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Leader Guide 2026: Winter Week 1

LIFE GROUP LEADER GUIDE

For the week of January 11, 2026
This guide is designed to give helpful hints in preparing & leading your group in discussion.

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LEADER NOTES

GETTING READY FOR YOUR FIRST MEETING

Each week in this section you’ll find the most important information for your group.

  • Goals of the First Meeting
  • Re-connect with existing members and meet new members
  • Cast vision for the quarter with your group
  • Clarify your group’s direction/expectations/commitments using the Life Group Commitment Form 
  • Briefly discuss the sermon topic (if there is time)
  • Pray for the building of relationships and the spiritual growth of the group

 

  • Items Needed for the First Meeting
  • Life Group Commitment Form– Review this with your group. This was mailed to you last week in your leader packet, and can also be found online here:  northcoastchurch.com/life-group-covenants/
  • Nametags for in-person groups (print or write them out ahead of time).
  • Contact Your Group in Advance
  • Contact all members before the first meeting to welcome them to the group. You can check your roster online to see all the members of your group and their contact information. Simply login to your account and look for Groups on the bottom right of the screen. https://my.northcoastchurch.com
  • In-person groups – Inform members of the location and time of your group and how you’re handling food.
  • Online groups – Make sure you send the link to your meeting well in advance and preferably again on the day you meet. 

ABOUT POLITICS IN LIFE GROUP – We believe it’s important for Jesus-followers to thoughtfully consider how they engage in politics. However, because of how polarizing our current climate is, we ask that Life Group discussions remain free of politics and focused on relationships, unity, and God’s Word. Our desire is to present the Good News of Jesus to everyone and protect the unity we share as believers. Each election cycle political comments—even jokes or prayer requests—can unintentionally divide or offend. We never want to imply that someone is unwelcome because of how they vote or what they believe politically. If a conversation begins to drift toward politics, gently redirect by reminding the group that the body of Christ includes followers of Jesus from many political perspectives, and our focus is on Christ, not political outcomes.

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

  • Serve as a Buddy for an Honored Guest at Night to Shine
    North Coast Church has the honor of hosting Night to Shine, sponsored by the @Tim Tebow Foundation, on Friday, February 13, 4pm-9pm at the Vista Campus! It takes hundreds of Buddy Volunteers to make Nigπht to Shine an unforgettable prom night experience centered on God’s love for people with special needs ages 14 and older.  Attendees are our Honored Guests! Each Honored Guest is partnered with a Buddy who is with them throughout the night from 4pm-9pm. The role of a Buddy is a vital part of making this event a success! Over 156 Buddy Volunteers are still needed to make Night to Shine possible. Learn more or register to serve as a Buddy at https://my.northcoastchurch.com/nts

 

  • Desert Rat Experience 2026 – The Desert Rat Experience is a man’s weekend designed for guys who are into all kinds of off-roading. You can count on lots of riding time, great Desert Rat messages from our own Chris Brown and three hot meals!  And as always great raffle prizes (grand prize motorcycle) with all proceeds raised going to our local Women’s Resource Center, which helps women in distress!!!! Click here for more details – https://www.northcoastchurch.com/calendar/the-desert-rat-experience/

Agenda for your first meeting

Looking for more guidance on your first meeting? You can find the “First Night Agenda” on how to make your first night great on the Leader Tools page of our website. (lifegroups.northcoastchurch.com/make-your-first-night-great/)

How We Measure our Success Week to Week: Hearing from everyone at every meeting and keeping God’s Word at the center.

  • Welcome & Eat – Potluck is a great option. Online groups can try a virtual dinner option.
  • Group Sharing – Because you will spend extra time getting to know each other or reconnecting, make sure you have enough time to spend on the Purpose of Life Groups and Life Group Commitment
  • KNOW, SHARE, LIVE IT Sections (optional – only if you have time)
  • Review the Life Group Commitment Form – This is a tool to help your group is set clear expectations and create shared ownership for the health of the group.
  • Close in prayer.
  • Mingle afterward.

WARM UP

Your first meeting is designed for getting acquainted, connecting and enjoying a meal together, and discussing how to make your Life Group meetings great! The questions have been shortened this week to allow ample time for this.  Each week, “Warm Up” questions help us break the ice, get to know each other, get the conversation started, and/or share our initial impressions from the weekend’s message. 

Discussion Note: Add these questions if you have new people in your group or a completely new group. If it hasn’t come up in conversation before the meeting officially starts, have everyone in the group share how long they have been attending North Coast, if they have been in a Life Group before and their favorite hobby.

 Discussion Tips: These are effective for both in-person and online groups. Remember to set time limits to ensure everyone has an opportunity to answer the questions. Possibly use the “Tag— You’re It” method to ensure everyone can share. Once one person is finished sharing, they select the next person to share.

  1. What is a highlight from your holiday season?
  • Additional Question for established groups: How did you see God at work during the holiday season?
  1. Do you do anything to reflect or reset at the start of a new year?
  • Additional Question: Do you tend to look back, look ahead, or both at the start of a new year?
  1. What are some reasons you joined a Life Group or came back to your Life Group? What are you looking forward to this quarter?
  • Additional Thought: Encourage your entire group to respond to this question. In addition to being a great segway to the next section, it sets the stage for your group to identify the shared reasons they participate in a Life Group.

KNOW IT

Each week, “Know It” questions help us understand or further unpack the Scripture from the message.

  1. This weekend, we saw the Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign. In a similar moment, Jesus’ disciples ask Him for a sign as well, yet Jesus gives a completely different answer. Read that story in John 6:30-38 and notice what is similar and different about the two stories, their motives, and Jesus’ response.
  • Additional Scripture: Mark 8:11–13 – The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. 12He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.
  • Additional Question: Am I more like a person asking Jesus to prove himself or someone who trusts Him?
  1. Both passages end with what Jesus believes truly matters: doing the will of God. Since that’s what Life Groups are all about, how would you explain what doing the will of God means? What encouragement do you need to live that out daily in your life?
  • Additional Question: What tends to help you stay aligned with God’s will?
  • Additional Scripture: Romans 12:1–2 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

SHARE IT

Each week, “Share It” questions help us reflect and share our personal life experiences about the topic at hand, considering how it works or has worked out in our lives.

  1. Israel experienced a miracle every day for forty years and still rebelled, showing us that seeing God at work isn’t the same as surrendering to Him. Have you ever wanted a sign from God or felt like seeing would help you believe? What do you think you were hoping that “sign” would give you in that moment?
  • Additional Question: Where do you find it hardest to surrender control and move forward in faith?
  1. Chris reminded us that the Pharisees had all the Bible knowledge and understanding of God’s character, but Jesus said it all comes down to the condition of our hearts. If we know how good it is to surrender, what keeps people from truly surrendering their hearts to God?
  • Additional Question: What are some subtle things—good or bad—that can slowly take hold of our hearts without us even realizing it?
  • Additional Scripture: Proverbs 4:23 – Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

LIVE IT

Each week, “Live It” questions help us think through how we can apply the topic or put it into action in our lives.

  1. The Pharisees genuinely believed they were pleasing God, but Jesus showed that knowledge and religion are not the same as surrender. If someone new to Christianity asked you what it means to surrender, how would you explain in your own words what living a surrendered life looks like?
  • Additional Question: Where do you see surrender showing up most clearly in the everyday choices, relationships, or reactions?

SERMON NOTES

Pastor Chris Brown
January 10-11, 2026
Message #32/ Matthew 12:38-50
northcoastchurch.com/sermons

Why The Devil Loves Our Religion

 

A sign for the times:

Matthew 12:14-37, 1 Kings 10:1-13, 2 Chronicles 9:1-12
Jesus’ Family: Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3, John 7:3-5, Galatians 1:19, Acts 1:14

 

Pharisees:

 

Jonah:

 

Solomon:

 

Evil Spirits:

 

Jesus’ Family:

 

Trying to get it right:

Matthew 12:46-50, 12:33-35, 1 John 4:7-17, John 3:16-17, Romans 3:21-24

 

This truly is all about a LIVING RELATIONSHIP, not a religion that can help you get your ACT TOGETHER.

 

Our first step into this relationship is SURRENDER.

TIPS ON GROUP PRAYER

Prayer is an important part of being in a Life Group. Over the years, we’ve found that group prayer goes better when we follow three simple guidelines.

WE PRAY FOR ONE TOPIC AT A TIME – Anyone in the group is free to introduce a prayer request, either before prayer begins or during prayer time. Once a topic is introduced, the group focuses on that request alone. Once it’s covered, the group moves on to the next topic.

PRAY MORE THAN ONCE – Because the group is focusing on one topic at a time, each person is encouraged to pray several times during the prayer time for those topics they feel most led to pray about. No one is required to pray.

WE KEEP OUR PRAYERS SHORT AND SIMPLE – Group prayer goes better when members keep their prayers short and to the point. When someone prays for a long time, it’s hard for the other members to stay focused, and long prayers tend to intimidate those who are just learning to pray out loud in a group. No one is required to pray out loud.

  • Prayer Transition and Optional Question: The #1 fear most people have is speaking in public. Group prayer would fall into this category. If you have new people in your group, going over “Tips on Group Prayer” is crucial. In most cases, it’s also a good reminder for returning group members. More than once, we’ve had people tell us they quit a Life Group or didn’t join a group because they had to pray out loud.
  • Additional Question: (An important one for new groups): Prayer is an amazing avenue God has given us to communicate with Him and He with us, but we also come to it with many different thoughts and feelings. Which of the following statements is most true for you?
    • Prefer to pray silently instead of out loud
    • Find my mind wandering when praying
    • Like to write out prayers
    • Look forward to time in prayer
    • Don’t really know how to pray
    • Other
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