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City Group notes.

Resources for our mid-week groups.
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Glory and Ruin Sound Cloud.png

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Glory and Ruin.

Spring Term 2026.

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​Introduction

If you wear glasses, you don’t think about them most of the time, but they’re affecting everything you see. Our “worldview” is like that: the glasses we see the world through, the set of assumptions and beliefs that affect how we process and interpret everything else. And choosing to follow Jesus doesn’t just mean changing a few specific beliefs within your overall framework: if Jesus is Lord then our whole worldview needs to be aligned with His.
To help us with this, we’ll be preaching from Genesis 1–11. These chapters are like the introduction which sets the scene for the rest of the Biblical story, and they contain some key ideas about the nature of the world and how we should look at it. 

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​​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. 

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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. Make sure you include some of the “implications” section so that the discussion isn't just theoretical. â€‹â€‹

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Quick Links
Tips for leading  |  11 Jan  |  18 Jan  |  25 Jan  |  1 Feb  |  8 Feb  |  15 Feb (no notes) |  22 Feb  |  1 Mar  |  8 Mar (no notes) |  15 Mar | 22 Mar | 29 Mar
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Sermon recordings are here (or search City Church Cambridge in a podcast app).
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Tips for Leading Bible Discussions.

  1. 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. 

  2. 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.)

  3. 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.”)

  4. Generally speaking, ask one question at a time, and keep it simple to understand (even if it’s not simple to answer!)

  5. Make sure everyone gets a chance to participate. Discussing something in 3s and 4s is a great way to do this.

  6. Don’t be afraid to leave silences, nor to call time on a side-track that’s gone on for longer than is helpful.

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​Week commencing 11th January:  Creation

[Note:  Unless people are really struggling with it, you might want to avoid using up time on the debates around how the six days of creation etc. should be interpreted, so that you can focus on the worldview implications of this text.]  

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Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of creation/the environment/the universe?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 1:1–2:3.

  • Ask someone to read the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at the material world is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about these things better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of the created world would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read John 1:1–18 or Revelation 21:1–14. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story for creation?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story into those conversations?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about the created world need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 18th January:  Work and Rest

Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of work and rest?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of work and rest is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 1:28–2:15 and encourage the group to think about work and rest as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at work and rest is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about work and rest better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of work and rest would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Hebrews 4:1–13. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story for work and rest?  [FYI this passage is drawing a parallel between salvation in Christ and the the Israelites entering Canaan.  Commentators differ over whether the rest in this passage is something Christians experience in the present, in the future New Creation, or to some degree in both.]

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about rest and work?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story for them into those conversations?

  • When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of rest and work?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about rest and work need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 25th January:  Humanity

Introduction

  • Where have you seen ideas about humanity come up in the news/on social media/in songs and other artwork?  What is being communicated?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of humanity is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 1:26–28 a couple of times.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at humanity is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about humanity better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of humanity would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Colossians 1:15–20. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story for humanity in God's image?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story for humanity into those conversations?

  • When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of humanity?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about humanity need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 1st February:  Sin

Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of sin?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of sin is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 3:1–13 and encourage the group to think about the topic of sin as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at sin is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about sin better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of sin would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Romans 6:15–23. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story about sin?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story for sin into those conversations?

  • When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of sin?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about sin need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 8th February:  Suffering

Introduction

  • If someone from 200 years ago were transported to Cambridge in 2025, what do you think they would find particularly noticeable about people's views about suffering?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of suffering is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 3:14–24 and encourage the group to think about the topic of suffering as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at suffering is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about suffering better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of suffering would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Isaiah 52:13–53:12. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story about suffering?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this suffering?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story into those conversations?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about suffering need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 15th February:  Standalone sermon

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No suggested questions this week.

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​Week commencing 22nd February:  Violence

Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of violence?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of violence is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 4:1–15 and encourage the group to think about the topic of violence as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read some of the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at violence is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about violence better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of violence would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Hebrews 12:18–24. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story about violence?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story about violence into those conversations?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about violence need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 1st March:  Technology

Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of technology?

  • Where have you seen ideas about technology come up in the news/on social media/in songs and other artwork? What is being communicated about it?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of technology is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 4:17–26 and encourage the group to think about the topic of technology as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read some of the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  Thinking about this passage as well as other scriptures, in what ways is the Bible positive about technology, and when is it negative about it?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about technology better than the alternatives around us?

  • How does the gospel give us hope in the face of any negative aspects of technology you've discussed?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story about technology into those conversations?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about technology need to change to line up with God's story?  When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of technology?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 8th March:  Standalone sermon

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No suggested questions this week.

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​Week commencing 15th March:  Men and Women

Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of gender, sexuality and marriage?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of men and women is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 1:26–2:25 and encourage the group to think about  the topic of men and women as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read some of the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of thinking about men and women is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about men and women better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of men and women would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Ephesians 5:22–33. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story about men and women?

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Implications

  • When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of men and women?

  • [In single-sex(?) threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about men and women need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 22nd March:  Success

Introduction

  • Where have you seen the topic of success come up in the news/on social media/in songs and other artwork?  What is being communicated about it?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of success is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 1:26–28 and 11:1–9 and encourage the group to think about the topic of success as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read the passages again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at success is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about success better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of success would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Acts 2:1–13. How does Jesus' death and resurrection reverse the effect of Babel?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story about success into those conversations?

  • When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of success

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about success need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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​Week commencing 29th March:  Judgement

Introduction

  • Think about your friends/family/neighbours/colleagues who don't follow Jesus (yet).  What are the different views they hold on the subject of judgement?

  • What assumptions are underlying those specific views and beliefs?

  • In what ways do you think the Christian view of judgement is similar or different to the way other people see it?

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Investigation

  • A​​sk someone to read Genesis 6:5–22 and encourage the group to think about judgement as they listen.

  • Ask someone to read the passage again.

  • [In threes and fours:]  What ways of looking at judgement is Genesis giving us?  What needs to be changed or added to what we just discussed about the Christian worldview?  [Feed back to the group.]

  • In what ways is God's story about judgement better than the alternatives around us?

  • What aspects of the Biblical view of judgement would people in our culture tend to agree with? How does the Biblical story offer an explanation for why those things are true?

  • Read Acts 10:34–43. How is Jesus and His death and resurrection at the heart of God's story about judgement?

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Implications

  • What opportunities do you have to talk to others about this topic?  How might you be able to gently and clearly bring God's story about judgement into those conversations?

  • When do you find it hard to hold to a Biblical view of judgement?

  • [In threes and fours:]  How does your own thinking about judgement need to change to line up with God's story?

  • Pray for one another's discipleship and witness.

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