Sharing God's Word Through the Year Sharing God's Word Through the Year 2026 A Small Group Guide on the Sunday Gospels

With Historical/Cultural Background and a Contemporary Example • Especially for Younger Adults

This small-group resource provides a two-page, self-directed process for each Sunday throughout the year.

Here is the format for each week:

• Gathering. A prompt for setting the space and brief sharing to “break the ice,” often reflecting back on the past week.
• Opening Prayer. The form of prayer varies by week, but is chosen to bring the group into a spiritual focus. It may be a song, a call-and-response prayer, a traditional prayer, or another format.
• Focus. A paragraph offering an overview of how the group is invited to consider this week's Gospel reading.
• This Week's Gospel. The handout includes the citation, which we recommend that the group read out loud from a Bible.
• Historical Cultural Background. Helpful details about the historical context of the reading during the time Jesus lived, written by Jean Peters Pilch.
• An Illustration. This is a contemporary life experience story that connects to the Gospel reading in some way. They were written by a team of young adults.
• Faith Sharing. Several questions are offered as conversation starters, as suggestions to help provide some focus or direction for the faith sharing
• Response in Action Suggestions. Several ideas of how God could be calling the members—individually or together—to act in response to the Gospel proclaimed and shared in the community.
• Closing Prayer. The group concludes in prayer. A suggestion, drawn from a variety of formats, is provided.

This resource was originally developed by the Center for Ministry Development and has been updated by The Pastoral Center.