Inside the Circle is a four-week group launch experience designed to help people move from sitting in rows to sharing life in circles. The big idea is simple: Inside the Circle is where you belong, where faith grows, and where life happens together. Each week builds on the last, creating space for Scripture, story, discussion, and ownership. The goal is to help participants taste authentic community and understand how their presence, voice, and faith make the group stronger. 

Download the full leader guide for Inside the Circle here.

Icebreaker:

If your GPS had a celebrity voice, who would you pick — Morgan Freeman, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Samuel L. Jackson, Oprah, McConaughey — or someone else?

1. Detours & Delays

• Can you think of a time when what felt like a delay or setback in your life later turned out to be protection or preparation from God?

2. God’s Purposes in the Mess

• Paul’s chains became his platform. How might God be using something in your life right now that you wish He would just take away?

3. No One Is Too Far & God’s Appointments

• In Acts 25, God put Paul before rulers who looked beyond reach, showing that no one is too far gone and that delays are often divine appointments. Who in your life might you be tempted to write off, and what opportunities might God be setting up for you to share hope with them?

4. Waiting Isn’t Wasted

• How can this group help you practice faithfulness during seasons of waiting, trusting that God might be using the “pause” to set the stage for something bigger?

Acts 26 shows Paul turning a high-stakes hearing into a gospel moment: he tells his conversion, embraces his commission, and centers everything on the resurrection. Festus calls it madness; Agrippa dodges; Paul lovingly presses for decision. The sermon calls us to do the same—tell our whole story, cling to resurrection hope in a week of grief, and seize God-given opportunities to make Jesus known with obedience and courage.

1. If your life story had three chapter titles—“Before,” “But Then…,” and “Now”—what would they be? Keep it light but real.

2. Paul shares both his conversion and his commission (Acts 26:12–18). Which part do you share most naturally with others, and which part do you tend to leave out? Why?

3. “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). Where do you need that resurrection hope to speak louder than grief, fear, or cynicism right now? 

4. “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19). What’s one specific act of obedience the Spirit may be nudging you toward this week—small or large?

5. Festus called Paul insane (Acts 26:24). When have you felt pressure to downplay your faith because it might cost reputation, comfort, or opportunity? What would gracious boldness look like in that kind of moment?

6. Paul turned a courtroom into a mission field (Acts 26:29). Identify one ordinary setting you’re likely to be in this week (work, coffee, sideline, neighborhood). What is one concrete way you can make Jesus known there—with your words or your presence?

This sermon from Acts 27 reminds us that storms — the hardships and crises of life — are not just setbacks but often the very tools God uses to accomplish His mission. Just as Paul’s shipwreck brought the gospel to Malta, our storms can strip away false securities and create opportunities to make Jesus known. Like Paul, we are called to cling to God’s promises and speak faith even in the middle of the storm, trusting that He will get us to the other side.

1.  What’s the craziest or most memorable storm you’ve ever been in — thunderstorm, snowstorm, or even a “life storm” you can laugh about now?

2. In Acts 27, Paul couldn’t change the storm, but he clung to God’s promise that he would make it to Rome. When life feels out of control, what promises of God do you find yourself holding onto?

3. In Mark 4, the disciples cried out, “Don’t you care if we drown?” How do you usually respond when it feels like God is silent or not stepping in to calm your storm?

4. The sailors in Acts 27 threw cargo, gear, and even hope overboard. What “false securities” in your own life tend to get stripped away when you go through hardships?

5. Paul spoke up in the storm, declaring his trust in God. What makes it difficult for us to openly declare our faith when others are watching us struggle — and what might happen if we did?

6. If storms are not just obstacles to survive but platforms for making Jesus known, what’s one practical way you could come alongside someone in a storm right now so that the hope of Christ is made visible?

In Acts 27, Paul shows us that storms don’t erase God’s promises. Even when hope seemed lost, Paul’s faith gave courage to the whole ship. He cut away backup plans, gave thanks in the chaos, and trusted God to bring them safely through. Sometimes God doesn’t save us from the wreck—but through it—and uses our storms to bring hope to others.

1.  What’s the worst travel experience you’ve ever had? (flight delays, road trips gone wrong, lost luggage, crazy weather, etc.) How did you handle it in the moment?

2. The sailors had to cut away the lifeboat—their safety net. What’s a “lifeboat” you’re tempted to keep tied close “just in case” God doesn’t come through?

3. Paul’s faith wasn’t just for himself—his courage became a lifeline for everyone on the ship. How have you seen someone else’s faith strengthen you in a difficult season?

4. Paul clung to a promise in the storm (“You will testify in Rome”). What’s a promise of God that you personally need to cling to right now?

5. Sometimes God doesn’t save us from the wreck but through it. Looking back, where has God used a storm in your life to shape you or to bring you somewhere you didn’t expect

6. When storms come, we often discover who we can really lean on. Who has been that person for you?