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!

Sanctuary- Week of Febuary 25

Discussion...

Text:
John 13:36-38, 14:1-7

OK, let's especially focus on the often controversial, v. 6.
Help your group pay attention to what this means in the context of the whole text.

"I am the way..."
How is Jesus himself our road/journey? Is this different than 'Christianity is the way?'

"I am the truth..."
How is Jesus himself truth for us? How is this different than 'the truth about Jesus,' or 'what I believe about Jesus?'

What do you think about this statement: There are many roads to Jesus... and Jesus leads us to God.
Have we experienced this? What about other religions/spiritualities? How do we authentically live our truth, yet not make it 'us vs. them?'

"I am the life..."
Has some of Christianity become an almost exclusively 'death' faith? (notice Jesus didn't say, 'I am the death...')
How do we live our faith as a 'life' (wholeness, healing, life-giving) faith?

Sanctuary- Week of Feb. 18

Discussion

Text: Genesis 12:1-5

1. v. 1 describes a huge risk God is calling Abe to make.
Why does God call us to risk? What is the role of risk in our life with God?

2. v.2-3 uses the word "bless" several different times. What does "bless" mean?
(get beyond the 'Sunday School' answers)
How did God "bless" Abe? How have we been "blessed" by God?

Text: Galatians 3:26-29
This text describes how, in Christ, the promise to Abe is for the whole world...

3. How do we live out our Abrihamic calling to BE a 'blessing' to the world? What does that mean for us, in our personal 'worlds,' and what does that mean for our involvment in the life of MG?

This is a great time to talk with your group about 'outword journey.' 1. If you have yet to do it, make a concrete plan (what, when, where) and make this a part of the rythm of your group. Just to clarify... The week you do outward journey each month (different for each group depending on when and where the activity is), that is the ONE time you meet that week... that is your group for the week (unless it's a Villager). 2. If you are already doing it, ask 'where do we see God here?' 'How are we BEING blessing here?'

A great quote on missional church... BEING (so that we can do) God's mission (blessing) to the world:
"Most of us would say that, individually, we feel passionate about God. Many of us would also say that we feel passionate about our church. But for missional churches, the passion does not stay personal or referential; it is the essence of and expression of their corporate culture, the primary value that drives their behavior. Missional churches are not just there on Sunday; they are determined to bring the transformational influence of Jesus Christ into their world every day." p.17, Shaped by God's Heart: The Passion and Practices of Missonal Churches, by Milfred Minatrea

Sanctuary- Week of Feb. 11

Discussion Questions

Text:
Matthew 4:1-11

Spend some time with the three temptations, and asking, as "Jesus was led by the Spirit," where the spirit is leading us this Lent.

1. (v.1) Why would Jesus be led into the wilderness? Does the Spirit lead us into struggles as well as good things? If so, why?

2. For each temptation ask... a. How would you describe this? b. Where do we see this today?
(By the way, the three temptations: 1. v. 2-4: Instant Gratification (or feeding myself right now, when others are starving) 2. v. 5-7: Living Consequence Free (the laws of gravity don't apply to me!) 3. v. 8- 10: Bowing for Power (or doing whatever it takes to get what we want, or to get privledge/control)

After discussion, give people a few moments of silence to reflect on...
Where is the Spirit leading you this Lent (something to 'unpack' for the journey? Something to 'take up?')? If your group is brave enough... share!

Sanctuary- Week of January 28

Something a little different this week...

Watch the video below and discuss. Teacher/speaker/renaissance man Clint Kemp talks about the 'Flow of Spiritual Development.'

Using different language he is describing how we integrate God's Story and our story.

Questions:

- Do you resonate with these stages of growth? (agree or disagree that this is what happens in our lives?) - If so, are you currently in one stage?

- What would you want the title of the NEXT chapter in your story with God to be? How are you going to live into that (what Kemp describes as 'integration')?

Have fun!... And don't forget to spend time in prayer and just hanging out as a group.

If you get a chance let people who might be interested know about our work day on Saturday... 10am @ the office.

Sanctuary- Week of January 21

Discussion Questions

Text:
Psalm 116
(I would read in sections)

v.1-6
- What does this tell us about God's story?
- How have we seen God's 'narrative of love' in our lives?
- In v. 3 & 4, David (the psalmist) is brutally honest about his unique story... Do we even know our story?
- How/where are we honest with God about our current reality?

v. 12-18
- How do the two stories (God's and the psalmist) intersect (v.12)? How does he respond?
- Where do we see God's story and ours intersecting right now, and how can we respond?

Sanctuary Week of January 14

Discussion Ideas

1. Matt 16:13-18
- "Who" (v.13, v.15)
Describe one thing/person/expereince that has influenced who we say Jesus is.

- What or who is the "rock" v.18
(Rich mentioned on Sunday, "the rock" being the 'every person.'
Like Peter, God can use, and will build his church on people who are messed up but yet want to follow him)
What does it mean that Jesus will build his church on it?

- "gates of death" v. 18
What are the obstacles to Jesus continuing to build the church?
What is the hope?

What does it mean for us to see ourselves as church 'pioneers?'
What does it mean for me as a part of Missiongathering?

2. The move to Claire de Lune.
The reasons? (In case you don't already get it!)
- Self-sustaining (financially, and less set-up/tear-down, etc.)
- Continued growth (opportunity for more use/flexibility of space, and possible Sunday pm gathering)

Discuss how people are feeling about this, etc.


Organize your first 'outward journey' as a group.

Also, let your groups know we will be meeting again for the next few weeks.
Our next Villager Evening will be our Ash Wednesday gathering, Feb. 6.