Church @ Home Guides
Here you will find discussion guides for your Church @ Home group each week.
Week of October 4
Church @ Home — Week of October 4
Theme: What Do We Return To?
Formation aim: To notice what we instinctively return to when life settles down, and to practice a life that keeps returning to Jesus with gratitude, worship, and whole-life surrender.
This gathering follows the Church @ Home rhythm of Table & Prayer, Word & Discernment, Service & Care, and Invitation & Mission. The goal is not to reteach Sunday’s sermon but to create space where people encounter God together through Scripture and shared life.
Primary group Scripture: John 4:4–30, 39–42
Leader note: Luke 17:11–19 was the main sermon passage, so we will intentionally not reread or study it tonight.
Gathering Flow | 75–90 minutes
1. Table, Meal & Communion | 25–30 min
Eat together. Give people time to arrive, settle in, and genuinely connect. Don't rush the table to get to the “study.”
Gratitude
As you eat, invite everyone to share:
What is one gift from God you noticed this week—big or small?
Let gratitude become prayer. After everyone who wants to share has done so, thank God together.
Confession
Before communion, create a short period of quiet.
Invite everyone to consider privately:
When life becomes difficult—or when life finally gets better—where am I tempted to turn instead of toward Jesus?
No one needs to answer aloud.
After some silence, pray together for God's mercy and grace.
Communion
Take the bread and cup together in the context of the meal. Remember that Jesus doesn't simply improve our circumstances; he gives himself to us.
Thank Jesus for his body given and blood shed, and receive communion together.
2. Word & Discernment | 30–35 min
Pray before you read.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear what God is saying through Scripture. Then read John 4:4–30, 39–42 aloud. If helpful, have different people read portions.
Before discussing it, give everyone 2–3 quiet minutes.
Ask them to:
- Notice words, actions, repetitions, or changes that stand out.
- Write down something they wonder about.
- Notice what the woman seems to understand about Jesus as the story develops.
Then discover the passage together.
Start simply:
What did you notice?
What questions did the passage raise for you?
From there, let the group's observations guide the conversation. When helpful, explore questions like:
What seems to change for the woman during her encounter with Jesus?
Look at verses 28–30. What does she leave behind, and where does she go? Why do you think John includes those details?
What do you notice about the movement from her encounter with Jesus to the response of the town in verses 39–42?
What does this passage show us about what can happen when someone truly encounters Jesus?
Where might Jesus be inviting us to respond differently because we've encountered him?
Don't feel pressure to answer every question. Follow what the group is genuinely discovering.
If a textual or contextual question comes up that the group cannot answer, you may briefly use Redeemer's Custom GPT together for clarification. Use it to help understand the text—not to replace the group's observation, prayer, or discernment.
3. Service & Care | 10–15 min
Ask:
What is happening in our lives right now that this group should know about?
Listen for needs rather than immediately trying to solve them.
Is someone overwhelmed? Does someone need a meal, childcare, encouragement, practical help, prayer, or simply someone to call this week?
Choose one or two tangible ways the group can care for one another.
Pray specifically for the needs shared.
4. Invitation & Mission | 10 min
Return briefly to John 4:28–30.
The woman's encounter with Jesus naturally moved outward toward other people.
Ask:
Who is already in your life that you could move toward this week—not as a project, but with genuine hospitality, care, or an invitation?
Consider one simple action: share a meal, send a text, invite someone over, check on a neighbor, or invite someone into the next gathering.
Close by praying for those people by name.
Theme: What Do We Return To?
Formation aim: To notice what we instinctively return to when life settles down, and to practice a life that keeps returning to Jesus with gratitude, worship, and whole-life surrender.
This gathering follows the Church @ Home rhythm of Table & Prayer, Word & Discernment, Service & Care, and Invitation & Mission. The goal is not to reteach Sunday’s sermon but to create space where people encounter God together through Scripture and shared life.
Primary group Scripture: John 4:4–30, 39–42
Leader note: Luke 17:11–19 was the main sermon passage, so we will intentionally not reread or study it tonight.
Gathering Flow | 75–90 minutes
1. Table, Meal & Communion | 25–30 min
Eat together. Give people time to arrive, settle in, and genuinely connect. Don't rush the table to get to the “study.”
Gratitude
As you eat, invite everyone to share:
What is one gift from God you noticed this week—big or small?
Let gratitude become prayer. After everyone who wants to share has done so, thank God together.
Confession
Before communion, create a short period of quiet.
Invite everyone to consider privately:
When life becomes difficult—or when life finally gets better—where am I tempted to turn instead of toward Jesus?
No one needs to answer aloud.
After some silence, pray together for God's mercy and grace.
Communion
Take the bread and cup together in the context of the meal. Remember that Jesus doesn't simply improve our circumstances; he gives himself to us.
Thank Jesus for his body given and blood shed, and receive communion together.
2. Word & Discernment | 30–35 min
Pray before you read.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you hear what God is saying through Scripture. Then read John 4:4–30, 39–42 aloud. If helpful, have different people read portions.
Before discussing it, give everyone 2–3 quiet minutes.
Ask them to:
- Notice words, actions, repetitions, or changes that stand out.
- Write down something they wonder about.
- Notice what the woman seems to understand about Jesus as the story develops.
Then discover the passage together.
Start simply:
What did you notice?
What questions did the passage raise for you?
From there, let the group's observations guide the conversation. When helpful, explore questions like:
What seems to change for the woman during her encounter with Jesus?
Look at verses 28–30. What does she leave behind, and where does she go? Why do you think John includes those details?
What do you notice about the movement from her encounter with Jesus to the response of the town in verses 39–42?
What does this passage show us about what can happen when someone truly encounters Jesus?
Where might Jesus be inviting us to respond differently because we've encountered him?
Don't feel pressure to answer every question. Follow what the group is genuinely discovering.
If a textual or contextual question comes up that the group cannot answer, you may briefly use Redeemer's Custom GPT together for clarification. Use it to help understand the text—not to replace the group's observation, prayer, or discernment.
3. Service & Care | 10–15 min
Ask:
What is happening in our lives right now that this group should know about?
Listen for needs rather than immediately trying to solve them.
Is someone overwhelmed? Does someone need a meal, childcare, encouragement, practical help, prayer, or simply someone to call this week?
Choose one or two tangible ways the group can care for one another.
Pray specifically for the needs shared.
4. Invitation & Mission | 10 min
Return briefly to John 4:28–30.
The woman's encounter with Jesus naturally moved outward toward other people.
Ask:
Who is already in your life that you could move toward this week—not as a project, but with genuine hospitality, care, or an invitation?
Consider one simple action: share a meal, send a text, invite someone over, check on a neighbor, or invite someone into the next gathering.
Close by praying for those people by name.
Devotional Reading
Church @ Home — Week of October 4
Returning to Jesus
This week's sermon asked a searching question:
What do I run back to?
These readings aren't homework and aren't intended to give you all the answers before your Church @ Home gathering. They're an invitation to spend a few minutes each day listening to God through Scripture.
How to Use This Plan
Before each reading, pray. Ask God to help you listen.
Then read slowly, perhaps more than once.
Notice what catches your attention. Write down questions instead of feeling pressure to immediately answer them. Bring those questions and discoveries with you when your Church @ Home gathers.
You can use Redeemer's Custom GPT when you need help understanding a word, context, or connection. Let it clarify things rather than doing the wrestling with Scripture for you.
Reading 1 — Luke 17:11–19
A person who turns around
This is Sunday's sermon passage. Read it again slowly, devotionally rather than analytically.
Notice movement in the story: going, seeing, cleansing, turning, praising, falling, thanking.
Which movement catches your attention today?
Don't rush to explain why.
Reading 2 — Psalm 103:1–14
Don't forget
Notice everything the psalmist tells himself not to forget.
What does remembering God produce in this psalm?
Consider:
What goodness from God am I most likely to receive and then quickly forget?
Spend some time simply thanking him.
Reading 3 — Jeremiah 2:11–13
Where do I go for water?
This one is short. Read it several times.
Pay attention to the two images God uses: the fountain and the broken cisterns.
What questions do those images raise for you?
Without trying to manufacture guilt, ask God:
Are there places I'm trying to find life that cannot actually hold water?
Sit quietly for a moment before moving on.
Reading 4 — John 4:4–30
An encounter that changes direction
Read the conversation slowly.
Notice how the woman's understanding of Jesus changes as the conversation unfolds.
Notice her questions.
Notice Jesus' questions and statements.
Then notice what happens in verses 28–30.
What surprises you about her response to Jesus?
Write down what you notice and bring it to your Church @ Home gathering. Don't worry about reaching a conclusion yet.
Reading 5 — 2 Corinthians 5:14–21
A new life that moves outward
Notice Paul's language about the old and the new.
What seems to change when someone belongs to Christ?
Then notice where Paul's attention goes after verse 17.
What might the connection be between becoming new and being sent toward others?
Finish by praying:
Jesus, show me what it means to receive the life you give rather than simply returning to the life I already know. Show me where you are inviting me to turn toward you—and whom you are inviting me to move toward this week.
Returning to Jesus
This week's sermon asked a searching question:
What do I run back to?
These readings aren't homework and aren't intended to give you all the answers before your Church @ Home gathering. They're an invitation to spend a few minutes each day listening to God through Scripture.
How to Use This Plan
Before each reading, pray. Ask God to help you listen.
Then read slowly, perhaps more than once.
Notice what catches your attention. Write down questions instead of feeling pressure to immediately answer them. Bring those questions and discoveries with you when your Church @ Home gathers.
You can use Redeemer's Custom GPT when you need help understanding a word, context, or connection. Let it clarify things rather than doing the wrestling with Scripture for you.
Reading 1 — Luke 17:11–19
A person who turns around
This is Sunday's sermon passage. Read it again slowly, devotionally rather than analytically.
Notice movement in the story: going, seeing, cleansing, turning, praising, falling, thanking.
Which movement catches your attention today?
Don't rush to explain why.
Reading 2 — Psalm 103:1–14
Don't forget
Notice everything the psalmist tells himself not to forget.
What does remembering God produce in this psalm?
Consider:
What goodness from God am I most likely to receive and then quickly forget?
Spend some time simply thanking him.
Reading 3 — Jeremiah 2:11–13
Where do I go for water?
This one is short. Read it several times.
Pay attention to the two images God uses: the fountain and the broken cisterns.
What questions do those images raise for you?
Without trying to manufacture guilt, ask God:
Are there places I'm trying to find life that cannot actually hold water?
Sit quietly for a moment before moving on.
Reading 4 — John 4:4–30
An encounter that changes direction
Read the conversation slowly.
Notice how the woman's understanding of Jesus changes as the conversation unfolds.
Notice her questions.
Notice Jesus' questions and statements.
Then notice what happens in verses 28–30.
What surprises you about her response to Jesus?
Write down what you notice and bring it to your Church @ Home gathering. Don't worry about reaching a conclusion yet.
Reading 5 — 2 Corinthians 5:14–21
A new life that moves outward
Notice Paul's language about the old and the new.
What seems to change when someone belongs to Christ?
Then notice where Paul's attention goes after verse 17.
What might the connection be between becoming new and being sent toward others?
Finish by praying:
Jesus, show me what it means to receive the life you give rather than simply returning to the life I already know. Show me where you are inviting me to turn toward you—and whom you are inviting me to move toward this week.