Small Group Guide: Week of 11/9
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Acts of the Spirit: The Power of Story
Acts 25:25-26:29 (NRSVUE)
So on the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp, and they entered the audience hall with the military tribunes and the prominent men of the city. Then Festus gave the order and Paul was brought in.
26 Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.” Then Paul stretched out his hand and began to defend himself:
2 “I consider myself fortunate that it is before you, King Agrippa, I am to make my defense today against all the accusations of the Jews, 3 because you are especially familiar with all the customs and controversies of the Jews; therefore I beg of you to listen to me patiently.
4 “All the Jews know my way of life from my youth, a life spent from the beginning among my own people and in Jerusalem. 5 They have known for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I have belonged to the strictest sect of our religion and lived as a Pharisee. 6 And now I stand here on trial on account of my hope in the promise made by God to our ancestors, 7 a promise that our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly worship day and night. It is for this hope, Your Excellency, that I am accused by Jews! 8 Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?
9 “Indeed, I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And that is what I did in Jerusalem; with authority received from the chief priests, I not only locked up many of the saints in prison, but I also cast my vote against them when they were being condemned to death. 11 By punishing them often in all the synagogues I tried to force them to blaspheme, and since I was so furiously enraged at them, I pursued them even to foreign cities.
12 “With this in mind, I was traveling to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests, 13 when at midday along the road, Your Excellency, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and my companions. 14 When we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It hurts you to kick against the goads.’ 15 I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ The Lord answered, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you to serve and testify to the things in which you have seen me and to those in which I will appear to you. 17 I will rescue you from your people and from the gentiles—to whom I am sending you 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: 23 that the Messiah must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the gentiles.”
24 While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth. 26 Indeed, the king knows about these things, and to him I speak freely, for I am certain that none of these things has escaped his notice, for this was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 28 Agrippa said to Paul, “Are you so quickly persuading me to become a Christian?” 29 Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
Opening Discussion
Introductions & check-in
Introductions: If you have new folks, do a round of name intros.
Icebreaker suggestion: If you had to give a presentation (TED Talk style) on the spot, what would it be about?
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 Andrea contrasted two kinds of power: one that controls through fear and performance, and one that frees through truth and courage.
Where have you seen “empire power” (control, performance, fear) this year?
How have you experienced Spirit power (freedom, courage, creativity, truth-telling) despite circumstances that felt limiting?
Paul’s story becomes his testimony; in telling it, he resists empire and bears witness to God’s power at work in him.
Paul uses his story as his source of agency. When have you found telling your own story to be an act of courage or resistance?How can sharing your story with others be a spiritual practice, rather than just a personal reflection?
Growth often happens quietly, through ordinary faithfulness and small signs of the Spirit’s work.
In what ways have you grown this year, maybe in ways that no one else noticed?
What practices or rhythms help you notice where the Spirit is at work in your life?
The way of Jesus invites us to resist empire’s demands and bear witness to truth with our lives and stories.
Empire often asks us to shrink or perform to survive. Where in your life are you tempted to surrender parts of yourself to belong, and how might Spirit power invite you to show up differently?
How might you bear witness to God’s work in your life this week?
As the series ends and we look to the end of the year, take time to reflect on where you’ve noticed God’s presence and how your story has taken shape. This can be a small group practice or questions for the group to take home and think through.
Looking back on 2025, what moments stand out to you where you noticed God’s Spirit at work in your life, even in small ways?
What’s one way your story this year feels unfinished, messy, or unexpected? How does that challenge or encourage you?
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
BIPOC Lunch - Sunday 11/16
Sunday, November 16, will be our next BIPOC Lunch. This lunch is for CCCers who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color, and will take place after our church service.
Our BIPOC lunches came out of our continuing work in racial equity and inclusion, and the realization that spaces like this are much needed, especially in a multi- church. If you identify as BIPOC and are looking for a way to connect with other CCCers of color, we welcome you to join us. If you'd like to RSVP or get more info, reach out to justin@christcitydc.org.
Rosedale Thanksgiving - Friday 11/21
Christ City is a partner for the 3rd annual Rosedale Community Feast on November 21 at the Rosedale Recreation Center from 2 pm to 6 pm. We are looking for volunteers and donations to help give support. You can volunteer by donating food, resources, or finances, or by coming to the event to help serve. Sign up to volunteer at go.christcitydc.org/thanksgiving, or e-mail sarah@christcitydc.org for any questions.
Christmas Choir - Rehearsals on Sundays
Join the Christ City Christmas choir! The holiday season is approaching and Christ City is looking for individuals who would like to participate in our Christmas Choir for our December 14 service. Previous choir experience is helpful, but not necessary! Please send a message to josh@christcitydc.org to request to join or receive more information.
Miner PTO - Wednesday, December 3
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. *We’re in need of a group to sign up for December’s meeting!
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.
