These Words

PRINTER-FRIENDLY DISCUSSION GUIDE

Community Group Discussion Guide for the Week of April 12, 2026

Miss this week’s teaching? You can watch it here.

# Summary

Pastor Nick delivers a powerful message about being ambassadors for Christ and embracing our calling to reconcile the lost to God. He emphasizes that believers are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and have been given the ministry of reconciliation. He challenges us not to receive God's grace in vain, declaring that 'now is the accepted time' for salvation - not just for the lost, but for believers to experience breakthrough in their marriages, relationships, and spiritual walk. He encourages the church to see Easter as a spiritual new year and to ask God what He wants to accomplish in their lives and community between now and Easter 2027.

The message culminates with a call to action, urging believers to move beyond comfortable Christianity and say 'Here I am, Lord, send me.' Pastor Nick emphasizes that if someone lacks spiritual fire, they should fan, fuel, and fund someone else's fire. He challenges the church to think bigger than just their own growth, citing an example of a church in Arizona that set out to raise $1 million for a building project and ended up raising $7 million, using the extra $6 million to help other local churches grow because they understood they couldn't reach their entire valley alone.

# Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You with grateful hearts, acknowledging that You are the source of all grace and righteousness. As we gather together in this small group, we ask that You would open our hearts and minds to receive what You want to speak to us today. Help us to set aside our own agendas and preconceived notions, and make us receptive to Your Holy Spirit's leading. Lord, we pray that through our discussion, You would reveal areas where we may have received Your grace in vain, and show us how to live as true ambassadors for Christ. Prepare our hearts to hear Your voice and respond with willing spirits. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

# Ice Breaker

Have you ever been on a team – sports or otherwise - where the coach or leader invited you to do something unexpectedly important? What was that?

# Key Verses

  • 2 Corinthians 5:17

  • 2 Corinthians 5:20

  • 2 Corinthians 5:21

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

  • Isaiah 6:8

# Questions

  • What does it mean to you personally that you are 'the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus'? How should this truth impact your daily life?

  • Pastor Nick mentioned that we can receive God's grace 'in vain.' What are some ways believers might do this, and how can we guard against it?

  • The sermon emphasized that 'now is the accepted time' for salvation in various areas of our lives. What area of your life might God be calling you to experience His salvation or breakthrough?

  • How does understanding our role as 'ambassadors for Christ' change the way we should approach our relationships, work, and daily interactions?

  • Pastor Nick suggested that if you lack spiritual fire, you should 'fan, fuel, and fund' someone else's fire. Who in your life could you encourage and support in their spiritual journey?

  • The message challenged us to think beyond comfortable Christianity. What does 'comfortable Christianity' look like, and what would it mean for you to move beyond it?

  • When God asks 'Who will go and who will I send?' like He did with Isaiah, what holds you back from saying 'Here I am, Lord, send me'?

  • Pastor Nick mentioned Easter as a 'spiritual new year.' If you were to ask God what He wants to do in your life between now and Easter 2027, what would you hope His answer might be?

# Life Application

This week, identify one person in your life who has spiritual passion or is seeking God, and take a concrete step to 'fan, fuel, or fund' their fire. This could be through encouragement, prayer, practical support, or sharing resources. Additionally, spend time in prayer asking God specifically what He wants to do in one area of your life over the next year, and write down what you sense Him saying to you.

# Key Takeaways

  • Believers are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and have been given the ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors for Christ.

  • We must guard against receiving God's grace in vain by remaining active and passionate in our faith rather than becoming comfortable or lukewarm.

  • 'Now is the accepted time' - today can be the day of salvation for breakthrough in our marriages, relationships, and spiritual walk, not just initial salvation.

  • When we lack spiritual fire, we should fan, fuel, and fund someone else's fire, which will reignite our own passion for God.

  • God is calling us to move beyond comfortable Christianity and say 'Here I am, Lord, send me' to impact our communities and beyond.

# Ending Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for this time of fellowship and discussion. We are amazed by Your grace that has made us Your ambassadors and given us the ministry of reconciliation. Help us to leave this place not as hearers only, but as doers of Your Word. Give us courage to step out of our comfort zones and say 'Here I am, Lord, send me' in whatever area You are calling us. Help us to fan the flames of faith in others and to live as true representatives of Your kingdom. May we not receive Your grace in vain, but allow it to transform us and flow through us to reach others. We commit this week to You and ask for Your strength to live out what we've discussed. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.

2 CorinthiansPastor Jason MookMTN CHURCH