Week 1: Elisha and the Angel Armies
2 Kings: 6: 8-18
This week kicks off our new series, All Things Weird and Wonderful, with a look at how society’s relationship with faith—especially Christianity—has changed over the last few decades. From post-war rebellion to the rise of the New Atheists, religion got pushed to the side in favour of science, reason, and so-called freedom. But now, something surprising is happening: people—especially young people—are coming back to faith. And what’s drawing them in isn’t slick arguments or tidy theology—it’s the mystery, the weirdness, the sense that there’s something more.
The church has spent years downplaying the strange parts of the Bible to appear more rational, but ironically, that’s what people are hungry for. So, this series is diving into the miraculous and mysterious parts of scripture—starting with Elisha and the angel armies. In the story, Elisha sees spiritual reality when others don’t, and the challenge is whether we can trust what’s true, even when it doesn’t feel true. Faith isn’t about blind belief—it’s about living in the tension between what we see and what God has promised. The invitation is simple: ask God to open your eyes to His reality, even when it’s strange, and trust that He is faithful, even when it doesn’t all make sense.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
🌀 Reflection Points
We live in a world that prizes what’s seen and measurable—but God often works in what’s hidden and mysterious.
How often do we miss what God is doing because we’re only looking through human eyes?
Faith doesn’t always feel true, but that doesn’t make it any less real.
Trusting in God’s promises means holding on, even when our emotions or circumstances tell us otherwise.
God being “weird” is part of what makes Him wonderful.
If He fit neatly into our logic, He wouldn’t be God. The strangeness is actually evidence of His greatness.
❓ Questions to Consider
What areas of your life are you trying to make sense of logically, rather than trusting God?
Are there parts of your faith or the Bible you’ve avoided because they felt too strange or unexplainable?
What might change if you started asking God to help you see things from His perspective instead of your own?
🙏 Prayer Points
Lord, open my eyes to see the reality of Your presence, even when I feel surrounded by fear or doubt.
Help me trust in Your promises, especially when they don’t line up with what I see or feel.
Give me courage to embrace the mystery of who You are, and not be afraid of the parts I don’t fully understand.
Week 2: The Nephilim
Genesis 6: 1-4; Numbers 13: 32-33
Christianity isn’t just a nice philosophy—it’s full of strange, powerful, supernatural reality. And that’s actually what draws a lot of people in. It doesn’t shy away from the weird stuff, because life itself is often weirder and deeper than what we see on the surface.
One of the strangest stories in the Bible is in Genesis 6, where fallen angels come to earth, marry human women, and have kids called the Nephilim. It’s bizarre—but it highlights something really important: spiritual evil is real. That’s just one layer of a bigger picture. Evil doesn’t always look like horror movies. Sometimes it’s internal—like the moments when pride, envy, or selfishness take over. Sometimes it’s built into the world around us—governments, cultures, or corporations that cause harm, crush people, or reject God’s ways. And sometimes it’s supernatural—forces that twist truth and lead people away from what’s good and true.
But here’s the amazing part: Jesus has overcome it all. He didn’t just come to forgive personal sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil—every kind of evil, whether it’s personal, structural, or spiritual. His victory on the cross was more than just symbolic. It was a real, spiritual breakthrough. That ancient prophecy in Genesis—where the snake’s head would be crushed—came true when Jesus gave his life and rose again. Evil struck his heel, but he dealt the final blow.
Laura’s story brings this into the present. She grew up in a household deeply involved in the occult. At first, it felt exciting and even empowering—but over time, it became terrifying. Spiritual forces began to take control, and there was real fear and oppression. Nothing brought peace until she called on Jesus. That one name changed everything. The darkness left. Her life was transformed. Twenty years later, she’s still walking in freedom, surrounded by others who’ve had the same experience.
So yes, evil is real. But it doesn’t win. Jesus already won. And if you belong to him, you don’t need to be afraid. You’re not only safe—you’re part of something so much bigger. You’re now building with different materials: not apples of rebellion, not bricks of corruption, not snakes of deception—but fruit that lasts, foundations of peace, and a kingdom where love rules.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
🌀 Reflection Points
Evil takes many forms – sometimes it’s internal, sometimes it’s around us in society, and sometimes it’s spiritual. Being aware helps us take it seriously, but not fearfully.
Jesus' power isn’t just symbolic – it actively changes lives and defeats real darkness, like Laura’s story shows.
We’re called to build differently – instead of contributing to broken systems, we get to be part of building God’s kingdom, full of righteousness, peace, and joy.
❓ Questions to Consider
Are there areas in my life where I’ve downplayed or ignored the reality of evil or spiritual forces?
What kind of “brick” am I helping build – something of this world or something of God’s kingdom?
Do I truly believe that the name of Jesus has power over every kind of darkness?
🙏 Prayer Points
Ask God to open your eyes to the spiritual realities around you – both the good and the evil – and help you respond with faith, not fear.
Thank Jesus for his victory on the cross, that no power of evil has the final say over your life.
Pray for those caught in spiritual deception or darkness, that they would encounter the truth and freedom in Jesus, just like Laura did.
Week 3: Lot’s Wife
Genesis 19:15-29, Matthew 13:24-30
You’re dropped right into chaos—fire from heaven, angels grabbing people by the hand, a city being wiped out—and then slowly, the pieces start falling into place. Why did God destroy Sodom? Was he just being angry and harsh? Or is something deeper going on?
Turns out, it's both serious and tender. God had been patiently waiting generations for people to turn around—over 400 years of holding back judgment. But the cries of the oppressed eventually reach him, and he steps in. Not out of rage, but out of justice—and still with mercy woven all the way through.
Lot’s family gets warned, grabbed, pulled out. Even when Lot’s dragging his feet and asking for easier routes, God still listens. Even when Abraham pleads for the city, God listens. Even when everything looks like destruction, there’s grace.
But it’s not automatic. Lot’s wife looks back—just a glance—and it costs her everything. That backward glance maybe showed where her heart still was.
Jesus picks up this thread later. He reminds us: don’t look back. If you’re going to follow him, it’s full send or nothing. But here’s the wild twist—in the Old Testament, maybe ten righteous people could have saved the city. But now? One righteous man—Jesus—has saved the world. That’s the kind of God we’re dealing with: the one who waits, who warns, who rescues, and who gives everything so we don’t have to face destruction.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
💭 Three Reflection Points
God’s patience is stunning – We might see judgment, but behind the scenes is a God who’s been waiting, hoping, making space for people to turn around.
Justice isn’t cold punishment—it’s about relationships – how we treat people matters deeply to God. Real righteousness looks like hospitality, kindness, standing in the gap for others.
Looking back can be dangerous – Sometimes what pulls us away from God isn’t rebellion, but nostalgia for what he’s asking us to leave behind.
❓ Three Questions
What am I still clinging to that God is asking me to walk away from?
Who do I need to intercede for—like Abraham did—for mercy, for rescue, for a second chance?
Do I trust that God’s justice and mercy can hold together—even when I don’t understand his timing?
🙏 Three Prayer Points
God, thank you for not giving up on me—even when I linger, doubt, or look back.
Help me live a life that reflects your justice—especially in how I treat others.
Give me the courage to pray bold prayers for others, trusting you hear every cry.
Week 4: Balaam’s Donkey
Numbers 22: 21-39
Some parts of the Bible are just plain weird – like a donkey talking to a prophet. But maybe that weirdness is exactly the point. Instead of avoiding the strange bits, there's something powerful about recognising that God isn’t limited by what we think is “normal.” He created everything – the stars, the sea, even tiny fish making sand art – so why wouldn’t He use the unusual to get our attention?
Take Balaam. He was supposed to be wise, maybe even a spiritual expert. But when he was heading down the wrong path, it wasn’t a vision or a booming voice that stopped him – it was his donkey. The animal saw what he couldn’t: an angel standing in the road. God used the unexpected, the foolish, to wake him up.
It’s a good reminder that when we keep pushing forward with our own plans and ignore the warnings, we can miss what God is really trying to do. Sometimes blocked paths or delays are actually grace – God gently (or not-so-gently) steering us back. The challenge is whether we’re willing to listen, especially when the message isn’t what we hoped for.
The link to the video used in this talk can be found here
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
💬 Reflection Points:
Sometimes the most ordinary things (or people) in our lives might be carrying the biggest spiritual messages.
Pride and self-reliance can blind us to God’s direction – even when it’s right in front of us.
God's “no” is never rejection – it’s redirection towards something better.
❓Questions to Ponder:
Where in life do I feel like I’m hitting a wall – and could that be God trying to tell me something?
Am I truly open to God’s guidance, or just hoping He’ll bless what I’ve already decided to do?
What would change if I paused more often to ask, “Is this what God wants, or just what I want?”
🙏 Prayer Points:
God, help me to slow down and notice when You’re guiding me – even in unexpected ways.
Teach me to trust Your ‘no’ and believe that it leads to something better than I can imagine.
Give me the humility to let go of my plans and align with Yours.
Week 5: Serpent on a Pole
Numbers 21:4-9
Imagine wrestling with trusting God in the little things - like tax returns - while believing He can handle massive miracles like resurrection. That's where this journey begins, diving into a wild Old Testament story about snakes that's really about our relationship with God. The story unfolds with the Israelites, freshly rescued from 300 years of brutal slavery, constantly complaining and doubting God. Despite miraculous rescue, they moan about everything, creating alternative gods and questioning God's care. So God sends snakes into their camp - which sounds extreme, but here's why: these weren't just punishment, but prevention. The surrounding cultures practiced horrific religious rituals like child sacrifice, and God wanted to protect His people from falling into those destructive patterns. It's like a parent desperately trying to keep their child from dangerous choices. That's exactly how God feels when we don't trust Him, when we try to handle life's challenges without turning to Him. The heart of the message is breathtakingly simple: God loves you. His heart literally yearns for you, even when you're struggling, doubting, or feeling far away. He's not a distant, angry deity, but a loving Father who wants relationship. The invitation is clear: Whatever big issue you're facing - health challenges, anxiety, work stress, relationship struggles - God is saying, "Open your hands. Give it to me." And the most stunning truth? Even when we're faithless, He remains faithful. Not because of anything we do, but because faithfulness is His very nature. He cannot stop loving you. It's an invitation to trust, to surrender, to believe that the God who sustains the entire universe cares deeply about your specific, personal struggles.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
Reflection Points 🤔
Where am I struggling to trust God in my daily life?
How have I been trying to handle challenges independently instead of turning to God?
Can I recognize God's heart of love behind His corrections and guidance?
Questions ❓
What "snakes" might God be using to redirect my attention back to Him?
In what areas am I most tempted to doubt God's care and provision?
How would my life look different if I truly believed God's heart yearns for me?
Prayer Points 🙏
Father, help me surrender the areas where I'm holding tight control instead of trusting You.
Holy Spirit, reveal any places where I've created "alternative gods" of self-reliance or fear.
Jesus, deepen my understanding of Your unfailing love and faithfulness, even when I am faithless.
Week 6: Korah is swallowed in the earth
Numbers 16: 28-33
We find ourselves in one of the stranger corners of the Old Testament – the story of Korah and the earth swallowing him up. It’s dramatic, wild, and maybe a little terrifying. But more than that, it brings up the bigger question many of us carry quietly: is the God of the Old Testament somehow harsher than the God of the New?
The answer? No. Same God – just different parts of the story. The God we meet in Jesus is the same God who spoke through Moses. Loving, holy, just. And in today’s passage, we see what happens when envy, pride, and power-hunger take over. Korah and his crew weren’t just challenging Moses – they were challenging God’s authority, believing they knew better. But Moses? He responds with humility. He falls facedown and gives the situation to God. In the end, God acts, separating those who rebelled from those who stayed faithful – not out of rage, but out of justice and love for the wider community.
The real challenge for us today is not just to shake our heads at Korah, but to ask: where do we struggle with pride, entitlement, or resentment? Because the good news is this – Jesus has already paid the price for our rebellion. And through Him, we can lay down our burdens and walk in freedom, humility, and grace.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
🔍 Reflection Points
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever – His justice and love are not in competition, but beautifully held together in His character.
Rebellion often begins with envy and pride – Korah’s story reminds us how dangerous it is when we put ourselves above others or think we know better than God.
Humility is the posture of trust – Like Moses, falling face down before God shows where our confidence lies: not in ourselves, but in Him.
❓ Questions to Ponder
Where in your life are you tempted to compare yourself to others or believe you deserve more?
How do you respond when someone else is given a role or recognition you desire?
Do you really believe that God is always good – even when His actions are hard to understand?
🙏 Prayer Points
Lord, help me to trust You even when I don’t understand You.
Give me faith to believe that You are good and just in all things.
Jesus, forgive me for the pride and envy I carry.
I lay it down before You now – make me humble like You.
Holy Spirit, guard my heart from division.
Help me to seek unity, to speak truth in love, and to walk in humility and grace.
Week 7: Ezekiel’s Bizarre Visions
Ezekiel 1:4-28
Let’s be honest—Ezekiel’s vision is wild. Creatures with four faces, spinning wheels covered in eyes, fire, lightning, and a throne with someone like a man glowing with glory and surrounded by a rainbow. It’s vivid, surreal, and intense. But it’s not just weird for weird’s sake. God shows Ezekiel—exiled, discouraged, sitting by a river with his future in ruins—that He hasn’t abandoned His people. He’s not stuck in a temple back in Jerusalem. He’s mobile. He sees everything. And He’s still in control.
This vision is a wake-up call: even when the world looks like a mess, God is on the throne. He is holy, powerful, and faithful. He doesn’t ignore injustice or chaos—He moves through it, bringing justice and inviting people back to Himself. Ezekiel thought his calling as a priest was over, but God had other plans: He commissions him as a prophet to speak to people in exile and offer hope and truth.
And this same God is still at work—moving, seeing, redeeming. He hasn’t left the building. He’s coming after hearts. He’s turning dry bones into living people again. He’s calling us to know Him and make Him known. Even in the weirdest, darkest, most confusing times, God’s glory still shines.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
🔁 Three Reflection Points
God is not confined to buildings or traditions.
He meets us where we are—even in exile, in confusion, or at the end of our plans.
God sees everything and is in control, even when life feels out of control.
The wheels full of eyes remind us that nothing is hidden from Him.
We are invited not just to witness God’s glory—but to carry it.
Like Ezekiel, we may feel unqualified or sidelined, but God still calls, equips, and sends us.
❓ Three Discussion Questions
Ezekiel’s vision was overwhelming—but also deeply reassuring.
Have you ever had a moment where you suddenly realised God was present in your chaos? What was that like?
The vision shows that God “has left the building” and is on the move.
Where might God be calling you to join Him right now—outside the usual routines or comfort zones?
Ezekiel’s call came when his old life path had crumbled.
What do you do when your plans fall apart? How might God be at work even then?
🙏 Three Prayer Points
For those feeling distant from God
“Lord, reveal your glory to those who feel exiled, confused, or far from you. Show them you are near.”
For a soft, responsive heart
“God, remove any hardness in our hearts. Make us open to your love, correction, and direction.”
For fresh commissioning
“Holy Spirit, fill us afresh. Use our gifts and passions in new ways to share Jesus with this generation.”
Week 8: The Witch of Endor
1 Samuel 28: 3-25
Sometimes life feels like it’s falling apart, and we find ourselves scrambling for answers—grasping at anything that might offer a bit of control. That’s where we find Saul today. He’s surrounded by enemies, desperate for help, but the heartbreaking truth is… he’s cut himself off from the very God who could rescue him.
Saul had spent years doing things his way—pushing God out, ignoring truth, and grabbing power. And now, when he’s finally ready to listen, it feels like heaven has gone quiet. Out of fear and panic, he makes a terrible decision: he seeks guidance from a medium (something he knew was wrong), hoping for any kind of reassurance. But instead of comfort, he gets a hard truth from beyond the grave—his time is up.
But here’s the bigger story: Saul’s downfall is a mirror for all of us. When we chase our own way, convinced we know best, we often end up more lost than ever. And yet—even in our mess, even when we’ve run far—God still wants us back. His love doesn’t run out. His arms are still open.
The invitation today? Let go. Stop trying to fix everything in your own strength. Lay down the pride, the guilt, the control—and let Jesus carry what you can’t. You are loved. You are welcomed. And you’re not alone.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
💬 Three Reflection Points
God never forces His way in—but He never gives up on us either. He waits for us to come back, not with punishment, but with love.
Desperation often reveals our foundations. Saul reached for a quick fix because he hadn’t built a life of dependence on God. What are we building our trust on?
Grace isn’t about what we’ve done—it’s about what Jesus has already done. No mess is too big. No sin is too ugly. God sees you through the eyes of love.
❓ Three Questions to Ponder or Discuss
What areas of your life have you been trying to handle on your own instead of bringing to God?
Have there been moments when you’ve told God (in words or actions) to “back off”—and how did that work out?
What’s something you’re afraid to bring into the light? What would it look like to let Jesus carry it with you?
🙏 Three Prayer Points
Ask God to search your heart—to gently show you where you’ve been holding on too tightly or walking your own path.
Pray for courage to lay things down—especially the things that feel too messy or shameful to surrender.
Thank God for His mercy and grace—that even when we’ve run, He never stops loving, never gives up, and never leaves.
Week 9: The Ark of the Covenant Causes Trouble
1 Samuel 5; 1-12
Remember Pop Idol? That early 2000s frenzy where the whole nation seemed to be invested in who’d become the next big star? That kind of fame might look shiny, but it often leaves people broken under the weight of expectation. In today’s passage, the idea of an idol isn’t a celebrity—it’s a literal object of worship. The Philistines placed the Ark of the Covenant (a symbol of God’s presence) in the temple of their top god, Dagon. But Dagon didn’t stand a chance. Literally—he fell face down before the Ark, and the next day, his head and hands were broken off.
God was showing something really clear: He doesn’t need help to be powerful. He doesn’t need our victories, strategies, or idols. He is power. The Philistines thought they’d won, but God’s presence proved otherwise. And today, that same God—who doesn’t need us but chooses us—calls us to knock down any idols in our own lives and trust Him fully. We don’t need a golden box to find Him—we have Jesus, our mercy seat.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
💭 Reflection Points
God doesn’t need us to win battles for Him—He fights for us.
His power isn’t dependent on our strength or performance.
Idols can sneak into our lives in subtle ways.
It might not be a golden statue, but anything we elevate above God—success, approval, comfort—can take His place.
God’s presence isn’t limited to a place or object.
Jesus is the true “mercy seat” who makes a relationship with God possible, wherever we are.
❓Discussion Questions
What “idols” are you tempted to place above God in your life?
(Be honest—these can be good things we’ve just put in the wrong order.)
Have you ever felt like you needed to prove something to God?
What helps you remember that His love and power are not performance-based?
Where is your trust right now?
Is it in your own strength, something material—or are you learning to trust God more deeply?
🙏 Prayer Points
Confess any idols that may have taken priority in your life—ask God to help you lay them down.
Thank Jesus that He is your mercy seat—the one who brings you into relationship with God, not because of what you’ve done, but because of who He is.
Pray for deeper trust—that even in uncertainty, you’d lean into God’s presence, knowing He is enough.
Week 10: The Writing on the Wall
Daniel 5:1-31
1 Samuel 5; 1-12Let’s set the scene: Babylon’s under siege, and what does the king do? Throws a wild party. It’s like someone blasting music and dancing on the deck of the Titanic. Belshazzar, the stand-in king, is either totally oblivious or arrogantly unfazed – but either way, he’s trusting in big city walls, not in God. And in the middle of the chaos, he makes it worse. He brings out the holy cups from the Jerusalem temple to toast his gods. That’s not just disrespectful – that’s dangerous.
Then comes that jaw-dropping moment: a disembodied hand writes on the wall. No one knows what it means, so in comes Daniel – the faithful, steady guy who’s known for hearing from God. He reads the message loud and clear: God has numbered your days, weighed your character, and found you lacking. Your kingdom is done.
What’s wild is Belshazzar should’ve known better. He saw what happened to his father, Nebuchadnezzar, when he got too proud. But sometimes we don’t listen, do we? We build our lives around comfort, security, appearances – thinking we’re untouchable – until God steps in with a reality check.
But here’s the hope: we don’t have to stay in that place. Jesus already took the weight of our sin. The message on the wall isn’t just judgment – it’s a wake-up call. God doesn’t want to catch us out, He wants to call us home.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
🔍 Reflection Points
God still speaks – and sometimes it’s dramatic. He knows what we need to hear and how to get through to us. Are we listening before the writing’s on the wall?
Our outward confidence can hide inner emptiness. Earthly structures might make us feel secure – success, wealth, routines – but they can’t save us from spiritual reality.
God weighs our hearts, not our image. What matters isn’t how impressive our lives look from the outside, but the posture of our heart toward Him.
❓ Questions for Group or Personal Reflection
What “walls” have you built in your life to protect yourself from discomfort, conviction, or surrendering to God?
Can you think of a time God had to get your attention in a big, unexpected way? What did He show you?
How does knowing Jesus has already dealt with your sin change how you live today?
🙏 Prayer Points
Clarity – Ask God to reveal any areas where pride or self-reliance has crept in.
Courage – Pray for the boldness to tear down earthly structures we’ve been trusting instead of Him.
Gratitude – Thank Jesus for taking the weight of our sin and giving us rest and real security in Him.
Week 11: The Trinity
Deuteronomy 6: 4-9
Let’s be honest — the Trinity can be confusing. One God… but three persons? It feels like something that’s more likely to spark debates or brain fog than awe or worship. But instead of trying to shrink God down into something easy to explain, maybe the mystery is the point.
Christianity doesn’t claim a simple God you can wrap your head around. We believe in a God who’s bigger than our logic — who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Not three gods. Not one person playing dress-up in different roles. But one divine being in three persons — all deeply involved in creation, salvation, and your everyday life.
The early church didn’t invent this idea. They wrestled with what they saw in Scripture — Jesus talking to the Father, the Spirit guiding the church, and the clear claim that each is fully God, and yet there is only one God. It’s strange. It’s profound. But it’s not made up. It’s how God reveals Himself.
The truth is, we need a God who’s weird and wonderful — too big for a box, but close enough to know by name. A God who is love, even within Himself. A God who invites us into that love.
You can find a home group study guide for this session here
🔍 Three Reflection Points
God is beyond our understanding — and that’s a good thing.
If we could explain God completely, He’d probably be too small to worship. The Trinity reminds us that God is both knowable and mysterious.
The Trinity isn’t an abstract idea — it’s personal.
The Father sends, the Son saves, the Spirit empowers. Each person of the Trinity is actively involved in your life right now.
God has always been relational — even within Himself.
Before there was creation, there was love between Father, Son, and Spirit. That same love is what we’re invited into as God’s people.
❓ Three Questions for Discussion
What parts of the Trinity do you find hardest to get your head around — and why do you think that is?
How does it change your view of God to think of Him as a loving relationship, not just a distant force?
Which person of the Trinity do you feel most connected to in your spiritual life — and which one do you maybe need to get to know more?
🙏 Three Prayer Points
Thank God for being bigger than we can imagine — and still close enough to care.
Invite the Holy Spirit to help you grow in understanding and experience of the Trinity.
Pray for unity in the Church, that even when we don’t fully understand God’s mystery, we’d reflect His love and relationship.