Initiate

A video introduction using illustrations, personal stories, metaphors, or active learning examples to begin the discussion.

Interact

After the video, prompts are supplied for thinking and sharing with others personal perception and experience. This opening activity prompts participants to think about and relate to the topic, and to share with others. 

Below are two lists of common distractions that get in the way of worship, followed by a question.   

External Distractions:
1. Prayers that feel empty or repetitive
2. Boring or hard-to-follow sermons
3. Songs in which the words are hard to understand
4. Off-key or distracting singing
5. Music that’s way too loud
6. Stress from school, work, or relationships
7. Bad lighting
8. Poor sound or video quality
9. Messy presentation slides
10. Confusing directions or leadership

Internal Distractions: 
1. Hiding mistakes or sins
2. Being too focused on yourself
3. Not caring about worship
4. Worrying about worldly stuff
5. Being distracted by possessions
6. Feeling fear, anger, or other negative emotions
7. Misunderstanding who God is
8. Avoiding personal reflection
9. Conflict with someone else
10. Feeling guilty or ashamed

Choose two or three of the biggest distractions for you from in each list.  
 

Insight

The Bible discussion begins with a careful reading of the whole passage, either from your own Bibles, or from the provided images below.

Then participants are to ask:

1. What is going on in this passage of Scripture?
2. What are the key words and phrases? Highlight them.
3. Why do you think this passage is included in the Bible?
4. What does it contribute to our “knowing Christ” and “living in Christ”?

Read Matthew 21:4-11:

Jesus at the Temple

12 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. 13 “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.’”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 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.

16 “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’?”

17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Download PDF of Matthew 21:12-17

The purpose of sacrifices in the temple was to give people free access to God’s story of salvation through worship, as God said in Exodus 25:8, "Make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them." Yet, this was overshadowed by the chaos of selling and trading in the temple courts. Over time, commerce created barriers, shifting focus away from God’s provision to human-made obstacles like fences and barricades segregating Gentiles, women, and priests. These distractions hindered true worship.

Ironically, Isaiah 56:1-8 reveals God’s desire for His sanctuary to be open to all people, not just Israel. It was meant for anyone with a sincere heart. But barriers were built, preventing many from experiencing genuine worship.

After Jesus cleansed the temple, the transformation was profound. Children’s praises replaced the noise of bartering and disputes. Today, while believers no longer worship in a physical temple, distractions—external and internal—still block our view of Jesus. Jesus removes these walls to reveal God more clearly. God may even use distractions to draw us back to Him, offering moments to experience His reality. As we draw closer to Jesus, we see Him more clearly and are transformed (1 Corinthians 13:12; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 22:4).