The __________________ of politics

____________ _______ isn’t an option, because political issues are _________ ___________ _____________.

What was the political landscape for Jesus?

Political Conservatives – The ______________________

Political Liberals – The __________________

Political Extremists – The _____________

Political Escapists – The ______________

Supreme Court – The ________________

The ___________

King of Kings and Lord of Lords _________________

What Does The Kingdom of Heaven Look Like?

The _____________ are ______________.

The __________ matter.

_________________ matter.

We are called to Love _________ with all our heart and love our _____________________ as _________________.

It is personal ______________ and ______________ action.

It is personal ____________ and social ______________.

Spiritual growth happens when we receive new knowledge and then apply it to our lives. This always happens best in the context of community. Take time this week and engage in these additional scriptures and questions on your own. Then, discuss them with your Small Group.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”Proverbs 27:17

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS


What part of the message this week was most helpful, challenging?
What was one thing the Holy Spirit pointed out to you in the message this week?
Read Matthew 17:24-27, 22:15-22.
In these verses, Jesus avoided the trap by referring to a dual citizenship, honoring legitimate duties to the state, but giving ultimate loyalty to God as king.How does this help us navigate being citizens of heaven first and then of worldly kingdoms second?
Talk about this quote by Scott Sauls?
Our loyalty to Jesus and his kingdom must always exceed our loyalty to an earthly agenda, whether political or otherwise. We should feel "at home" with people who share our faith but not our politics even more than we do with people who share our politics but not our faith. If this isn't our experience, then we may be rendering to Caesar what belongs to God.

Read John 18:10-11, 33-40.
In both readings, Jesus denied his willingness to assume any form of political power even though he could have easily done so.Why do you think Jesus refused political power while so many of us today as his followers desire it?
Read Matthew 5:21-24, 43-48.
These verses contain Jesus’ commands about how we should treat one another and, especially, our enemies. How do these words apply to the feelings political campaigns tend to generate?
Do you pray for religious and political people with whom you disagree? Why or why not?
Read John 17:20-23.
In this prayer, Jesus was praying for all believers then and yet to come. He was praying for a holy unity in faith.
Is this unity more important than all the issues that might tend to divide us? What can we do to stay unified in Christ while disagreeing on certain political issues?