Small Group Guide: Week of 10/12
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Acts of the Spirit: When the Mob Turns
This week’s guest preacher is Pastor Anthony Parrott. Anthony is Co-Pastor at The Table Church in Washington, DC, an affirming, multiracial, non-denominational community committed to following Jesus apart from the baggage of white Christian nationalism. Originally from Goshen, Indiana, he now lives in DC with his wife Emily and their children, Audrey and Wesley. Before joining The Table Church in 2020, he and his family served congregations in northwest Iowa for a decade, learning that ministry is most meaningful around actual tables with real people and honest questions. Outside of ministry, he enjoys debating storytelling in The Empire Strikes Back vs. The Fellowship of the Ring, testing Apple gadgets, and exploring the subtle differences between Pellegrino and LaCroix. He can be found on social media (@pastorparrott) and at Parrott.ink.
Acts 21:27-22:29 (NRSVUE)
When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him, 28 shouting, “Fellow Israelites, help! This is the man who is teaching everyone everywhere against our people, our law, and this place; more than that, he has actually brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” 29 For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple. 30 Then all the city was aroused, and the people rushed together. They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and immediately the doors were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, word came to the tribune of the cohort that all Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 Immediately he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to them. When they saw the tribune and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 Then the tribune came, arrested him, and ordered him to be bound with two chains; he inquired who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing, some another, and as he could not learn the facts because of the uproar, he ordered him to be brought into the barracks. 35 When Paul came to the steps, the violence of the mob was so great that he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”
37 Just as Paul was about to be brought into the barracks, he said to the tribune, “May I say something to you?” The tribune replied, “Do you know Greek? 38 Then you are not the Egyptian who recently stirred up a revolt and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?” 39 Paul replied, “I am a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of an important city; I beg you, let me speak to the people.” 40 When he had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the people for silence, and when there was a great hush, he addressed them in the Hebrew language, saying:
22 “Brothers and fathers, listen to the defense that I now make before you.”
2 When they heard him addressing them in Hebrew, they became even more quiet. Then he said:
3 “I am a Jew born in Tarsus in Cilicia but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated strictly according to our ancestral law, being zealous for God, just as all of you are today. 4 I persecuted this Way up to the point of death by binding both men and women and putting them in prison, 5 as the high priest and the whole council of elders can testify about me. From them I also received letters to the brothers in Damascus, and I went there in order to bind those who were there and to bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment.
6 “While I was on my way and approaching Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone about me. 7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ 8 I answered, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Then he said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.’ 9 Now those who were with me saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one who was speaking to me. 10 I asked, ‘What am I to do, Lord?’ The Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to Damascus; there you will be told everything that has been assigned to you to do.’ 11 Since I could not see because of the brightness of that light, those who were with me took my hand and led me to Damascus.
12 “A certain Ananias, who was a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews living there, 13 came to me, and standing beside me, he said, ‘Brother Saul, regain your sight!’ In that very hour I regained my sight and saw him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our ancestors has chosen you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear his own voice, 15 for you will be his witness to all the world of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you delay? Get up, be baptized, and have your sins washed away, calling on his name.’
17 “After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I was praying in the temple, I fell into a trance 18 and saw Jesus saying to me, ‘Hurry and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’ 19 And I said, ‘Lord, they themselves know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you. 20 And while the blood of your witness Stephen was shed, I myself was standing by, approving and keeping the coats of those who killed him.’ 21 Then he said to me, ‘Go, for I will send you far away to the gentiles.’ ”
22 Up to this point they listened to him, but then they shouted, “Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live.” 23 And while they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and tossing dust into the air, 24 the tribune directed that he was to be brought into the barracks and ordered him to be examined by flogging, to find out the reason for this outcry against him. 25 But when they had tied him up with straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it legal for you to flog a Roman person who is uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard that, he went to the tribune and said to him, “What are you about to do? This man is a Roman.” 27 The tribune came and asked Paul, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” And he said, “Yes.” 28 The tribune answered, “It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.” Paul said, “But I was born a Roman.” 29 Immediately those who were about to examine him drew back from him, and the tribune also was afraid, for he realized that Paul was a Roman and that he had bound him.
Opening Discussion
Introductions & check-in
Introductions: Have small group members introduce themselves and share if they are new or returning members.
Icebreaker suggestion: What’s one small thing that always makes your day better?
High/Low exercise
Go around the group giving each member a chance to share highs and lows. Feel free to use a different check-in structure if helpful.
Additionally or alternatively, you can invite the group to share a word or phrase to describe how they’re coming into the group this week.
Community Care
Share any established community care practices, expectations, or discussion guidelines. Consider inviting the group into conversation, asking for feedback or additional suggestions. (Find more on community care practices here.)
Digging Deeper
This Week’s Sermon
Consider reading this week’s text aloud. (Options: listen to it read aloud on an app/YouTube; one person in the group reads; each person in the group reads a section or a few verses).
From Sunday’s sermon:
What resonated with you? What comforted/challenged you?
Did you learn something new?
What image, story, or line from the sermon stayed with you most and why?
Think back to Pastor Anthony’s Black Friday story. What does that moment reveal about a mob mentality and how quickly energy can shift from excitement to anger?
Pastor Anthony gave us three points to consider as we process the scripture and narrative together:
Name the Mobs We’re Tempted to Join
We were reminded in this story that truth doesn’t often matter to a mob. Where have you seen that play out in our context, in news cycles, online spaces, or daily life?
How do fear and outrage feed mob energy? What does it look like when nuance disappears?
What kinds of “mobs” are we most tempted to join, whether political, cultural, or even church-related? What makes it feel good or “righteous” in the moment?
See the Violence Hiding in “Safety” and “Order”
When leaders or systems promise “law and order,” what questions should followers of Jesus ask? How should we critique or question the system? Which systems should we be questioning?
ex. Whose law? Whose order? Who benefits? Who pays the price for someone else’s peace?
Can you think of situations where maintaining control has been valued more than pursuing justice? How does that contrast with the kingdom Jesus announces?
How does Paul’s dual experience as both persecutor and persecuted give him a unique perspective on violence, fear, and power? Does any of that resonate with you?
Remember the Kingdom That Cannot Be Chained
Paul uses his Roman citizenship as a tool for survival, but not to defend the gospel. What might it look like for us to steward our privilege or access the same way?
Paul keeps speaking to the mob and to the empire, even though he can’t change them. How does this help us understand our own agency?
Pastor Anthony encouraged us to keep testifying, to continue to bear witness to Jesus, like Paul.
Paul couldn’t stop the mob or change Roman policy, but he kept testifying. What might “bearing witness” look like for us in our context?
What is your own Damascus Road story, a moment when God interrupted, reoriented, or expanded your understanding of faith or justice?
We were invited to tell our story not to convince someone else, but to bear witness. How are they different?
Which of these invitations feels most urgent for you right now?
Name the mobs you’re tempted to join.
See the violence hiding in “safety” and “order.”
Remember the kingdom that cannot be chained.
Bear witness.
Prayer
Praying for one another regularly is an essential part of small groups. You’re welcome to design your gathering however you’d like, but encourage you to include prayer time each week.
Prayer Requests
Give the group a chance to share prayer requests. If it’s helpful, utilize categories like praises/requests.
Spend time praying for one another and the requests made.
Depending on the group size, it can be helpful to break into smaller groups to share requests and pray for one another.
Some groups use prayer partners throughout a semester.
Community Updates
Community Resources
We want to make sure everyone at Christ City knows about some of the support resources available in our community.
Benevolence Funds are available to help with financial needs; you can apply for yourself or on behalf of someone else. All requests are confidential and handled with care. You can apply at go.christcitydc.org/benevolence
Our Job Seekers Support Group offers connection, encouragement, and practical help for anyone who is unemployed or in transition. Email Pastor Justin to get connected (justin@christcitydc.org).
Our Prayer Team meets weekly to pray over requests submitted. You can submit a request at go.christcitydc.org/prayer.
If you’re looking for a therapist, our Counseling Consultant can help you find a counselor who fits your needs and help you navigate insurance options. Reach out to counseling@christcitydc.org.
If you have questions about any of these resources, reach out to Pastor Andrea (andrea@christcitydc.org).
Miner PTO
Christ City is working with Miner Elementary to provide childcare during their monthly Tuesday PTO meetings. This allows Miner parents to attend and be engaged at the school and in their child’s education.
We’re hoping small groups can mobilize to provide childcare from 5:45-7:30p. Christ City will provide craft materials and pizza! Once you choose a week with your group, sign up HERE.
Missional Grants
The vision behind Missional Grants is to provide funding for neighborhood outreach efforts that those within the Christ City Church community feel led to initiate, support, engage, or elevate. The aim of this is to spark a movement of neighbor and neighborhood blessing that emerges from within the Christ City Church family. We want to empower you - those that call Christ City home - to be agents of God’s Kingdom in your communities and neighborhoods and we see Missional Grants as a tool - not the only tool - but a tool for that.
If you want to
Host a block party or neighborhood cookout
Provide a meal, or needed items for a neighbor in need (elderly, new parents, etc).
Put together care packages for neighbors experiencing homelessness
Hold front porch concert with neighborhood musicians
Sponsor a neighborhood clean up / clean up along Anacostia Trail
Resource the local community garden
Support back to school needs for your children’s school
Or some other idea that the Spirit has been beckoning you towards…we want to encourage you to apply for a Missional Grant. Encourage those in your small group to consider what they can do in their community and have small groups serve together!
You can find a flyer with additional information and links to the application out on the hospitality table. And you can apply at: go.ChristCityDC.org/MissionalGrants.
