Life Group Resources: For Thine Is...

Opening Prayer (2-3 minutes)
Begin by praying the Lord's Prayer together slowly, pausing after each line to reflect on its meaning.

Icebreaker Question (5-10 minutes)
What is one thing that typically has your loyalty or attention throughout the week? (This could be work, family, hobbies, news, social media, etc.)

Key Takeaways from the Sermon
1. The Doxology is a Declaration of Faith - The closing line of the Lord's Prayer is not just filler words but a bold statement about who God is and where our ultimate allegiance belongs.
2. God's Kingdom vs. Human Kingdoms - We are called to distinguish between God's kingdom (built on love, compassion, service) and human kingdoms (built on fear, domination, wealth).
3. Divided Loyalties - We face competing voices daily that claim our allegiance—nation, party, wealth, ideology—but our ultimate loyalty belongs to God alone.
4. The Power of "Amen" - When we say "Amen," we declare "so be it" and "I stake my life on this."

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text (15-20 minutes)
Read 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 together. What stands out to you about David's prayer? How does it connect to the closing line of the Lord's Prayer?
The sermon mentions that the early Christians added this doxology to the Lord's Prayer. Why do you think ending with praise was so important to them?
What does it mean that "God's kingdom is not just a place but a way of life"?

Personal Reflection (15-20 minutes)
The sermon asks: "Does my support of this person, party, or policy align with my confession that the kingdom and power and glory are God's alone?" How do you wrestle with this question in your own life?
Where do you see divided loyalties showing up in your life? What competes for your ultimate allegiance?
The sermon states, "No flag is higher than the cross." What does this mean to you practically? How does this challenge or affirm your current priorities?

Application and Action (15-20 minutes)
What does God's kingdom look like in practical, everyday terms? How is it different from the "kingdoms" we see around us?
The sermon mentions several historical figures (MLK Jr., Rosa Parks, John Lewis, etc.) who said "yes" to God's kingdom and "no" to oppressive human systems. Who are modern-day examples you see living this way? How can we follow their example?
How can praying the Lord's Prayer regularly shape the way you:
Spend your time?
Use your resources?
Engage in conversations about politics or current events?
Treat people who are different from you?
The sermon challenges us to ask: "Does this policy, stance, or action reflect the values of God's kingdom?" Choose one current issue (local or national). How would you evaluate it through this lens?

This Week's Challenge

Choose ONE of the following to practice this week:

Option 1: Daily Declaration
Pray the Lord's Prayer each morning, but pause at the final line. Spend 2-3 minutes asking God to show you where you need to realign your loyalties that day.

Option 2: Kingdom Audit
Examine your calendar, bank statement, and social media usage from the past week. Ask: "Do these reflect my allegiance to God's kingdom or to something else?"

Option 3: Prophetic Action
Identify one way you can say "yes" to God's kingdom this week by:
Standing up for someone who is marginalized
Speaking truth in a difficult conversation
Choosing service over self-interest
Refusing to participate in gossip, division, or fear-mongering

Option 4: Study God's Kingdom
Read through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) this week. Make a list of what characterizes God's kingdom according to Jesus.

Group Accountability
Share with the group:
Which option you chose for this week's challenge
One specific way you'll practice it
How the group can pray for you
Closing Reflection (5-10 minutes)

Question for Silent Reflection: When you say "Amen" at the end of the Lord's Prayer, what are you staking your life on? What would change if you truly lived as though the kingdom, power, and glory belong to God alone?

Closing Prayer: Go around the circle and have each person pray one sentence, completing this phrase: "God, help me to declare that Your kingdom is greater than..."

End by praying the Lord's Prayer together once more, this time with renewed understanding and commitment.