January 4th - Small Group Guide

January 4th - Small Group Guide


Small Group Guide

You might feel far from God—but He’s already closer than you think.

Epiphany

Matthew 2:1–12

OPENING 
  • What’s something you enjoy about the days after Christmas?
  • What’s something that feels harder or emptier once the season ends?

SETTING THE SCENE 
Context for Matthew 2:1–12 The Magi arrive after Jesus’ birth. No angels, shepherds, or manger scene. They weren’t Jewish insiders or religious experts. They followed what light they had and God met them there.

Read Matthew 2:1–12 
  • What details stand out to you this time?
  • What surprises you about how God reveals Jesus in this passage?
DISCUSSION: GOD MEETS SEEKERS, NOT JUST INSIDERS
Matthew 2:1–2
  • What stands out about who the Magi were and who they were not?
  • Why do you think God chose to reveal Jesus to outsiders first?
  • Where do people today feel pressure to “have faith figured out” before approaching God?
Key Truth: Curiosity counts. Questions count. Steps count.
DISCUSSION: GOD IS FOUND IN UNIMPRESSIVE PLACES
Matthew 2:9–11
  • Why do you think the star stopped at a house instead of a palace?
  • Where do people tend to expect God to show up today?
  • Where might God actually be working quietly in your life right now?
    • In conversations?
    • In routines?
    • In challenges?
    • In ordinary faithfulness?
Key Truth: God often works quietly so we’ll learn to pay attention.
DISCUSSION: ENCOUNTERING JESUS CHANGES WHAT WE OFFER
Matthew 2:11
  • Why do you think worship came before the gifts?
  • What do the Magi’s gifts tell us about the cost of real worship?
  • What does it look like today to offer something meaningful to Jesus not just words?
    • Time
    • Trust
    • Priorities
    • Obedience
    • Letting go
Key Truth: Faith isn’t just believing it’s responding.
DISCUSSION: EPIPHANY REDIRECTS YOUR LIFE
Matthew 2:12
  • Why do you think Matthew includes the detail about “another route”?
  • How does encountering Jesus tend to change direction rather than just behavior?
  • Where might God be inviting you to walk a different path this year?
Key Truth: Meeting Jesus doesn’t just inform us it transforms us.
REFLECTION 
  • Where might God already be closer than I’ve realized?
  • What “ordinary place” might God be using to reveal Himself to me?
  • What step however small might God be inviting me to take?

PRAYER 

TAKE-HOME PRACTICE 
A Simple Epiphany Prayer Encourage the group to pray this once each day:
“God, open my eyes to notice where You already are.”