Connect Group Study Guide
Week 1 – Living in the Awkward Middle
Key Scripture: Hebrews 11:1; Psalm 13
Icebreaker: Share about a time you were “stuck in the middle” (travel delay, project, waiting for news). How did it feel?
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think the Christian life often feels like “the awkward middle”?
How do you usually respond when God seems slow to answer or move?
Psalm 13 shows David wrestling with God’s silence — how does his honesty encourage us?
What’s one “gap” you are living in right now between God’s promise and your reality?
Practical Step: Pray over one area of “the gap” this week, asking God to teach you trust.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Hebrews 11:1
Big Idea: Faith lives in the tension of what we know and what we don’t see yet.
Discussion Questions:
What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “the awkward middle”?
Can you share an example where you’ve lived in the gap between what you know of God and what you experienced?
How can Hebrews 11:1 help us view these seasons differently?
Why do you think God allows the “awkward middle” instead of giving immediate answers?
What is one area where you are trusting God in the middle right now?
Leader Tip: Validate people’s struggles. Don’t rush to “fix” their gap.
Week 2 – God Loves Me… But I Struggle to Feel It
Key Scripture: Romans 8:38–39; Ephesians 3:17–19
Icebreaker: What’s something you believed as a child that made you feel loved (bedtime story, hug, gift, words)?
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think it’s often easier to know God loves us than to feel it?
Share a moment when you really sensed God’s love in a personal way.
How do our circumstances sometimes distort our view of God’s love?
What practices help you remind your heart of truth when your feelings don’t align?
Practical Step: Read Romans 8:31–39 daily this week, and each time you feel unloved, speak verse 39 aloud.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Romans 8:38–39
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think it’s sometimes hard to feel God’s love, even though we know it?
What are some common “gaps” between head knowledge and heart experience?
How have you personally experienced God’s love breaking through in a difficult time?
What practices or habits help us remain aware of God’s love?
How can we remind one another of God’s love when we can’t feel it ourselves?
Leader Tip: Be sensitive — this may surface wounds around family, rejection, or unworthiness.
Week 3 – I Am Accepted As I Am… But I Should Be Better By Now
Key Scripture: Philippians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 3:18
Icebreaker: What’s one thing you’ve learned to do over time (ride a bike, cook, fix something) that took patience?
Discussion Questions:
How does it make you feel to know God accepts you right where you are?
In what ways do you sometimes pressure yourself to “be better” faster than God is leading?
How have you seen God’s grace transforming you over time?
How can we encourage each other in progress rather than perfection?
Practical Step: Share with one person this week an area where you’ve seen God change you — celebrate progress.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Philippians 1:6
Discussion Questions:
Why do we struggle with the tension between God’s acceptance and our imperfections?
How does knowing God is still working in us bring freedom?
Share a time when you felt pressure to “be better by now.” What did you learn?
What is the danger of comparing your spiritual progress to others?
How can we celebrate progress in the awkward middle instead of despising it?
Week 4 – The Gap of Not Good Enough
Key Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:9–10; Romans 3:23–24
Icebreaker: Share something you once thought you weren’t good enough at but later overcame.
Discussion Questions:
Why do we often feel “not good enough” in our spiritual life?
How do Paul’s words “My grace is sufficient for you” change how we see weakness?
What does it mean that God chooses the weak to display His strength?
Where do you most need to replace “I’m not enough” with “Christ is enough”?
Practical Step: Write down your top “not enough” thought this week and replace it with a Scripture truth.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Ephesians 2:10
Discussion Questions:
Where do feelings of “not good enough” usually come from?
How do these feelings affect the way we see ourselves and others?
What does it mean to be God’s “masterpiece”?
How do we fight back against lies of inadequacy with God’s truth?
What would change if you believed you were truly enough in Christ?
Leader Tip: Encourage participants to speak God’s truth over one another this week.
Week 5 – The Gap Between Faith and Works
Key Scripture: James 2:14–17; Ephesians 2:8–10
Icebreaker: Who’s someone you admire for living out their faith through action?
Discussion Questions:
Why do you think there is tension between faith and works in the church?
What’s the difference between doing works to earn God’s love vs. doing them because of God’s love?
How does abiding in Christ naturally produce fruit in our lives?
What “fruit” would you like to see more of in your walk with God?
Practical Step: Do one unseen act of service this week, motivated by your faith.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: James 2:17
Discussion Questions:
Why do we often separate faith and works, when the Bible keeps them together?
What’s the danger of leaning too heavily on “faith without works”?
What’s the danger of leaning too heavily on “works without faith”?
How can works become an overflow of genuine faith rather than a performance?
What is one act of service you can do this week out of love for God?
Week 6 – God Has a Purpose for Me… But I Don’t Know It Yet
Key Scripture: Proverbs 3:5–6; Acts 16:6–10
Icebreaker: Share a time when your plans were changed, but it worked out better than you expected.
Discussion Questions:
Why do we often expect God to reveal our whole purpose at once?
How do closed doors sometimes protect us rather than hurt us?
What’s one way you’ve seen God guide you step by step in the past?
How does trusting God with the “next step” change your perspective on purpose?
Practical Step: Pray each morning this week, “Lord, show me the next step today.” Journal what happens.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Proverbs 3:5–6
Discussion Questions:
Why do we crave to know the “big picture” of our lives?
What do you think God teaches us in the waiting?
Share a story where God revealed His purpose step by step rather than all at once.
How does trusting in the Lord change the way we wait for His purpose?
What is one small next step you sense God leading you to take?
Week 7 – The Gap Between What I Pray and What I See
Key Scripture: Luke 18:1–8; Habakkuk 2:3
Icebreaker: What’s the longest you’ve ever waited for something you really wanted?
Discussion Questions:
How do you respond when it feels like your prayers aren’t being answered?
Why is persistence in prayer so important, according to Jesus?
Share a time when God’s timing felt delayed but later made sense.
How can we encourage each other to keep praying when it’s hard?
Practical Step: Choose one prayer you’ve been tempted to quit and commit to praying for it daily this week.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 5:7
Discussion Questions:
How do you respond when your prayers seem unanswered?
What lies do we sometimes believe when God delays His response?
Can you share an example where God’s timing was different but better?
What does it mean to “walk by faith, not by sight” in prayer?
How can we encourage each other to keep praying in the awkward middle?
Week 8 – The Gap Between Hope and Disappointment
Key Scripture: Proverbs 13:12; Romans 5:3–5
Icebreaker: Share about a disappointment that later turned into a blessing.
Discussion Questions:
Why do disappointments often shake our hope so deeply?
How does Romans 5:3–5 help us see God’s purpose in hard times?
What can we learn from Joseph’s story about God’s redemption of disappointment?
How has Jesus met you in moments of pain or loss?
Practical Step: Write down a disappointment and surrender it to God in prayer. Share it with a trusted friend.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Romans 5:3–5
Discussion Questions:
How do you usually handle disappointment with God or others?
What happens if we let disappointment define our faith?
How does Romans 5 describe God using suffering and disappointment?
Can you think of a time God redeemed a disappointment in your life?
How can we practically turn disappointment into renewed hope?
Week 9 – Choosing to Believe the Best in the Gap
Key Scripture: Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:2
Icebreaker: Share one assumption you made about someone that turned out to be wrong (funny or serious).
Discussion Questions:
How do our thoughts shape the way we see God and life?
Why is it easy to assume the worst about God when things don’t go our way?
How does Philippians 4:8 help us “choose to believe the best”?
What declaration of truth about God do you need to hold onto in your own “gap”?
Practical Step: Create a declaration like: “When I face a gap, I choose to believe the best
about God.” Speak it daily this week.
LEADERS:
Key Verse: Philippians 4:8
Discussion Questions:
Why is it so easy to assume the worst about God, ourselves, or others in the gap?
How do our thoughts shape our assumptions and expectations?
What does it look like to “choose to believe the best” in real life?
Share an example where you filled the gap with trust instead of suspicion.
How can we cultivate a community that assumes the best rather than the worst?
Leader Tip: Encourage testimonies — this final week is a chance to celebrate growth and renewed faith.
