Grace Group Guide — When Violence Reveals Us
John 19:1-16a (CEB) · Witnesses · March 22, 2026
Jesus stands beaten before Pilate and a hostile crowd. Despite declaring Jesus innocent, Pilate caves to political pressure, and the crowd renounces its deepest faith to secure his death.
New to Grace Groups? Grace Groups are small communities of 6–8 people who meet weekly to grow deeper in faith and support each other. They’re a place to be honest about your faith journey and watch over each other in love — not a Bible study, not a therapy group, not a place to fix each other’s problems. The format is simple, the conversation is real, and over time, these become the people who know your story. Every meeting follows the same five-part rhythm below.
1. Center
Open with prayer or a moment of silence. Take a breath. Let the week fall away.
“God of courage, we gather knowing the crowd’s story is our story too. Give us honesty to see ourselves clearly, and grace to choose differently. Amen.”
2. Soul Tending
Check in with where you are spiritually — not where you think you should be. These five areas can help you find your way into the conversation. Pick the one or two that feel most alive — or most stuck — right now.
Prayers — How is your prayer life? What are you reading or listening to?
Presence — How has worship or being with other Christians shaped your week?
Gifts — Where are you giving your time, money, or energy?
Service — Where are you serving? What does that look like right now?
Witness — Where have you shared your faith or lived it out loud?
This week’s scripture is about what fear and pressure can make us do. As you check in, consider:
When has fear of standing out kept you from speaking what you believe?
Where do you feel the pull to go along with something that doesn’t sit right?
What’s one conviction you’ve been quietly holding back this week?
3. God Sightings
Share something from this week where you noticed God moving — in your life, in someone else’s, or in the world around you. Big or small, it counts.
Where have you seen one voice change the direction of a group?
When has someone’s courage inspired you to act differently?
Where have you noticed God working even in a tense or difficult situation?
4. Growing in Grace
Name something you’re carrying — a decision, a fear, a next step you’ve been avoiding. The group isn’t here to fix it. Just to hear it, sit with you in it, and pray.
What truth are you holding back because speaking it feels too costly?
Where is God calling you to stand with someone the crowd has turned against?
What’s one small step of courage God is inviting you to take this week?
5. Close
Pray for each other before you leave.
Each person shares one prayer need in a sentence. Then someone in the group prays for them out loud. Keep it simple: “God, I pray for [name]…” and one or two sentences is plenty.
The crowd’s shouts were not the final word. Resurrection people can choose differently. Go in that courage this week.