Everyday Disciple – Week 2 – Group Resources

Crosspointchurchtx   -   August 27, 2025

đź“– Crosspoint Community Church

“Called from the Tax Booth – Finding Grace in Unexpected Places”

Scripture Focus: Matthew 9:9–13

🧰 Materials Needed:

  • Bibles in multiple translations
  • Index cards
  • Pens
  • Handouts with discussion questions
  • Timer for icebreaker

❄️ Icebreaker (15 minutes): “The Interview Game”

  • Pair up participants.
  • Each person has 2 minutes to interview their partner using this prompt:

    “What’s the most unexpected invitation you’ve ever received, and how did it impact you?”

  • After interviews, volunteers share their partner’s story with the group.
  • Connection Point: Today we’re looking at the most unexpected invitation Matthew ever received.

🙏 Opening Prayer

📖 Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:9–13

🧠 Background Context:

  • Tax collectors in first-century Judaism
  • Social and religious implications of their role
  • The significance of table fellowship in Jewish culture

đź’¬ Discussion Questions

1. Understanding the Text

  • What strikes you most about how Jesus approached Matthew?
  • Why do you think Matthew’s immediate response was to throw a dinner party?
  • What does Jesus’ statement about healthy people and doctors reveal about His mission?

2. Exploring the Implications

  • How does Jesus’ treatment of Matthew challenge religious stereotypes?
  • What does this passage teach us about qualification for discipleship?
  • How might the Pharisees’ reaction mirror attitudes in modern churches?

3. Personal Application

  • Where is your “tax booth”—the place where you feel most defined by your failure?
  • How has Jesus’ invitation to follow Him changed your life?
  • What “tables” in your life need to become more welcoming to outsiders?

4. Contemporary Relevance

  • How does this passage speak to modern church inclusivity?
  • What modern equivalents of “tax collectors and sinners” exist today?
  • How can we balance grace and truth in our outreach?

🧩 Group Discussion

  • What obstacles prevent you from accepting Jesus’ invitation to deeper discipleship?
  • Who are the “tax collectors and sinners” in your life that need an invitation to meet Jesus?

âś… Application Points

1. Personal Growth

  • Identify one area where you feel disqualified and write a prayer surrendering it to God.
  • Schedule time this week for honest self-reflection about religious pride.

2. Community Impact

  • Make a list of 3 people you normally wouldn’t associate with and pray for them daily.
  • Plan one concrete way to make your small group or church more welcoming to outsiders.

3. Practical Steps

  • Choose one person this week to invite to coffee or a meal who might feel excluded.
  • Journal about areas where you’re trying to “qualify” yourself rather than accepting grace.