*Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 22:37; Luke 6:43-45; James 3:1; 2 Peter 2:1-3.
*Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Hebrews 10:23-25.
*1 Corinthians 15:1-2; Colossians 3:12-17; 2 Peter 2:4-16.
*2 Peter 2:9; Psalm 91.
Small Group Questions
Getting to know each other.
- Welcome to the first week of Fall/Winter 2020 Small Groups. God has brought you all into one another’s lives for spiritual growth and friendship. Have everyone share their names, something interesting about themselves, and one thing they’re learning during this COVID phase of life.
- What is the first place you want to visit when the pandemic either winds down or ends altogether?
What do you think?
- Every week, we try to start off sharing one thing that hit home from the weekend worship service. What struck a chord with you from City Church’s services last Sunday?
- Let’s take a minute right now to go over the small group guidelines. We call them the “Small Group Top 10.” You can find them in the Church Center app by tapping “Groups,” tapping on the group you are in, then selecting “Resources.” Additionally, your leader has them in an email they can forward to you if need be. Read together and discuss.
The story of your life.
- This past week, we read through 2 Peter 2 which focuses heavily on false teachers/teachings that arise in the church. Have you ever experienced or witnessed someone come out of a cult or some type of cult-like environment where false teaching was rampant?
- If you were to come up with a “checklist” of sorts to determine if something is theologically sound, what types of doctrines/beliefs would you put on there?
Digging deeper.
- Pastor Kyle referenced a story from 2 Chronicles 18. To provide a bit of historical context, the events in this story took place during the time of the Divided Kingdom of Judah and Israel. Israel’s king was a wicked guy named Ahab and Judah’s king was a (mostly Godly) king named Jehoshaphat. Read the entire chapter together out loud and answer the following questions.
- Have a few members of the group recap the story using their own words.
- What does this story tell us about God? People? False teaching? You?
- In his first letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul prophecies that false teachings will only continue to grow. Most importantly, Paul instructs Timothy what to do about it. Read 1 Timothy 4 and answer the following questions.
- According to verses 1-5, what kinds of practices will false teachers advocate for?
- In verses 6-16, Paul shifts from awareness of false teachers to practical suggestions for Christians to live out the truth. One of the most tangible ways to combat false teaching is simply to live out a biblically-focused obedience life. What should that look like according to these verses?
Personal reflection and application.
- Have everyone in the group share one thing (that someone else said) that resonated with them from this discussion.
- Take some time to pray for one another before closing the group.