Small Group Guide: Week of 10/26
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Acts of the Spirit: Paul on Trial
This week’s guest preacher is Rachael Wade. Rachael is the Founder & Chief Encourager at Olive Us, a ministry where women share their “in-process” stories recounting to remember God’s goodness & faithfulness. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Cincinnati and is pursuing her Master of Arts in Biblical Contextual Leadership at Pillar Seminary. Living, loving, and leading in San Francisco for over a decade, Rachael enjoys teaching at Bay Area churches, being on the teaching team at Epic Church SF, collaborating with individuals and small businesses, and encouraging people to live out their God-given assignments. Rachael can be found on socials at @RachWade, as well as at rachaelrwade.com and oliveus.net.
Acts 24:1-27 (NIV)
Five days later the high priest Ananias went down to Caesarea with some of the elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they brought their charges against Paul before the governor. 2 When Paul was called in, Tertullus presented his case before Felix: “We have enjoyed a long period of peace under you, and your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation. 3 Everywhere and in every way, most excellent Felix, we acknowledge this with profound gratitude. 4 But in order not to weary you further, I would request that you be kind enough to hear us briefly.
5 “We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among the Jews all over the world. He is a ringleader of the Nazarene sect 6 and even tried to desecrate the temple; so we seized him. [7] 8 By examining him yourself you will be able to learn the truth about all these charges we are bringing against him.”
9 The other Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
10 When the governor motioned for him to speak, Paul replied: “I know that for a number of years you have been a judge over this nation; so I gladly make my defense. 11 You can easily verify that no more than twelve days ago I went up to Jerusalem to worship. 12 My accusers did not find me arguing with anyone at the temple, or stirring up a crowd in the synagogues or anywhere else in the city. 13 And they cannot prove to you the charges they are now making against me. 14 However, I admit that I worship the God of our ancestors as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, 15 and I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. 16 So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.
17 “After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. 18 I was ceremonially clean when they found me in the temple courts doing this. There was no crowd with me, nor was I involved in any disturbance. 19 But there are some Jews from the province of Asia, who ought to be here before you and bring charges if they have anything against me. 20 Or these who are here should state what crime they found in me when I stood before the Sanhedrin— 21 unless it was this one thing I shouted as I stood in their presence: ‘It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.’”
22 Then Felix, who was well acquainted with the Way, adjourned the proceedings. “When Lysias the commander comes,” he said, “I will decide your case.” 23 He ordered the centurion to keep Paul under guard but to give him some freedom and permit his friends to take care of his needs.
24 Several days later Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish. He sent for Paul and listened to him as he spoke about faith in Christ Jesus. 25 As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” 26 At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.
27 When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus, but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews, he left Paul in prison.
Opening Discussion
Introductions & check-in
Introductions: If you have new folks, do a round of name intros.
Icebreaker suggestion: What is the best Halloween candy? Why is it the best?
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?
From the scripture:
What stands out to you in Paul’s trial before Felix in Acts 24?
What do you notice about how Paul responds to false accusations?
How does Paul’s defense reveal his faith and integrity?
What do you learn about God’s character through this passage?
Rachael said being a follower of Jesus in 2025 can feel like being “on trial.”
Where do you feel that tension in your own life?
How do you respond when people associate you with parts of Christianity that don’t reflect Jesus?
Paul used his story as his defense. What part of your own story speaks truth about who God is?
Paul’s integrity before his accusers reminds us that truth-telling is both risky and holy work.
How would you define truth-telling?
How can truth-telling be a form of resistance in a culture that rewards image and performance?
Rachael named the difference between “peacekeeping” and the peace of Christ.
Where do you see “false peace” being maintained?
What might it look like to disturb that peace in a constructive way?
Felix had power but wasn’t free; Paul was in chains but lived free.
Where do you see yourself tempted to trade integrity for comfort, status, or approval?
What does real freedom in Christ look like in daily life?
Which of Rachael’s four invitations speaks most to you right now?
Hang on together
Be a truth teller
Trust God
Pray and advocate for the persecuted
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.
