Fact Check - Part 2: More Than You Can Handle
MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
January 18, 2026
YouVersion
Sermon Page
Podcast Audio
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seek First - January 1st - 31st
As we begin 2026, we’re starting with prayer. Seek First is a church-wide prayer initiative inviting every oneLifer to commit to one hour of prayer between January 1–31. Our goal is simple: to establish a rhythm of prayer that puts God first as we step into a new year. When you sign up, you’ll choose an hour to pray on your own—wherever you are. You’ll receive encouragement, devotionals, and a practical resource designed to help you make the most of your hour of prayer. Together, we’re believing God for renewal in our hearts, restoration in our cities, and revival beyond ourselves. Whether it’s one hour or many, your prayer matters. Let’s seek Him first—together. To register go to onelifeknox.com/seekfirst.
Test Drive - OneLife’s Volunteer Interest Meeting, February 2nd
If you’ve been coming to OneLife but haven’t started volunteering, then it’s time to get on the team! We are holding a Volunteer Interest Meeting that we call “Test Drive” Sunday, February 1st after the 10:45am service at our Ball Road campus and after the 10am service at our Knox Center Campus. Mark the volunteering box on your Connection Card to get signed up today.
Winter Jam, February 7th
OneLife Students - get ready for an epic night of music, energy, and fun at Food City Center (formally known as Thompson Boling Arena)! We’re meeting at 4:30pm to be able to go in together, and doors will open at 5pm. Tickets are $15 at the door (card only). Students can be dropped off at the arena, or carpool with friends/leaders—whatever works best! This is a family-friendly event, perfect for bringing friends, siblings, or parents along. Don’t miss your chance to experience a night full of worship, excitement, and connection. To register go to onelifeknox.com/events.
Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism then it’s time to take that step! Mark the baptism box on your Connection Card and we’ll help you get started.
_____________________
GIVE BACK
Give Jesus your best! Make a one-time tithe or offering or to set up a recurring tithe or offering: Click Here To Give Online.
_____________________
Bottom Line: God will give me more than I can handle, but never more than He can handle.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1. I will not be tempted beyond what I can handle.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT
8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
2. Facing more than I can handle will feel hopeless and final.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT
8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
START TALKING:
This week we talked about a common phrase — “God won’t give you more than you can handle” — and saw that the Bible actually teaches the opposite:
God will give us more than we can handle so that we learn to rely on Him.
We looked at how Paul and Timothy were “crushed and overwhelmed beyond their ability to endure” (2 Corinthians 1), and how suffering can push us from self-reliance to God-reliance.
Discussion prompts:
START THINKING:
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
START SHARING:
Read 2 Corinthians 1:9
Paul says, “We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.”
“Cast your burden on the Lord.”
START DOING:
START PRAYING:
Pray together as a group:
_______________________________
CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, click here.
_____________________
MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
- Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
- What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
- How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
- How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
- Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
_____________________
WHAT'S NEXT?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?/giveback/giveback
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?
January 18, 2026
YouVersion
Sermon Page
Podcast Audio
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Seek First - January 1st - 31st
As we begin 2026, we’re starting with prayer. Seek First is a church-wide prayer initiative inviting every oneLifer to commit to one hour of prayer between January 1–31. Our goal is simple: to establish a rhythm of prayer that puts God first as we step into a new year. When you sign up, you’ll choose an hour to pray on your own—wherever you are. You’ll receive encouragement, devotionals, and a practical resource designed to help you make the most of your hour of prayer. Together, we’re believing God for renewal in our hearts, restoration in our cities, and revival beyond ourselves. Whether it’s one hour or many, your prayer matters. Let’s seek Him first—together. To register go to onelifeknox.com/seekfirst.
Test Drive - OneLife’s Volunteer Interest Meeting, February 2nd
If you’ve been coming to OneLife but haven’t started volunteering, then it’s time to get on the team! We are holding a Volunteer Interest Meeting that we call “Test Drive” Sunday, February 1st after the 10:45am service at our Ball Road campus and after the 10am service at our Knox Center Campus. Mark the volunteering box on your Connection Card to get signed up today.
Winter Jam, February 7th
OneLife Students - get ready for an epic night of music, energy, and fun at Food City Center (formally known as Thompson Boling Arena)! We’re meeting at 4:30pm to be able to go in together, and doors will open at 5pm. Tickets are $15 at the door (card only). Students can be dropped off at the arena, or carpool with friends/leaders—whatever works best! This is a family-friendly event, perfect for bringing friends, siblings, or parents along. Don’t miss your chance to experience a night full of worship, excitement, and connection. To register go to onelifeknox.com/events.
Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism then it’s time to take that step! Mark the baptism box on your Connection Card and we’ll help you get started.
_____________________
GIVE BACK
Give Jesus your best! Make a one-time tithe or offering or to set up a recurring tithe or offering: Click Here To Give Online.
_____________________
Bottom Line: God will give me more than I can handle, but never more than He can handle.
1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.
1. I will not be tempted beyond what I can handle.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT
8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
2. Facing more than I can handle will feel hopeless and final.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9 NLT
8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.
START TALKING:
This week we talked about a common phrase — “God won’t give you more than you can handle” — and saw that the Bible actually teaches the opposite:
God will give us more than we can handle so that we learn to rely on Him.
We looked at how Paul and Timothy were “crushed and overwhelmed beyond their ability to endure” (2 Corinthians 1), and how suffering can push us from self-reliance to God-reliance.
Discussion prompts:
- Share one moment in your life when you thought, “I can’t handle this.”
- In that moment, did you lean more toward self-reliance or God-reliance? Why?
START THINKING:
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13
- What does this verse actually promise?
- Why is it important that this verse is about temptation and not suffering?
- How does this verse encourage you when you are tempted to sin?
- What words does Paul use to describe his situation? Which ones stand out most to you?
- Why do you think God allowed Paul and Timothy to experience something “beyond their ability to endure”?
START SHARING:
Read 2 Corinthians 1:9
Paul says, “We stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God.”
- What tends to make you rely on yourself instead of God?
- Think about a season where life felt hopeless or final (grief, loss, diagnosis, heartbreak, stress, etc.). How did that experience change your faith?
“Cast your burden on the Lord.”
- Why do you think God tells us to cast our burdens instead of manage them?
- What is one burden you need to cast to the Lord right now?
- If God never gave us more than we could handle, why wouldn’t we really need grace?
START DOING:
- What are you currently facing that feels like more than you can handle?
- What would it look like for you to rely on God — not just pray about it, but actually trust Him with it?
- Who is one person you can be real with about your struggle instead of pretending you have it all together?
- What is one practical step you can take this week to depend more on God? (prayer, Scripture, counseling, talking to a friend, surrendering control, etc.)
START PRAYING:
Pray together as a group:
- Ask God to help you be honest instead of pretending.
- Ask Him to grow your trust when life feels overwhelming.
- Thank Him that He is the God who raises the dead and is still working.
- Pray for anyone in the group who is currently carrying something heavy.
- Thank God that He meets us where our strength ends.
_______________________________
CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, click here.
_____________________
MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
- Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
- What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
- How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
- How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
- Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
_____________________
WHAT'S NEXT?
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?/giveback/giveback
- Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?
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