February 11th, 2023
by Sarah Turner
by Sarah Turner
Core Group Guide | Sent - Week 2
Welcome!
This is the second week of SENT, a series designed to unpack the last words of Jesus in Acts 1:8 … “and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Last week Pastor Matt suggested our discomfort in sharing our faith could be related to a misunderstanding of what it means to be a witness. He defined a witness as someone who shares something they have personally seen, gone through, or experienced with someone who is close. A witness offers an invitation and not an obligation. This week we are exploring more specifically the invitation.
Circle Back:
If you had the opportunity to consider the two questions suggested last week, please share some of your thoughts. In your life: 1) What is one way Jesus has made a difference? 2) What is one way the church has made a difference?
Opening Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for this group gathered today. Thank you for the love shared in and through all of our members - both here and absent today. We pray that our time together would be encouraging to all as we consider what it means to be “sent” with the gospel. We rely on your Holy Spirit to lead us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen
Ice Breaker:
Tell about the most recent invitation you extended to someone. It can be an invitation to a meal, an event, an opinion…
The Scripture:
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.
13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? 14 And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15 And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
(Romans 10:12-15)
The Head:
In Romans, Paul writes to systematically lay out the gospel of faith in Christ to the young church. In the first several chapters he describes how God established faith as the essence of reconciliation between God and man. He discusses the faith of Abraham and dispels the belief that following the law of Moses was the way to know God. This foundation is important because Paul now says to the believers, because of faith, there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek. It is radical news to the Jews just as it was to Paul in his dramatic conversion. Before he was adamant about exclusion from God for any but the Jew, and now he is a missionary to every non-Jew (Gentiles).
What are some of the cultural issues that made it so difficult for Jewish believers to accept the idea that the gospel is for everyone?
How do you think vs 14-15 would have been received? Is Paul suggesting that believers are responsible for spreading the gospel? Do you agree?
Through a modern lens we may diminish the divide between Jewish and non Jewish believers, yet there are significant divisions in our own culture that are just as pervasive.
In what ways are they comparable? What divisions do you see within the body of Christ? How do you think those differences impact our cultural divisions, ie ethnic, socioeconomic, and/or political? Do such divisions make it more difficult to be invitational?
The Heart:
“Preach the gospel; use words if necessary.” (St. Francis)
“How are they to hear, without someone to proclaim him?” Romans 10:14b
With which of these quotes are you more likely to identify? Why?
Who do you know who may not have much knowledge or interest in Jesus? How would you compare their values as reflected in their behavior to your own? Should there be a difference? Why or why not?
What does it mean to be Christ-like in your personal interactions with people? Are you aware of how you are perceived in various circles of influence? Can you share one or two words that others have used to describe you? Are those words consistent with what you see of Christ in your life? Does it matter that others identify Jesus in your life, or is it enough to be seen as a person of integrity and kindness?
The Hands:
In closing this week, Matt asked us to pay attention this week to others around us - to look for opportunities to invite someone to church. Come next week prepared to share how this played out for you.
Part of getting to the place of inviting someone to church is developing a relationship of trust. Invite someone this week to build relationship – share a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, meet up for lunch, or even make a phone call to check in on someone.
Closing Prayer:
Father, thank you that you are yourself an invitational God. You did not wait for us to come to you, before your love reached out to us in Christ. Help us to be aware of the people around us who are waiting to be included. Give us courage to simply invite them in. Thank you again for this group and the time we have shared today. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides
Recent
Hold These Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1
October 6th, 2024
It Doesn't Have to Be This Way // M-Note 10.5.24
October 5th, 2024
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
September 30th, 2024
A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24
September 27th, 2024
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3
September 22nd, 2024
Archive
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
2023
January
February
Explore - Week 1Explore - Week 2Explore - Week 4Explore - Week 3God is Leading Us Forward // M-Note 2.3.23SENT: Week 1 Discussion GuideSomething To Try This Weekend // M-Note 2.10.23SENT: Week 2 Discussion GuideSENT: Week 3 Discussion GuideWe're Doing Something Big! // M-Note 2.17.23Lent Devotional Day 1Lent Devotional Day 2Lent Devotional Day 3SENT: Week 4 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 4Lent Devotional Day 5Lent Devotional Day 6Lent Devotional Day 7
March
Lent Devotional Day 8Lent Devotional Day 9Celebrating BEYOND // M-Note 3.3.2023Lent Devotional Day 10Who Is Jesus: BONUS Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 11Lent Devotional Day 12Lent Devotional Day 13Who Is Jesus: Week 1 Discussion GuideLent Devotional Day 14Lent Devotional Day 15Lent Devotional Day 16Lent Devotional Day 17
Categories
Tags
1 Kings 3
1 Kings
1 Timothy
2 Corinthians 9:5-7
2 Timothy
Belden Lane
Beyond Simple
Celebrate
Change
Christ
Commit
Confidence
Denee Bowers
Devotional
Discussion Guides
Distractions
Divine Love
Doubt
Easter
Ephesians
Equity
Evangelism
Explore
Five Shared Practices
Focus
Frederick Buechner
Fresh Take
Friends
Generosity
God
Gratitude
Hebrews
Holy Ambiguity
Holy Spirit
Hope
Humanity
Identity
Inside Voice
Isaiah
Jesus
John 21
John
Joy
Kids
King Solomon
Lectio Divina
Lent
Life
Limitations
Longing
M-Note
Matt Miofsky
Matthew
Nadia Bolz-Weber
No Filter
Open
Parables
Parenting
Patience
Paula D'Arcy
Paula D\'Arcy
Paula D\\\'Arcy
Paula D\\\\\\\'Arcy
Paul
Privilege
Proverbs 1
Proverbs
Psalms
Purpose
Questions
Redeem
Rejoice
Righteousness
Sabra Engelbrecht
Second Chance
Self-Love
Struggle
Success
The Bible
The Church
The Gathering
Timothy
Uncertainty
Untethered
Vision
Weird
acts
adulting
advice
challenge
commitment
creation
deconstruction
deconstruct
faith
finances
fitness
forgiveness
forgiving
foundation
freedom
give
growth
kelley weber
love
meister eckhart
money
mystery
new life
opportunity
reconstruction
reconstruct
redemption
relationships
responsibility
simplify
sin
social
thomas merton
transition
truth
willingness
willpower
will
young adult
No Comments