This small group discussion guide draws directly from Tony Thornton's sermon “Follow-Up Materials - Initial Analysis” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Cleansing the Temple: Then and Now"
Based on Matthew 21:1–17 and 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 Palm Sunday Series | Passion Week
A Note to Facilitators: Thank you for leading your group this week! You don't need to be a theological expert to guide a great discussion — your job is simply to create space for honest conversation and let the Holy Spirit do the deeper work. This guide gives you everything you need. Feel free to adapt questions to fit your group, skip questions if time is short, and follow the Spirit's leading when conversation goes somewhere meaningful. The suggested times are guidelines, not rules.
Estimated Total Time: 60–90 minutes
OVERVIEW
For the Facilitator — Read or paraphrase to open the session:
This week's sermon took us into one of the most dramatic moments in Jesus' ministry — the cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. But the message didn't stop there. Drawing on Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6, we discovered that the Temple story isn't just ancient history — it's deeply personal. Because God's Spirit now lives in His people, we are the temple. And the same Jesus who drove out the money changers in Jerusalem still has the authority — and the love — to cleanse the temple of our lives today.
SECTION 1 | ICEBREAKER
⏱️ Suggested Time: 5–10 minutes
Opening Question — Choose one:
Option A (lighter, fun):
"Think about a space in your home or life that tends to get cluttered or chaotic — a junk drawer, a garage, a packed schedule. What does it feel like when you finally get it cleaned out?"
Option B (slightly more reflective):
"Has there ever been a time when someone stepped in and helped you clear out something that was getting in the way — whether physically, emotionally, or spiritually? What was that like?"
[Leader Tip]: The icebreaker is just meant to get people talking and comfortable. Don't rush it, but keep it moving after everyone has had a chance to share. Either option naturally connects to the sermon's theme of clearing out what doesn't belong.
SECTION 2 | SCRIPTURE READING
⏱️ Suggested Time: 5 minutes
Ask a volunteer to read each passage aloud. Encourage the group to listen for words or phrases that stand out to them.
Passage 1 — Matthew 21:12–17 (The Temple Cleansing)
"Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 'It is written,' he said to them, 'My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.'
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, 'Hosanna to the Son of David,' they were indignant.
'Do you hear what these children are saying?' they asked him. 'Yes,' replied Jesus, 'have you never read, "From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise"?' And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night." (Matthew 21:12–17, NIV)
Passage 2 — 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (The Temple Now)
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Corinthians 6:19–20, NIV)
[Background Context for Facilitators]: The area Jesus entered was called the Court of the Gentiles — the outermost section of the Temple, and the only place where non-Jewish people (Gentiles) were permitted to come and seek God. The buying and selling that had taken over this space wasn't just noisy and inconvenient — it was literally crowding out the only place the nations had to encounter God. When Jesus quotes Isaiah 56, He's pointing back to God's original vision: a house of prayer for all nations. That context makes His anger make much more sense — and much more personal.
SECTION 3 | DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
⏱️ Suggested Time: 30–45 minutes
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized to move from observation to interpretation to personal application. You don't need to cover every question — choose what fits your group best.
THEME A: Understanding What Jesus Did — and Why
(Observational & Interpretive)
Question 1
"Before Sunday's message, how did you tend to picture or think about this scene — Jesus clearing the Temple? Did anything from the sermon change or deepen your understanding of it?"
Question 2
"The sermon pointed out that the buying and selling in the Temple wasn't technically illegal — it had started as a genuine service to pilgrims. So what went wrong? What does that tell us about how good things can drift into something harmful over time?"
[Leader Tip]: This is a great discussion-starter because it removes the easy villain from the story. The money changers weren't necessarily bad people doing obviously bad things — they were doing something that had gradually become corrupted. Encourage the group to sit with that nuance before moving on.
Question 3
"Jesus specifically quotes Isaiah 56, which was written about Gentiles — outsiders — having a place to seek God. Why do you think it mattered so much to Jesus that this particular space had been taken over? What does that reveal about His heart?"
THEME B: The Temple Now — Our Bodies and Lives
(Interpretive & Personal)
Question 4
"Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6 are pretty startling: 'You are not your own; you were bought at a price.' In our culture, personal autonomy — the right to do what we want with our own lives and bodies — is considered almost sacred. How does Paul's statement challenge that, and how do you personally wrestle with it?"
[Leader Tip]: This question can land differently depending on where people are spiritually. Some may find it liberating; others may find it challenging or even uncomfortable. Create space for honest wrestling — you don't need to resolve the tension, just hold it together. If the group goes quiet, try: "Does 'bought at a price' feel more like a burden or a gift to you right now? Why?"
Question 5
"The sermon described our bodies and lives as the place 'where God's presence is made visible to the nations.' What would it look like in a very practical, everyday sense for your life to function as a place where people encounter God's presence?"
Question 6
"The sermon listed several things that can crowd our 'inner courts' — constant activity, entertainment, worry, self-promotion, even ministry that becomes more about gain than God. Which of those resonates most with you personally, and why?"
[Leader Tip]: This question invites vulnerability. Model openness yourself if you're the facilitator — sharing something honest from your own life gives others permission to do the same. Remind the group that this is a safe space and what's shared here stays here.
THEME C: Letting Jesus Cleanse His Temple Today
(Application & Community)
Question 7
"The sermon described what it looks like when our 'courts are crowded' — prayer gets squeezed to the margins, we start using people rather than serving them, and spiritual deadness hides behind religious busyness. What are some early warning signs in your own life that things might be drifting in that direction?"
Question 8
"The message reminded us that Jesus cleanses His temple through the cross and resurrection, through the Spirit, and through the Word. What does it look like practically to cooperate with that cleansing — to actually let Jesus do that work in your life rather than just knowing it's possible?"
Question 9
"We're in the middle of Passion Week — the days between Palm Sunday and Easter. Knowing what Jesus was walking toward when He cleansed the Temple, how does that change the way you see His actions that day? And how does it change the way you want to spend this week?"
[Leader Tip]: This question connects the historical moment to the present week in a meaningful way. It can be a natural bridge into the application section and the prayer time. If time is short, this makes a good closing discussion question before moving on.
SECTION 4 | PERSONAL APPLICATION
⏱️ Suggested Time: 10–15 minutes
These questions are designed for quieter, more personal reflection. You might invite people to journal silently for 2–3 minutes before sharing, or simply give them a moment to think before opening the floor. Not everyone needs to share — create space without pressure.
Reflection Question 1
"If Jesus were to 'walk the courts' of your heart right now — the way He walked through the Temple that day — what do you think He would notice? What might He want to overturn or drive out?"
Reflection Question 2
"The sermon offered four practical applications for living as 'Passion Week people.' Which one feels most urgent or most challenging for you right now?**
- Presenting your body as a living sacrifice — offering your time, appetites, sexuality, and resources deliberately to God
- Making room in the 'outer courts' of your life — guarding space for prayer, hospitality, and listening to those far from God
- Inviting Christ to walk the courts of your heart and naming specific areas that need cleansing
- Receiving Jesus not only as the One who overturns tables, but as the Lamb who bears your sin and fills you with His Spirit"
Reflection Question 3
"Is there a specific, concrete step you sense God is calling you to take this week? It doesn't have to be dramatic — sometimes the most important thing is the smallest, most honest step."
✅ THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) to put into practice before your group meets again:
Clear some space. Identify one thing cluttering your "inner courts" — a habit, a distraction, a grudge, an overcommitment — and take one concrete step to address it this week.
Pray with your body. Set aside 10–15 minutes each day this Passion Week to sit quietly before God — not to accomplish anything, just to be present. Offer your body, your time, and your attention as an act of worship.
Make room for an outsider. Think of one person in your life who is far from God. Pray for them by name this week. Consider reaching out — a text, a meal, a conversation. Be the "Court of the Gentiles" for someone.
Invite the cleansing. Write down one or two specific areas of your life where you sense Jesus wants to do some overturning. Bring those to Him in prayer, and share them with a trusted person in your group for accountability.
SECTION 5 | PRAYER FOCUS
⏱️ Suggested Time: 5–10 minutes
Close your time together in prayer. You might invite 2–3 people to pray briefly, use the prompts below to guide a time of open prayer, or close with one facilitator prayer that covers these themes.
Suggested Prayer Themes:
Gratitude — Thank Jesus for His zeal for His Father's house, and for His zeal for us.
Honest confession — Acknowledge the ways our "inner courts" have become crowded, and ask for the Holy Spirit's cleansing and renewal.
Surrender — Offer our bodies, schedules, relationships, and resources to God as living sacrifices this week.
Intercession for outsiders — Pray for specific people in your lives who are far from God, that our lives would be "courts of the Gentiles" — spaces where they can draw near.
Passion Week focus — Ask God to make this week meaningful — that we would walk toward Easter with fresh eyes, grateful for the Lamb who bears our sins.
[Leader Tip]: If your group isn't accustomed to open prayer, it's completely fine to close with one person praying and incorporating these themes. You might also invite people to pray silently for the person to their left before you close aloud. Whatever helps your group feel safe and connected is the right call.
SECTION 6 | OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
For groups with extra time or those wanting to explore further
⏱️ Suggested Time: 10–15 minutes (additional)
Deep Dive Question 1 — The Bigger Story
"The sermon mentioned that in John 2:18–22, Jesus refers to 'the temple of his body,' pointing to His death and resurrection as the new meeting place between God and humanity. How does that reframe the entire Temple system — and what does it mean that we, as His body, now carry that same presence into the world?"
Related passage for reference:
"Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' They replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:19–22, NIV)
Deep Dive Question 2 — Isaiah's Vision
"Jesus quotes Isaiah 56 during the Temple cleansing. Read Isaiah 56:6–8 below. What was God's original vision for the Temple — and for the nations? How does that vision connect to the mission of the church today?"
Isaiah 56:6–8 (NIV):
"And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant — these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Sovereign Lord declares — he who gathers the exiles of Israel: 'I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.'"
Deep Dive Question 3 — Holy Zeal vs. Self-Righteous Anger
"The sermon made a distinction between Jesus acting with 'holy zeal' — zeal for us, not against us — and the kind of self-righteous anger we sometimes justify in ourselves. How do you tell the difference between righteous indignation and self-centered anger in your own heart? What does Jesus' example teach us about that distinction?"
Related passage for reference:
"His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'" (John 2:17, NIV)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For facilitators or group members who want to go deeper during the week:
Related Scripture passages to explore:
- Isaiah 56:1–8 — God's vision of a house of prayer for all nations
- John 2:13–22 — John's account of the Temple cleansing and Jesus' body as the true Temple
- Romans 12:1–2 — Presenting our bodies as living sacrifices
- Psalm 69:9 — "Zeal for your house consumes me" (quoted by the disciples)
- 1 Peter 2:4–5 — Believers as living stones built into a spiritual house
Questions to sit with this week:
- What would it look like for my daily life to be a place where others encounter God?
- Where am I most tempted to let "good things" crowd out the best things?
- How am I walking through Passion Week — rushing toward Easter, or walking slowly with Jesus?
This guide was prepared for small group use in connection with the Palm Sunday sermon series. Permission granted for local church use.
May your group encounter the Jesus who overturns tables and the Lamb who bears sins — and may both be exactly what you need this week.