Cove Group Guide – John 2:1-11

by | Jan 26, 2026 | Uncategorized, Weekly Message Content | 0 comments

Cove Group Guide: Experiencing the Transforming Power of Jesus

Based on John 2:1-12 – The Wedding at Cana

Opening Prayer

Begin your group time by inviting Jesus into your gathering. Ask Him to speak to hearts and transform lives through your discussion.

Icebreaker

Share about a time when you invited someone to an event and it turned out better than expected because of who was there. What made their presence so valuable?

Sermon Recap

This week we explored Jesus’s first miracle at the wedding in Cana, where He turned water into wine. Pastor Jeremy shared five key insights on how to experience the transforming power of Jesus Christ in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. Invite Jesus In

Jesus was invited to the wedding because people enjoyed His presence. We need to invite Jesus into every area of our lives.

2. Turn First to Jesus

Mary’s immediate response to the problem was to turn to Jesus, not as a last resort but as her first response.

3. Decide Now to Obey

Mary told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you”—unrestricted obedience before knowing what Jesus would ask.

4. Take the Step of Obedience

The servants filled the jars and took them to the master of the feast, even without knowing how the story would end.

5. Believe Jesus Is Just Getting Started

This was the first of Jesus’s signs. When Jesus is involved, He always makes things better.

Discussion Questions

Section 1: Invite Jesus In

  1. What areas of your life have you been hesitant to invite Jesus into? Why?

  2. The sermon mentioned that we should be people who are so full of life and joy that others want to be around us. How can we cultivate this kind of likability that draws people to Jesus?

  3. Discuss the three ways to be a friend: demonstrate kindness/compassion/love, get to know people, and respond with compassion. Which comes most naturally to you? Which is most challenging?

Section 2: Turn First to Jesus

  1. Be honest: Who or what do you typically turn to first when facing a problem? (Friends, social media, alcohol, AI, etc.)

  2. Why do you think we sometimes avoid turning to Jesus first? What are we afraid of?

  3. Share a time when you turned to Jesus first and experienced His faithfulness.

Section 3: Decide Now to Obey

  1. What does “unrestricted obedience” look like in practical terms? What makes this difficult?

  2. The sermon mentioned making decisions ahead of time (about purity, forgiveness, etc.). What’s one area where you need to decide now to obey, before the situation arises?

  3. “The more you make your life about Jesus, the more joyful you’re going to be.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not? Share examples from your life.

Section 4: Take the Step of Obedience

  1. The servants didn’t have all the details, but they obeyed anyway. What step of obedience is God asking you to take right now, even without knowing how the story ends?

  2. How does our desire to know “the end of the story” prevent us from taking steps of faith?

  3. Where could you serve at Shelter Cove? How might your obedience in serving impact someone else’s spiritual journey?

Section 5: Believe Jesus Is Just Getting Started

  1. Jesus transformed dirty ceremonial water into the best wine. What does this teach us about the kind of transformation Jesus wants to do in our lives?

  2. How is Jesus’s transformation different from just “self-improvement”? Why does this distinction matter?

Personal Reflection Questions

(Take 3-5 minutes of silence for individual reflection)

  • Is Jesus the “key ingredient” in your life, or have you been trying to do life without Him?
  • What would change if you truly surrendered control and let Jesus lead your life?
  • Have you experienced the transforming power of Jesus? If not, what’s holding you back?

Practical Application

This Week’s Challenge:

Choose ONE of the following to practice this week:

  1. Invite Jesus In: Identify one specific area of your life you’ve kept from Jesus and intentionally invite Him into that space through prayer and Scripture.

  2. Turn First to Jesus: Before turning to your phone, a friend, or anything else when facing a problem this week, commit to praying first.

  3. Decide Now to Obey: Make one ahead-of-time decision about obedience (forgiveness, purity, generosity, etc.) and write it down.

  4. Take the Step: Do that one thing God has been prompting you to do—send the text, have the conversation, sign up to serve, etc.

  5. Invite Someone: Invite a friend to church, to your small group, or to a Beyond Vision Night (February 1st or 5th).

Prayer Requests & Closing Prayer

Share and Pray:

  • Who is your “one”? Share the name of someone you’re praying would come to know Jesus.
  • What specific area do you need Jesus to transform in your life?
  • Pray for those who got baptized this weekend.

Close by praying together:

  • That each person would experience the transforming power of Jesus
  • For courage to take steps of obedience
  • For the “ones” that were mentioned
  • That your group would live in such a way that others are drawn to Jesus

Looking Ahead

  • Beyond Vision Nights – February 1st & 5th (for those attending 9 months or less)
  • Next Week’s Topic: Continue in the Gospel of John

Additional Resources

  • Read through the seven signs in the Gospel of John this week (listed in the sermon)
  • Memorize John 20:30-31: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”