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THE GOD OF THE LIVING

November 1 | Discipleship Guide

Be Real Together:

Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together.
If you’re launching a new Group, trust and friendship take time to build. Take turns each week having someone share a bit of their story.

Read Together: Matthew 22:23–33 CSB

The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, try to challenge Jesus with a question about marriage in the afterlife. Jesus exposes their misunderstanding, telling them they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. He explains that life in the resurrection is beyond our earthly understanding and reminds them that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. Through Jesus’ own resurrection, we have the assurance that death is not the end and that our greatest hope is an eternal relationship with God.

The One Question:
If you only have time for one question, ask this one.

How does the truth that God is the God of the living shape the way you view your life, your relationships, and the hope you have in Christ?

Grow Together:
Use these questions to go deeper with your Group or for personal reflection.

  1. What stands out to you most in this passage? What surprises you about Jesus’ response to the Sadducees?
  2. The Sadducees came to Jesus with a question intended to trap Him rather than a genuine desire to understand. Pastor Sean asks, “Do you come to Jesus with curiosity or condescension?” What is the difference between these two postures? How might we approach Jesus when we feel we have our own assumptions already settled?
  3. Jesus tells the Sadducees they are mistaken because they do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. Why are both important? What can happen when we try to understand God without allowing Scripture to shape our thinking?
  4. Pastor Sean challenges us to consider whether we are building our values around what we hear from culture, social media, or our own preferences rather than God's Word. What are some popular ideas that can subtly conflict with Scripture? How can we grow in discernment?
  5. Jesus says that in the resurrection, people will neither marry nor be given in marriage. Pastor Sean explains that every earthly satisfaction is only a foretaste of what we will experience in God's presence. How does this challenge or expand your understanding of heaven? What might it look like to trust that every need and relationship will be complete in Him?
  6. Read Matthew 22:31–32 again. What does Jesus reveal about God's relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? How does knowing that God is the God of the living change the way we think about death?
  7. Pastor Sean reminds us that Jesus' resurrection is the foundation of our hope. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20–22. How does Jesus' victory over death shape the way you live today? Where do you need to let the hope of eternity reshape your perspective on your current circumstances?

Pray Together:

  • Ask God to give you a humble and curious heart that desires to know Him and understand His Word.
  • Pray for a deeper confidence in God's power, especially in areas that are difficult for you to understand or trust.
  • Thank Jesus for His resurrection and the promise that death is not the end for those who belong to Him.
  • Pray for anyone experiencing grief, loneliness, or uncertainty, that they would find comfort and hope in the God of the living.

Next Steps:

  • Get into God's Word. Set aside time each day this week to read Scripture. Ask not what you want the passage to say, but what God is revealing about Himself.
  • Examine your assumptions. Identify one belief or perspective you may have adopted from culture or personal preference. Compare it with what Scripture actually teaches.
  • Live with eternity in mind. Consider one area where you are placing too much hope in earthly relationships, accomplishments, or circumstances. Practice redirecting your hope toward Jesus.
  • Encourage someone with resurrection hope. Reach out to someone walking through grief or a difficult season. Remind them that in Christ, death is not the end and our relationship with God continues beyond this life.