Small Group Guide: Week of 9/27
With Us: The Temptation of Empire
To view this guide as a PDF, click here.
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tested by the devil. 2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was famished. 3 The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 6 saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ ”
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory, 9 and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’ ”
11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.
12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—
16 the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.”
17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Opening Discussion
We're still early in the semester, so keep an eye out for newer folks, and take a moment to welcome them and help them get to know the group.
Check-in
Icebreaker suggestion: What's your favorite food that has a long wait? (A slow-cooked meal, homemade bread, a family recipe, anything!)
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.
Starting Conversations
If your group is still finding its rhythm, feel free to use one of the orientation options from the last two guides (Beginning of the Semester, Looking Back & Looking Forward). If you haven’t talked about Community Care Practices yet, make time to do that this week.
Community Care Practices
Take some time to remind the group of your community care practices (group norms, rules of engagement). If helpful, open the floor for a conversation around what the group might want to add or articulate around how to care well for one another during group discussions. You can find the full Community Care Practices document here; some things to consider with your group:
Your community care practices should include ways to address these foundational values:
Engagement: commitment to attending and participating in the group
Confidentiality: nothing is shared outside of the group without permission
Generosity: a posture of seeking to understand even in difference
Listening well: validating others' experiences and avoiding a posture of "fixing" (ie. unsolicited advice)
Inclusion: recognizing and making space for everyone, especially folks who might experience marginalization (this can include more specific practices or boundaries addressing topics like racism or LGBTQ inclusion)
Some other things to consider:
What to do with silence
Awareness of different conversational & processing styles (ie. introverts & extroverts)
Technology use
How practical care happens in the group
This doesn't have to be a one-time conversation! Work together to name your group's community care practices and name them consistently in your gatherings.
Digging Deeper
As you reflect on Sunday's sermon:
What resonated with you?
What comforted/challenged you?
Did you learn something new?
What might the Spirit be prompting you to remember and consider?
Read Matthew 4:1-11. The tempter's first words pick up right where the baptism left off: "If you are the Son of God." Before Jesus is tested, he's already claimed and beloved.
When have you felt your sense of who you are, or whose you are, put to the test?
What helps you remember?
The first temptation invites Jesus to use God's power to secure his own needs on his own terms.
Where are you tempted to secure yourself by going along with the way the world already works?
Which power are you relying on to meet your needs?
In the second temptation, Jesus refuses to force God's hand. Some things only become what they're meant to be with time and slow heat.
When have you wanted God to prove God's presence?
Where are you tempted to take a shortcut instead of trusting the slow work of growth?
Basileia, the Greek word for kingdom, can also be translated as empire. Jesus refuses the kingdoms of the world, even for a good cause, because God's kingdom isn't built with the empire's tools.
What feels uncomfortable or hopeful about calling God's kingdom an empire?
Where have you been tempted to pursue something good by the wrong means?
Pastor Andrea described the powers and principalities on display at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and how they shape-shift to keep their hold on power. Matthew tells us a great light has dawned where empire's shadow was longest.
Where do you see opposition to God's purposes shape-shifting today?
What might it look like for light to expose what's hidden, in the world or in us?
Pastor Andrea confessed that she's tempted to rule her own little kingdom by controlling her surroundings, securing her comfort, and taking the shortcut.
Which of these resonates with you?
What would it look like to pay attention to the how this week?
When God's kingdom comes near, it issues an invitation.
What would it look like for you to repent, to turn toward the kingdom that has come near?
Where might God be inviting you right now?
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
Miner PTO
In one of our longest standing partnerships, Christ City is continuing to work with Miner Elementary to provide childcare during their monthly Thursday 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.
