Desired Takeaway
Participants will see the gospel not just as personal salvation, but as the royal announcement that Jesus is the risen King, and will consider what it means to live in whole-life allegiance to Him today.

Icebreaker Options

• “Good News” Moment
 - What’s a piece of good news you’ve received recently that actually changed your day or your plans?
• Big Announcement
 - Share a time when an announcement (job, move, health update, etc.) changed how you saw your future.

Discussion Questions
Lean In

• When you hear the word “gospel,” what ideas or images come to mind? How have you typically understood it?

Look Down (Scripture Focus)
Read Colossians 1:13-23.

• What has God done for us in this passage? (Look for specific actions or verbs.)
• How is Jesus described, and what do those descriptions tell us about who He is?
• According to the passage, what has Jesus accomplished through His death?
• In verses 21–23, how are people described before and after—and what response or continuation is called for?

Look Out (Understanding the World)

• The gospel is described as an announcement of a new King that demands a response.
• What are some “rival kings” or competing allegiances people follow today (culture, success, identity, politics, etc.)?
• Why do you think “good news” isn’t always experienced as good by everyone?

Look In (Personal Reflection)

• The response to the gospel is described as allegiance—expressed through repentance, trust, baptism, and ongoing obedience.
• Where do you feel tension between allegiance to Jesus and other loyalties in your life?
• What might repentance (re-aligning your loyalty) look like for you right now?
• In what area is Jesus inviting you not just to believe in Him, but to trust Him with your life?

Live It Out
If a community truly lived as if Jesus is the risen King right now:

• How would relationships look different?
• How would people handle money, power, conflict, or success?
• What would stand out to the outside world?

Optional Exercises for the Week

• Allegiance Inventory
 - Each day, pause and ask: “What is shaping my decisions right now—Jesus or something else?”
Write down one moment where you consciously choose Jesus as King.
• Practice Repentance (Reorientation) - 
Identify one “rival loyalty” (approval, control, comfort, etc.).
Each time it surfaces, pray: “Jesus, you are my King—I choose your way.”
• Embodied Reminder (Communion Reflection) - 
If you take communion this week (or reflect on it), slow down and consciously declare:
“My allegiance belongs to Jesus alone.”

Closing Prayer Prompt
Invite the group to pray around these themes:

• Acknowledge Jesus as King and Lord
• Confess areas of divided allegiance
• Ask for grace to trust, follow, and live under His reign
• Pray for courage to embody the gospel in everyday life

You might close with a simple declaration together:
 “Jesus, you are our risen King. Teach us to live under your reign.”