For Week 2 of our series, In the Shadow of the Cross, we’re talking about the time Jesus was in the temple and the religious leaders tried to trap him with a Roman coin. That account is found in Matthew 22:15-22, and we’ll discuss how Christians look beyond the disputes of this world.
To kick things off at your group, we recommend that you check in with your people about their previous “I will” statement. Start group time, before you read, with this question: “How did your ‘I will’ go this week?”
Second, it’s important to share God’s truth with those around us. Your next question before the read-through should be, “Who were you able to share with this week?”
Step 1: Assignment - Prepare to discuss Matthew 22:15-22
Before your group meets, text these passages out and ask your people to read them at least once.
Step 2: Read Through - When your group meets, read the texts in at least two different translations.
Step 3: Retell - Ask one or two people in your group to restate each passage in their own words, as if they were telling the story to a friend. Make sure you choose different people each week!
Step 4: Reflect: Go around the group and ask each person to answer these two things.
What does this passage teach us about God?
What does this passage teach us about human beings?
Step 5: Respond - Go around the group and ask each person to complete this statement, “Because of this passage, I will _____this week.”