CoreGroup Guide | The Christian Parent's Field Guide - Part 4

May 29th, 2026
by Sarah Hines

CoreGroup Guide | The Christian Parent’s Field Guide - Part 4
Written by Denee Bowers and Melissa Ross

Welcome

As we come to the end of this sermon series, we also come to the end of our CoreGroup year. We hope you have a rich conversation about this week’s scripture, and the idea of parents as consultants. When our kids reach adulthood the dynamics of the relationship shift in ways that could apply to many relationships in our lives. This is a natural time to reflect on the ways this group has shaped your faith and how you can continue to support one another moving forward.

Opening Prayer

God, you are our heavenly parent and you are good. Thank you for the people you have gathered in this CoreGroup and this time to grow in faith. What a blessing to get to know you and each other better through our discussions. Help us to focus on our parenting as followers of Christ. Amen.

Ice Breaker

Who is your favorite pop culture parent? Is there a character from movies or TV that you want to adopt as your own, or model your parenting style after?

The Head

The book of Genesis contains the original family drama, eventually leading to a man named Jacob. Jacob’s 12 sons go on to form the 12 tribes of Israel whose story unfolds throughout the rest of the Old Testament. Our first scripture is the beginning and end of Jacob’s final blessing for his sons before he dies (you can read the full story here).

Genesis 49:1

“Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the coming days.”

Genesis 49:28

“These are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is what their father said to them. He blessed them by giving each man his own particular blessing.”

Imagine yourself in Jacob’s place. What might this experience have been like for him?
Why do you think it was important to Jacob to give each of his sons a unique blessing?
If you have a chance to read the full chapter, you’ll see that not all of Jacob’s prophecies were positive. In fact, some were quite intense! How do you think he felt sharing the good and the bad with his sons?

Perhaps the most famous parent in the Bible is Mary, Jesus’ mother. Her experience of parenting is both extraordinarily unique, and at the same time, deeply relatable. If you have ever watched a beloved child suffer you might be able to find a companion in your heartbreak of Mary at the foot of the cross.

John 19:25-27

25 Jesus’ mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood near the cross. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

What traits did Mary have to possess as a parent to be able to simply be present with Jesus in his darkest moment?
If you were Mary in this situation, how might you have responded to Jesus in this time of deep despair?
How do you think Mary experienced the role reversal of Jesus caring for her in this time by connecting her with his disciple?

The Heart

We all have a baseline for how parents ought to relate to their adult children from our own parents. Are they present or absent? Do they communicate openly or are they closed off? Can you rely on them or are they a relationship you have to manage? No matter how old we are, we still carry the legacy of our parents with us. Reflecting on how we feel about that legacy can help us determine how we want to try to pass faith onto the next generation.

What legacy have your parents left with you as an adult?
In what ways have you experienced the blessing of a parent in your adulthood?
What are your hopes for the children in your life in their young adult years?

The Hands

This stage of parenting can easily be mistaken for the easy part. It is tricky, though, to transition from the previous roles we have discussed to that of a consultant. If the work of parenting is never done, now is the time to develop a relationship where our children can experience our love and support in new ways.

In what practical ways can you bless your adult children?
How do you balance being available for your children without overstepping their boundaries?
What habits can help keep lines of communication open between parents and adult children?
How can you use prayer to accomplish the goals of the prior three questions?
How can you lean into your CoreGroup (or another group) to accomplish the goals of these questions?

Closing Prayer

Dear God, you adopt us as your children. What a gift! Use these lessons from your word, the people you put in our lives, and our own parental relationships to guide us as we support and love our children – whatever stage of life that they are in. And remind us that our main responsibility is always to love you and to love others as we love ourselves. Amen.

Going Deeper

The memory verse for this series was Proverbs 22:6 from the Common English Bible (CEB):

Train children in the way they should go;
when they grow old, they won’t depart from it.

Whether you memorized it or not, read through this verse three times together as a group. For those who have the verse committed to memory, try closing your eyes as you recite the scripture together. How does God speak to you through these words?

Additional Resources

Looking for a fun Summer read filled with plenty of drama and intrigue?
Start with the Genesis family tree!

Genesis 11:26 – Genesis 25:11
Abraham and Sarah (originally named Abram and Sarai)

Genesis 21 – Genesis 35
Isaac and Rebekah

Genesis 25:19 - Genesis 36
Esau and Jacob (twins)

Genesis 25 - Genesis 50
Jacob and Leah => Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dinah (daughter)
Jacob and Zilpah (Leah’s servant) => Gad, Asher
Jacob and Rachel => Joseph, Benjamin
Jacob and Bilhah (Rachel’s servant) => Dan, Naphtali

From Pastor Charity

Here are a few things you can do to keep the group love going this Summer:

Join a Summer Hang or consider hosting your own in July. There’s still time!
If you know anybody interested in starting a new CoreGroup or a new Wellness Group, invite them to the Lunch & learn on July 19.
Plan on being there for Leader training on August 15.

Have a great Summer!

CoreGroup-Guide-_-Parents-Field-Guide-Pa-65.pdf

Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides, CoreGroup Leader Hub