2026 House group
alignment Guide

Welcome, leaders, to our 2026 alignment series and the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting!

Alignment is the one time a year when all of our House Groups do the same thing, integrating with the sermon series. This guide is still designed so that people don’t have to come to a Sunday to get something out of it, but it’s a great time to invite them to join on a Sunday, or to at least catch up on the podcast or YouTube so they get the full experience.
The January series, WILD FAITH, is an opportunity for us to reframe "wilderness" as opportunities for our faith to grow. We’ll look at how Jesus was led to the wilderness before His ministry began, see what was cultivated there, and contrast that with some of the miracles He did. What if it’s actually in the wilderness our faith increases for some of the greatest miracles we’ll see?

Below, you have a resource on fasting in case you get questions from people in your group. We encourage you to fast with your group in some way. One of the benefits of doing this as a church is that we get to support each other in community. We get to lean in together.
Some key dates to help you plan:
  • House Groups start the week of January 12. This guide is for the first four weeks of that session. After that, you’ll have five weeks of normal House Group where you will pick what to do.

  • Our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting are January 12 - February 1. We will have our Prayer Room for these 21 days as well (M-F at 7am, Sat at 9am and Sun at 8am).

  • We’ll also have a worship night each Sunday night at 7pm — January 11th, 18th. 25th, and ending with a celebration worship night on February 1st. All of these will be at City Church.

Guide to Fasting

Here's a resource to help if folks need more guidance or have questions about fasting. This may be especially helpful for people who have never fasted before or have very limited experience with it. Feel free to share this resource with others!

Week One: Appetite

January 12-15

Big Idea: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness as preparation for His ministry, building intimacy with the Father. Fasting, an act of intentional physical deprivation, is a “wilderness” that increases our expectation, typically leading to closeness with God.
Scripture
Luke 4:1-4
Deuteronomy 8:3
Psalm 119:11
Mark 6:30-44
Optional Discussion Questions
  1. What is “wilderness” for us today?
  2. Why do you think Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness?
  3. What scriptures do you lean on when you are tempted?
  4. What emotions have you experienced while beginning your fast? (If you are not fasting - what emotions came up in past “wilderness” experiences?)
  5. How has God used “wilderness” to form you over your life?
  6. Where do you need an increase of faith over the next 21 days?
Practice Option 1: Scripture Memorization
Choose one scripture that your group would like to memorize (eg, All or part of Psalm 34 in a specific version)

  1. The leader reads the selected scripture aloud slowly.
  2. Then give two minutes for everyone to read the scripture silently on their own.
  3. As a group, read the scripture aloud together once.
  4. Divide into pairs and break the passage into 2–3 parts (if it’s larger). Depending how long your scripture is, you might try having pairs assign images to key words in each part for easier recall.
  5. One person will then close their Bible/phone, and recite the scripture, only asking for help from their partner where they get stuck. Once their done, their partner will go.
  6. Alternate practice for a few practices for each partner or until they feel confident.

If time allows, debrief: How does memorizing scripture shift your thought patterns or feelings?
Practice Option 2: Listening Prayer
Where does God want to meet you in the wilderness journey?
It’s a good idea to have some instrumental music playing in the background, and possibly have pens and paper available to journal what they hear. Depending on time, take 2-4 minutes for each question below.
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  1. Have everyone sit in a relaxed, comfortable position.
  2. Start by inviting the Holy Spirit to be present and speak to everyone in the room. Pray that He would silence every other voice or distraction, so that the group would encounter Him fully.
  3. “We’re going to ask God a few questions, and listen for his response. As things come to mind, even if they seem far off, trust the Holy Spirit is speaking and guiding your interaction.”
    • Question 1: What is an area “wilderness” in my life you’d like to focus on?
    • Question 2: What scripture(s) relates to this area of “wilderness”?
    • Question 3: What are you forming in me through “intentional wilderness”?
    • Question 4: Is there any act of obedience you want me to take from this experience?
  4. Close by thanking the Holy Spirit for speaking. 
  5. Debrief any experiences people want to share.
Obedience
What type of fast are you leaning into over the 21 days? How can we support each other through the next 21 days?
Download a PDF of week one

Week TWO: ambition

January 19-22

Big Idea: God’s Kingdom is upside-down. Instead of trying to gain worldly authority, our authority comes through surrender and worship, serving God alone. Our faith in practice looks like taking bold steps of surrender.
Scripture
Hebrews 11:1
Luke 18:1-8
Luke 4:5-8
Matthew 8:5-13
Optional Discussion Questions
  1. What emotions come up when you think about surrendering to God?
  2. How is surrender an act or demonstration of faith?
  3. What does it look like to walk in authority that comes from God?
  4. Where might some of your worldly ambitions be focused? How might God want to reorient those ambitions to Him?
  5. What would your life look like if your authority came from God in this area of life instead of striving for it?
Practice Option 1: Surrendering your Ambitions to Jesus
Place an empty chair in the center of the room, symbolizing the King’s throne. Give everyone a piece of paper and something to write with. Turn some instrumental music on in the background. Use the following prompts to have everyone write on their paper.
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  1. What is an ambition or dream you have? For some of us, it may be a promotion or certain status we’re trying to achieve. For others, it might be something we’re waiting on, a spouse, a child, etc. It might be something that feels really big, or perhaps it’s an ambition that’s a little less obvious — wanting to be the best performer on your work team, have the most well-behaved kids, or that 6-pack. This is anything we desire to feel better than the next person, and if we’re really honest is something we may even want more than God. As we follow Jesus, He asks us to surrender every piece of our hearts to Him, so ask Him to reveal the ambition in your heart he wants you to surrender. Be bold.
  2. Next, write down any fears that come up in surrendering this to Jesus. What’s coming up for you? Maybe it’s a fear that He won’t provide for you, or that you’ll be looked over at work, you’ll lose a sense of identity or purpose. Be as honest as you can be — it’s between you and God. No one is going to see it.
  3. Next, ask God what holding onto this dream or ambition might be keeping you from experiencing with Him. Perhaps you’re looking for something He actually wants to give you in His way.
  4. Finally, take a moment to count the cost. Surrender means that we are giving up our lives so that we will have more of Jesus. Take an honest inventory of your heart now that you’ve processed what might be keeping you in this place. Ask yourself, are you ready to hand it over?
  5. Once you are ready, place it at the feet of the “throne.” Our dreams are in the best places they can be when they're in Jesus’ hands.
Practice Option 2: Activate your Faith
Give everyone a piece of paper and something to write with. It’s a good idea to have some instrumental music playing in the background.

Read James 2:14-26 out loud. Oftentimes obedience actually looks like a step of faith. We want to be people who put our faith to action, not just a theory we believe or something we know. We might be praying for something, waiting on God to move, while He’s actually waiting for us to take an initial step of faith. Sometimes we have to activate what we want to see in our lives, done in partnership with the Holy Spirit.

  1. Write down the bold thing you want to have more faith for. Maybe it’s a dream, a miracle, someone to be healed, a big problem you want to be solved. He asked the guy by the pool if He wanted to be healed, sometimes we have to have an active role in the thing we want to see.
  2. Ask God what it looks like to activate your faith in this area. Is there a step He’s asking you to take? Write that down. It’s ok if you’re not 100% sure. Your heart is to honor what you think God is saying.
  3. What is the first step you need to take? Maybe the thing you heard isn’t something you can do immediately (i.e. write a book), but there is a step you can take in order to create momentum in that direction (i.e. write an outline to get your ideas on paper). This should be something you can do in the next week or so.
  4. Acknowledge any fears you have around taking this step. Fear is usually the thing that keeps us from moving out in faith, so lay these out before God.
  5. We’re not made to do this alone. It can feel scary and vulnerable, but we’re more likely to follow through on our steps of faith when we have a little accountability. So, get with a buddy. Share the bold thing you want to see an increase of faith around and the steps God is asking you to take to activate your faith. What are the fears that hold you back? And what is one thing you can do in the next week to start activating your faith? After each person shares, pray for each other. Declare the step you’re going to take and when you’re going to do it. Be sure to follow up with your buddy next week.
Obedience
What is one way you can serve someone this week? (Maybe it’s paying for someone’s meal, giving above what you normally would, helping a neighbor around their house, etc.)
Download a PDF of week two

Week THREE: Approval

January 26-29

Big Idea: Letting go of the need for approval and leaning into desperation puts us in a posture of receiving healing (even great miracles).
Scripture
Luke 4:9-12
Galatians 1:10
Colossians 3:23-24
1 Thessalonians 2:4
Mark 5:25-34
Optional Discussion Questions
  1. Where do you look for approval?
  2. What does it look like to operate out of already knowing you’re approved by God? How would your life look different?
  3. What practices help you receive God’s love and live from that place instead of striving or trying to earn it?
  4. Where are you desperate for God to move?
  5. Is the approval of man keeping you from the healing you desire?
Practice Option 1: Where Does My Approval Come From?
Send everyone this chart, either share the link or print it out. You’ll want some instrumental music playing in the background.

  1. Introduce the chart: This comes from a book “Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship”, which digs into why we so often don’t live as though we’re heirs to God’s Kingdom. We are plagued by an orphan mentality that can keep us striving and distant from God. As we grow in identity as sons and daughters (co-heirs with Christ), we live as already approved by the Father. The left side behaviors are how we live when trying to earn our approval. The right side indicates how we live from a place of knowing our identity instead of trying to earn it.
  2. Read through the list and prayerfully highlight, underline or circle the behaviors and mindsets that are evident in your life.
  3. Review what you’ve called out. Which one stands out to you the most?
  4. Take a few minutes and ask God what He wants to say about that behavior or mindset. Give about 5-7 minutes for them to see what God might be saying.
  5. Get in groups of 3 or 4. Share what you picked, and what you think God might be saying about it. What is one way you can live from approval instead of trying to earn it this week?
  6. Once each person shares, one other person in the group prays for them. Keep going until everyone has shared.
Practice Option 2: Guided Meditation/Prayer
Read the following guided meditation to your group. Read it slowly, allowing for time to process as you go. Read it ahead of time, so you’re familiar with what it says. Turn on some light instrumental music in the background, and dim lighting if you can. This should take about 30 minutes, including the debrief.

Ask everyone to close their eyes and to breathe deeply. Let go of any wandering thoughts.

  1. Imagine yourself with God in one of your favorite places. Maybe it’s your home, out in nature, your favorite vacation spot. Just sit there with God and notice how you’re feeling. Take a few deep breaths, and imagine you’re sitting with your best friend.
  2. As you’re sitting with God, you start talking about all that he’s taken you through in your life. He’s had big plans for you well before you were born. Together, you recount the different seasons of your life and how they shaped you. There were those times you felt misunderstood. Times you felt looked over or even hidden for a long season, wondering if there was anything significant about you. (Give people space to think about what this was for them.)
  3. There were also times that really scared you — those defining moments where you took a risk that changed the trajectory of your life, or you saw the potential God had known was in you all along. (Give pause for reflection here.) There were times when you felt hurt and betrayed by people close to you, feeling more isolated and alone than ever. Or the times when you lost someone or something close to you, and it was hard to see a way out of grief. (Give a longer pause for reflection here.)
  4. And, there were the victories. All of the battles you’ve won, the places where your gifts are magnified and life feels so fulfilling. You have purpose. You are loved. (Give a longer pause here.)
  5. As you look back over the years, God shows you how He was with you through it all — every single moment, He never left your side. He saw you when you felt unseen and He was cheering you on in each victory. He’s the best dad you could ever ask for. As you look through your life you realize, He’s given you everything you’ve ever needed. Look around now and see the abundance He’s lavished you with. He’s made you royalty! You have authority and power, and access to anything you need. God is so pleased with you. What emotions start to come up as you recognize this? What is your response to God? What has He revealed about who He’s been to you? How has that shifted how you view yourself? Take a moment to soak in all of God’s love and provision.
  6. Yet, you get comfortable here, and it seems something is still missing. You look over and see something you desire…a lot. And because you have all of this abundance from God, why shouldn’t you have this thing as well? Even if it was never meant to be yours. So, you use your authority and power to just borrow it for a little while, thinking no one will ever know. But while you have it, it breaks. And because this thing you desired was so valuable, if people find out what happened, you’re at risk of losing everything. What emotions start coming up now? How might shame, fear and self-preservation determine what you do next?
  7. You devise a cover-up plan, and make sure no one ever finds out what you did. Other people are hurt in the process, but you? Your image is intact. Your status is secure. You did it. No one will ever know.
  8. But then you remember that conversation with God — that He’s always with you and sees it all. And you know what you just did broke His heart. So how do you respond? What does this mean for your relationship with Him? How do you move on from here? (Give a few minutes for people to talk to God.) Open your eyes once you’re done playing out the rest of the story.

After a few minutes and everyone’s eyes are opened, read 1 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 51.

Debrief (in small groups if needed).
  • What thoughts, feelings, or insights came up through that exercise?
  • What did you learn about God’s character?
  • How does your view of approval (whether from God or man) impact how you respond?

Obedience
What is one way you can let go of seeking approval this week?
Download a PDF of week three

Week four: led by the spirit

February 2-5

Big Idea: Just as Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit for His ministry, so are we for Kingdom impact!
Scripture
Luke 4:14-21
Hebrews 11
Ephesians 2:8-10
Optional Discussion Questions
  1. How have the past 21 days shifted your faith?
  2. How did you see God move in the last 21 days?
  3. As you’ve finished the 21 days, what do you think God is empowering you to step into?
Practice Option 1: The (Spiritual) Gifts I See in You
Depending on the size of the group, you may want to split into 2 groups to ensure there is time for everyone. Make sure everyone has something they can take notes on. Share this list of spiritual gifts with everyone.

  1. One at a time, you will each have a chance to be on the “hot seat.” Everyone else in the group will take a few seconds to ask God this question: “What gifts have you given (the person in the hot seat)?” You can look at your list to see which one stands out for each person.
  2. Three people will share the gift they feel like God showed them for that person. It’s ok to add where you’ve seen evidence of that gifting in their life. The person in the “hot seat” should write down what people share.
  3. Pray a blessing over that person to seal what they just received.
  4. Continue until each person has a turn.

Practice Option 2: Come Holy Spirit
Note: You’ll want to be somewhat familiar with this experience if leading it. As always, it’s good to have some background music.

Ask everyone to close their eyes and to breathe deeply. Let go of any wandering thoughts.

  1. Have the group stand in a circle.
  2. Introduce the practice: “In Luke, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, and we’re going to take some time to ask the Holy Spirit to fill each of us the same way. Now, we all have the Holy Spirit if we’ve been born again, AND there are often times in scripture where we see the Holy Spirit ‘fall on’ people to empower them for ministry. Just like we see with Jesus. So I’m going to call out a few prompts, and if you want more of that specific encounter with the Holy Spirit, step forward. We’ll all then lay hands on you and pray the Spirit falls afresh.”
  3. Call out different prompts, some are listed below. Give lots of space in between for prayer and to allow the Holy Spirit to move. Sometimes it happens quickly, and sometimes it can take a little time to build up. Listen and respond to what you’re sensing.
    • If you want to hear God’s voice more clearly…
    • If you want the gift of prophecy in more words, visions, dreams, etc…
    • If you want more boldness in sharing the Gospel…
    • If you want the gift of healing, to see God heal people through you…
    • If you want a prayer language…
  4. Close with praying over everyone. Have them place a hand on the shoulder of the person to their right. All out loud, all together, pray “Come, Holy Spirit” over that person. This should be high energy! You’re sending them off from the 21 days to be empowered with the Holy Spirit like Jesus was, so pray how you’d want someone to pray for you.

Obedience
What is one next step you can take coming out of these 21 days?
Download a PDF of week four