specific area of life — where you most need to trust God right now? Try to name it as concretely as you can, even if just to yourself.
2. Of the three points from the sermon — stay calm by remembering who controls the outcome, recognize the storm is where faith is seen, and do your part and trust God for the rest — which one do you most need to lean into this week, and why?
3. Is there a step of obedience you've been avoiding because you're not sure how it will turn out? What would it look like to take that step this week, trusting the outcome to God?
4. Who in your life might be watching how you handle your current storm? How might the way you respond be an opportunity to point them toward God?
5. What is one "basic" spiritual practice — prayer, Scripture reading, community, worship — that you want to protect or return to this week, even if life feels turbulent?
THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one of the following — or create your own:
Option A — The Anchor Practice: Each morning this week, before you check your phone, spend 5 minutes reading one Psalm and praying one sentence: "God, I trust you with _________________ today." Name the storm specifically.
Option B — The Testimony List: Write down 5–10 moments in your life where God showed up — big or small. Keep the list somewhere visible this week as a reminder of His track record.
Option C — The Obedience Step: Identify one thing you know you should do but have been avoiding because you're not sure of the outcome. Take that step this week and bring it back to the group next time.
Option D — The Basics Commitment: Pick one spiritual discipline — church, small group, daily prayer, Scripture reading — that you've been letting slide during a hard season. Recommit to it for just one week and notice what happens.
SECTION 5: PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. Here are a few suggested approaches — choose what fits your group's culture:
Suggested Prayer Topics:
- The specific storms people named during your discussion
- Courage to stay obedient even when the outcome is uncertain
- Eyes to see the storm as an opportunity for faith, not just a problem to escape
- The spiritual disciplines that feel hard to maintain right now
- Anyone in the group who may be in a season of deep discouragement or giving up hope
Prayer Format Options:
Option 1 — Conversational Prayer: Invite anyone who wants to pray aloud to do so. Close by praying over any specific needs that were shared.
Option 2 — Popcorn Prayer: Ask each person to pray one short sentence — either a request or a statement of trust. ("God, I trust you with my job situation." / "Lord, give me courage to have that conversation.")
Option 3 — Facilitator-Led Prayer: If your group is newer or less comfortable with open prayer, simply pray aloud yourself, incorporating the themes and specific needs you heard during discussion.
Option 4 — Written Prayer: Give everyone 2 minutes to write a one-sentence prayer on a piece of paper or in their phone. Invite anyone who wants to share theirs aloud to do so.
A Suggested Closing Prayer (feel free to use or adapt):
"Father, we come to you in the middle of our storms — some of us barely keeping our heads above water, some of us just catching our breath after a hard season, some of us bracing for what's coming. We confess that our first instinct is usually to grab the wheel harder, not to let go. Help us to remember who actually controls the outcome. Help us to see our storms not as evidence that you've forgotten us, but as the very place where our faith becomes real. Give us the courage to keep doing the basics — to stay in your Word, to stay in community, to stay in prayer — even when everything in us wants to check out. And remind us, again and again, of your track record. You have never failed. You will not start now. We trust you. In Jesus' name, amen."
SECTION 6: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
For groups wanting to go further
These questions are for groups with more time, more biblical background, or a desire to wrestle with the text more closely. They work well as a follow-up for the next week, or as homework between meetings.
Deep Dive Question 1 — The Text
Read Acts 27 in full on your own this week. Notice how many times Paul speaks, and what he says each time. What pattern do you see in how he communicates with the people around him? What does his tone and approach tell you about what it looks like to lead from a place of trust in God rather than fear?
Deep Dive Question 2 — The Theology
Romans 8:28 says God works all things together for good for those who love Him. Genesis 50:20 shows Joseph saying to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good." These are bold claims. How do you hold these promises honestly — without dismissing real pain or pretending suffering doesn't matter? What does it actually mean to believe these verses in the middle of a storm, not just after it's over?
Deep Dive Question 3 — The Application
Pastor Pokluda said, "The decisions you make in the storm will impact your life after the storm." Think about a past storm you've been through. Looking back, what decisions did you make during that time — good or bad — that shaped who you became on the other side? What would you tell your past self, and what does that teach you about how to navigate the storms you're in now?
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE FOR FURTHER STUDY
For groups or individuals who want to keep exploring these themes throughout the week:
| Theme | Passage |
|---|---|
| God's presence in the storm | Psalm 46:1–3 |
| Peace that surpasses understanding | Philippians 4:6–7 |
| Trials producing faith | James 1:2–4 |
| God's purposes in suffering | Romans 5:3–5 |
| Paul's full account of hardships | 2 Corinthians 11:23–28 |
| God's sovereignty over all things | Proverbs 19:21 |
| Fear replaced by trust | Isaiah 41:10 |
QUICK REFERENCE — SERMON'S THREE MAIN POINTS
Post this somewhere visible during your group, or write it on a whiteboard:
1. Stay calm by remembering who controls the outcome. "Confidence in God produces calm in the chaos."
2. The storm is where your faith is seen. "Maybe your storm is your greatest opportunity to believe what you say you believe."
3. Do your part and trust God for the rest. "You cannot afford not to do what you feel like you can't do."
FACILITATOR'S FINAL NOTE
You don't have to have all the answers to lead this conversation well. In fact, some of the most powerful moments in small group happen when a facilitator says, "I don't know — but I'm wrestling with that too." Your honesty creates permission for everyone else to be honest. The goal tonight isn't to finish all the questions or arrive at perfect theological conclusions. The goal is for people to leave feeling a little less alone in their storms, a little more anchored in who God is, and a little more ready to trust Him with whatever they're carrying. That's worth showing up for.
Thank you for leading. It matters more than you know.
Guide prepared for Lake Point Church Small Groups | Acts 27 Series — "In Game" Sermon: "When You Can't Control the Storm" | Speaker: Jonathan Pokluda