Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Jesus' wisdom compels us to give honor to governments and ourselves to God.

A. Live by the surpassing wisdom of Jesus.

B. Give to human governments within limits.

C. Give yourself to God without limits.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 20:20-26

1. How does believing that all resources are ultimately God’s help us in submitting to the government? (e.g., paying taxes with faith God will provide, or not allowing our hope to be controlled by government over/underspending).

2. Name (in less than 30 seconds!) an area of politics which often frustrates you. What do you think Jesus would have to say about it? Try to consider any Scripture passages referencing this area.

3. How can we use the surpassing wisdom of Jesus to interact with governing authorities well?

4. Where do you think you need to consciously limit - or elevate - the honor or trust you place in government? Why?

5. How might we approach political involvement/rhetoric as a Christian witness to others? What about criticism of political leaders?

6. What areas of your life (if any) do you think might be affected too much by politics? (areas named in the sermon were time, affections, and community)

7. Read CrossWay’s fourth defining value below:

“As a result of our personal experience of God’s love through the Gospel, we eagerly seek to obey the first and greatest commandment—to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind. This love is the natural and joyful response to experiencing God’s gracious forgiveness, for the one who is “forgiven much, loves much.” This love for God will be expressed in all we do, but it will find a particularly heightened expression in worship, both personal and corporate.”

What tends to limit you from loving God wholeheartedly?

8. Suppose a friend or coworker comes to you to vent about the most recent thing happening in the news. What would be a gospel-shaped response?

9. How do you need to trust in God’s wisdom and sovereignty this week?

Prayer

Discussion Questions: On break until January 2026

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Hope in the King whose righteous rule will produce perfect peace.

I. His qualification is unquestionable (vv. 1-3a)

II. His rule will be righteous (vv. 3b-5)

III. His peace will be perfect (vv. 6-9)

IV. His majesty will be magnetic (v. 10)

Digging Deeper

Read Isaiah 11:1-10

1. What injustices in our world make you wish for peace? What does the coming of Jesus have to say about this?

2. When you want peace, who or what do you look to?

3. In the sermon, a distinction was made between what delights human rulers and what delights our King, Jesus. What is different about what Jesus desires from us, versus what earthly leaders and rulers often desire? (see Isa. 1:23)

4. What would it look like to grow in delighting in God, fearing him in a way that longs to honor him?

5. This sermon focused on the kind of righteous rule that Jesus, this promised King, will have. What do you most look forward to about his promised rule?

6. In Jesus’s righteous rule, he will enact justice always. As was said in the sermon, if this is our king, we had better live like him. How can we obey this call in our daily lives?

7. Reread Isaiah 11:6-9, which gives us a picture of what eternity with the Prince of Peace will be like. Which of these particular pictures of peace do you long for? Why does your heart long for this?

8. To get another picture of the peace which comes in eternity, read Revelation 22:1-5. What do these verses mean to you, and how can we start to live out this peace now between one another?

9. “When the King came the first time, it wasn’t to judge, but to save.” How did Jesus fulfill this purpose in his life on earth? What will be different about his second coming?

10. It can feel counterintuitive to consider this majestic, righteous, peacemaking king when Christmas is supposed to be about baby Jesus lying in the manger. Why do you think there is goodness in thinking this way about Jesus at Christmastime?

Prayer