10.25.26 – SERMON STUDY GUIDE

by | Oct 28, 2026 | Sermon Study Guide

Print Sermon Study Guide Student Study Guide Kidz Study Guide

 

FOCUSING ON THE ONE

Based on the message by Lee Grady

 

OVERVIEW

What if the person God is calling you to reach is just one conversation, one act of kindness, or one relationship away?

We often measure success by numbers, crowds, and visible results. Yet throughout the book of Acts, we discover that God accomplished extraordinary things through ordinary encounters with individuals.

Philip left a powerful revival to share Jesus with one Ethiopian man. Paul ministered to a slave girl, led Lydia to Christ, and shared the gospel with a Philippian jailer. Each encounter demonstrates God’s heart for the individual and the potential for one transformed life to impact many others.

God has called every believer to participate in advancing His Kingdom. We don’t need a platform, a large audience, or a ministry title to make a difference. We need hearts that genuinely love people, sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and a willingness to invest in those God places in our lives.

Lee Grady challenges us to become relational, intentional, encouraging, and committed to raising up others who will carry the gospel into future generations.

“God doesn’t look at one as if it’s small. He looks at the one as a seed that’s going to spread out all over.” – Lee Grady

HOW TO USE THIS STUDY GUIDE

Read → Respond → Reflect 

Read each passage carefully before answering the Respond questions. Keep your Bible open and allow Scripture itself to provide the answers.

Then use the Reflect questions to examine your relationships, priorities, and willingness to respond to the Holy Spirit. Consider whether you are genuinely seeing and valuing the people God places around you. Ask Him to reveal where you need to grow and how you can become more intentional about reaching and investing in others.

Finally, use Section 5 to identify practical steps you can take this week to recognize opportunities, overcome obstacles, and respond in obedience when God leads.

This guide is designed for individual study, family discipleship, and Roads Groups.

 

SECTION 1 — BE RELATIONAL

Focus

Christianity is not simply about attending services or belonging to an organization. The Church is a family, and genuine relationships are central to the life God has called us to live. The Apostle Paul demonstrated sincere affection for believers, remembering them by name, carrying them in his heart, and longing to strengthen them spiritually. God calls us to move beyond superficial connections, open our hearts, and love one another as family.

Read

Romans 1:8–12; Romans 16:1–16

Respond

  1. According to Romans 1:11, what did Paul long to do for the believers in Rome?
  2. What does Romans 1:12 reveal about the mutual encouragement Paul expected among believers?
  3. What does Paul’s greeting of so many individuals in Romans 16 reveal about his relationships with other believers?
  4. How does Paul describe Phoebe in Romans 16:1–2, and what does he ask the church to do for her?
  5. What examples of service, sacrifice, and partnership do you find among the people Paul recognizes in Romans 16?

Reflect

  1. Have I allowed past hurts, disappointments, or fear of rejection to create barriers between myself and others in the Church? How have those barriers affected my willingness to love and be loved?
  2. If I stopped attending my church for several weeks, would I have meaningful relationships with people who would notice and reach out? Am I taking responsibility for building those relationships, or am I waiting for others to pursue me?
  3. Do I genuinely carry people in my heart, praying for them, remembering their needs, and investing in their lives? Who needs more than a friendly greeting from me?

Further Scripture Reading

John 13:34–35

 

SECTION 2 — BE INTENTIONAL

Focus

God’s opportunities do not always come through large gatherings or planned ministry activities. Philip was in the middle of a powerful revival when God directed him to a deserted road to encounter one man. His obedience led to that man’s salvation and baptism. Being intentional requires recognizing that the people God places in our path are not interruptions to our lives. They may be the very reason He has directed our steps.

Read

Acts 8:26–40

Respond

  1. What instruction did the angel of the Lord give Philip in Acts 8:26?
  2. How did Philip respond to that instruction?
  3. What additional direction did the Spirit give Philip in verse 29?
  4. How did Philip begin his conversation with the Ethiopian man, and how did he use Scripture to share Jesus?
  5. What was the Ethiopian man’s response to the gospel, and what happened before Philip departed?

Reflect

  1. How often am I so occupied with my own responsibilities, schedule, or priorities that I overlook opportunities to connect with people? What does that reveal about what I consider important?
  2. When the Holy Spirit prompts me to reach out, start a conversation, or invest time in someone, do I respond with obedience or find reasons to delay? What opportunities might I have missed because they seemed inconvenient or insignificant?
  3. Who has God already placed in my life who needs encouragement, discipleship, or an introduction to Jesus? What specific action am I willing to take this week to intentionally invest in that person?

Further Scripture Reading

Acts 16:13–15

 

SECTION 3 — BE ENCOURAGING

Focus

Our words have the ability to strengthen, affirm, and bring life to others. God calls us to look beyond ourselves and recognize people who need encouragement. Rather than waiting for someone to speak life into us, we can become people who consistently speak life into others. Even a simple word spoken at the right moment can have lasting Kingdom impact.

Read

Proverbs 10:11; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Respond

  1. How does Proverbs 10:11 describe the mouth of the righteous?
  2. According to Ephesians 4:29, what kind of speech should come from believers?
  3. What purpose should our words serve according to Ephesians 4:29?
  4. What two instructions does Paul give believers in 1 Thessalonians 5:11?
  5. How does the instruction to encourage and build one another up connect with the responsibility believers have toward each other?

Reflect

  1. If the people closest to me described the impact of my words, would they say I consistently strengthen and encourage them, or would they remember more criticism, frustration, and negativity? What needs to change?
  2. Am I more focused on receiving affirmation and encouragement than giving it? How might my relationships change if I intentionally looked for ways to strengthen others rather than waiting for my own needs to be met?
  3. When I recognize someone’s potential, spiritual growth, or need for encouragement, do I actually speak up? Who might be strengthened in their faith if I stopped withholding the encouragement God has placed on my heart?

Further Scripture Reading

Proverbs 16:24

 

SECTION 4 — REPLACE YOURSELF

Focus

Kingdom multiplication happens when we invest in others who will continue the work beyond us. Paul poured his life into individuals such as Timothy and Onesimus, recognizing their value and potential for God’s purposes. Discipleship is not merely about what we accomplish personally but about preparing others to grow, lead, and reach the next generation. God wants the seeds we sow into one life to continue producing fruit long after our own involvement ends.

Read

2 Timothy 2:1–2; Philemon 1:8–17

Respond

  1. According to 2 Timothy 2:1, where does Paul instruct Timothy to find his strength?
  2. What does Paul instruct Timothy to do with the things he has learned in verse 2?
  3. What qualifications does Paul identify in those who should be entrusted with teaching others?
  4. How does Paul describe the change in Onesimus in Philemon 1:10–11?
  5. According to Philemon 1:15–17, how does Paul ask Philemon to receive Onesimus?

Reflect

  1. Am I primarily focused on my own spiritual growth, ministry responsibilities, and accomplishments, or am I intentionally helping others grow into what God has called them to become? What evidence of discipleship is present in my life?
  2. Is there someone younger in faith or less experienced whom I could encourage, mentor, or equip? What fears, insecurities, or personal preferences might be keeping me from making room for someone else to grow?
  3. If my involvement in ministry ended today, what would continue because of the people I have invested in? Am I building something that depends on me, or am I helping raise up others who will carry the gospel further than I can?

Further Scripture Reading

2 Timothy 1:3–7

 

SECTION 5 — FOCUS ON THE ONE: TAKE ACTION

God has placed people in your life for a reason. Don’t let this message become something you simply heard. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you move from good intentions to intentional obedience this week.

  1. Who is your ONE?
  • Is there someone God has already placed on your heart who needs a genuine relationship, encouragement, or an opportunity to know Jesus?
  • As you go about your week, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to notice the people around you and recognize the one He may be leading you to reach.
  1. What’s standing in your way?

God calls us to overcome obstacles rather than allow them to keep us from obeying Him.

  • Are there any obstacles keeping you from responding in obedience when God leads you? Consider whether fear of rejection, a busy schedule, past hurts, insecurity, or simply not knowing where to begin might be holding you back.
  • What needs to change in your heart, priorities, or actions so that you are ready to respond when He leads you?
  • Is there someone who could encourage, equip, or walk alongside you as you overcome that obstacle?
  1. Will you take the step of obedience?
  • Are you intentionally spending time in prayer and God’s Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to prepare your heart, open your eyes to recognize opportunities, and strengthen your faith to respond when He leads?
  • When God places someone in your path, will you be ready to obey, even at the cost of personal convenience, comfort, or your own plans?
  • What specific step of obedience will you take?

Don’t just identify your ONE. Prepare your heart, recognize the opportunity, and obey when God leads.

 

FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

“God doesn’t look at one as if it’s small. He looks at the one as a seed that’s going to spread out all over.” – Lee Grady

God sees extraordinary potential in every person. The early Church advanced not only through powerful preaching to crowds but also through individual encounters, personal relationships, and believers who were willing to invest in others.

You don’t have to reach thousands to make a difference in God’s Kingdom. You can begin with one.

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to the people around you. Be willing to build genuine relationships, respond to His direction, speak words that bring life, and invest in those who will carry His truth into the next generation.

Never underestimate what God can accomplish through your obedience to reach one person.