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!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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?
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?
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
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!
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!
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