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SERMON SERIES

Dust to Dominion

Formed in the Unseen

Weekly Lineup

WEEK 1

The Sower

Matthew 13: 1-23

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WEEK 2

Persistence in Prayer

Luke 18: 1-8

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WEEK 3

The Unforgiving Servant

Matthew 18: 21-35

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WEEK 4

Faithful & Unfaithful Servants

Luke 12: 35-48

Coming Soon

WEEK 5

The Ten Virgins

Matthew 25: 1-13

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WEEK 6

The Talents

Matthew 25: 14-30

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Discussion Guide

Use these questions to follow along with the sermon.

Bible Reading: Matthew 13: 1-23 

  1. The sermon encourages us to “remove rocks” (unresolved bitterness) and “pull thorns” (distractions and idols). What is one “rock” or “thorn” in your life that you need to address this week to create more space for God’s Word to grow? What is a concrete first step you can take?
  2. Lent is presented as a season of “reorientation,” not “restraint.” What is one daily pattern or affection that you could deliberately shift this week to reorient your heart more steadily toward God? For example, the pastor suggested, “Don’t wake up and look at your phone before you have talked to Jesus.”
  3. “Formation needs repetition and silence.” In a world of instant information, how can you intentionally incorporate more repetition (like memorization or undistracted Scripture reading) and silence (quiet prayer, solitude) into your routine this week to allow truth to sink deeper?
  4. The pastor mentioned that “the hardest person to lead is yourself.” What is one specific area of your spiritual life where you need to “lead yourself” more intentionally this week, perhaps by setting a boundary or committing to a new practice?
  5. Repentance is described as “re-alignment,” not “self-hatred.” How does understanding repentance in this way change your approach to identifying and turning away from things that hinder your spiritual growth? What is one area where you need to re-align?

Bible Reading: Luke 18: 1-14

  1. Pastor Miles encouraged us to “keep bringing your situations — bills, relational pain, fears, children, broken habits — before Jesus.” What is one specific situation you’ve been hesitant to bring to God persistently, and what is one small, tangible step you can take this week to start bringing it to Him daily?

  2. Today’s message described exchanging worry for surrender as “throwing jabs” – brief, repeated offerings of the same fear until it loses its power. Identify a specific worry you carry. How can you practice “throwing jabs” of surrender against this worry daily this week? What might that look like in your routine?

  3. The sermon emphasized cultivating daily rhythms of honest prayer, especially during Lent: “come repeatedly, be raw, and let God do his shaping work.” What does “honest prayer” look like for you, and what is one practical way you can integrate a more honest, raw prayer rhythm into your daily life this week?

  4. The persistent widow refused to disengage even when God’s timing seemed delayed or silent. Think about a prayer request you’ve been praying for a long time without an apparent answer. What specific action can you take this week to renew your commitment to persistent prayer for that situation, refusing to give up?

  5. The sermon suggests that God is developing “sticktoativeness” and a “relentless pursuit” in us through persistent prayer. Where in your life do you feel a lack of spiritual “sticktoativeness,” and how might consistent, persistent prayer help strengthen that area?

Bible Reading: Matthew 18: 21-35

  1. The sermon encouraged us to start forgiving “in the will” even when our feelings haven’t caught up. Can you identify a specific person or situation where you need to make a deliberate choice to forgive this week, regardless of how you currently feel? What would that choice look like?

  2. When memories of past pain surface, the pastor suggested replacing the replay with the cross, remembering what Christ endured and how He responded. What is one specific hurt or offense that you can intentionally bring to the cross this week, meditating on Jesus’ mercy instead of replaying the pain?

  3. We were encouraged to soak our hearts in Scripture, especially the Gospels, to see examples of Jesus forgiving those who hurt him. What is one specific story or passage about Jesus’ forgiveness that you can commit to reading and meditating on daily this week?

  4. We are called to pray persistently for those who wrong us and ask for grace to release control. Is there someone you need to commit to praying for regularly this week, specifically asking God to help you release your grip on the hurt, anger, or desire for retaliation?

  5. Forgiveness is often a process, and sometimes wounds remain, but the mark of maturity is not being consumed by hurt. What is one practical step you can take this week to prevent a past hurt from consuming your thoughts, conversations, or actions?

Bible Reading: Luke 12:35–48

Kingdom Focus: Treasure, allegiance, readiness
Key Refinement: This parable exposes not behavior but orientation. Our actions reveal what our hearts already love.

  1. How do I know what my heart is actually set on
  2. Why do I try to calculate how close I can live to the edge?
  3. What does faithfulness look like in ordinary life?
  4. Am I trusting Jesus—or just myself with religious language?
  5. How does anticipation shape daily decisions?

Lent Practice Emphasis: Simplicity, generosity, vigilance

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More on Psalms 32

David — reflecting on his own failure, confession, and the joy of God’s forgiveness (set in the Bathsheba/Uriah context; see 2 Sam 11–12). Our commentary notes Psalm 32 was likely written after Psalm 51, following reflection. 

Psalm 32 was likely written in the latter part of David’s reign, after his confrontation by Nathan (2 Samuel 12), following his confession in Psalm 51, and after a time of reflection. It stands as David’s testimony to the joy of forgiveness, written some time after the Bathsheba/Uriah incident (c. 1000–970 BC).

Used historically as one of the penitential psalms; early church tied it to baptismal instruction; Reformers emphasized it for justification by faith—picked up by Paul in Romans 4:6–9. 
Psalm 32 matters because it shows us the real cost of hiding sin and the deep joy of experiencing God’s forgiveness. Written by David after his darkest failure and eventual confession, the psalm reminds us that silence and secrecy drain the soul, while confession restores life. It shifts our view from God as an accuser to God as a refuge—our hiding place who surrounds us with songs of deliverance. Historically, the church has turned to this psalm as one of the great penitential prayers, teaching believers that forgiveness is not earned by works but received by grace, a truth Paul reinforces in Romans 4. For us today, Psalm 32 holds out a promise: we don’t have to stay buried in shame, because God offers full pardon, loving protection, and renewed joy to all who trust Him.
DEEP DIVE

More Resources

BibleProject Podcast — “Confession”

(Psalms: Language of Prayer, Part 3). Explores Psalm 32 and the shape of biblical confession in a clear, accessible way. 

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Craigie, Peter C. Psalms 1–50. Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 19. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983.

Smith, J. Josh, and Daniel L. Akin. Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2019.

Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973.

Hubbard, Robert L. Jr., and Robert K. Johnston. Psalms. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.

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