You are the Light.
Autumn Term 2026.
Introduction
The questions and activities below are suggested ways of engaging with this outside of the Sunday service: individually, with a friend, or as a basis for City Group discussions. You should be able to use these questions even if you haven’t heard the sermon.
You may not have time for all of the questions in a City Group evening, so consider them as a menu of options to pick from, either in advance or in the moment as you see how the discussion progresses. Some of the questions are repeated in multiple weeks; others are specific to one week's passage. There's a bit of steering in here as to which questions might be a priority for us at the moment.
Quick Links
Tips for leading | 20 Sept | 27 Sept | 4 Oct | 11 Oct | 18 Oct | 25 Oct | 1 Nov | 8 Nov
Sermon recordings are here (or search City Church Cambridge in a podcast app).
Tips for Leading Bible Discussions.
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In advance, try to at least read the passage, pray for the group, and decide which of the suggested questions and activities you’re going to prioritise.
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You want to help the group to have a discussion with each other, so don’t talk too much yourself, and do encourage them to respond to each other’s contributions (“That’s an interesting point; what does everyone else think about that?” – especially useful if someone’s said something unhelpful.)
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Encourage people to discover things in the Bible passage, not just share their own ideas (“It’d be great if you could share which verse you’re looking at when you answer this question.”)
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Generally speaking, ask one question at a time, and keep it simple to understand (even if it’s not simple to answer!)
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Make sure everyone gets a chance to participate. Discussing something in 3s and 4s is a great way to do this.
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Don’t be afraid to leave silences, nor to call time on a side-track that’s gone on for longer than is helpful.
Week commencing 6th September: Standalone sermon
No suggested questions this week.
Week commencing 13th September: Series intro
No suggested questions this week. Come to the Week of Prayer!
Week commencing 20th September
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 3:13-4:11.
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[For groups with plenty of time:] Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
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[Priority:] As we, like Jesus, bring good news from God to the world, how do we face the same kind of temptations as He did? And what would it look like to respond as He did? [You could divide into three groups and look at a temptation each.]
Response
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Spend some time in prayer together, expressing appreciation that Jesus has come to stand with us in our sins and in our trials.
- Ask God where He is calling you to go and stand with someone who is lost, as Jesus has done for us. Have a few moments of quiet to listen to Him.
Week commencing 27th September
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 4:12-22.
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[For groups with plenty of time:] Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
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[Priority:] The disciples were busy with something else when Jesus called them. What attitude do we need to have towards our own weaknesses and limitations in order to be available for Jesus' mission?
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The disciples were unqualified for mission when Jesus called them. What attitude do we need to have towards our own weaknesses and limitations in order to be available for Jesus' mission?
Response
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Ask God where He is calling you to follow Jesus as you are, mid-life-and-work this Autumn. Have a few moments of quiet to listen to Him, and chat in threes and fours about what you think He might be saying.
Week commencing 4th October
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 4:23-5:2.
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[For groups with plenty of time:] Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How have you experienced Jesus' healing or teaching in your life?
Response
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Who do you know who particularly needs to know that Jesus brings good news and healing?
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How could you tell them?
Week commencing 11th October
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 5:1-6.
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[For groups with plenty of time:] Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
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[Priority:] How does believing these beatitudes for ourselves put us in a better position to share the gospel with others? [You could divide into four groups and look at one each.]
Response
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In threes and fours, name in prayer the ways that you are poor in Spirit and ask God to help you receive the blessing Jesus pronounces on it.
Week commencing 18th October
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 5:7-9.
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Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
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[Priority:] How does believing these beatitudes for ourselves put us in a better position to share the gospel with others? [You could divide into three groups and look at one each.]
Response
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In threes and fours, pray that the Spirit would work mercy, purity and peace in us. Where do you particularly need it at the moment?
Week commencing 25th October
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 5:10-12.
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Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
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[Priority:] How do we tell the difference between suffering because we are faithful to Jesus, and suffering because we've been UNchristlike in our relationships with others?
Response
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In threes and fours, pray for courage to be disliked for the right reasons, and humility to recognise when we're disliked for the wrong reasons.
Week commencing 1st November
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 5:13.
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Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
Response
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Ask God what being salty looks like in your situations at the moment. Have a few moments of quiet to listen to Him, and chat in threes and fours about what you think He might be saying.
Week commencing 8th November
Passage familiarisation
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Ask someone to read out Matthew 5:14-16.
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Give everyone time to read through it again on their own, or get into pairs and share your initial impressions.
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Ask someone to retell the passage in their own words.
Passage exploration
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[For groups with plenty of time:] What does this passage tell us about people?
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How does this passage display God's grace?
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How does this passage describe the kind of life Jesus invites His followers into?
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Why does Jesus say that His followers ARE the light of the world, rather than saying they should try to be the light of the world?
Response
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[Priority:] Take some time to pray that we, City Church, a city on a hill, would let our light shine.
Week commencing 15th November: Standalone sermon
No suggested questions this week.
Week commencing 22nd November: Standalone sermon
No suggested questions this week.
Week commencing 29th November: Standalone sermon
No suggested questions this week.