This small group discussion guide draws directly from One Community Church's sermon “3 Things to Do When Your Faith Feels Stuck | Darius McClure - 2026-07-19” 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
"Lock In, Twin" — Moving from Saving Faith to Strong Faith
Based on John 20:24-29 | Week of [Insert Date]
A Note to Facilitators: This guide is designed for 60–90 minutes. You know your group best — feel free to skip questions, linger where the Spirit is moving, or adjust the pace as needed. Your job isn't to cover every question; it's to create space for honest conversation and genuine encounter with God. The best small group discussions often come from following the thread of what God is already doing in the room.
OVERVIEW
This week's sermon explored the story of Thomas — one of Jesus's most loyal disciples — who found himself in a faith crisis after the crucifixion. Using Thomas's story as a mirror, the message challenged us to examine the difference between saving faith (believing in Jesus) and strong faith (believing like Jesus). The sermon identified two key obstacles to strong faith — distraction and distance — and called us to "lock in" by repositioning ourselves, receiving God's peace, and responding in faith, even in our most honest and doubting moments.
BEFORE YOUR GROUP MEETS
Suggested Preparation for Facilitators:
- Read John 20:19–29 in full
- Skim this guide and choose which questions feel most relevant to your group
- Pray specifically for one or two group members you sense may be in a "Thomas season"
- Have a Bible or Bible app available for scripture reading
SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER
⏱ 5–10 minutes
Choose one of the following to open your time together:
Option A (Lighter):
"What's something you started with a lot of energy this year — a goal, a habit, a project — that you've had a hard time sticking with? What made it difficult?"
Option B (Slightly Deeper):
"Think about a time you had to 'lock in' and focus on something important. What helped you stay focused, and what was trying to pull you away?"
[Leader Tip]: The icebreaker is just to get people talking and comfortable — don't let it run too long. Two or three people sharing is usually enough before transitioning. If your group is quiet, share your own answer first to model vulnerability.
SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING
⏱ 5 minutes
Primary Passage: John 20:24–29 (NLT)
"One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he replied, 'I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.'
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. 'Peace be with you,' he said. Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!'
'My Lord and my God!' Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, 'You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.'"
Supporting Passage: Matthew 14:28–31 (NLT)
"Then Peter called to him, 'Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.' 'Yes, come,' Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. 'Save me, Lord!' he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. 'You have so little faith,' Jesus said. 'Why did you doubt me?'"
Context for Facilitators: Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to the disciples after the resurrection (John 20:19–23). He'd spent three years following Jesus, witnessed miracles, and now was trying to process the trauma of watching Jesus be crucified. His absence from the group and his demand for proof weren't random — they were the result of grief, isolation, and a faith that had stalled at the cross. Eight days later, Jesus showed up again — specifically for Thomas.
SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
⏱ 30–45 minutes
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter to deeper. You don't need to cover all of them — choose 5–7 that feel most relevant to your group.
THEME A: Understanding Thomas — Honest Faith vs. Doubting Faith
1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message? Was there a moment, a phrase, or an idea that stuck with you?
[Leader Tip]: This is a great opener because it surfaces what God is already doing in people. Listen for themes — multiple people mentioning the same thing often signals where the Spirit is working in your group. If someone says something unexpected, follow it with curiosity: "Say more about that."
2. The sermon challenged the label "Doubting Thomas" and reframed him as "Honest Thomas." What's the difference between doubt and honesty when it comes to faith? Why does that distinction matter?
Consider: The sermon pointed out that Thomas had been one of Jesus's most loyal disciples — willing to go with Jesus into dangerous territory when others hesitated (John 11:16). One hard moment didn't define his whole character.
Follow-up if discussion stalls: "Have you ever been labeled or defined by a hard season you were going through? How did that feel?"
3. The sermon said: "You'll always be labeled when you have a real conversation around fake people." What does it look like to have an honest faith — one where you can bring your real doubts, fears, and frustrations to God and to your community?
Consider: The sermon referenced David's raw, unfiltered prayers in the Psalms — including asking God to defeat his enemies — and noted that God called David "a man after his own heart." Read Psalm 13:1–2 together if time allows:
"O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?"
THEME B: Distraction and Distance — The Roots of a Faith Crisis
4. The sermon made the point that "distraction" comes from a Latin root meaning "to drag" — and that we can be in the right place but not on the right page. Where do you find yourself most easily distracted from your faith — and what does that distraction usually look like in your daily life?
[Leader Tip]: This question tends to generate good discussion because everyone relates to distraction. Be ready for people to name phones, busyness, worry, or relationships. Gently help the group move from just identifying distractions to reflecting on what those distractions might be pulling them away from.
5. The sermon highlighted that Thomas "was not with the others when Jesus came" and asked: "What if doubt grows in the distance?" When life gets hard, what's your instinct — to move toward community or to pull away? What makes isolation feel safer, even when it's not?
Consider: The sermon also referenced the story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1–5, whose four friends carried him to Jesus and even tore the roof off to get him there. Jesus healed the man "because of their faith" — not just his own.
Follow-up: "Who in your life right now is the kind of friend who would 'tear the roof off' to get you to Jesus? And are you being that kind of friend to someone else?"
6. The sermon described "death by distraction" — the image of being pulled in four directions at once. If you're honest, what are the four biggest "horses" pulling your attention away from what matters most right now?
Optional: Give people 60 seconds to write their answers privately before sharing. This helps introverts and gives everyone time to think before speaking.
THEME C: Saving Faith vs. Strong Faith
7. The sermon drew a powerful distinction:
"Saving faith is when I believe in Jesus. Strong faith is when I believe like Jesus."
In your own words, what's the difference? What does "believing like Jesus" actually look like in everyday life?
Consider: The sermon used Peter walking on water as an example of strong faith — stepping out onto what others are drowning in. But it also noted that Peter sank when he got distracted by the wind and waves.
Follow-up: "Where in your life right now is God inviting you to step out of the boat?"
8. The sermon said: "The areas where God wants to use you the most are the areas where you will be attacked the most." As you look at the consistent points of attack or struggle in your life, what might that tell you about where God wants to anoint and use you?
[Leader Tip]: This question can open up deep and vulnerable sharing. Make sure the group feels safe before going here. If someone shares something heavy, resist the urge to immediately fix or advise — sometimes the most powerful response is simply, "Thank you for trusting us with that." Remind the group that what's shared in the room stays in the room.
THEME D: Jesus Shows Up — Peace, Repositioning, and Responding in Faith
9. When Jesus showed up to Thomas, he didn't correct him, lecture him, or shame him for his doubt. He simply said, "Peace be with you" — and then showed Thomas exactly what he needed to see. What does this tell us about how Jesus responds to us in our seasons of doubt or distance?
Consider: The sermon noted that Jesus showed up for Thomas on the eighth day — a number representing new beginnings. Even when we've missed an encounter with God, he doesn't write us off. He spins the block.
10. The sermon closed with three steps for recovering faith:
- Reposition yourself (get back in the right place)
- Receive peace (just because Jesus offers it doesn't mean we automatically take it)
- Respond in faith (act even when the feelings aren't fully there yet)
Which of these three is hardest for you right now, and why?
[Leader Tip]: This is a strong closing question for the discussion section because it's personal but not overwhelming. It also sets up the application section naturally. If time is short, this is a great question to land on before moving to personal reflection.
SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION
⏱ 10–15 minutes
These questions are for individual reflection. You can invite people to share their responses or keep them private — let your group decide. Some groups prefer to journal during this section; others prefer to share out loud.
Reflect quietly on one or more of the following:
1. Where is your faith right now? On a scale from "saving faith" to "strong faith," where would you honestly place yourself today — and what has contributed to that? What's one specific thing that has been challenging your faith recently?
2. What label have you been living under? Is there a "Doubting Thomas" label — something someone said about you, or something you've said about yourself — that has been defining you? What would it look like to release that label and step into a truer identity?
3. Where have you been distant? Have you been pulling away from God, from community, or from your calling? What triggered that distance, and what would it look like to reposition yourself this week?
4. What has God brought you through that you've stopped giving him credit for? The sermon said: "You're not just sitting next to a person — you're sitting next to proof." What is the "proof" in your own life that God has been faithful, even in hard seasons?
5. Where do you need to "lock in"? What is one area of your life where God is calling you to stop being distracted and start being focused? What would that actually look like in your schedule, your relationships, or your spiritual habits this week?
SECTION 5: THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) of the following to practice before your group meets again:
🔒 Lock In Challenge — Choose Your Level:
Level 1 — Reposition: Identify one spiritual habit you've let slip (prayer, reading Scripture, attending church, serving) and commit to returning to it for just seven days. Tell someone in your group what you're committing to so they can check in with you.
Level 2 — Receive Peace: Each morning this week, before you check your phone, spend five minutes in silence and simply ask God: "What do you want to say to me today?" Write down anything that comes to mind.
Level 3 — Respond in Faith: Identify one "water walking" step — something God has been nudging you toward that feels scary or impossible — and take one concrete action toward it this week. Share it with your group so they can pray for you and celebrate with you.
Level 4 — Intercessory Faith: Identify one person in your life who is in a "Thomas season" — isolated, struggling, distant from faith. This week, be one of the four friends. Reach out, check in, pray for them, and if possible, invite them back into community.
SECTION 6: PRAYER FOCUS
⏱ 5–10 minutes
Suggested Prayer Topics:
Before closing in prayer, invite group members to share one word or one sentence that describes what they're bringing to God from tonight's discussion. Then pray together using the following themes:
- For those in a faith crisis: That Jesus would show up as he did for Thomas — personally, specifically, and with peace
- For the distracted: That God would cut through the noise and restore focus on what matters most
- For the distant: That the courage to reposition — to get back in the room, back in community, back in the Word — would come supernaturally
- For the doubting: That honesty with God would become a doorway to deeper intimacy, not a barrier to it
- For the "water walkers": That fear would not win, and that faith would have the final word
- For one another: That this group would be the kind of community that tears roofs off — that believes for each other when one of us can't believe for ourselves
Suggested Closing Prayer: (Facilitators may read this aloud or use it as a guide for spontaneous prayer)
Father, thank you that you don't write us off in our seasons of doubt, distance, or distraction. Just as you showed up for Thomas — personally, specifically, and with peace — we ask you to show up for each person in this room. Where faith has gone cold, reignite it. Where we've been distant, draw us back. Where we've been distracted, help us lock in. Give us the kind of faith that doesn't just believe in you, but believes like you. And remind us that we are not alone — that you've placed us in community so that when one of us is struggling, the others can carry us to you. We trust you with what we've shared tonight. In Jesus's name, amen.
SECTION 7: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
For groups with extra time or who want to go deeper — these questions work well for follow-up discussion or personal journaling during the week.
Deep Dive Question 1: The Miracle of Exception The sermon described "the miracle of exception" — when everyone is subject to the same conditions, but God exempts you from the same outcome. Read Daniel 3:19–27 (the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace). How does this story illustrate the miracle of exception? Where in your life have you experienced God exempting you from an outcome that seemed inevitable? How does remembering that shape your faith for what you're facing now?
Deep Dive Question 2: Intercessory Faith The sermon highlighted the story of the paralyzed man in Mark 2:1–12 and the powerful idea that Jesus healed him "because of their faith" — the faith of his four friends. Read the full story together. What does this teach us about the responsibility we carry for one another's faith? How does this challenge or expand your understanding of prayer, community, and what it means to "bear one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2)?
Deep Dive Question 3: The Twin Within The sermon closed with a striking image: Thomas's nickname "Twin" as a metaphor for the two selves we all carry — the saved self and the struggling self, the faith-filled self and the fearful self. Read Romans 7:15–25, where Paul describes his own inner conflict. How do you relate to Paul's struggle? What does it look like practically to "command the twin within" — to speak to the doubting, fearful, distracted version of yourself and say, "Lock in"? What spiritual practices help you do that?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Scriptures Referenced in the Sermon:
- John 20:19–29 — Thomas and the Resurrection appearances
- Matthew 14:22–33 — Peter walks on water
- Mark 2:1–12 — The paralyzed man and his four friends
- Hebrews 11:6 — "Without faith it is impossible to please God"
- Job 13:15 — "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him"
- Psalm 51:10 — "Create in me a clean heart, O God"
- Romans 1:17 — "From faith to faith"
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 — "From glory to glory"
For Personal Study This Week:
- Read all of John 20 to get the full resurrection narrative
- Read Psalm 13 or Psalm 22 — examples of David's honest, unfiltered prayers
- Read Hebrews 11 — the "Hall of Faith" — for examples of strong faith in action
This discussion guide was prepared for small group use based on the sermon "Lock In, Twin." Permission granted for reproduction within your church community.
Questions? Contact your small groups pastor or ministry coordinator.
Next Week: [Insert upcoming sermon series or topic here]
"You cannot get life right if you get faith wrong." — Lock in, twin.