Life Group - Study Guides

As we continue our journey from Eden to eternity through the Old Testament, we now arrive at the time of the judges. Moses has died, Joshua has faithfully led God’s people into the Promised Land, and he too has passed away. The Israelites are left without a central leader. And as you might guess—when the leader is gone, the people begin to wander. Instead of remaining faithful, the Israelites compromised with the nations around them. Sin gradually replaced obedience to God. Yet in His mercy, God raised up judges to guide, rescue, and call His people back to Himself. This week, we’ll pause here to see what God wants to show us about compromise, courage, and obedience in our own walk with Him.

Hang on tight this week—there's a lot of ground to cover! We’re going to trace God’s plan from the family of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel, meaning “to struggle with God”) all the way to how God set apart an entire nation to display His holiness. Israel was meant to be a light to the nations, pointing to the one true God, and ultimately Jesus. As we explore these passages, we will see how seriously God takes sin, how deeply He loves His people—offering mercy and grace—and how He calls them to honor Him and be set apart. We’ll also face some hard questions. God’s Word can sometimes be difficult to understand, but we will see how to dig deeper, read in context, and trust that God will honor our diligence as we seek Him.

This week we're kicking off a new series called Eden to Eternity. Sometimes we treat the Old and New Testaments like two completely separate stories, but when we step back, we see one seamless, redemptive narrative. God’s Words flow together—cover to cover—revealing His unfailing love for a broken world. Over the coming weeks, we’ll dig into foundational truths in Scripture that help us build a solid spiritual foundation—and maybe even bring some clarity to areas we’ve been struggling in.

This is our final week of 2025 Movies at The Cove, and we’re ending on a powerful note. Penguin Bloom tells the true story of a family grappling with sudden tragedy, and the long, often messy road of healing that follows. It’s not just about physical recovery—it's about identity, family, and what happens when the life you know is gone. It raises an important question for us all: Where is God when everything breaks?

In life we can get comfortable in our world—our Christian bubble. And when we do, we can begin to avoid people who are different from us. Christ didn't avoid them—He moved toward them, sat with them, and saw them as sheep without a shepherd. That’s the model we’re called to follow. Are we seeking out those who are different, or are we silently asking God to keep us surrounded by the familiar? This Sunday we watched Jesus Revolution to start that conversation. Let’s continue together in group.