Keeping the Main Thing, the Main Thing
Sermon Summary
In this message, Pastor Sean Jones shares a personal message about the transformative power of prioritizing God's will through Lifegroup participation. Drawing from his experience as a father of five, he emphasized that true leadership begins with following Jesus and that Lifegroups are training grounds for developing our calling to lead others to Christ. Sean challenged the common tendency to drop "the things of God" when life gets overwhelming, instead calling us to fight for what matters most eternally rather than settling for temporary comfort or convenience.
The heart of the message centered on Jesus' words in Matthew 16 about denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and following Him. Sean illustrated this principle through the powerful truth: "Don't give up what you want most for what you want now." Using a visual demonstration, he showed how we must release our grip on the life we're clinging to in order to receive the abundant life God has for us. This requires intentional choices to prioritize God's presence and will over the patterns and pressures of this world.
Pastor Sean concluded by sharing a beautiful letter from his daughter Megan, who reflected on how her parents' commitment to Life Group attendance throughout her childhood profoundly shaped her faith and continues to influence her marriage today. Her testimony powerfully demonstrated that when we prioritize the things of God, especially in community, it creates a legacy that impacts generations.
Lifegroups aren't just another activity to fit into our schedules- they're essential spaces where we learn to follow Jesus, develop leadership skills, and experience the kingdom of God in ways that transform both us and the world around us.
Key Scriptures
Romans 12:2 (NIV) "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."
Matthew 16:22-23 (NIV) "Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 'Never, Lord!' he said. 'This shall never happen to you!' Jesus turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.'"
Matthew 16:24-25 (NIV) "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV) "Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."
Discussion Questions
Instructions for groups: Choose a few of these questions from the various categories to go deeper in the sermon and put the truths of Scripture into practice.
Scripture Study & Deeper Understanding
1. Read Matthew 16:22-23 and Luke 22.42. Compare and contrast Peter’s mindset vs. Jesus mindset.
2. Read Matthew 16.24-25. The sermon mentioned that carrying a cross in Roman culture symbolized submission to the authority you once opposed. How does understanding this historical context deepen our understanding of what Jesus means when He tells us to "take up our cross and follow me"?
Encouragement
3. Pastor Sean shared how God led him to Lifegroup when he was crying out for wisdom as a young father. What does this reveal about God's heart to provide community and guidance when we seek Him? How has God used community to encourage or guide you in your life?
4. Megan's letter described Lifegroup families as "family" and prioritized inviting them to her wedding. What encourages you most about the potential for deep, lasting relationships through Lifegroup participation?
Challenge
5. The sermon challenged us that "the first thing to go" when life gets overwhelming is often "the things of God." Why do you think this happens, and what would it look like in your life to fight for what matters most rather than dropping it when things get difficult?
6. Pastor Sean said his family wouldn't commit to sports that had Friday night games because of their Lifegroup commitment. What activities or commitments in your life might be competing with your ability to prioritize spiritual community? What would it look like to make different choices?
Personal Testimony
7. Share about a time when you had to choose between what you wanted "now" versus what you wanted "most." What did you learn from that experience, and how did it shape your understanding of God's will?
8. Pastor Sean described how watching other fathers in Lifegroup gave him a vision for parenting. Can you share about someone in community who has modeled something you wanted to grow in? How did their example impact your life?
Putting it into Practice
9. The sermon ended with two questions: "What do you want me to say yes to in this season?" and "What do you want me to say no to in this season?" Take time to pray and listen, then share what you sense God might be leading you toward. Pray for one another about these things.
10. Pastor Sean emphasized that we're all called to be leaders who guide others to Jesus. Based on this message, what's one specific way you can use your Lifegroup participation to grow in leadership and influence others toward God's kingdom this week?