Small Group Guide: Week of 10/25
With Us: In Our Worries
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Also remember that other resources for personal spiritual growth can be found at christcitydc.org/resources.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Opening Discussion
Check-in
Icebreaker suggestions
Worry Scale. The leader is going to name a list of everyday situations and small group participants will stand along an imaginary line representing a spectrum from “doesn’t faze me” to “keeps me up at night.” Have the group stand up and identify one side of the room as “keeps me up at night” and the other side as “doesn’t faze me.” This allows the people to move from one side to the other depending on the ‘stressor.’ Here’s the list:
You’re running 10 minutes late, and Metro just announced a delay on your line.
Your boss sends a Slack message: “Got a minute to chat?” and nothing else.
Your car makes a new noise you’ve never heard before.
You get to your office and can’t remember whether you locked the door or turned off the stove.
A friend leaves your text on “read” for two days.
A family member calls at an unusual hour.
Your doctor’s office calls and says, “We’d like you to come in to discuss your results.”
You hit “Reply All” on an email, and only afterward realized you aren’t sure who else was in the email thread.
Someone in the group chat writes “Can I tell them?” and you have no idea what they mean.
You wave back at someone, then realize they were waving at the person behind you.
High/Low exercise
One of the rhythms that we’ll keep as a small group is to pray for one another. One of the ways we’ll do this is through a practice we call Highs & Lows. Either in smaller groups of 3–4 (if it’s a large group) or all together, we’ll go around and share:
A high point from the previous week.
A low point from the previous week.
One way we can pray for you for the week ahead.
Digging Deeper
As you reflect on Sunday's sermon:
What has stayed with you from Sunday’s message?
What resonated with you? What comforted/challenged you?
Did you learn something new?
What might the Spirit be prompting you to remember and consider?
Read Matthew 6:19-24.
What word or phrase stands out to you from this passage?
Jesus says, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." What do people in our city tend to treasure? What do you find yourself treasuring when you're honest?
In verses 22–23, the words for "healthy" and "unhealthy" eyes carry a sense of "generous" and "stingy." How does reading it that way change the meaning? What does it look like to "live with open hands"?
Treasure (what we value), gaze (what we look at), and master (what we serve) are three angles on one question: what holds our heart? How might you respond to this question?
Read Matthew 6:25-34.
What word or phrase stands out to you from this section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?
Recall the crowd Jesus was speaking to (Matthew 4:23–25): sick, poor, under Roman occupation. How does that context change how you hear "do not worry"? Does it make Jesus' words harder to accept, or more believable?
The sermon noted the Greek is more invitation than command. Dale Bruner renders it: "you don't have to worry about your life, or the things that will sustain your life." How does "you don't have to" land differently than "don't"?
Jesus tells us to look at the birds and see the lilies (vv. 26, 28). Why do you think he points to creation instead of giving an argument? When have you noticed God's care in something ordinary?
Verse 33 says "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness."
"Eyes on me." The sermon told of Scooby, a rescue dog from the streets of Puerto Rico who fixates on other dogs and spirals into whining, barking, and lunging. The training is to step in front of him and say "eyes on me," have him sit, and reassure him he's safe. Over time, he has learned to look up and calm down on his own.
What are the "other dogs" that catch your gaze and send you spiraling?
Scooby's reactions came from a past where he really was in danger. How do past hurts shape our present worries? What would it mean to hear God say "you're safe now"?
Part of the training is simply sitting: resting in the knowledge that we are OK. What helps you stop and sit with God?
Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught people to pray "your kingdom come," love enemies, and share with those in need. What would seeking those things look like in our neighborhood this week?
Application & Practice
Ask each person to name one worry they're carrying (or it could be the prayer request from the week they shared earlier), then choose one practice for the week. Share with a partner so you can check in next time.
Eyes on me: When you notice worry rising, pause, take three slow breaths, and pray a short line such as "Lord, you are with me."
Look at the birds: Take a 15-minute walk without your phone. Note three signs of God's care or beauty you see.
Open hands: Do one specific act of generosity this week with your time, money, or attention.
Treasure check: Look at your calendar and spending from the past week. What do they say you treasure?
One day at a time: Each morning, read Matthew 6:34 and name the one thing today actually needs from you.
Seek the Kingdom: Join one act of care for a neighbor or a local outreach partner.
Discuss: Which of these feels hardest for you, and why?
The sermon's summary was that Jesus invites us to keep our eyes on him in this moment, and not let the pain of the past or the uncertainty of the future lead us down the road of worry. If your group has time, read John Roedel's poem "My Brain and My Heart Got a Divorce" together (the sermon closed with it) and ask which line connects most to Matthew 6.
Prayer
Praying for one another regularly is an essential part of small groups.
Give the group a chance to share prayer requests.
Depending on the size of your group, break up into smaller groups/pairs to pray or stay in one group and take turns praying over requests named.
Community Updates
Ministry Team Sign-ups
Ministry Teams are a meaningful part of serving at Christ City Church. With a return to in-person worship services, having additional volunteers serving on Ministry Teams is essential. Those interested in serving can find information about teams and express interest in one or more of the teams by following this link: go.christcitydc.org/volunteer.
Miner PTO
In one of our longest standing partnerships, Christ City is continuing to work with Miner Elementary to provide childcare during their monthly 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 at christcitydc.org/minerpto. The next one will be on 11/18.
