May Book Club Private page
Book Club Study Guide
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
A Gentle Response
- A gentle response shows that we value the person and the relationship more than winning the argument
- Jesus was described as "gentle and humble in heart" — gentleness is not weakness, it's Christlike strength under control
- Choosing our words carefully in tense moments is one of the most powerful witnesses we can offer
Has a gentle response ever completely changed the direction of a tense conversation? What made it possible to respond that way — and what did it open up?
Overcome with Love
- The only way to truly overcome evil is to ensure the hurting world around us knows there's a better way — demonstrated by love in action
- Evil tempts us toward comfort and turning a blind eye — love compels us to step in even when it costs something
- 350,000 children in US foster care. 350,000 churches across the country. Imagine what one-for-one love in action could do
Where do you feel most stirred to be the hands and feet of Jesus right now — even if it's outside your comfort zone? What would taking one step in that direction look like?
Marked by Excellence
- Daniel and his friends were ten times better than the world's best — not because of their own talent, but because they were in tune with the Source
- We are created in the image of the most creative, compassionate, adventurous being in existence — excellence is our birthright in Christ
- It doesn't matter if you love your circumstances or not — when we work for Jesus, everything becomes an act of worship
What would it look like to bring a "working for the Lord" mindset to the most ordinary or unglamorous part of your week? How could that reframe something that feels tedious or hard?
It's Not in Vain
- God sees every effort we make — our labor for Him is never invisible and never wasted
- The harvest has its own timing — our job is faithfulness, not results
- The family of faith is our first community to pour into — when we do good to one another, we build a community strong enough to weather anything
Is there an area where you've been faithfully doing good and haven't yet seen the fruit? What helps you keep going — and how can this group encourage you in it?
Promote Peace
- Peace isn't the absence of conflict — it's the active presence of reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity
- Holiness isn't perfection — it's a dedicated heart that keeps choosing God's way and allowing His Spirit to transform us from the inside
- Together, peace and holiness make us living testimonies that draw others toward the Lord
Where in your life is God inviting you to pursue peace more actively — not just avoid conflict, but genuinely seek reconciliation or restoration?
Causing an Emotional Response
- Unexpected kindness to an enemy doesn't just confuse them — it creates an emotional response that can lead to genuine change of heart
- "God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance" (Romans 2:4) — our kindness can do the same
- We may never see the outcome, but we can trust that God uses every act of unexpected love as a seed
Has there ever been a time when someone showed you unexpected kindness that cracked something open in you? What did it do — and did it change how you saw them?
Heavenly Wisdom
- Heavenly wisdom is pure — free from selfish motives — and that purity shapes everything else that flows from it
- It is peaceful, kind, open to reason, merciful, fruitful, impartial, and without hypocrisy — a complete picture of what love looks like in practice
- Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness — wisdom and peacemaking are inseparably linked
Looking at the full list in James 3:17 — pure, peaceful, kind, open to reason, merciful, fruitful, impartial, genuine — which of these feels most alive in you right now, and which feels like your biggest growth edge?
The Big Thread This Month
May asked us to be the contrast the world is desperate for: move in the opposite spirit, serve first, give generously, pursue peace, respond with gentleness, overcome evil with good, work with excellence, keep going when you're weary, and let heavenly wisdom — not the world's — shape every word and every response. Love in action. Every single day.
Tonight's Discussion
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
What a month it's been! We close May the same way we opened it — with love that looks different, responds differently, and chooses differently. Pick the questions that light something up and let's celebrate what God has been doing. Come ready to share!
Jesus was described as "gentle and humble in heart" — and Proverbs says a gentle response can deflect fury entirely. Has there been a moment this month where you chose a soft answer over a sharp one — and watched something shift? Tell us what happened!
The devotion reminds us there are 350,000 children in foster care and 350,000 churches in America. What stirs in your heart when you sit with that picture? Has God been nudging you toward any specific need — in your community or beyond — that you'd love to share?
Daniel and his friends were ten times better than the world's best — not because of sheer talent, but because they were in tune with God. Where in your life do you feel God's creativity or excellence flowing through you most naturally? What does that look like?
Galatians says if we don't give up, we will reap the harvest in due time. Is there something you've been faithfully pouring into — a person, a prayer, a calling — where you haven't yet seen the fruit? How can this group come alongside you and cheer you on?
Peace isn't just the absence of conflict — it's actively pursuing reconciliation and unity. Has there been a relationship in your life where pursuing real peace — not just keeping the peace — led to something beautiful? What made you take that step?
Unexpected kindness to someone who doesn't deserve it — that's one of the most powerful things we can do. Has someone ever shown you that kind of grace when you least expected it? What did it do to you — and did it change how you treated others afterward?
James gives us a beautiful list of what wisdom from above looks like — pure, peaceful, kind, open to reason, merciful, fruitful, impartial, genuine. Looking back over this whole month of May, which of these qualities do you feel God has been growing in you? Celebrate it — we want to hear!
Closing May
A whole month of moving in the opposite spirit. You've been choosing gentleness over retaliation, generosity over scarcity, peace over being right, and love over comfort. That's not small — that's transformation. Carry it into June and watch what God does with it.
Go around the room. Each person shares one moment from May where they saw God show up — in them or through them. Celebrate together, then pray for each other going into June.
Book Club Study Guide
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
Losing Is Gain
- Every gospel repeats this — Jesus clearly meant for us to sit with it: we gain by losing, we live by surrendering
- Losing our lives for Jesus means prioritizing His mission over our own desires, comfort, and ambitions
- The apostles left everything — and their "loss" became a legacy of faith still impacting the world today
Where in your life has surrendering something — a plan, a comfort, a preference — actually led to greater freedom or purpose? How did letting go open something up?
Humility Leads to Wisdom
- True wisdom begins with acknowledging we don't have all the answers — and being genuinely open to godly counsel
- King Solomon — the wisest man who ever lived — sought God's guidance above his own intellect
- Humility in seeking advice isn't weakness; it's one of the most powerful positions we can take
Who is a wise, trusted voice in your life that you can go to for godly counsel? How has their wisdom shaped a decision or season for you?
Real Abundance
- Jesus' entire ministry was marked by giving — healing, feeding, teaching, and ultimately laying down His life
- Real abundance isn't what we accumulate — it's what we pour out, knowing God refills us as we give
- Whether it's finances, time, skill, or emotional support — every act of generosity builds God's kingdom and demonstrates His love
What's one way you've stepped into someone else's story recently — even in a small way — and felt that joy that only comes from giving? What did it stir in you?
Stop Kvetching
- In a world saturated with complaints, a life without grumbling is genuinely countercultural — and powerfully attractive
- This isn't about ignoring injustice — it's about responding with grace, patience, and a spirit that draws people toward Jesus
- Our reactions in hard moments are some of the loudest testimonies we have — we literally shine like stars when we choose differently
Can you think of a moment when someone's gracious, non-complaining response to something hard actually made you stop and notice? What was it about them that stood out?
Godly Repayment
- Repaying evil with blessing breaks the cycle of retaliation — and reflects something so unexpected it opens hearts
- This doesn't mean tolerating harm — it means choosing to pray, speak kindly, or offer help even when it isn't deserved
- Jesus modeled this perfectly — even from the cross, He responded with love, forgiveness, and grace
Has there been a time when someone blessed you instead of retaliating — when you expected pushback and got grace instead? What did that do to you?
Anger Doesn't Accomplish
- Being quick to listen shows honor and humility — it prevents the misunderstandings that so often ignite conflict
- Pausing before we speak gives the Holy Spirit room to shape our words into something that builds rather than tears down
- Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit — when we're slow to anger, we demonstrate a heart genuinely transformed by God's love
Who in your life models what it looks like to be truly quick to listen and slow to speak? What do you most admire about how they handle tension?
Break the Cycle
- It takes genuine grace and strength to choose good in the face of evil — and that kind of response has the power to soften hearts and open doors
- Doing good to everyone — including those who've hurt us — embodies the love and mercy of Jesus in the most tangible way
- One person choosing to break the cycle of retaliation can start a ripple that changes an entire community
Can you think of someone — in your life, in history, or in Scripture — who broke a cycle of hurt or retaliation with love? What was the ripple effect?
The Big Thread This Week
This week is a masterclass in moving in the opposite direction of what comes naturally: lose to gain, seek wisdom humbly, give generously, stop grumbling, repay evil with blessing, slow down before you speak, and break the cycle. Every single day is an invitation to be the contrast the world is desperate for.
Tonight's Discussion
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
This week keeps building on the same beautiful theme — love that looks radically different from the world around us. Pick the questions that spark something in you and let's go there together. Come ready to share and be encouraged!
The apostles gave up everything — and their surrender became a legacy still changing lives today. Has there been a season in your own life where letting go of something you held tightly turned into something greater than you expected? We'd love to hear it!
Solomon — the wisest person who ever lived — still sought God's guidance and the counsel of others above his own understanding. Who is a trusted, wise voice in your life right now, and how has their counsel shaped you?
Acts 20:35 says there's more happiness in giving than in receiving. What's the most unexpectedly joyful act of giving you've experienced — whether you were the giver or the receiver? What made it so life-giving?
Philippians says when we stop complaining and arguing, we shine like stars. Has there been a moment recently where you chose gratitude or grace instead of grumbling — and it actually shifted the atmosphere in the room? Tell us about it!
Peter says we're called to repay evil with blessing — and that in doing so, we actually inherit a blessing ourselves. Has someone ever responded to a hard situation in your life with unexpected grace or kindness? What did that moment do for you?
James says being quick to listen and slow to speak is how we reflect a heart transformed by God. Think of someone you know who truly embodies this — who listens well and speaks carefully. What is it about them that you'd love to grow into?
One person choosing love over retaliation can start a ripple that changes everything around them. Who comes to mind — in your life, in history, or in Scripture — who broke a cycle with love? What was the ripple effect of their choice?
Closing the Circle
Every question this week points to the same truth: the world is watching how we respond — and when we choose love, grace, and generosity over what comes naturally, we become the contrast people didn't know they were looking for. That's not a burden — that's an adventure.
Go around the room. Each person shares one specific way they want to be the contrast this week — and the group prays for them by name to walk it out with joy.
Book Club Study Guide
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
Let Go of Control
- Worry is a natural response to uncertainty — but faith moves in the opposite spirit and trusts God's perfect wisdom over our limited understanding
- Trusting God means releasing the need to control — and believing He is sovereign and good even in chaos
- The widow of Zarephath served Elijah out of her scarcity and experienced miraculous provision — as we pour out, God fills us up
Where is God inviting you to loosen your grip and trust Him more fully? What does stepping out in faith — even with open hands — look like for you right now?
Cheerful Generosity
- Generosity is an act of worship — and our heart posture matters as much as the gift itself
- When giving feels heavy, it's often a signal of where our trust actually sits — more in our resources than in God's provision
- Jesus commended the widow who gave out of poverty — true generosity is measured by the heart, not the amount
Has there been a time when you gave generously — of time, money, energy, or love — and experienced God's provision in return? What did that feel like?
Be Humbled
- Humility isn't self-deprecation — it's acknowledging that every gift, strength, and success comes from God
- Jesus washed His disciples' feet — the Son of God — demonstrating that true greatness is found in serving, not being served
- When we choose humility, we align with God's heart and open the door for Him to exalt us in His perfect timing
Can you think of a time when choosing humility — putting someone else first — opened a door you didn't expect? What happened?
Peacemakers
- There's a difference between peacekeeping (avoiding conflict) and peacemaking (actively pursuing reconciliation)
- Peacemakers listen more than they speak and value relationships over being right
- Abigail's story in 1 Samuel 25 — acting swiftly with wisdom and humility — prevented bloodshed and saved lives. That's the power of one peacemaker
Is there a relationship in your life where God might be inviting you to move from peacekeeping to peacemaking? What's one step toward that this week?
Joy Isn't Happenstance
- Happiness depends on circumstances — joy is rooted in relationship with God and is available regardless of what's happening around us
- Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him — joy that sees beyond present pain to eternal purpose
- A joyful heart is contagious — choosing joy doesn't just strengthen us, it uplifts everyone around us
When life has been hard, where have you found genuine joy — not happiness, but that deep, settled sense that God is good and present? How did you get there?
The Paradox of Giving
- Society values accumulation — God's kingdom runs on the paradox that giving is how we receive
- The measure you give with is the measure God uses in return — a teaspoon in, a teaspoon back; an overflowing cup in, an overflowing cup back
- The early church gave freely, shared everything, and the result was a community marked by unity and joy
The devotion asks: what measure are you currently giving with — a teaspoon or an overflowing cup? What's one area where you'd love to give more generously?
Finding Life
- True life is found in surrender — letting go of our own plans and trusting God's perfect will is not loss, it's freedom
- When we give the Holy Spirit room to redirect our day, the ordinary becomes extraordinary — every day becomes an adventure
- Surrendering our plans doesn't mean passivity — it means staying open to what God can accomplish in a moment that we couldn't accomplish in a lifetime
Has there been a moment when surrendering your plans to God led somewhere better than you ever could have planned yourself? Share it — we'd love to hear!
The Big Thread This Week
This week is a beautiful picture of love turned outward: let go of control, give cheerfully, choose humility, pursue peace, root yourself in joy, give generously, and surrender your plans to the One who has better ones. Every single day is an invitation to trust God more than we trust ourselves.
Tonight's Discussion
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
This week is so full of goodness — letting go, giving freely, making peace, choosing joy. Pick the questions that light something up in you and let's go there together. There's no wrong answer and no wrong door. Just come as you are.
The widow of Zarephath gave her last meal away in faith — and experienced a miracle. Has there been a moment in your life where stepping out with open hands led to something you couldn't have planned? What happened?
God loves a cheerful giver — heart posture matters as much as the gift. What's the most joyful act of generosity you've ever experienced — either giving or receiving? What made it feel so alive?
James says "humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up." Has there been a season where choosing humility — surrendering pride or control — actually opened a door God had been waiting to walk you through?
The devotion draws a beautiful distinction — peacekeepers avoid conflict, but peacemakers pursue reconciliation. Who in your life inspires you as a peacemaker? What is it about how they handle things that you'd love to grow into?
Happiness depends on circumstances — but joy comes from knowing God is with us no matter what. Share a moment when you chose joy in the middle of something hard. How did it change things — for you or for someone around you?
Luke 6:38 says the measure you give with is the measure God gives back. Has generosity ever surprised you — where giving something away led to more than you expected in return? It doesn't have to be money — it could be time, energy, love, or encouragement!
The devotion says surrendering your day to the Holy Spirit turns the ordinary into an adventure. Has God ever "wrecked your schedule" in the best possible way — redirected your plans and taken you somewhere better? Tell us about it!
Closing the Circle
Every day this week is an invitation to hold things loosely — our plans, our resources, our pride, our need to be right. When we open our hands, God fills them. When we let go, He leads. When we trust, He shows up. That's not a theory — it's a testimony waiting to happen.
Go around the room. Each person shares one thing they want to hold more loosely this week — and the group prays for them to experience God's faithfulness in that very place.
Book Club Study Guide
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
Move in the Opposite Spirit
- The world glorifies revenge — God calls us to respond with love, joy, kindness, and peace instead
- Graham Cooke: "moving in the opposite spirit" means responding to hostility with its exact opposite — it's an act of faith that says "I trust You, Lord, to handle this"
- Bringing heaven's perspective into earthly circumstances is how God's love shines through us most visibly
When someone wrongs you, what is your default response — retaliation, withdrawal, or moving in the opposite spirit? What would it take to make the third option your first instinct?
He Came to Serve
- "Even" Jesus — the Son of God — didn't come to be served. That word alone is worth sitting with
- Humility allows us to see others through God's eyes and build genuine, meaningful connections
- Serving others honors God and fulfills His command to love — it creates an atmosphere where His presence is unmistakably evident
Who do you find it hardest to serve — and why? Is there someone in your life God is specifically calling you to show up for this week in a tangible way?
Weakness
- The world celebrates strength and self-sufficiency — but God's power is most clearly displayed through our limitations
- Our weaknesses are our testimony — they reveal what God has delivered us from and what He is still doing in us
- Vulnerability before God invites His transformative power — acknowledging dependence is not defeat, it's the door
Is there a weakness you've been hiding or ashamed of that God might actually want to use as your greatest testimony? What would it feel like to stop hiding it?
Focus
- "Your focus determines your reality" — what we fill our minds with shapes our attitude, behavior, and character
- Dwelling on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy invites God's peace and joy
- This is not toxic positivity — it's a deliberate, daily discipline of redirecting our gaze toward what is actually real and good
What has been occupying your mental real estate most lately — worry, comparison, fear, negativity? What true, lovely, praiseworthy thing could replace it starting today?
Witnessing Is a Lifestyle
- Witnessing is more than words — it's a lifestyle of moving in the opposite spirit of our natural flesh
- In a grumbling situation, practice the opposite: verbal gratitude and praise. The more you practice, the more it flows naturally
- God doesn't need us to defend Him with clever arguments — our actions and reactions speak far louder
If someone followed you around for a day and watched how you reacted to delays, disappointments, and difficult people — would they see a witness for Jesus? What would they see?
A Gratitude Attitude
- Gratitude is not about denying our struggles — it's recognizing that God is present and at work in every situation, including the hard ones
- A grateful heart shifts focus from what we lack to what we've been blessed with — it strengthens faith and deepens relationship with God
- Gratitude is an act of trust in God's sovereign plan — it says "I believe You are working this for good, even when I can't see it"
What is the hardest thing in your life right now to give thanks for? What would it mean to thank God in the middle of it — not for the pain, but for His presence in it?
The Big Thread This Week
May opens with a clear invitation: stop reacting the way the world expects you to. Move in the opposite spirit — serve instead of being served, boast in weakness instead of strength, fix your eyes on what's good, let your life be the witness, and give thanks in everything. Love in action looks countercultural — because it is.
Tonight's Discussion
Moving in the Opposite Spirit — Love in Action
We previewed this theme all the way back in March — and now here we are. This month is about love that moves. Love that serves first, responds gently, gives thanks when it's hard, and refuses to retaliate. Look through these questions and go where the Holy Spirit leads you. There's no wrong door tonight.
Has there ever been a moment where you chose love or kindness instead of retaliation — and it completely changed the situation? What happened, and how did it feel?
Graham Cooke says moving in the opposite spirit is an act of faith — it's essentially saying "I trust You, Lord, to handle this." What's one area of your life right now where that kind of trust could completely change things?
"Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve." How does that inspire and challenge the way you want to show up in your relationships this week?
Paul boasted in his weaknesses because that's where God's power showed up most. Is there something you've seen God turn around in your life — a limitation or struggle He actually used for good? Share it if you're comfortable!
The devotion says vulnerability before God invites His transformative power. What's one area where you'd love to experience more of His strength — and what would it look like to open that door to Him?
Philippians 4:8 gives us a whole list of beautiful things to fix our minds on — true, noble, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy. Which one feels most life-giving to you right now, and why?
Think about a hard moment this week — conflict, a long wait, a frustration. What did your reaction show you about where you are right now — and where you'd love to grow?
Has there been a time when choosing praise or gratitude in a hard moment actually shifted something — in you or in the situation around you? What happened?
Giving thanks "in everything" doesn't mean pretending things aren't hard — it means trusting God is present and at work in it. Is there something in your life right now where you can feel Him working, even in the middle of something hard?
This whole week is an invitation to love differently — to serve, to trust, to focus on what's good, to give thanks, to move in the opposite spirit. Which of these feels like the most exciting growth edge for you right now — and how can we cheer you on in it?
Closing the Circle
Moving in the opposite spirit is not a personality type — it's a practice. It gets easier the more you do it, and harder the longer you don't. This week gave us six ways to start. Pick one. Do it. Come back next week and tell us what happened.
Go around the room. Each person names one specific situation this week where they want to move in the opposite spirit — and the group prays for them by name to actually do it.