Small Group Guide: Week of 3/1
Enduring Faith: James 2
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
Opening Discussion
Introductions & check-in
Introductions: Share your name (and pronouns if you’d like) and if you’re new or a returning member.
Icebreaker suggestion: If you could eliminate one food so none could ever eat it again, what would you destroy?
High/Low exercise
Give each member a chance to share their highest points and lowest points of the past week/month.
Additionally or alternatively, you can invite the group to share a word, emotion, 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
What from Sunday’s sermon …
Has stuck with you?
Raised questions for you?
READ James 2:1-7
What problem does James point out in James 2:1–4?
Why do you think favoritism toward the rich is such a serious issue for James?
What does James mean when he says God has chosen “the poor in the eyes of the world”?
Connecting to Our Story
Why is it easy to forget our own “salvation story” or seasons of need?
How does remembering where we came from change how we treat others?
Where do you see “spiritual amnesia” in our culture or church today? Where have you experienced it yourself?
Living it Out
Who are the “poor” or marginalized people in your daily life (work, school, neighborhood, city)?
What does favoritism look like today (status, education, politics, race, comfort)?
READ James 2:12-13.
Why is it tempting to feel either guilt or paralysis when talking about caring for the poor? James says we live under “the law that gives freedom” (v.12).
What does it mean to serve others from freedom instead of fear?
Application:
In light of what you’ve read in James 2, heard in the sermon, and discussed in small group, how do you sense the Spirit leading you to respond this week?
What is an act of mercy I could practice this week?
What is one way I can teach my children / friends / self what faith looks like in action?
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
Lent
We continue in the season of Lent, the week leading up to Easter Sunday. We invite you to join us for each of the events scheduled as a way to reflect on the passion and resurrection of Christ. (You can find more at christcitydc.org/lent-easter)
Continue to share with your small group that Christ City Church is asking everyone to join us each weekday morning through Lent @ 7:00am for Morning Lenten Prayers. You can join Christ City pastors, staff, and elders each morning for 20 minutes of prayer and praise through the Lenten season. Join at go.christcitydc.org/lentenprayer
Daily Lenten Devotionals; Our Daily Lenten Devotionals, “Enduring Faith” can be found at: https://christcitydc.org/lent-2026
Miner PTO
In one of our longest standing partnerships, Christ City is continuing to work 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.
