Untethered: Week 5

Untethered Part 5
Week of September 18

Welcome!

We are so happy to be together in fellowship and growing in faith this week! Core Groups are structured a little differently this year. Each week our groups will use the same scripture as the sermon to unpack and discuss. The guide is based on the scripture not the sermon.; We will use that scripture as our basis for discussion in learning (the head) , personal growth (the heart) and real world application (the hands) creating our new outline: Head, Heart, and Hands (you can also consider it this way, think, feel, act)..

We will also encourage each group to enjoy an ice breaker each week, especially early on as your group comes together. This will give all group members the chance to think in a new way, possibly be silly, laugh, and get to know one another on a new level; we think even the longest standing Core Groups deserve the chance to grow in this way.

Opening Prayer: Loving God, thank you for being you. Help us in this time together to be open and honest with you, ourselves, and each other. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray and through the power of the Holy Spirit may it be so. Amen.

Ice Breaker: Introduce yourself and share what era of time do you feel most belong?

The Head:
Ephesians is a letter, often ascribed to Paul. However some scholars believe it is so different in style, that he likely didn’t write it. Among the themes of the first half of the book are unity among Jews and non-Jews, the role of Christ as priest and head of humanity, forgiveness, and power. The audience is Gentiles and partially serves as encouragement to them to accept their new acceptance/adoption in a Christ-centered community.

Read the following scriptures:
¹⁰ Instead, we are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives. (Eph. 2:10)

¹⁸ I ask that you’ll have the power to grasp love’s width and length, height and depth, together with all believers. ¹⁹ I ask that you’ll know the love of Christ that is beyond knowledge so that you will be filled entirely with the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:18-19)
 
Ephesians 2:10 speaks to the good things or good deeds. Also referred to as a “mitzvot” in Hebrew. The understanding is that the good deeds flow from one’s acceptance of God’s grace. (The Jewish Annotated New Testament, edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Zvi Brettler)

• How has God’s grace changed your actions/deeds?

• What, if any, connection do you see between these two scriptures?

The Heart: 
Belonging. How would you describe what it means to belong?

• In what communities do you feel you most  belong?

• For whom might you create more belonging in your life?

The Hands:
Consider these ways to put your faith into action. Choose at least one of these and share with the group, which one you’ll practice. Then next week, share whether you did it and if so, what happened? If not, share your plan to try again.

Action: What will you do for someone (family member, coworker, an organization) as an expression of God’s love this week?
Read: Finding Your Way Back to God: 5 Awakenings to Your New Life by Dave Ferguson and  Jon Ferguson
Invite: Who do you know for whom this Untethered series would be welcomed? Share it with them. Take a moment in group to share that person’s name.
Write: Which of the scriptures above would you like to be a guide post this week? Write it down on a piece of paper or in your calendar as a recurring reminder. Simply read it each day.