WARM UP

1. People traveled 25 to 70 miles on foot just to hear John the Baptist. Have you ever taken a long trip just to see or hear something important? What was it, and what made it worth it?

• Additional Thought: This sets up the idea of spiritual hunger. People go out of their way for what they value—this helps draw the parallel.
• Additional Scripture: Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”
• Additional Question: What’s something you would still go way out of your way for today?

2. What stood out to you from this weekend’s message?

• Additional Thought: This is a great heart check. What hit home is often what God’s Spirit is stirring.
• Additional Scripture: Hebrews 4:12 – “The word of God is living and active… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
• Additional Question: Was there a specific phrase or moment that stuck with you?

3. As we wrap up this Life Group year and break for the summer, what are you grateful for from your time together? Is there something you learned this year or a way that you’ve grown?

• Additional Thought: This question celebrates spiritual growth and community. It helps name wins, growth, and impact.
• Additional Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…”
• Additional Question: How has someone in the group helped you grow this year?
• Conversation Caution: Some may feel they didn’t grow much—affirm that even small steps matter.
• Group Dynamic Tip: Have each person affirm one another or do a group appreciation round.

 

KNOW IT 

Read Matthew 3:1-17 again and notice how different people responded—John, the crowds, the religious leaders, and Jesus Himself.

1. People traveled long distances to confess their sins and be baptized. What does that show us about their spiritual hunger? What might it look like today to go “out of our way” to respond to God?

• Additional Thought: In a time without cars, this was a costly, intentional act of repentance. Today, spiritual hunger looks like reordering priorities or pushing through distractions.
• Additional Scripture: Psalm 42:1 – “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”
• Additional Question: What might “going out of our way” look like today in your life?
• Conversation Caution: Don’t equate hunger with performance. It’s about posture, not perfection.

2. When Jesus chooses to be baptized, He’s stepping into obedience even though He had no sin to confess. What does that example mean for how we approach obedience in our own lives?

• Additional Thought: Jesus models “obedience without needing the why.” We often want clarity before commitment—but faith moves first.
• Additional Scripture: John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
• Additional Question: What’s one area you feel called to obey, even if it’s uncomfortable or unclear?
• Conversation Caution: Obedience is a tender topic. Normalize the tension between wanting to understand and choosing to trust.
• Group Dynamic Tip: Use 2–3 person groups to allow for more honest sharing.

3. The moment of Jesus’ baptism ends with the Father saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” How might hearing “You are my beloved child” from God change the way we understand our identity? How can we live from that same sense of being loved and accepted by God?

• Additional Thought: Before Jesus preached or performed miracles, He was already pleasing to the Father. Our identity starts in love, not effort.
• Additional Scripture: Romans 8:15 – “You have received the Spirit of adoption… by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
• Additional Question: How might your life look different if you truly believed you were God’s beloved child?
• Conversation Caution: Identity wounds may surface. Keep the tone compassionate and invitational.

 

SHARE IT

1. If you have been baptized, can you share your baptism story? What led you to make that decision?

• Additional Thought: This is often a powerful testimony moment—both for encouragement and evangelism.
• Additional Scripture: Acts 2:38 – “Repent and be baptized… and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
• Additional Question: If you haven’t been baptized, what questions or hesitations do you still have?
• Conversation Caution: Avoid pressure or awkwardness for those who haven’t been baptized. Keep the focus on story, not status.
• Group Dynamic Tip: Encourage storytelling style. You might even time-limit shares to 2 minutes each.

2. In the sermon, Larry pointed out that Jesus began His ministry not by preaching at people, but by identifying with them. Have you seen someone model identifying with others before preaching to them? How did that impact you?

• Additional Thought: This points to incarnational ministry. Real influence comes from empathy and presence, not platforms.
• Additional Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8 – Jesus humbled Himself to serve and connect before He taught or ruled.
• Additional Question: How can you apply this in a friendship or leadership role this week?
• Conversation Caution: Don’t let this drift into complaints about others who “preach without listening.” Keep it self-reflective.

 

LIVE IT

1. Jesus’ baptism was an act of obedience—not because He needed to repent, but to “fulfill all righteousness.” He obeyed before anyone fully understood why. Have you ever taken a step of obedience before fully understanding the reason why? What happened?

• Additional Thought: True surrender often happens before clarity. Obedience rewrites our story as we walk in faith.
• Additional Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart…”
• Additional Question: What’s a recent step of obedience you took even though you didn’t have all the answers?
• Conversation Caution: Watch for discouragement or fear. Reassure that God honors obedience even when we don’t feel immediate results.

2. Larry reminded us that there’s nothing Jesus asks us to do that He didn’t first do for us. This week we will take Communion as a way to remember His full obedience—even to the cross—and to recommit ourselves to follow Him with the same surrender.

• Additional Thought: This is a Communion reflection moment—meant to be quiet, sacred, and Spirit-led. Help the group prepare their hearts.
• Additional Scripture: Luke 22:19 – “Do this in remembrance of me.”
• Additional Question: What would it look like to follow Him more fully in one area this week?
• Conversation Caution: Keep this tender, not heavy. It’s about invitation, not shame.
• Group Dynamic Tip: After a few minutes of personal reflection, invite people into prayer in pairs or triplets. If taking Communion, consider doing so after this moment.

 

As we prepare to take Communion, take a moment to reflect: Where is Jesus inviting you to follow Him in deeper surrender or renewed obedience today?

COMMUNION

Jesus wants us to remember what He has done for us and that He is here to walk through life with us. That’s why He told the disciples at the Last Supper to keep coming together and taking Communion. Communion is about remembering all that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. It’s through His sacrifice that we receive His grace and mercy.

This week, your Life Group will wrap up by doing what the disciples did – taking Communion together. To get ready for this, read the following verses and think about Jesus’ commitment and work in your life. Jot down a few thoughts on how each verse impacts you.

Romans 5:7-8

John 15:12-17

1 Corinthians 11:23-27

* Special note on 1 Corinthians 11:27, 28 and the importance of taking Communion in a worthy manner by examining yourself.  “The idea is plain: examine yourself but then let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. The idea is not to keep people away from the table of Communion, but to prepare them to receive it in the right way.” – Guzik

COMMUNION: (Listen to the Leader Guide Audio for more details)

Get Communion elements ready. (Juice and bread or crackers – In-person: set on a table in the middle of the room.)

Explain that we want to end the Life Group year by remembering and celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection.

Take Communion
Option #1: Leader-Led Communion

Read 1 Corinthians 11:-23-28 (as a group or have an individual) For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

* Special note on 1 Corinthians 11:27, 28 and the importance of taking communion in a worthy manner by examining yourself.  “The idea is plain: examine yourself but then let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup. The idea is not to keep people away from the table of Communion, but to prepare them to receive it in the right way.” – Guzik

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Psalm 139: 23, 24

Remind your group we come to remember and celebrate what Jesus has done and to examine ourselves before we take Communion. relationship with Jesus. Set this up as worship time by playing a worship song and giving them time to examine themselves and transition into taking communion in their own time as the song plays.  You can choose to not worship and move directly into communion allowing people to examine themselves and reflect and then take communion.

Worship option while people take Communion. Oh Come to the Altar by Elevation Worship – Allow people to take communion on their own while the worship song plays. Or move directly into prayer.

 

Option #2: Video led –  Play the video to set up Communion northcoastchurch.com/communion, followed by a worship song: JD Larson sets up Communion. Make sure you preview the video as JD sets up a focused time of reflection. The video then transitions into a worship song, allowing people to examine themselves and move into Communion and reflect or sing, worshipping as the song plays. You can also have someone lead your group in worship or not end with a worship song and end your time in prayer giving thanks. Let your group know before you play the video or after JD shares how you will take communion and sharing with them the grace and

Close in prayer – Group prayer or leader/ hosts closes giving thanks for all that was shared.

Meeting Wrap-up: Remind your group how you plan to connect this summer and ask them to let you know of any changes for the fall as the summer progresses.

* How to watch video online with your group – Zoom allows you to share a screen. If the platform your group is using does not allow this, you can have people listen to it on their own devices at home, then come back to your group together.