Small Group Guide: Week of 3/8
Enduring Faith: James 3
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
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: What is a small joy you look forward to regularly?
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?
James 3 opens with a question about teachers, but quickly broadens his focus to all of us and how our words reveal what's being formed in us.
Think about your own experience growing up. What was a word or phrase that was off-limits in your house, and what value did that rule reflect?
What does it look like in everyday life when your words feel out of sync with who you want to be?
Read James 3:2-8. Pastor Lisa reminded us that our words don't just reveal our inner life, they actively direct the future of our relationships and communities.
James 3:2 says that anyone who makes no mistakes in what they say is mature. What does that suggest about the connection between our spiritual growth and how we speak?
James 3:3-5 uses the images of a bit, a rudder, and a spark. Which of those lands most personally for you right now, and why?
James 3:8 says no human being can tame the tongue on their own. How does that change the way you approach the goal of speaking well?
Read James 3:9-12.
James 3:9 names the contradiction of praising God and cursing people in the same breath. Where do you notice that kind of double-mindedness in your own speech or inner life?
Pastor Lisa described Dr. John Perkins' choice to pursue forgiveness rather than hatred after nearly being beaten to death. What do you think made that kind of wisdom possible in him? What would it take for you to respond that way in a hard situation?
Read James 3:13-18. We’re given a contrast between two kinds of wisdom, and an invitation to choose which source we're drawing from.
James 3:17 describes wisdom from above as "pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." Which of those feels most available to you right now? Which feels most out of reach?
James 3:18 ends with the image of peacemakers sowing a harvest of righteousness. Where in your relationships or community is God inviting you to do that kind of slow, patient peace-making work?
The sermon closed with an invitation to name what God might be asking you to surrender and what he might be inviting you to receive. What came up for you in that reflection?
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
Guys Night
Guys! Join us at our next Christ City Men’s event on Friday, March 20 at 7pm. We’ll be attending the Capital City Go-Go’s Basketball game at the CareFirst Arena. The Go-Go’s are the G-League team for the Washington Wizards and they’ll be taking on the Windy City Bulls! Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at go.ChristCityDC.org/CCCMen.
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.
