House of Cards

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When Jesus sees what is happening in the Temple—the house of his Father—he is deeply disturbed and angry. He calls it a “den of robbers”.

What do you think makes Jesus so angry in this scene?
How does it affect you to see Jesus express such strong emotions?
What does his reaction reveal about what truly matters to him?

Jesus turns everything upside down. He drives out the vendors and the money changers, reminding the crowds of the Temple’s original purpose. The Temple was meant to be a house of prayer and worship, not a place of commerce; to be a site of healing, not exclusion.

Jesus sees beyond all the activity and exposes a deeper issue: the heart behind what is happening. Let’s read Matthew 21:12-17.

Matthew 21:12-17

What does this passage tell us about the purpose of the Temple?
What stands out to you in Jesus’ actions and words?
Why do you think Jesus connects worship, prayer and healing in this moment?
What does this story teach us about God’s desire to meet people?

The New Testament tells us that God no longer lives in a building made of stone, but in his people. Our lives have become his dwelling place. Deepening our faith often begins with allowing Jesus to expose the deeper reality of our hearts and reshape us from the inside out, so that our lives truly become houses of worship.

Do you allow Jesus to show you what’s really in your heart? What do you see?
Which areas or activities in your life are not yet being used for what God intends?
What might Jesus want to clear out or reorder in your life?
If your life is a temple, what helps you remain a place of worship?
Where do you sense a need for healing—spiritually, emotionally or relationally?

In this episode, Jesus speaks openly with his disciples about what following him will cost. He does not promise comfort or ease. Instead, he reminds them they should be prepared for hostility and persecution. He asks them whether they would lay down their lives for him.

What stands out to you in this conversation between Jesus and his disciples?
When you think about loving others, what usually comes to mind first: feelings, actions or sacrifice?

Jesus defines love in a striking way: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

For Christians, this love is not limited to literally dying for someone—though that is the ultimate expression. Jesus calls his followers into a daily way of living marked by self-giving love: choosing others over yourself, giving up comfort, time, control or preference for the good of another.

This kind of love is meant to be visible and normal within the community of believers. Let’s read John 15:12-14, Romans 5:7-8 and 1 John 3:16.

John 15:12-14

Romans 5:7-8

1 John 3:16

What does Jesus command his disciples to do in John 15?
In what context does Jesus speak about laying down his life?
Why do you think Jesus connects love so closely with sacrifice?
According to Romans 5, how does God’s love differ from typical human love?
What does 1 John 3:16 say about how Jesus’ sacrifice shapes the way we live?

Sacrificial love can look dramatic, but more often it looks ordinary. It shows up in a thousand small choices for the benefit of others: giving time when you are tired, listening instead of fixing, choosing patience over irritation, letting go of your own plans or preferences, serving quietly without recognition. It is in those moments that Jesus’ heart can become visible to us and the people around us.

What does it look like to love others the way Jesus loves us?
What does laying down your life look like on a day-to-day basis? What opportunities do you have this week to love others this way?
Who has shown this kind of love to you? How did it impact you?
What might Jesus be inviting you to do differently this week?

Caiaphas, the high priest, is a man with great authority. He is a man who believes in God, who speaks God’s words to others, who delivers a prophecy that soon will be fulfilled: that one man will die for the people so that the nation will not perish. And yet, he completely misses what God is actually doing and becomes part of the plan to end Jesus’ life.

What do you think about the prophecy spoken by Caiaphas?
What do you find striking or troubling about his role in this story?
Have you ever received a prophetic word or a strong sense of direction from God? How did you respond to it?

Caiaphas plays a key role in the condemnation and eventual crucifixion of Jesus. He operates under Rome’s authority and holds his position by their permission. He believes in Adonai, the God of Israel—and yet he does not recognise Adonai’s Son, Jesus.

Before we judge him too quickly, we should pause. Judging was exactly what Caiaphas did. If we’re honest, we might recognise some of the same tendencies in our own hearts. Caiaphas believed in God, yet he completely misunderstood God’s character and plans. He did not place his trust in the one God sent: Jesus. That makes his story deeply tragic. Let’s read John 11:47-53.

John 11:47-53

What does this passage reveal about Caiaphas’ motivation and reasoning?
How does fear influence the decisions being made here?
What does this text teach us about the difference between religious belief and true trust?
Where do you see human logic colliding with God’s greater plan?

It is possible to believe in God, hold a position of influence, speak about God to others and even prophecy, while still completely missing what God is doing. That raises an important question: are we truly aligned with him?

Today’s lesson is simple but incredibly challenging. Will you trust the Son of God even when you don’t understand him? Will you trust him even when his actions go against your expectations, your reasoning or your sense of control?

Sometimes things happen that we cannot explain, calculate or make sense of. In those moments, the question is not whether we understand but whether we trust.

Are there moments when you struggle to trust Jesus because you don’t understand what he is doing?
Can you think of a situation where trusting Jesus required letting go of your own logic or expectations?
What helps you continue to trust him when clarity is missing?

In Jerusalem, Andrew and Philip talk with Leander and his friends about the sacrifices brought during Passover. Philip explains that these sacrifices are meant to be important and beautiful symbols of God’s grace.

What makes these sacrifices an important and beautiful symbol of God’s grace?
Why do you think God uses symbols to communicate grace and forgiveness?
Do you have a symbol in your life today that reminds you of God’s grace? What is it, and why does it matter to you?

As we see in the Temple scene, symbols can slowly lose their meaning. What was once intended as a way to remember and honour, and stay connected to God, can easily become commercial, routine or distorted—taking on a value God never intended.

Scripture contains many examples of powerful symbols of God’s grace. Let’s read Luke 22:14-20 and Hebrews 10:1-14.

Luke 22:14-20

Hebrews 10:1-14

What symbol does Jesus give his disciples in Luke 22?
What makes the Lord’s Supper such a beautiful symbol of God’s grace?
What does Hebrews 10 tell us about sacrifices and their limitations?
How do the sacrifices in the Old Testament point forward to Jesus?
Why is Jesus’ sacrifice described as once for all time?

Symbols are valuable, but only when they do what they are meant to do. The power is not in the object itself, but in what it points to. Symbols are meant to help our hearts stay connected to Jesus—reminding us of who he is and what he has done. Without attentiveness, they can easily become empty rituals, habits or even distractions.

Besides the Lord’s Supper, are there other symbols God gives us in Scripture that help sustain faith today?
What do these symbols mean to you in daily life, and how do you practise or remember them?
Do you have personal symbols or practices that help you live out your faith?
Why are these meaningful to you, and how do they help keep your heart focused on Jesus?
How can we guard against forgetting the true meaning of a symbol or allowing it to become empty or distorted?

SEASON 5 - EPISODE 2

House of Cards

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Initial Reflections

Dig In

Matthew 21:12-17

Respond

Initial Reflections

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John 15:12-14

Romans 5:7-8

1 John 3:16

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

John 11:47-53

Respond

Initial Reflections

Dig In

Luke 22:14-20

Hebrews 10:1-14

Respond

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