2.1.26 Huddle

Onelifechurch   -   January 31, 2026

Opening Discussion

  • What are some things you have done to help you understand the Bible better?

Read and Discuss

Matthew 22:15-22

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to trap him by what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians.“Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are truthful and teach truthfully the way of God. You don’t care what anyone thinks nor do you show partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

18 Perceiving their malicious intent, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” They brought him a denarius. 20 “Whose image and inscription is this?” he asked them.

21 “Caesar’s,” they said to him. Then he said to them, “Give, then, to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

  • How was this question about paying taxes a trick question?
    • What would the Pharisees have done if Jesus said “don’t pay taxes?”
    • What would the Pharisees have done if Jesus had said, “Yes, pay taxes to Caesar?”
  • Why did Jesus call them hypocrites?
  • Why were the Pharisees amazed by Jesus’ answer to their question?
  • Jesus asked the Pharisees whose image was on the coin. Where is God’s image found?

Matthew 7:15-16a

15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. 

Matthew 16:11-12

11 Why is it you don’t understand that when I told you, ‘Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees,’ it wasn’t about bread?” 12 Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the leaven in bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

1 John 4:1-3a

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. 

  • What do these passages tell us about the importance of discernment when it comes to those who teach us and speak into our lives about spiritual matters?
  • Who are some of your favorite Bible teachers?
    • How do you determine if what they say really lines up with the Bible?
  • Jesus compares the bad teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees to leaven. What does leaven do to bread and how does that relate to false teachers?
  • Why is knowing God’s word vital to understanding if a Bible teacher is legit or false?
  • What are some ways to “test the spirits” as John tells us to do?
  • What’s the difference between a false teacher and a teacher that accidentally gets something wrong?

Discipleship Questions

  • What is one way you can give yourself more fully to God this week?
  • How can you grow in your Bible knowledge this week?
  • What can you do to live out what you learn from studying scripture?

Memorize it!

1 John 4:1

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Prayer TACOS

Thanksgiving: How did the Lord live out truth on this earth? Thank the Lord for His example and for giving us a standard by which we can measure every other teacher by.

Amazement: Spend some time reflecting on the miracle that is the Bible. Worship the Lord for this book that has stood the test of time and still delivers truth and the standard for truth to this day.

Confession: How have you lacked discernment in the Biblical messages you allow to go unchecked in your life? Confess to those times where you have just listened to a preacher’s message because you like their style or content, but have failed to check what they have said against God’s word.

Others: Who is someone you know that is struggling with following the Bible because they allow too many outside influences to affect them? Pray for them and help walk through some of these verses today with them to help them be more discerning. 

Self: What do you need to do this week to learn God’s word more? Pray for discipline to read, understand, and live out God’s word in every aspect of your life.