Opening
Consider asking your group to share how this sermon series has challenged them. How have they responded to that challenge?
Overview
In our society, it is easy to let our politics redefine Jesus instead of letting Jesus shape our approach to politics. This means that, even as believers, we can put more time, energy, and passion into political impact than into following Jesus. We can be surrounded by 24/7 news and political conversations start all around us. It is hard to not be known for our political opinions and beliefs. If we compare those things to the amount of time we spend praying and participating in God’s work in the world, we start to see a startling imbalance.
If we invest more time in politics than we do in the kingdom it is easy to make political activity the exception to Jesus’ kingship. That exception gives a foothold to spiritual darkness in our families and communities. We need to trust God to care for us and for His church instead of believing that we have to do “whatever is necessary.” God desires our wholehearted trust and disciplines our idolatry because He loves us and wants good for us.
Discussion Questions
- What stood out to you in this week’s sermon?
- Do you invest more time or energy in politics or in following Jesus?
Practice
James 4 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Read this passage aloud and invite your group to spend five minutes in silence asking the Spirit to show them their own wrong desires? Where do they want something from others, including political leaders, that only God can give? Where do they cry and God is laughing or laugh and God is crying?
Invite them to surrender to God. In what ways is God instructing them to resist the devil? Where is God inviting them to participate in God’s work in the world?
Closing
Pray that we will keep Jesus in His right place and love the people around us. May the church’s witness shine brightly in our political climate.
