Small Group Guide: Week of 10/19
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Acts of the Spirit: What Power We Have
Acts 22:30-23:35 (CEB)
22:30 The commander still wanted to know the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews. Therefore, the next day he ordered the chief priests and the entire Jerusalem Council to assemble. Then he took Paul out of prison and had him stand before them.
23:1 Paul stared at the council and said, “Brothers, I have lived my life with an altogether clear conscience right up to this very day.” 2 The high priest Ananias ordered those standing beside Paul to strike him in the mouth. 3 Then Paul said to him, “God is about to strike you, you whitewashed wall! You sit and judge me according to the Law, yet disobey the Law by ordering that I be struck.”
4 Those standing near him asked, “You dare to insult God’s high priest?”
5 Paul replied, “Brothers, I wasn’t aware that he was the high priest. It is written, You will not speak evil about a ruler of your people.”
6 Knowing that some of them were Sadducees and the others Pharisees, Paul exclaimed in the council, “Brothers, I’m a Pharisee and a descendant of Pharisees. I am on trial because of my hope in the resurrection of the dead!”
7 These words aroused a dispute between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 This is because Sadducees say that there’s no resurrection, angel, or spirit, but Pharisees affirm them all. 9 Council members were shouting loudly. Some Pharisees who were legal experts stood up and insisted forcefully, “We find nothing wrong with this man! What if a spirit or angel has spoken to him?” 10 The dispute became so heated that the commander feared they might tear Paul to pieces. He ordered soldiers to go down and remove him by force from their midst. Then they took him back to the military headquarters.
11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Be encouraged! Just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so too you must testify in Rome.”
12 The next morning some Jewish leaders formulated a plot and solemnly promised that they wouldn’t eat or drink until they had killed Paul. 13 More than forty people were involved in the conspiracy. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have solemnly promised to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. 15 You and the council must explain to the commander that you need Paul brought down to you. Pretend that you want to examine his case more closely. We’re prepared to kill him before he arrives.”
16 Paul’s sister had a son who heard about the ambush and he came to the military headquarters and reported it to Paul. 17 Paul called for one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the commander because he has something to report to him.”
18 He took him to the commander and said, “The prisoner Paul asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to tell you.”
19 The commander took him by the hand and withdrew to a place where they could speak privately. He asked, “What do you have to report to me?”
20 He replied, “The Jewish leaders have conspired to ask that you bring Paul down to the council tomorrow. They will pretend that they want to investigate his case more closely. 21 Don’t fall for it! More than forty of them are waiting to ambush him. They have solemnly promised not to eat or drink until they have killed him. They are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
22 The commander dismissed the young man, ordering him, “Don’t tell anyone that you brought this to my attention.”
23 The commander called two centurions and said, “Prepare two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen to leave for Caesarea at nine o’clock tonight. 24 Have horses ready for Paul to ride, so they may take him safely to Governor Felix.” 25 He wrote the following letter:
26 Claudius Lysias, to the most honorable Governor Felix: Greetings. 27 This man was seized by the Jews and was almost killed by them. I was nearby with a unit of soldiers, and I rescued him when I discovered that he was a Roman citizen. 28 I wanted to find out why they were accusing him, so I brought him to their council. 29 I discovered that they were accusing him about questions related to their Law. I found no charge deserving of death or imprisonment. 30 When I was informed of a conspiracy against his life, I sent him to you at once and ordered his accusers to bring their case against him before you.
31 Following their orders, the soldiers took Paul during the night and brought him to Antipatris. 32 The following day they let the horsemen continue on with Paul while they returned to the military headquarters in Jerusalem. 33 The horsemen entered Caesarea, delivered the letter to the governor, and brought Paul before him. 34 After he read the letter, he asked Paul about his home province. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, 35 the governor said, “I will hear your case when your accusers arrive.” Then he ordered that Paul be kept in custody in Herod’s palace.
Opening Discussion
Introductions & check-in
Introductions: If you have new folks, do a round of name intros.
Icebreaker suggestion: What is your favorite breakfast?
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?
Pastor Justin challenged us to contend with power - power that exists outside of us, and the power we have at our disposal.
What Power We Have
When you think about “power,” what comes to mind first?
How does this passage—and Paul’s example—challenge or reshape your understanding of where real power lies?
Principle & Presence: Paul stands with a clear conscience even when it costs him.
Have you ever experienced a moment when telling the truth or doing what was right came with personal risk? What sustained you?
Providence in the Ordinary: God works through Paul’s unnamed nephew to bring deliverance.
Where have you seen God’s providence or Spirit at work in seemingly small or ordinary moments in your own life or community?
The Powers vs. God’s Power
What are some “powers and principalities” that seem especially strong in our culture (or your workplace, family, or city)?
How can you live by the Spirit’s power rather than the world’s in those spaces this week?
Reflections
Which of these points resonated the most with you?
Which made you the most uncomfortable or challenged?
Where might the Spirit be inviting you to name the power you have and steward it?
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
Upcoming Events
Turning Inward: Seminar on Healing - Saturday, November 1 from 9:30a-12p
Through a blend of self-reflection, one-on-one dialogues, and group discussions, this seminar will guide participants in focusing on one part of themselves that creates conflict and brings shame. We will use exercises to illuminate your unique, God-given character traits, connect with your core values, and seek to extend forgiveness to your past selves and to those who have hurt you. We will begin and end with grounding exercises, creating a space that is both tender and bold. Participants will be guided by Stacey Mayo, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who also holds a Master of Divinity and has been practicing as an interpersonal therapist to individuals, couples, and families for over 10 years. RSVP at go.christcitydc.org/healingseminar.
Men’s Prayer Breakfast - Saturday, November 8 at 9:30a
All Christ City guys are invited to share a breakfast together, get to know other CCC men, and pray together on Saturday, November 8 at 9:30a. Sign up at go.christcitydc.org/cccmen.
ABI/DE Training - Sunday, November 9 from 2-4p
Christ City is hosting a virtual Active Bystander Intervention and De-escalation Training with the DC Peace Team. We wanted to provide an opportunity to practically help us live out our call to love our neighbors—not just in words, but in action—by learning ways to respond to tension or harm with courage, compassion, and wisdom. The training will also include guidance on how to engage safely and nonviolently with law enforcement officers, including ICE. Space is limited to 25 participants, so if you’d like to join, please sign up today: go.christcitydc.org/bystander
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.
