Father's Day at The Rocks | 1st September 2024

Jesus of Nazareth is the most compelling, disruptive, and magnetic figure in human history.

He healed the broken, confronted the proud, welcomed the outsider, and claimed to be nothing less than God in flesh. But over time, His radical call has been flattened, dulled, and domesticated. The result? A generation walks away from Christianity - not because it’s too wild, but because it feels too tame.

UNBELIEVABLE is a five-part journey in the lead up to Easter through the Gospel of John that reclaims the shock and wonder of Jesus. Through five unforgettable encounters, we’ll discover a love that restores the shattered, a truth that opens blind eyes, a bread that truly satisfies, and a life that produces supernatural fruit.

This isn’t just good advice. It’s good news.

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in His name.”
— John 20:31

Watch The Messages 

Becoming | Part 6 - Becoming Vocational
Feb 15, 2026  •  Alistair Cochrane
Becoming Generous
Feb 15, 2026  •  Daniel Indradjaja
Becoming | Becoming Communitas
Feb 8, 2026  •  Daniel Indradjaja
Becoming Radical
Feb 8, 2026  •  Alistair Cochrane
Becoming Communitas
Feb 1, 2026  •  Daniel Indradjaja
Becoming | Part 4 - Becoming Radical
Feb 1, 2026  •  Alistair Cochrane
View More

Small Group Discussion Questions

Below you will find access to each week's discussion questions!
Week 1 | Unbelievable Desire
We’re not bored because Jesus is boring — we’re bored because we’ve been feeding on the wrong things. After feeding the 5,000, the crowd chases Jesus for more bread. Instead, He offers Himself. In John 6, Jesus says He is the Bread of Life — the only one who can truly satisfy our deepest hunger. This talk explores why suppressing desire doesn’t work, why chasing everything else leaves us empty, and how reordering our loves leads to real joy. You weren’t made to want less — you were made to want Him.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What’s something you really wanted in the past (a relationship, job, achievement, lifestyle) that you thought would change everything? Did it deliver what you expected?
  2. The message talked about “surface desires” pointing to deeper ones like meaning and belonging. Where do you see that playing out in your own life right now?
  3. What’s a good thing in your life that could easily become an ultimate thing? How would you know if it already has?
  4. Where do you tend to look for validation or identity when you’re feeling insecure or stressed?
  5. The crowd wanted bread; Jesus offered Himself. If you’re honest, what do you usually want from God — help, comfort, success… or Him?
  6. If Jesus truly is the only one who satisfies, what might need to shift in your priorities this season?
Week 2 | Unbelievable Mercy
We live in a world obsessed with self-improvement — but what if the real issue isn’t effort, it’s mercy? In John 5, a man paralysed for 38 years waits by a pool, hoping a system will fix him. Jesus walks in and asks one confronting question: “Do you want to get well?” This message unpacks why self-help, religious performance, and spiritual superstition all fall short — and why only Jesus can truly heal what’s broken. You can’t heal yourself with the same hands that broke you. But mercy still moves.

Discussion Questions:
  1. When life feels fractured, what’s your first instinct — fix it yourself, hide it, or ask for help?
  2. Where does “self-salvation” show up most in your life — career, parenting, relationships, faith? What’s it costing you?
  3. When you hear Jesus ask, “Do you want to get well?”, what do you think He’d be pointing at in your life right now?
  4. Is there an area of your life where you’ve been waiting by a “pool” — hoping something external will change you?
  5. The pool represented a system the man trusted. What’s your modern “pool” — therapy, success, productivity, a relationship, control, routine? Why does it feel safer than surrender?
  6. Why do you think someone might get used to being stuck? What can feel strangely comfortable about dysfunction?
  7. What would it look like for you to stop striving and actually receive mercy in this season?
Week 3 | Unbelievable Sight
We live in an age flooded with information — yet we’ve never been more confused. In John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind, but the real miracle isn’t just physical sight — it’s spiritual clarity. While the healed man grows in courage and faith, the religious leaders refuse to see what’s right in front of them. This message explores how pride, fear, and disordered love blind us — and how Jesus still opens eyes today. Every conversion is a sight miracle. The question is: do you want to see?

Discussion Questions:
  1. The blind man obeyed before he understood. Is there an area in your life where you’re waiting for full clarity before taking a step of obedience?
  2. The parents stayed quiet because they feared exclusion. Where are you tempted to shrink your faith to protect your reputation?
  3. Pride was the Pharisees’ blind spot. What do you think is your biggest blind spot right now? How would you know?
  4. Where are you currently managing your image instead of being real? What would it cost to stop performing?
  5. Is there an obedience step you already know you should take, but you keep postponing because it feels uncomfortable or costly?
Week 4 | Unbelievable Rest
We’ve never been more connected — or more exhausted. Beneath the busyness, many of us are carrying a quiet soul-weariness. In Matthew 11, Jesus doesn’t say “try harder.” He says, “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” This message explores why self-care isn’t enough, why performance-based faith drains us, and why the life we crave isn’t found in doing more for God — but in resting in what Jesus has already done. If you’re tired of striving, this invitation is for you.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What currently exhausts you most — your workload, expectations, relationships, your own inner pressure?
  2. Which of these do you drift toward when stressed: numbing (escape), hustling (prove), or receiving (trust)? Why?
  3. If your external life looks fine but your inner life feels unsettled, what do you normally do about that?
  4. What would happen to your identity if you stopped achieving for a season? Who would you be without your productivity?
  5. When you slow down, what thoughts or feelings start to surface that you normally outrun?
  6. When was the last time you felt genuinely at rest in your soul? What made that moment different?
  7. Where has faith subtly become another area where you feel pressure to perform?
  8. Jesus offers a yoke — not no responsibility, but shared responsibility. Where are you carrying something alone that you were never meant to?
Week 5 | Unbelievable Life
What if there’s more to life with God than we’ve experienced? In John 15, Jesus says, “I am the true vine.” Real life doesn’t come from hustle, religion, or self-improvement — it comes from abiding in Him. Fruit isn’t forced; it’s overflow. Healing, love, courage, generosity — this is normal Christianity. And even suffering becomes soil for growth. This message explores how abiding is the source, obedience is the posture, love is the proof, and fruit is the outcome. The question isn’t if you’re attached to something — it’s what you’re attached to.

Discussion Questions:
  1. What do you instinctively turn to when you need to feel significant or secure? What does that reveal about your “vine”?
  2. Where are you mistaking spiritual activity for spiritual connection?
  3. If fruit is the evidence of abiding, what fruit is most noticeably missing in your life right now — love, courage, obedience, compassion, boldness?
  4. Where in your life might God be pruning you right now? How are you responding to it?
  5. In what ways has suffering deepened your dependence on God rather than distanced you from Him?
  6. What fear would surface if you fully surrendered to being available for God to use you?
  7. Are you living cautiously — or expectantly? What’s driving that posture? 
  8. Where has disappointment caused you to lower your expectation for fruitfulness?
  9. What practical shift would help you move from striving to abiding this month?

More Resources

Bible Reading Plan - Main Focus

This plan covers the entire book of John, including chapter summaries and study questions to help you get the most out of your Bible reading. 
AVAILABLE HERE

Additional Bible Plans

Read through each week's devotion guides on the Bible App - be sure to add The Rocks as your church in the Bible app to get notified each week. There are permalinks to each one below.

Unbelievable | 28 Day Plan

Whether you've gone to church your whole life or just started, it’s understandable if you have questions about God and the Bible, especially when some things seem unbelievable. Our doubts don’t have to destroy our faith. We might just find our voice when we speak up about questions we have. For the next 28 days, we’ll look at how Jesus met people where they were, showing that we can trust him even when we don't understand. We’ll also see that trusting God’s plan is key to knowing that our questions really do matter and God never gives up on us.

Unconvinced: Exploring Faith As A Skeptic | 7 Day Plan

If you’re skeptical of the Old Testament stories that sound like fairy tales or are stuck on the rules that come with being religious, here’s some good news: following Jesus requires faith, but not faith in a book, a list or rules, or even a particular religious system. This plan presents a starting point for faith that may finally be something—or more specifically someone—you can believe in.

Read More

The below books would be what we recommend to do a full deep dive into everything we are tracking with on Sundays. They are below in order of complexity.

The Circle Maker

Mark Batterson
Do you ever sense that there's far more to prayer than what you're experiencing? What impossibly big dream is God calling you to draw a prayer circle around? It's time you learned from the legend of Honi the Circle Maker--a man bold enough to draw a circle in the sand and not budge from inside it until God answered his impossible prayer for his people. Sharing inspiring stories from his own experiences as a circle maker, Batterson will help you uncover your heart's deepest desires and God-given dreams and unleash them through the kind of audacious prayer that God delights to answer.
Buy at Koorong

The Reason For God: Belief in An Age of Scepticism

Timothy Keller
At a time when scientists and critics are questioning the validity of religion, this book uses literature, philosophy and reason to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief. Timothy Keller, pastor of an inner-city New York church, looks at some of the most widespread accusations levelled at Christianity, including Christianity's claim of exclusivity, how a good God could allow suffering, why the Church is responsible for injustice if science has disproved religious belief.
Buy at Koorong

Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in An Ordinary World

Bob Goff
When it comes to loving your neighbours, rather than focusing on having the "right answers" or checking the "right boxes," what if you decide to simply DO love? To shamelessly show love and grace to those around you?
When Love Does, life gets interesting. Light and fun, unique and profound, the lessons drawn from Bob's life and attitude just might inspire you to be secretly incredible, too.
Buy at Koorong

Listen More

The below podcasts would be what we recommend to do a bit more listening around these ideas.

The Life of Jesus

Fox Audio Network
A 52-episode immersive audio experience that will guide listeners through the New Testament of the Bible. Chronicling the life of Jesus Christ and His influence on the world, through captivating retellings of scripture.

The series will begin in the Book of Matthew and explore the New Testament, through readings of scripture and actor portrayals of key moments throughout the Bible.
LISTEN NOW

Did Jesus Fulfil Scriptural Prophecy?

Unbelievable?
John Nelson hosts Dr Jonny Rowlands and Rabbi Prof Marc Shapiro to ask: did Jesus fulfil scriptural prophecy? They explore what ‘fulfilment’ means, challenge checklist claims, and show how Second Temple Judaism held diverse Messianic hopes. Topics include Bethlehem and Micah 5, Isaiah 7:14 (alma vs parthenos), typology versus prediction, Dead Sea Scrolls expectations, and why early Christians said Christ died and rose “according to the Scriptures”. They discuss Paul, Hebrews, temple veil imagery, empty tomb and appearances, and disagreement on resurrection.
LISTEN NOW

Carey Nieuwhof
+ At Your Best

That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs
When I first read Carey Nieuwhof's book, At Your Best, I made some quick adjustments to my life that have panned out for the best in so many ways! Carey is one of my all-time favourite leaders and the conversation will help you to made a few small changes that may lead to BIG results.
LISTEN NOW

Study More

Some of us may be at a point where want more structured theological discourse around these topics. Below you will find resources from a free online seminary that will be helpful. A seminary is simply a Christian university that focusses on theology and ministry.

The Historical Reliability of the Gospels

Dr. Blomberg takes in-depth look at the charges against the historicity of the gospels, and the evangelical answers.
LISTEN NOW

Watch More

The below content would be what we recommend to do a bit more viewing around these ideas.

Introducing Spiritual Formation

Premier Unbelievable?

Gospel of John Summary: A Complete Animated Overview (Part 1)

BibleProject

Are We Fools For Believing In A Risen Jesus?

Give Me An Answer w/ Stuart & Cliffe Knechtle