Untethered: Week 1

Untethered: Part 1
Week of August 21st

Welcome!

We are so happy to be together, growing in faith as a community this week! CoreGroups are structured a little differently this year. Each week, our groups will unpack and discuss the sermon’s scripture, rather than the sermon itself. The chosen scripture is what we’ll use as our basis for discussion in learning (head), personal growth (heart), and real world application (hands). Thus, creating our new outline: Head, Heart, Hands.

Each week, we’ll start with an ice breaker. This gives group members a chance to think in a new way, share a laugh or two, and get to know each other on a new level. This is beneficial for even the longest-standing CoreGroups! There’s a ton of value in that kind of relational growth.

Opening Prayer: Dearest God, we’re thankful for you bringing us together today. It’s a real blessing to grow in our faith and understanding of scripture alongside one another. We pray that you’d be with us as we laugh, learn, and grow together tonight, and all throughout this CoreGroup season. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Ice Breaker: What’s one thing you learned to fear as a kid that you thought would be more prominent in your adult life? I.e. quicksand, falling anvils, etc.

The Head:

“He said to them, "You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean.” - Acts 10:28

In this passage, we see the disciple Peter experiencing a crisis of faith. He was taught to believe that there was a clear, distinct difference between the Jewish and Gentile community. The inclusion of Gentile people into the Jewish faith was unheard of at the time. Yet, Peter heard God calling him to a different path. What he was taught was conflicting with God’s movement in his life.

• What are things you believe now, that you didn’t believe when you were younger?
• What led to that shift in understanding?

After this experience, Peter went on to proclaim the Good News to the Gentiles. He ended up meeting criticism from other apostles in doing so.

• What do you think it took, mentally and emotionally, for Peter to choose to listen to God’s teaching amidst a society and faith community that taught the exact opposite to be true?

The Heart:

“You all realize that it is forbidden… However, God has shown me…”

• Have you ever experienced a season in your faith where what you knew no longer aligned with what God was currently teaching you? What was that experience like?

• Have you ever had someone share their faith struggle with you, specifically around a belief or practice you felt assured in? Based on your feelings through that conversation, what did that experience reveal to you about your own faith?

 
The Hands - A Call to Action:

• Something to Read: Jesus is the Question - Martin B. Copenhaver
• Something to Listen To: Sleeping on Sunday - The Gathering App
• Something to Journal:
  • How has my faith evolved over the course of my life?
  • What signs pointed to significant changes in my beliefs?
  • Am I recognizing any similar signs currently, and if so, what message might God be communicating?