City Group Questions | May 18-May 24th
Exodus 20:8-11

City Group Core Values

  1. Engagement: Each person will get out of their city group what they put into the group. Make sure everyone in the group gets a chance to engage. If you tend to talk more than others be sensitive to how much you may dominate the conversation. If you tend to talk less make sure you work to speak up in your group. Your voice is valuable to others in your group and community; growth can’t happen without engagement.

  2. Confidentiality: We long for our groups to be places of authentic community. The only way this happens is through vulnerable conversations in which we share personal parts of our lives and confess our sin together. Anything and everything that is shared in the group must stay in the group.

  3. Speech: We must fight against gossip, grumbling, and complaining. Our speech should build up our group not burden our group (Eph 4:29). We also must keep our conversation focused when our group meets. City groups gather to study the word and connect together please avoid personal rabbit trails or off topic subjects.

  4. It takes more than one day and one person: City groups are about relationships. True relationships are not built by one person on one day a week. Step up to help your leader - they can’t do it all alone. Everyone in the group should be serving the group - volunteer to host, volunteer to bring a side or main dish, volunteer to give them a week off. Follow up and engage the members of your group during the week: one day a week does not build authentic community.

Preparing for City Group

Pray | Take time out of your week before your City Group to pray over the members of your group and for this week’s discussion.

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START HERE
Read: Exodus 20:8-11

Starting Discussion Recommendations:

Pray | Start small group time by praying and asking the Holy Spirit to bless your time together diving into scripture and the sermon.
Watch | Bible Project - The Law

Big Idea | The first of the Ten Commandments tells us that there is only one God worthy of our lives.

  1. Have a member of your City Group read Exodus 20:8-11 for the rest of the group.

  2. Observe Scripture: Take a moment to observe this scripture passage. What stands out to you the most in these passages? Did you notice anything new that you haven’t before? Is there anything here that is confusing or that you have questions about? Spend a few minutes discussing your observations about the passage. Does this specific passage bring any other verses to mind?

  3. Recall the Sermon: What stood out to you from this week’s sermon if you were able to attend the Sunday gathering?

  4. Why do you think that Sabbath is an overlooked and often ignored commandment?

  5. What incorrect cultural understandings do we have of rest? How and why are we tempted to believe this? How do we combat that narrative?

  6. Mark connected sabbath with refinement - How does rest bring about spiritual growth and transformation?

  7. How does the biblical view of rest, resting in Christ, differ from the cultural view of rest, self-care?

  8. Reflecting on your own life, how might you be unintentionally finding identity and worth in work or productivity rather than in Christ?

  9. Mark ended with “Rest brings resurrection.” What does it mean to experience new life in the context of Sabbath, and how have you seen that in your life or others?

The primary goal of the Bible is to show us who God is and point us to Jesus. For that reason, these three questions are necessary and foundational in how we interpret, understand, and read scripture. So as we read and process each passage of scripture on a week to week basis, end City Group with discussing how it points us to God and Jesus. Then reflect on how the Holy Spirit might be asking you to apply these specific truths to your life.

  1. What aspect of God’s character has this week’s passage of scripture shown you more clearly?

  2. Fill in the following statement:

    • Knowing that God is _______________________________________ shows me that I am __________________________________________________________________________________.

    • What one step can you take this week to better live in light of this truth?

  3. How does this week’s passage point us to Jesus? What aspects of Jesus life, death, burial, resurrection, and coming return are in view here?

  4. Has the Holy Spirit taught, led, challenged, encouraged, our guided you personally this week? How will you respond to Him?

What Did You Hear: Is there anything you felt God showed you or told you through today’s discussion or this weekend’s sermon?