With Us: Rock or Sand
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Matthew 7:24–29 (CEB)
24 “Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. 26 But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.”
28 When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching 29 because he was teaching them like someone with authority and not like their legal experts.
Opening Discussion
A note for leaders: It’s election week, and people will arrive in very different places. Give the check-in room to breathe and hold off on debating outcomes. The aim is for everyone to leave knowing they aren’t going through this week alone.
Check-in
Icebreaker (choose one) :
When a big storm is in the forecast, what’s your move? Do you clear out the bread and milk, refresh the forecast every hour, or wait and see?
Halloween is “All Hallows’ Eve,” the night before All Saints’ Day. Who is one person, living or gone, who carried the torch of faith for you? Or someone outside the church whose life showed you something of the way of Jesus?
How are you carrying it?
In groups of 3–4, or all together, each person shares:
How you’re carrying this week, in a word or a sentence
A high and a low from the past week
One way the group can pray for you
Digging Deeper
As you reflect on Sunday's sermon:
What has stayed with you from Sunday’s message?
What comforted or challenged you?
What might the Spirit be prompting you to remember and consider?
Two paths (Matthew 7:13–23)
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with three pairs: two gates, two trees, and two builders. Each one sets a choice in front of us.
Pastor Justin shared that “Not everybody who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’…” (vv. 21–23) frightened him as a kid. Have you heard this verse, or one like it, used as a threat? How does it change things to see that Jesus is warning those who use his name to harm others, and not anxious people wondering whether God loves them?
Jesus says, “I never knew you.” The issue is relationship, not performance. What does it mean to you to be known by Jesus?
One storm, two houses (Matthew 7:24–27)
The same rain falls on both houses. Jesus doesn’t promise the wise builder better weather.
When have you done things “right” and still found yourself in a storm? What helped you?
Who has built shelter for you that you didn’t build yourself?
Hear these words and put them into practice
The bedrock isn’t a set of beliefs to agree with. It’s a way of life to practice, which is discipleship. Houses in Jesus’s day had no poured foundations. Builders dug down until they found the rock, and that digging is “the part nobody sees.”
Which of Jesus’s words in Matthew 5–7 are easiest to hear but hardest to put into practice?
Four foundational postures (Matthew 7:1–12)
Humility (vv. 1–5): “Don’t judge” isn’t about refusing to use judgment. It’s about not pronouncing a verdict on where someone stands with God. Where are you tempted to take that seat, especially this week? What helps you notice your own log?
Discernment (v. 6): In Jesus’s world, dogs were scavengers, pigs were unclean, and pearls were priceless. What is “holy” or precious to you—your story, your faith, your energy—and where have you learned to guard it? When have boundaries felt faithful?
Expectation (vv. 7–11): Expectation isn’t optimism. It’s a refusal to let cynicism have the last word. Where have you noticed God at work anyway?
Solidarity (v. 12): The golden rule asks, “What would I want my neighbors to do if I were the one outside the walls?” Who in our city is most exposed right now, and what might solidarity look like this week?
Application & Practice
Each person names one storm they’re carrying and chooses one practice for the week. Partner up and check in next time.
Breathe, and then choose: When you notice yourself reacting, take three slow breaths, remember that God is with you, and then choose your response.
Ask, seek, knock: Bring one honest request or complaint to God each day. “How long?” counts.
How are you carrying it? Ask one person how they’re doing, and listen without trying to fix anything.
Guard your pearls: Choose one space this week (a group chat, a comment section, social media) where you’ll stop giving away energy that’s precious, and spend it somewhere life-giving instead.
Open the door: Do one concrete act of care for a neighbor more exposed to this storm than you are.
Discuss: Which practice feels hardest, and why?
Closing thought: The storms will come, and they will show what we’ve built on. But we don’t build alone: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). The one who taught us how to build is building with us. Breathe. And then choose.
Prayer
Praying for one another regularly is an essential part of small groups.
This week’s focus: pray for neighbors most affected by the election and its aftermath, especially families facing separation through immigration detention. Pray for our city and country, and give thanks for the saints who built shelter for us.
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.
