community group notes

INTRODUCTION
We've all felt the pull of the chase for more — the Amazon cart that never quite empties, the next promotion that's going to be enough, the vacation post on Instagram that ruined our Tuesday. Three thousand years ago Solomon called the chase "wind."
And in Luke 12, Jesus tells the story of a rich man who chased it all the way to his own grave. But Jesus doesn't just diagnose the problem. He names the alternative — being rich toward God. This week we ask what that actually looks like on a Monday morning.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1 .Think back to the $5 million question from Sunday — what would you do for it? Without naming specifics, where did you notice the number got big enough that your conviction got smaller? What does that tell you about your real relationship with money?
2. The sermon named five forms the chase for stuff takes: Chase for More, Chase to Prove, Chase for Better, Chase for Enough, Chase to Escape.Without overthinking it, which one hits closest to home for you in this season— and what does it look like in your everyday week?
3. Read Luke 12:13-21. The rich fool wasn't condemned for being wealthy. He was condemned for being rich toward himself but not rich toward God.What strikes you about the architecture of his thinking — the things he counted as his, the absence of God from his planning, the "this very night" verdict?
4. Reread Luke 12:21. Jesus says the problem wasn't what the rich man stored, but the direction he stored it. What does "rich toward God" mean to you in practical terms? When have you experienced what it feels like to live with that posture, even briefly?
5. The sermon named three traits of generous people: they hold things loosely, they give first, and they invest in eternal projects. Which of those three is hardest for you right now — and what is one specific shift you can commit to this week to start being more rich toward God?

CHANGING YOUR MIND
This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God. (Luke 12:21 NIV)

INTRODUCTION
This week we talked about the exhausting pursuit of perfection and how chasing performance, approval, or achievement can leave us empty. Many of us feel pressure to “get everything right” in our relationships, careers, faith, and personal lives. But Jesus teaches us that life is not about earning God’s love through perfect performance—it’s about receiving His grace and learning to love others the way He loves us. Through the story of the Good Samaritan, we are reminded that grace notices people, while perfection often only wants to be noticed. As we discuss together, let’s reflect on where we may be chasing perfection instead of resting in God’s grace.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Read Luke 10:25–37. What stood out to you most from the story of the Good Samaritan or the message on perfectionism? Why do you think it connected with you?
2. The sermon talked about how exhausting it is to constantly try to “get everything right.” Where do you feel the most pressure to perform or appear perfect in your life?Jesus challenged the expert in the law who wanted to “justify himself.” Why do you think we naturally try to earn approval—from God, others, or even ourselves?
3. The message said, “Perfection wants to be noticed. Grace notices people.” What do you think that means practically? Have you ever experienced someone showing you grace instead of judgment?
4. The priest and Levite both saw the injured man but passed by. Why do you think it can be easy to overlook people when we become too focused on performance, image, or ourselves?
5. The Samaritan helped someone who would normally have been considered an enemy.What makes it difficult to love people who are hard to understand, disagree with, or have hurt us?
6. The sermon pointed out two dangers of perfectionism: It burns us out, and it removes Jesus from the story. Which of those do you relate to more right now, and why?
7. Ephesians 2 reminds us that we are saved by grace, not by works. Do you ever struggle to believe God truly loves you apart from your performance? What helps you remember His grace?
8. Perfection is an impossible standard, but grace leads us into a life of freedom, surrender, and genuine love for others. Jesus never asked us to earn His love—He invites us to receive it and reflect it.
9. What is one area of your life where you need to stop chasing perfection and start resting in God’s grace this week? Who is one person you can intentionally show grace, compassion, or love to this week the way the Samaritan did?

CHANGE YOUR MIND
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8–9 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION
This week we talked about the exhausting pursuit of approval and how easily our lives can become driven by ratings, recognition, and the opinions of others. Whether we realize it or not, approval often shapes our decisions, relationships, priorities, and even our faith. In John 12, we see religious leaders who believed in Jesus but stayed silent because they feared losing the approval of people. Their story reminds us that when approval becomes more important than conviction, it slowly changes who we are. As we discuss together, let’s reflect on whose approval matters most in our lives and how God invites us to live from His acceptance rather than striving for the applause of others.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Read John 12:42–43. What stands out to you most from this story? Why do you think it connected with you?
2. The sermon talked about how approval ratings shape so much of our culture today. Where do you most feel pressure to gain approval from others? (Work, parenting, friendships, social media, church, relationships, etc.)
3. John said the religious leaders believed in Jesus but stayed silent because of fear.Why do you think fear of rejection or losing approval can be so powerful?
4. In the message, Lance said, “When approval means more than conviction, you’re in a dangerous spot.”Have you ever experienced a moment where you knew the right thing to do but struggled because of what others might think?
5. Several examples were mentioned of approval shaping behavior: Staying silent when you should speak up; Dating for acceptance over wisdom; Parenting based on others’ opinions; Spiritual performance over obedience; and Chasing likes over living life. Which one do you relate to most right now, and why?
6. The sermon pointed out that chasing approval can: Cause fear; Keep us from truth; and Prevents us from loving others well. Which of these effects do you see most often in your own life or culture today?
7. Read Galatians1:10. Here, Paul asks whether we are trying to please people or God. What do you think changes in a person’s life when they stop living for human approval and start living from God’s approval?
8. Seeking approval from people will eventually leave us exhausted, fearful, and empty. But through Jesus, we are already fully seen, fully known, and fully loved byGod. We do not have to earn what Christ has already secured for us. What is one practical step you can take this week to stop chasing approval and start living confidently in God’s acceptance of you? Is there an area where you need to choose conviction over approval this week?

CHANGING YOUR MIND
But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy
in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. Colossians 1:22 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION
We are the most comfort-equipped generation in human history. And we are still restless. James wrote to people who had lost everything comfortable and tells them to consider it pure joy - not to feel it, but to choose it. Because what you keep running from might be exactly what God is trying to use. This week we sit with an honest question: what is chasing comfort costing you?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Think about the last time you had a hard day and reached for something to take the edge off (food, your phone, Netflix, a drink, online shopping, etc.). What was it and did it help?
2. The sermon named two categories of comfort-chasing: seeking and avoidance. Seeking is reaching for something to take the edge off. Avoidance is refusing to engage with something difficult. Which category shows up most in your life right now? What does it cost you when you go there?
3. Read James 1:2-4. James says to consider it pure joy when you face trials – not to feel joy but choose to regard the trial differently. What is the difference between those two things practically? Is there a difficulty in your life right now that you have been avoiding rather than staying under?
4. Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-5. Paul says God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we receive. The comfort God builds in you through processed pain was never meant to stop with you. Who in your life right now might need what God has been building in you through your own difficulty? What would it look like to let that flow toward them this week?

CHANGING YOUR MIND
Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:4 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION
We all want to be known for something. Nobody chases fame exactly, but we chase a name, a reputation, or a mark that says we were here. This week we ask the question underneath all of it - what if the greatest legacy you could leave has nothing to do with your name?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.The sermon opened with a list - known for athleticism, intellect, artistry, work, leadership, parenting. Which one do you find yourself most drawn to as an identity marker and why does that one matter so much to you?

2. The sermon named four reasons we chase legacy - fear of being forgotten, needing life to mean something, awareness that death is coming, and confusing identity with impact. Which one is most honest for where you are right now?

3. Read Psalm 102:11-12 and Isaiah 26:8. The psalmist says his days fade like a shadow. Isaiah says the desire of our soul was never our own renown but God's. What would change in your daily life if God's name became the thing you were most known for?

4. Read John 3:26-30. John was at the peak of his influence when he said, He must become greater, I must become less.” Where is God asking you to become less this week so Jesus can be seen more clearly through you?

CHANGING YOUR MIND
"He must become greater; I must become less." JOHN 3:30 (NIV)