Series Resources

sermon-based study guide

This guide is designed to guide a group discussion around the weekend sermon. You can also use this as an individual, but we highly recommend finding a friend and inviting them to discuss with you. Menlo Church has Life Groups meeting in-person and online using these guides. We’d love to help you find a group.

What you will find in this guide: A discussion guide for groups and individuals. If you are using this as an individual be sure to engage with each question in a journal or simply in your mind as you prayerfully consider what you heard in the sermon and seek to discover what God is inviting you to know and do.

The Formation Machine: Culture's Curriculum

Sermon Study Guide

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Series: The Formation Machine
Title: Culture’s Curriculum
Date: February 9, 2025

CONNECT:

Think about a time when you got caught up in something—maybe a habit, an app, or a show—before realizing just how much it was shaping you. What was it? How did you recognize its influence?

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ENGAGE:

Read Romans 12:2

Paul warns us not to “conform to the pattern of this world,” but what does that actually look like? What are some ways we unconsciously absorb the values of our culture?

This week’s message touched on cultural influences like moral relativism, greed, division, and resistance to God (Romans 1-14). Which of these do you see most clearly in today’s world?

Paul contrasts “conforming” with “being transformed.” What does transformation by the renewing of our mind look like in daily life?

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APPLY:

Think about areas where you may be unconsciously conforming to culture. What small, daily decisions can help you renew your mind in God’s truth?

The sermon highlighted how we don’t drift into godliness; we must intentionally pursue formation. What disciplines (e.g., Bible study, prayer, Sabbath, fasting) can help counteract cultural drift in your life?

What media, entertainment, or relationships influence you the most? How can you be more mindful of their impact?

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PRAYER

Pray for wisdom to recognize the subtle ways culture is shaping your thinking.

Ask God to renew your mind and transform your heart to desire His will.

Pray for people who feel trapped in the promises of culture that leave them empty—ask God to use you as a light in their lives.

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GOING DEEPER

For The Bay

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Menlo Midweek Podcast
Explore further insights and practical applications from this week’s message.

Continued Learning:

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – John Mark Comer
You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit – James K.A. Smith
The Air We Breathe – Glen Scrivener
The Spirit of the Disciplines – Dallas Willard

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