07 | Story

Galatians 1:11-24

We end our Everyday Rhythms series this week, remembering both the cosmic and personal nature of God’s Story. On one hand, God’s Story is about God: from beginning to end, the Story is about the goodness of his creation, all he has lost through human rebellion, and his ongoing work to heal and restore the world, culminating in the incarnation, substitution, and resurrection of Jesus. On the other hand, God’s Story is about us: He created humanity so he could sharing his love and joy and glory with us, and though we’ve rebelled and run from him, he’s gracious pursued and rescued us, at the cost of his own Son. And because both of those are True, we’re not wrapped up into God’s Story, sent to tell our own stories of rescue as a way of demonstrating and proclaiming the Lordship of Jesus. In Galatians 1.11-24, Paul recounts exactly what happened to him when Jesus rescued him, how the script of his story was flipped, and how he was wrapped up into God’s Story.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

1. Read Galatians 1.11-24. In the broader context, Paul is arguing that his ministry is legitimate because he didn’t receive the gospel from any man but directly from Jesus. In v.13-16, he recounts his own rescue story. What stands out to you?

2. Reflect on your own rescue story. Where were you when the Shepherd found you? How did Jesus rescue you?

3. Consider how God has used your rescue story - or may want to use your story - to tell His Story.

November 22, 2020 - Steve Hart

06 | Celebrate

Luke 15:1-7

While there are many reasons most average Christians don’t live missionary lives, there’s really only one main reason: we’re not happy enough! Seriously. If we could for a moment keep the Story of the Gospel in front of our eyes, the ridiculously good news of all that Jesus is and has done for sinners like us, lost and dead and alone, we’d have a hard time containing the joy! In Luke 15 Jesus tells 3 stories to illustrate the heart of God for those who need rescue, the extravagant lengths to which God has gone to seek out and find the lost, and the joy that God has at finding his lost ones and bringing them home. And he urges us to join in the party of grace, marveling at the goodness of God in his rescuing pursuit and calling us to share his joy in everyday mission!

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

1. Read Luke 15.1-7. Who is Jesus addressing with this parable? Why is that significant? 

2. Take an honest assessment of yourself. Are you more like the rejoicing Shepherd who loves to go after lost sheep, or like the grumbling Pharisees who love to worry about whether or not everyone is following the rules?

3. Recount how Jesus rescued you, and take some time to marvel in his kindness to you. What was it about Jesus and all he has done that drew you to him? Who might you share that good news with this week?

November 15, 2020 - Steve Hart

05 | Recreate

Mark 2:23-3:6

For the Jews of Jesus’ day, there was nothing that set them apart from the secular culture quite like observance of the Sabbath - it was one of the key marks that they belonged to God as his special, chosen people. Unfortunately, they’d turned God’s good gift of rest into a ton of work, adding 39 addition rules and regulations to the command, making it all but impossible to keep, especially for the most vulnerable people. Jesus confronts their religiosity, removing the burden of the Sabbath and restoring its true nature. Most shockingly, Jesus claims that he alone defines the meaning and purpose of the Sabbath, stating that his mission is to give real, true rest. We join the mission of Jesus by learning to live in the unforced rhythms of work and rest, and inviting others to join us.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

1. Read Mark 2.23-3.6. What most stands out to you in this collision between Jesus and the religious leaders? 

2. Why was Jesus angry and grieved (see v.5)?

3. Jesus removes the burden of the Sabbath and restores its true nature as a gift to be enjoyed and shared. How can you enjoy and share the gift of rest this week?

November 8, 2020 - Steve Hart

04 | Eat

Luke 5:27-32

What images come to mind when you think of missionaries? If Jesus is our model for what it means to be a missionary, then one image that ought to come to mind is a long, slow, shared meal. Jesus was actually accused of being a glutton and a drunkard because he ate so many meals, and often with notorious outsiders and sinners. From the very beginning of the Story, eating has a central place: Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating; God rescued his people from slavery by way of a meal; much of God’s promises and blessing revolved around abundant food; and many of the images of God’s final salvation are cast in terms of rich food and good wine. And when we get to the end of the Story in Revelation, we see that God is inviting us to an eternal marriage feast, where we’ll enjoy God and his good gifts forever. For followers of Jesus sent into the world as witnesses, some of the simplest and yet most powerful missionary work we can practice is to share meals, turning strangers into neighbors and neighbors into spiritual family.

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

1. What significance is there to eating in the Story of God? What stories stand out to you about food and feasting throughout the Old Testament?

2. What is significant about such a great deal of Jesus’ ministry being around a table? Why do you think he gives us a meal as the main way to remember and celebrate his work for us?

3. Imagine the final feast, a multicultural and multiracial wedding feast, where Jesus is celebrated and we’re invited to live in the freedom of grace forever. What makes you most exited about that day?

4. In this season, shared meals are more challenging but no less important. You already eat 21+ meals each week, who can you invite to eat, drink, or otherwise share in hospitality around a table this week?

November 1, 2020 - Steve Hart

03 | Bless

Genesis 12:1-3

From the “In the Beginning” of Genesis, God’s purpose and character has always been the same. He is a generously good God who loves the world and His creation and has begun a story that will bless and remake it. God is looking for people to partner with Him to trust the story and to bless the world. And He has done everything in Christ to be able to include us in this family and in this mission to generously bless the world. Our job is to trust in this person, Jesus, the rescuer of the story and our redeemer, and to then take on His image, being filled with His Spirit, and allow Him to bless the world through us.

October 25, 2020 - Scott Cooley

02 | Listen

Acts 2:1-13

In a season of so much uncertainty, we’re leaning into that which is certain: Jesus is Lord, and we are his witnesses. He was sent into the world; crucified for sin but raised to new life; the firstborn of the new creation; and is now exalted at the right hand of God Almighty. The church is his blood-bought family, rescued from sin and death and wrapped up into his mission to restore all things. To be a disciple is to be sent as Jesus was, to join his mission as a witness in word and deed. This week we look at Acts 2, the birth of the church, when Jesus filled his people with his Spirit to empower their witness in the world. Jesus is still empowering his people to be his witnesses by his Spirit, and the promise of the Spirit is just as available to us today as it was to his first disciples 2000 years ago. 

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

1. Read Acts 2. 1-13. What are the disciples doing when the Spirit comes? What are the results of the coming of the Spirit? You may want to read all of Acts 2!

2. Read Acts 2.38-40. What 2 things does Peter say is available to us in Jesus? What is he implying?

3. Our Rhythm this week is Listen, to regularly create space to turn our attention to the Spirit (and away from all other distractions!). It has been said, “no one skips the upper room,” as a life of dependence on the Spirit is the starting point for any fruitful witness in the world. How might you build in a regular rhythm of listening to the Spirit?

October 18, 2020 - Steve Hart

01 | Missionary Rhythms

John 20:19-23

Over October and November, we’re walking through a new series exploring both the Story of Mission in the Bible and the (crazy!) invitation Jesus gives to us in John 20.21: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” That's wild! The gospel is the news of the cosmic redemption of all things in and through Jesus, the Son of God who came to deal with Sin, to restore us to God, and to open the way to the Presence of God now, and eventually forever in a renewed world. And just as the Father sent the Son into the world to accomplish salvation, the Son now sends us (in the power of the Spirit!) to announce his salvation to the world and to call the world to repent and believe, to turn from false gods, empty hopes, and vain promises and to trust in the Son who is the once and future King of the world! We've been commissioned by the King, sent to bring the good news into our neighborhoods and relational networks, to embody, announce, and demonstrate the good news. Each Sunday we’ll unpack the various "missionary" themes of the Bible, seeing how God has been on mission from the beginning of time! And we’ll bring all that down to earth in really simple, practical 'rhythms' for life, because being a Spirit-empowered missionary is the everyday call of ordinary disciples. 

COMMUNITY DISCUSSION

1. Read John 20.19-23, Jesus’ first appearance to his disciples after his resurrection. What do you notice about this scene? What are the disciples feeling? What does Jesus tell them?

2. Reflect on the first half of v.21 (‘as the Father has sent me’). What is Jesus referencing? What have we seen in John’s gospel about the ministry and mission of Jesus?

3. Reflect on the second half of v.21 (’even so I am sending you’). What is Jesus telling his disciples? In what ways are we sent like Jesus?

October 11, 2020 - Steve Hart