Small Group Guide: Treasure Will Surface
Deep Waters Series — Week 3

Overview
This week's message reminded us that the deep waters of life are not without treasure. No matter how buried the promise feels, it is real and it is attainable. Through scripture and honest reflection, we were challenged to approach life with confidence in God's promises, to persist through difficulty, and to spend intentional time dreaming about what God can do in and through us.

Key Scriptures

• 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 — Paul describes the victory that belongs to those who remain firm and immovable in the work of the Lord, affirming that labor done in Christ is never wasted.
• Hebrews 6:9-12 — A call to remain fully persuaded and diligent, imitating those who through faith and endurance inherited the promises of God.
• Ephesians 3:8-20 — Paul reveals the unfathomable riches of Christ and declares that God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine, according to the power at work within us.

Key Takeaways

1. You will win. Anyone who remains firm in Christ is not headed toward defeat. The outcome is already settled. The process may be difficult, but the destination is fixed.
2. What you are convinced of fuels your endurance. If your conviction is small or shaky, your persistence will follow. Being fully persuaded of God's promises changes how you move through hard seasons.
3. Dreaming is not frivolous — it is faithful. Exposing yourself to what God can do stretches your faith and creates urgency and direction in your daily decisions.
4. God does not work from lack. His surplus of glory is the source from which He strengthens us. What He provides does not diminish what is available for others.
5. The treasure is generational. What you build in faith is not just for you. It extends to those who come after you.

Optional Discussion Questions

1. The sermon describes being 'up against the wall' with Christ as a place of immovable strength -- in what areas of your life have you been tempted to step away from that wall, and what drew you back or kept you from returning?
2. The pastor argues that your level of conviction directly fuels your endurance, stating 'whatever you're convinced of is going to fuel your endurance' -- what beliefs, whether hopeful or defeated, are currently shaping how hard you are willing to press forward in your faith?
3. First Corinthians 15 describes the perishable putting on the imperishable and death being swallowed up in victory -- how does the reality of that transformation change the way you approach the daily struggles and setbacks you face?
4. The sermon uses the analogy of accompanying benefits that come with a premium membership to describe the blessings that accompany salvation -- what promises of God do you feel you have not yet fully explored or claimed as your own, and why?
5. The pastor challenges listeners to 'approach your greatest adversary with arrogance and confidence, knowing that the battle is already won' -- how does knowing whose you are, rather than simply who you are, change the posture with which you face opposition?
6. Ephesians 3 speaks of the 'unfathomable riches of Christ' and God doing 'far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think' -- what limitations have you placed on your own dreams that may actually reflect a limited view of God's capacity rather than a realistic view of your circumstances?
7. The sermon suggests that a failure to pray consistently often reflects a deeper failure to trust God's promises -- do you agree with that connection, and what would it look like in your own life to let conviction in his promises drive you to your knees more regularly?
8. The pastor emphasizes that the work of the Lord extends beyond the church walls into every workplace, neighborhood, and ordinary interaction -- how intentionally are you treating your daily environment as a place of ministry, and what might change if you did?
9. Hebrews 6 urges believers to 'demonstrate the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end' -- what habits or practices help you maintain that diligence during seasons when the promise feels buried and far from the surface?
10. The sermon closes with the idea that treasure found in deep water is meant to serve future generations, not just the person who discovers it -- how are the spiritual investments you are making today being intentionally shaped to benefit those who will come after you?

 
Discussion Questions
Opening

1. When you first heard the phrase "treasure will surface," what came to mind? Is there an area of your life where you are waiting for something buried to finally come up?
2. Have you ever pursued something with full confidence that you were going to win? What did that confidence feel like, and where did it come from?

Going Deeper

3. The sermon described the difference between leaning on a solid wall versus leaning on drywall. In what areas of your life have you been leaning on something that cannot actually hold your weight? What would it look like to shift that weight onto Christ?
4. 1 Corinthians 15:58 says to be firm, immovable, and always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain. Where in your everyday life — outside of church — are you doing the work of the Lord? Are there places where that work has slowed down or stopped?
5. The sermon said, "Whatever you are convinced of is going to fuel your endurance." What are you currently convinced of about your marriage, your finances, your health, your future? Are those convictions based on what God has said, or on what your circumstances are telling you?
6. Hebrews 6:12 calls us to be imitators of those who through faith and endurance inherited the promises. Who in your life has modeled that kind of persistent faith? What did you observe in them that you want to carry into your own life?
7. Ephesians 3:20 says God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or imagine. The sermon challenged us to dream big and then trust God to go beyond even that. What is the biggest thing you have allowed yourself to dream about? What has stopped you from dreaming bigger?
8. The sermon made the point that the treasure is not just for you — it is generational. How does thinking about the people who come after you change the way you approach what you are building right now?

Personal Reflection

9. Is there an area of your life where you have stopped praying because, if you are honest, you do not fully trust the promise? What would it take to return to that place of prayer?
10. The sermon described walking into spaces and situations with confidence not because of personal status, but because of whose you are. How does your identity as a child of God change how you show up in difficult or intimidating situations?

Practical Applications
Choose at least one of the following to practice before your group meets again.

• Write down one promise from scripture that applies directly to something you are currently facing. Place it somewhere you will see it every day this week and read it aloud each morning.
• Set aside fifteen to thirty minutes this week with no distractions and spend that time dreaming. Write down what you see. Do not edit it based on your current circumstances. Let it be as large as it wants to be.
• Identify one area of your everyday life — your workplace, your neighborhood, your family — where you can intentionally do the work of the Lord this week. Be specific about what that looks like and follow through on it.
• Share your dream or your promise with one person in your group and ask them to check in with you about it before the next time you meet.
• If you have pulled back from prayer, set a specific time this week to get back to it. Start by simply reading Ephesians 3:14-20 on your knees and letting that passage be the framework for what you bring before God.

Closing Thought
The water is deep, but the depth is fixed. The treasure is buried, but it is real. God has not overlooked your labor, and He has not forgotten His promises. Stay on the wall. Keep swimming. The treasure will surface.