Ground Rules For Conversation 

How to be safe people: 

• There are “no perfect people allowed” so we won’t “fake fine” or pretend to be something we’re not. 

• We aren’t here to fix each other - No unsolicited advice giving - just listen & encourage 

• We’ll keep our sharing short so others can participate 

• We’ll keep what we hear to ourselves, since each person’s story is theirs to share

• We’ll show up and join in, because each person’s input matters & helps

• Values around Mission: Anyone is welcome // Change is possible // Hope for Everyone

Holy Headlines // Week 2// Jodi Hikerson 

Icebreaker (10 min)

What’s something small that irrationally makes you angry?(hearing people chew, driving, slow walkers, etc.)

Leader Tip:Keep this fun and light. Let people laugh. Then bridge with:“Today we’re looking at a moment where Jesus got angry—but for a very different reason.”

Scripture Setup (Matthew 21:12–17)

Have someone read the passage out loud.

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[e] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[f]”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants    you, Lord, have called forth your praise’[g]?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Leader Tip:Encourage people to visualize the scene the noise, chaos, people, animals, tables flipping.

1. What stands out to you and why?

Leader Prompt:

• Don’t rush this let people sit in the moment.

• If needed, ask: “What surprises you about Jesus here?”

Goal: Observation, not interpretation yet.

2. How did you view anger and Jesus before this?

Leader Prompt:

• “Did this moment challenge your assumptions?”

• Normalize different answers.

Watch for:People who think anger = always bad. Help them see righteous anger vs. sinful anger.

3. Which of the four is most common today? Why?

(Legalism, judgmentalism, hypocrisy, indifference)

Leader Prompt:

• Let this be cultural before personal.

• Ask: “Where do you see this play out?”

Goal: Build awareness without defensiveness.

4. Which do YOU drift toward?

Leader Prompt:

• Gently shift from “out there” to  “in here”

• Model honesty if needed

If stuck, give examples:

• Legalism = rule-focused over relationship

• Judgmentalism = labeling people

• Hypocrisy = saying one thing, living another

• Indifference = seeing need but not acting

5. “Tables Jesus might flip” in your heart

Leader Prompt:

• Give 10–15 seconds of silence before answering

• Ask: “Where might Jesus want to disrupt something in your life right now?”

Important:This is a key moment don’t rush it.

6. When has God been misrepresented to you?

Leader Prompt:

• Acknowledge this can be sensitive

• Say: “Share only what you’re comfortable with”

Goal:Help people separate Jesus from bad representations of Him

7. What blocks people from God today?

Leader Prompt:

• “What barriers do people feel?”

• “What pushes people away?”

Common answers you may hear:

• Judgment

• Politics tied to faith

• Hypocrisy

• Church hurt

• Feeling “not good enough”

8. How can we make it easier to encounter Jesus?

Leader Prompt:

• Bring it back to your group specifically

• Ask: “What would this look like in our actual lives?”

If needed, guide toward:

• Listening well

• Showing hospitality

• Meeting needs

• Living authentically

9. Which son are you right now?

Leader Prompt:

• “No shame just honesty”

• Ask: “Where do your actions not match your intentions?”

Goal:Lead toward repentance, not guilt

10. One practical step this week

(Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.)

Leader Prompt:

• Make it specific: “What will you actually do?”

• Encourage writing it down or sharing with the group

Follow-up idea:Ask: “Who can check in with you on this?”