This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Sunday Service - Live | 08.09.26” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.

A Witness Worth Following: The Faith of Abel

Small Group Discussion Guide | Week 1

Sermon Series: A Witness Worth Following Scripture Focus: Hebrews 11:4 | Genesis 4:1-5 Estimated Meeting Time: 60–90 minutes

A NOTE TO YOUR FACILITATOR

Welcome! This guide is designed to help your group engage meaningfully with Sunday's message — whether you're an experienced elder or leading a small group for the first time. You don't need to be a theological expert. Your job is simply to create space for honest conversation, keep things moving, and help your group connect God's Word to real life.

A few practical tips before you begin:

Read through the entire guide before your meeting so nothing surprises you.
You likely won't get to every question — and that's perfectly fine. Choose the ones that feel most relevant to your group.
The best discussions often come from honest, personal sharing. Model vulnerability yourself, and others will follow.
If a question lands quietly, try rephrasing it or sharing your own brief answer first.
Pray before your group meets. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation.

SERMON OVERVIEW

(For facilitators to read or paraphrase to open the meeting)

This Sunday's message launched a new series called A Witness Worth Following, drawn from Hebrews 11 — the Bible's great "Hall of Faith." The sermon focused on Abel, one of the first figures in Scripture, whose brief life left a witness that still speaks thousands of years later. Through the contrast between Abel and his brother Cain, we explored what it truly means to approach God with genuine faith — not just religious activity or outward appearance, but a confident trust in God that leads to obedience, that responds to what God has revealed, and that gives him our very first and very best.

SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER

(5–10 minutes)

Start here to warm up the group and ease into conversation. This question is light and accessible — there are no wrong answers.

Opening Question:

Think of someone in your life — a parent, grandparent, mentor, coach, or friend — whose faith or character left a lasting impression on you. What was it about the way they lived (not just what they said) that has stayed with you?

Allow 2–3 people to share briefly. Don't rush this — it sets the tone for authentic conversation and connects naturally to the sermon's theme of leaving a witness worth following.

SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING

(5 minutes)

Have someone in the group read each passage aloud. Encourage everyone to follow along in their own Bible or on a device.

Passage 1 — Hebrews 11:4 (ESV)

"By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks."

Passage 2 — Genesis 4:3–5 (ESV)

"In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard."

Passage 3 — Hebrews 12:1 (ESV)

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

Brief Context for Facilitators to Share:

Hebrews 11 is sometimes called the "Hall of Faith" — a chapter that highlights men and women throughout the Old Testament who trusted God, often at great personal cost. The writer of Hebrews begins with Abel, the very first person in Scripture described as living by faith. Abel's story is remarkably short in Genesis, yet his life carries enormous weight. The sermon reminded us that Abel never preached a sermon, never led an army, and never performed a miracle — yet his witness still speaks today.

SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

(30–45 minutes)

Questions are organized into three themes drawn from the sermon. Move through them at a pace that fits your group. Aim for genuine conversation over covering every question.

THEME 1: What Does It Mean to Live by Faith?

(Questions 1–3 | approx. 10–15 minutes)

1. The sermon opened with this definition of faith: "Faith is confidence in God and reliance on him, so that we are willing to do everything he asks us to do."

How does this definition compare to the way you've thought about faith before? What part of it challenges or encourages you most?

[Leader Tip] This is a great opening question because it invites people to reflect personally without requiring deep biblical knowledge. If the group is quiet, you might share your own reaction to the definition first. Some people may have thought of faith as more of a feeling or a belief system — this definition emphasizes action, which may be new for some.

2. The sermon drew a sharp distinction between religion and relationship — between attending worship and actually worshiping.

In your own words, how would you describe the difference? Have you ever experienced a season where you were going through the motions religiously but your heart wasn't really engaged? What did that feel like?

[Leader Tip] This question can surface some honest and even vulnerable responses. Create a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere. Remind the group that the goal isn't to criticize church attendance — it's to explore what's happening in our hearts when we show up. Affirm that many believers have experienced seasons of going through the motions.

3. The sermon used a memorable illustration: a doctor writes you a prescription, but you walk out and throw it in the trash.

What point was the preacher making with that illustration? Where in your own life do you find it easiest to say "I trust God" — but hardest to actually act on that trust?

THEME 2: Faith Responds to What God Has Revealed

(Questions 4–6 | approx. 10–15 minutes)

4. The sermon made the point that "faith never invents its own way — faith always responds to what has already been revealed."

Read Romans 10:17 together: "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ."

What does this tell us about the relationship between God's Word and our faith? What are some practical habits that help you stay connected to what God has revealed?

[Leader Tip] This is a great opportunity to encourage daily engagement with Scripture — not just Sunday attendance. The sermon specifically said, "Don't wait until Sunday before you engage the Word." If your group has people who struggle with consistent Bible reading, be encouraging and practical, not shaming. You might ask: "What's one small step that has helped you stay in the Word?"

5. The sermon suggested that Cain's offering was rejected not because of what he brought (crops vs. livestock), but because of how he approached God — on his own terms rather than God's.

The preacher used a birthday dinner illustration: someone takes you to a sushi bar when you asked for a steakhouse, and says, "I wanted to give you what I want."

How does this picture help you understand what it means to worship God on his terms rather than our own? What are some ways — even unintentionally — that we can make worship more about ourselves than about God?

6. The sermon said: "In a day and time when culture wants to dictate how we should live, the Word of God must be the loudest voice in our lives."

What are some of the loudest competing voices in your life right now — social media, culture, peer pressure, personal ambition? How do you decide which voices to listen to when they conflict with what Scripture says?

[Leader Tip] This question works especially well if your group includes students, parents of teens, or people navigating workplace pressures. The sermon specifically addressed young people about peer pressure and compromise. If you have younger members in the group, invite them to share their experience — their perspective is valuable and often illuminating for the whole group.

THEME 3: Giving God Our First and Best

(Questions 7–9 | approx. 10–15 minutes)

7. The sermon highlighted a subtle but significant detail in the text:

Moses says Cain brought "some of the fruits of the soil" — but Abel brought "the firstborn of his flock" and "the fat portions" — the best of the best.

Why do you think it matters what priority we give to God — not just whether we give at all? What does it reveal about our hearts when we give God our leftovers instead of our first and best?

8. The preacher made this striking statement: "Worship has never been about bringing something. It has always been about bringing you."

He connected this to Romans 12:1 — the call to offer ourselves as "living sacrifices." What does it look like practically to offer yourself to God — not just your time, money, or talents, but your whole life?

[Leader Tip] This is one of the deepest questions in the guide. Give it room to breathe. You might follow up with: "What's one area of your life where you find it hardest to surrender control to God?" This often leads to very honest and meaningful sharing.

9. The sermon closed with this challenge: "Every single morning, you get on that altar. God, my words, my thoughts, my desires, my actions, my will — everything about me, God, I lay it on the altar."

What would it look like for you, specifically, to start your day this way? What tends to get in the way of beginning your day surrendered to God?

SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION

(10–15 minutes)

Invite group members to reflect quietly for a moment, then share one response with the group. Emphasize that there are no perfect answers — just honest ones.

Reflection Questions:

1. The sermon said, "Every witness leaves a testimony." If someone who knows you well were to describe the testimony your life is currently leaving — what do you think they would say? What would you want them to say?

2. Of the three themes from the sermon — approaching God through faith, approaching God according to his revelation, and giving God your first and best — which one feels most personally challenging for you right now, and why?

3. The preacher asked students to "trust God's truth more than your own feelings" and encouraged parents that "the greatest gift you can give your children is a faith that is genuine." Whether or not you have children, who in your life is watching how you live? How does that awareness shape how you want to walk with God this week?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one of the following — or create your own — and share it with the group so you can follow up next time.

📖 Engage the Word daily. Set a specific time each day this week to read from Hebrews 11. Read one or two verses and ask: What does this teach me about what faith looks like?
🙏 Start each morning on the altar. Before you look at your phone or begin your day, take 2–3 minutes to pray: "God, my words, my thoughts, my desires, my actions — today, I lay them on the altar. Have your way in me."
👁️ Examine your first and best. Honestly evaluate one area of your life — your time, your attention, your energy — and ask whether God is getting your first and best or your leftovers. Take one concrete step to reorder that priority.
💬 Share your faith with someone. The opening of the sermon reminded us that we have been entrusted with the gospel and are called not to keep it to ourselves. This week, look for one natural opportunity to share what God is doing in your life with someone who doesn't yet know Jesus.

SECTION 5: PRAYER FOCUS

(5–10 minutes)

Close your time together in prayer. You can use the suggested prompts below, invite group members to pray aloud, or have one person close in prayer on behalf of the group.

Suggested Prayer Topics:

Gratitude — Thank God for Abel's example and for the witness of faithful believers throughout history who have shown us what it means to trust God.
Honesty — Ask God to search our hearts and reveal any areas where we've been going through the motions religiously without genuine faith or surrender.
Surrender — Pray together that each person in the group would grow in giving God their first and best — their time, attention, relationships, and whole selves.
Students, Parents & Educators — The service concluded with prayer over students, parents, teachers, and school employees as they enter a new school year. Continue that prayer in your group: ask God to help young people stand firm in their faith, parents to model genuine trust in God, and educators to have wisdom and strength.
Likenstein (from the church's global prayer focus) — Pray for spiritual awakening in Likenstein — that people would move beyond cultural Christianity to a genuine, personal faith in Jesus Christ, and that the church there would be stirred for revival.
One Another — Close by praying specifically for the person to your left or right. Ask God to help them live a witness worth following this week.

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE

(For groups wanting to go further)

These questions are for groups with extra time or those who want to explore the biblical text more deeply between meetings.

Deep Dive Question 1 — The Nature of Faith

Read Hebrews 11:1–3 together:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible."

The sermon defined faith as "confidence in God and reliance on him such that we are willing to do everything he asks." How does Hebrews 11:1 expand or deepen that definition? What is the relationship between hope, conviction, and action in a life of genuine faith?

Deep Dive Question 2 — Cain's Response

Read Genesis 4:6–7:

"The Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.'"

Notice that after God rejected Cain's offering, God didn't abandon Cain — he spoke to him, warned him, and gave him a path forward. What does this tell us about God's character? What can we learn from Cain's response to God's correction — and how might we respond differently when we sense God calling us to examine our hearts?

Deep Dive Question 3 — A Living Sacrifice

Read Romans 12:1–2:

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

The sermon connected Abel's animal sacrifice to Paul's call for us to be "living sacrifices." What makes a living sacrifice harder than a dead one? (Hint: living sacrifices can crawl off the altar.) What does it look like in daily life to stay "on the altar" — surrendered to God's will — especially when culture is pulling in the opposite direction?

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE FOR FURTHER STUDY

Passage	Connection to Sermon
Hebrews 11:1–40	The full "Hall of Faith" — the series will walk through this chapter
Genesis 4:1–16	The full story of Cain and Abel
Romans 10:14–17	Faith comes through hearing God's Word
Matthew 6:33	Seeking God's kingdom first
Romans 12:1–2	Presenting ourselves as living sacrifices
John 14:15	"If you love me, you will keep my commandments"
Proverbs 3:5–6	Trusting God rather than our own understanding

QUICK-REFERENCE GUIDE FOR FACILITATORS

Section	Time
Welcome & Icebreaker	5–10 min
Scripture Reading	5 min
Discussion Questions (Themes 1–3)	30–45 min
Personal Application	10–15 min
Prayer Focus	5–10 min
Total	55–85 min

This guide was prepared for small group use at Brazewood Church in connection with the sermon series "A Witness Worth Following." Feel free to adapt questions to fit your group's needs and context.

Next Week: We continue in Hebrews 11 with another witness worth following. Come ready to explore what their life of faith teaches us about our own.