Breaking Ground
What activity or situation makes you feel the most strong or powerful? Why?
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued our series Secret of Life by exploring the false ways that our world teaches us that power can bring us fulfillment or meaning.
What are the major cultural narratives that exist around power? What does our present world teach us about the nature of power & the role it should play in our lives?
Next, read Matthew 3:13-4:17. Here, we witness the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After undergoing baptism, Jesus is tested by evil in the wilderness & then, having passed these tests, he exits proclaiming that God’s Kingdom has arrived through him. The three tests focus on Jesus’ hunger, safety, & desire for worldly power; & each aims to either make Jesus doubt the God-given identity, distrust God, or forsake the path God’s called him to go.
With this in mind, reflect upon the nature of Jesus’ testing.
Does anything in particular stand out to you about this testing story? Why does evil focus on these three, specific things when trying to undermine Jesus’ identity, trust in God, & commitment to God’s mission?
Clearly, Jesus responds harshest to evil’s offer of worldly power. Why do you think Jesus views this as being the most dangerous & insidious test? What is Jesus being tempted to forsake in this particular test? HINT: gaining power without following God’s path of self-sacrificial love, redemptive suffering, & the Cross.
What happens when we embrace power without self-sacrifice or love? How does this form of power warp how we attempt to build God’s Kingdom in the world?
Where do you see people embracing a definition of power that’s defined by control over others rather than service to others? What impact is this having on them, others, & our world?
Where are you struggling with the temptation to embrace a definition of power that’s defined by control over others rather than service to others? What impact is this having on you? How might this story be challenging you to invite a healthier, Christlike vision of power in the area you’ve identified?
Getting Out of the Hole
Take time this week to reflect upon the topic we covered in the Sunday sermon.
- What is your relationship with power? What narratives do you hold about what it is & how it’s gained? How has that been shaped more by our world’s definition of community as opposed to Christ’s?
- How has your worldview as it relates to power shaped how you go about trying to make your life & the world better? How has it warped these good desires into something toxic?
- Where do you need to embrace a vision of power defined by self-sacrificial love? How might this change the way you go about trying to make yourself & your world better?
Journal about how this prayer practice makes you feel this week. Share your experience with your group next week.
Additional Resources*
Centered Set Church by Mark D. Baker
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
August 24th: Join us next Sunday as we continue our series Secret of Life!
* Please see mye3.org for details.