Breaking Ground
What are you looking forward to the most in 2026? Why?
The Dig
This Sunday, we took time to reflect on what it might mean to faithfully follow Jesus in 2026.
Read Matthew 5:13-16. In this passage, Jesus commands his followers to exist as a unique source of Kingdom flavor & light in an otherwise often bland & dark world. This universal call to faithfully exist as a distinct source of goodness, life, flourishing, & abundance in the world transcends time & place. As such, it offers us a helpful starting point for reflecting on what it means to be a Christian in our own unique context & what challenges we might expect when it comes to actually living out our calling in the world.
With this in mind, begin your conversation by looking backwards on 2025.
In this past year, where were most successful at living as a source of salt & light in the world? Where did you find this to be most challenging? Why?
Next, reflect on what might be the greatest challenges to faithfully following Jesus & living out our calling in 2026. As you do, rely upon the three levels that our panelists used in their Sunday conversation on this topic: individual, communal/familial, & national/global.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge to faithfully following Jesus at the individual level in 2026? How is this struggle both timeless & unique to this moment in history?
What do you think will be the biggest challenge to faithfully following Jesus at the local communal & familial level in 2026? How is this struggle both timeless & unique to this moment in history?
What do you think will be the biggest challenge to faithfully following Jesus at the societal, national, & global level in 2026? How is this struggle both timeless & unique to this moment in history?
Pick one challenge identified in your conversation that you expect to be the hardest for you personally. How can you live as a source of Kingdom salt & light in this part of our world? What would you need to change in your personal life or habits to make this possible? How might your group help you do so?
Getting Out of the Hole
Take time this week to reflect backwards on 2025 & forwards into 2026.
- Where do you feel like you grew spiritually in 2025? Where do you feel like you stagnated? Why?
- Where do you hope to see growth at the end of 2026 in your spiritual life? Why?
- What changes can you make to your life & habits to help make this growth more likely to occur? How can you invite Jesus into this part of your life?
Journal, reflect, & pray on how God might be speaking to you through each week’s teaching. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
Centered Set Church by Mark D. Baker
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent & Christmas
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
January 11th: Join us next week as we begin our new series on the New Testament Book of Galatians!* Please see mye3.org for details.