Sanctuary- Week of April 21

Text:
Acts 8:26-38

Discussion:

1. Why is significant that the person Philip meets is a Eunuch?
How does that relate to us today?

2. After reading this story... How do we "understand" Scripture? What is the role of the Holy Spirit? other people? our own experience?

3. If you were there on Sunday, did you relate to any of those who gave a little of their story during baptism?

4. Philip meets the Ethiopian while he is "on his way" (v. 27).
How can we pay more attention to the Holy Spirit, and open to who she might want us to meet 'on our way' in life?

Sanctuary- Week of April 14

Some Discussion Questions...

Text: Matthew 3:13-17

v. 13-15
Is it OK to argue with God?
How far is too far?
Have we had moments like this…
And what did they mean for our journey?

v. 16-17
Why did Jesus need to be baptized?
If you’ve been baptized, tell a bit of that story… and how it was significant for you.

As you close, before group prayer, you may want to invite people to be silent, close their eyes, and soak in these words... I would say them three or so times.
God says: “You are my child, whom I love, with you I am well pleased.”

Sanctuary- Week of March 31

There has been a lot going on in our faith community...
Sometimes it's good to spend some time with our groups processing how we've been challenged or grown recently... let's spend some more 'informal' time doing that this week.

1. Open in Prayer.
- You pray.
- Then spend a few moments in silence to decompress from the week.
- Then ask your group to spend the next few silent moments meditating on the question:
'Where have I seen God in my life recently?' This could be something you've learned, a recent Sunday message that challenged you, a struggle, or just something God's been showing you in your life.

2. Now ask people, in groups of two, to share their answers, as they feel comfortable. Also discuss, 'how do I want to better live into this?'
Give people some time, paying attention to how things are flowing.

3. Open it up to the whole group... let people share, but also be aware of those great 'rabbit trails' that can happen as others in the group relate to what one is sharing.

4. Close in Prayer.
Take requests, paying attention to how we want to better live into this stuff.

Don't forget to remind everyone...
Next Thursday, Apr. 10, is Villager Evening
7pm, Sunset Ballroom @ Claire de Lune

Villager is every second Thursday of the month.

Sanctuary- Week of March 24

Don't forget to continue to build the rhythms of your group in prayer, and outward journey...
If you need suggestions let me know.

And keep focused on the reason we gather in Sanctuaries- spiritual growth, through inward and outward practices. And remember each group is can be tailored to your unique make-up, ultimately what you as a group make it!

Discussion
Text:
John 20:1-10

1. Why Mary? Why was she the first to see the empty tomb?
2. What role did women play in Jesus ministry?
3. And what about the resurrection?... Why does it matter?

Text:
John 20:19-23
4. How did Jesus challenge the disciples to live the resurrection?

Sanctuary- Week of March 17 (Happy St `Paddy's!)

Start with this icebreaker...

How has your spiritual journey been during Lent?
(This can be- People sharing a practice they left behind/took on, or sharing from the Art/Spirituality experience last week, etc.)

Sunday we heard the story of Judas... and talked about religious fantasies, ways that all of us put our own expectations on God, expectations that are sometimes different than who he wants to be to us. Below is an experience and discussion to help us relate this to Good Friday and Easter.

Experience:
1. Watch these images below of 'Pop-Art' Jesuses (no sound... so play a song you dig with it)
2. As you do, meditate on how we have created 'Pop-Art' Jesuses (religious fantasy), in our culture, the church, on a personal level, etc.
3. Then take a few moments with pen and paper and jot these down (or draw, etc.)
4. Discuss

Text:
Philip. 2:8-11
2 Cor. 13:3-4

1. Have someone read the text...
2. Discuss:
- How is the Christ we hear about in Scripture similar to our 'pop' Jeuses?
- How does the cross/resurrection show us a different Christ, than the religious fantasies we've discussed?
- How do we (as individuals and community) move farther away from religious fantasies, and closer to the crucified and resurrected Christ?

Close in prayer
(Don't forget to pray for the several gatherings happening this weekend)

As You Go:
Encourage your group to continue to see God through the eyes of the cross and resurrection this week...

Leaders Meeting- Sunday, March 16... Lunch

Lunch after the gathering...
Hope to see most of ya there!

If you haven't already, check out Ch. 1 of 'Shaped by God's Heart,' titled- 'From Maintenance to Missional.'

Here are a few questions to think about... we'll start our lunch with these:

1. What is the difference between a "maintenance mentality" towards church/ministry and being missional?

2. What is the difference between just being “missions-minded” and missional?

3. And how does all this relate to what we do in our Sanctuaries?

A few dates to add to your calendars...

Week of March 3-7: No Sanct this week... let's focus on the move for Sunday! (and remind all of your peeps to be there Sat. night for the open house)

Thursday, March 13: Art/Spiritual Formation night... This is a Villager, so no Sanct this week.

Sunday, March 16: Lunch/Leaders meeting... Save the date for lunch after the worship gathering, let's get all the Sanct. leaders together... If you haven't already, read the first chapter of 'Shaped by God's Heart.'

Thursday, March 20: Brad and Merrilee re-start their Sanct... There is already a great core group shaping up... excited to have you two back in the game!