By Dan Lentz

1. When you hear the words “church building,” what image immediately comes to mind? A majestic stone cathedral, a quaint, white-steepled chapel in the country, a nondescript storefront building in a commercial area, or something else? Why is this your image of a church building? 

Read 2 Samuel 7:4-16.

2. Much time had elapsed between the Israelites settling in the promised land and the time of David. Why do you think the Lord did not ask the Israelites to construct a permanent building of worship immediately?

3. What do you see from these verses that the Lord values more highly than a physical building of worship?

4. Do you think there is too much or too little emphasis and resources today put into the physical structure where the church meets compared to the actual church (followers of the Lord)? Explain. What negative things happen when priorities get distorted?

5. Many Christ-followers think of their small group as “church.” How is your small group living out, or not living out, its calling to be the church? How do you need to grow as a group?

6. Pray that pride and barriers would be removed that prevent the Lord from making his home inside your hearts. Ask the Lord to show you how to be his living temple.

Dan Lentz works for the Small Group Network in Whitestown, Indiana.

For more small group ministry resources, visit www.smallgroups.com.