February 21, 2010
BELONG
Catch up, go over announcements, pray.
GROW
Read Mark 12: 28
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
(You can also read this story in Matthew 22:34-40, and for an added twist read Luke 10:25-37.)
A few years back a saying was made popular in the church- “What Would Jesus Do?”
One of the things we can be sure that Jesus DID was to recite the “Shema” (Hebrew for “hear”) every morning and evening, as this was the custom of all Jews.
Read the Shema in Deuteronomy 6:1-9.
What does the introduction (v. 1-3) teach us? Why is this material important? Discuss what it means to teach, to fear and to obey these commands.
How does the second part (v. 4-9) add to our understanding? How literally do you think we should take these instructions?
Read Leviticus 19:18.
This is the other quote from Jesus. Taken together, Jesus says this two-fold command captures the whole of the law/commands.
Let’s start with setting our reference point: what is love? How do we experience, understand, and share love? (Don’t feel the need to come up with a definition, as this is a discussion.)
First, What does it mean, or what difference would it make, for you to start loving yourself as God loves you? How might you view yourself differently? How would you treat yourself differently? What changes can you make to better love yourself, as God loves you?
Second, now apply all this to your neighbors. First, who are your neighbors? What are their names? How can you actually love them? (Again- discussion, and sharing stories, is the most helpful way to grasp and apply this command.)
Third, now about loving God. How have you experienced the love of God? How do you express your love for God with your heart, soul, mind and strength? How can you better show your love for God with all your being?
Scott McKnight calls this “The Jesus Creed” and commends the discipline of reciting this “creed’ at the beginning and end of every day, and as many times in between as we are reminded. Pray for one another to live the Jesus Creed.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Follow
February 14, 2010
BELONG
Open with a game or prayer. Review the church announcements and allow time for “catching up.”
GROW
Read Matthew 4:18-22.
Discuss the three points made about this passage in the message:
First, one must hear the invitation of Jesus to follow. Discuss what it means to follow Jesus. Are you willing to make the first step and simply follow Jesus?
(Perhaps a few people in the group can share their story of answering the invitation to follow- what was it like to start following Jesus? What changes occurred in your life? Was it all good, or difficult to get started? Don’t be surprised if your stories are all very different.)
Second, following Jesus always means leaving something behind. Discuss what you left behind to follow Jesus, or what Jesus is asking you to leave behind to follow him more closely?
Third, Jesus gives only one incentive to follow him- the promise that he will make his followers “fishers of men.” What does it mean to be a fisher of men/women? Do you even want to become a fisher- why or why not? What does it look like to make a catch?
REACH
One very real way we can apply this passage to our lives is to begin seeing ourselves as fishers of men and women. In this exercise you will actually map out your “fishing pond.” Draw your street and the houses around your home. Fill in as many names of households as you can.
Your job, as a “fisher,” is to fill in the blanks by getting to know your neighbors, finding ways to care for them, and looking for opportunities to share God’s love with them. Commit to pray for and reach out to your neighbors.
BELONG
Open with a game or prayer. Review the church announcements and allow time for “catching up.”
GROW
Read Matthew 4:18-22.
Discuss the three points made about this passage in the message:
First, one must hear the invitation of Jesus to follow. Discuss what it means to follow Jesus. Are you willing to make the first step and simply follow Jesus?
(Perhaps a few people in the group can share their story of answering the invitation to follow- what was it like to start following Jesus? What changes occurred in your life? Was it all good, or difficult to get started? Don’t be surprised if your stories are all very different.)
Second, following Jesus always means leaving something behind. Discuss what you left behind to follow Jesus, or what Jesus is asking you to leave behind to follow him more closely?
Third, Jesus gives only one incentive to follow him- the promise that he will make his followers “fishers of men.” What does it mean to be a fisher of men/women? Do you even want to become a fisher- why or why not? What does it look like to make a catch?
REACH
One very real way we can apply this passage to our lives is to begin seeing ourselves as fishers of men and women. In this exercise you will actually map out your “fishing pond.” Draw your street and the houses around your home. Fill in as many names of households as you can.
Your job, as a “fisher,” is to fill in the blanks by getting to know your neighbors, finding ways to care for them, and looking for opportunities to share God’s love with them. Commit to pray for and reach out to your neighbors.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I Believe...Help my Unbelief
BELONG
Begin tonight with a time of prayer. Invite anyone who is comfortable join in and say a prayer.
GROW
Tonight will be a little different. Instead of a straightforward “bible study” we’ll be do a “creed study.” To begin, share if you have any familiarity with the creed, or if this to totally new. Either way, we are starting with the basics tonight. If someone in your group is knowledgeable about the creed, feel free to give a little background lesson.
The Apostle’s Creed, from the Book of Common Prayer
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
(* “catholic” does not refer to the denomination, Catholic, but to the “universal” or “Christian” church.)
While the creed is not in the bible, is has been used by Christians since roughly the late second century. The version used here is what was settled upon about the year 750. This basic form of the Creed is embraced by Orthodox, Catholic and most Protestant churches.
• Do you find think the antiquity of the creed makes it all the more acceptable, or irrelevant?
• What are some of the possible benefits, and possible problems, of using the Creed?
• In your own words share how the creed might help to DEFINE your belief…
• DEFEND your belief…
• DIRECT your belief…
There is too much in the Creed to do a bible study of each and every proposition. But, if there is time, you can discuss any points which you find particularly helpful, or particularly troublesome in the Creed.
The challenge in the worship service was to embrace Martin Luther’s advice and repeat the Creed 8 times every day. Will you take the challenge?
REACH
Next Sunday we will look at the first step of belief in the life of the disciples of Jesus- the step to simply follow.
Begin tonight with a time of prayer. Invite anyone who is comfortable join in and say a prayer.
GROW
Tonight will be a little different. Instead of a straightforward “bible study” we’ll be do a “creed study.” To begin, share if you have any familiarity with the creed, or if this to totally new. Either way, we are starting with the basics tonight. If someone in your group is knowledgeable about the creed, feel free to give a little background lesson.
The Apostle’s Creed, from the Book of Common Prayer
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.
(* “catholic” does not refer to the denomination, Catholic, but to the “universal” or “Christian” church.)
While the creed is not in the bible, is has been used by Christians since roughly the late second century. The version used here is what was settled upon about the year 750. This basic form of the Creed is embraced by Orthodox, Catholic and most Protestant churches.
• Do you find think the antiquity of the creed makes it all the more acceptable, or irrelevant?
• What are some of the possible benefits, and possible problems, of using the Creed?
• In your own words share how the creed might help to DEFINE your belief…
• DEFEND your belief…
• DIRECT your belief…
There is too much in the Creed to do a bible study of each and every proposition. But, if there is time, you can discuss any points which you find particularly helpful, or particularly troublesome in the Creed.
The challenge in the worship service was to embrace Martin Luther’s advice and repeat the Creed 8 times every day. Will you take the challenge?
REACH
Next Sunday we will look at the first step of belief in the life of the disciples of Jesus- the step to simply follow.
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