CoreGroup Discussion Guide | September 21, 2025
by Sarah Hines on September 19th, 2025
Hello and welcome to the second week in our sermon series focused on the Lord’s Prayer. Last week, we discussed the instructions Jesus gave us to help with prayer as well as the very first sentence of the Lord’s Prayer, which is packed full of meaning and message. This week we will dive deeper into the prayer by discussing God’s roles as sovereign and holy and his faithfulness as a provider... Read More
0
Are You Ready for a New Season? // M-Note 9.20.25
by Matt Miofsky on September 19th, 2025
For many years in my 20s, I played basketball two nights a week. I loved the competition, the exercise, and the friendships. But, when my second child Carly was born and my work schedule grew heavier, those two nights away from home started to take a toll on my wife Jessica and our family rhythm. I could have clung to the old routine (and created conflict in my family), but I sensed something diff... Read More
1
CoreGroup Discussion Guide | September 14, 2025
by Sarah Hines on September 12th, 2025
WelcomeWelcome Back! Whether this is a re-up with old friends or you are joining a new group, we are glad you are here. Last week we used this time to get to know one another – to hopefully establish an ease for everyone to participate in the group. This week we begin our regular discussions of the sermon topics. Our beginning series for the year is focused on The Lord’s Prayer. It is the most pra... Read More
0
We Need Church Now More Than Ever // M-Note 9.13.2025
by Matt Miofsky on September 12th, 2025
It has been a hard week. Sunday, I am going to share some words about the events of this last week before my message, and I encourage you all to worship with us in person. But, there is also much to celebrate and anticipate right now at The Gathering. Sunday, September 14th, The Gathering Metro East will have its first preview worship service. This is an important time to cast vision for the new s... Read More
0
CoreGroup Discussion Guide | September 7, 2025
by Sarah Hines on September 5th, 2025
WelcomeWelcome to a new season of groups at The Gathering! We’re glad you’re here. Usually this CoreGroup Guide will lead us through a discussion related to the current sermon series. Each week we will dive into scripture, reflect on the main themes of the sermon, and ponder how we can engage our Head, Heart, and Hands as we journey together in faith. This week will follow a similar pattern, but i... Read More
2
A Surprising Number of Christians Struggle With This... // M-Note 9.6.25
by Matt Miofsky on September 5th, 2025
Churches talk about prayer a lot. But many of us are embarrassed to admit that we really don’t know how to pray? It's challenging to find time, we struggle to stay focused, and we don’t always know what to say. If you have felt that way, you aren’t alone. Prayer is something we have to learn.Jesus knew this. During his sermon on the mount, he taught his disciples how to pray and even gave them a p... Read More
0
Recent
Christian in Name Only // M-Note 4.11.2026
April 11th, 2026
CoreGroup Guide | Christians In Name Only - Part 1
April 10th, 2026
Experience the Surprise of Easter | Lent Devotional Day 47
April 5th, 2026
CoreGroup Guide | Easter 2026
April 4th, 2026
The Day Between | Lent Devotional Day 46
April 4th, 2026
Archive
2026
January
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 1Three Reasons to Worship This Weekend // M-Note 1.10.2026A Mix of Celebrations and Bittersweet News // M-Note 1.17.2026CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 2CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 3Spread the Word: Online Only Worship on January 25 // M-Note 1.24.2026A Hard Lesson to Learn...Life's Not Always Fair // M-Note 1.31.2026
February
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 4CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 1CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 2Ash Wednesday - The Party's Over | Lent Devotional Day 1Led Into the Wildnerness | Lent Devotional Day 2Take a Step Back to Grow Closer to God // M-Note 2.21.2026Celebrating Lent - An Oxymoron? | Lent Devotional Day 3CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 3Let's Journey With Openness | Lent Devotional Day 4What we Mean by "Penal Substitution" | Lent Devotional Day 5The Cross - Sin and Nearness | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 6The God Who Doesn't Look Away | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 7Worthy of Belonging | Lent Devotional Day 8Confession Without Self-Hatred | Lent Devotional Day 9The Repairer | Lent Devotional Day 10The Lamb of God | Lent Devotional Day 11Why Did Jesus Have to Die? // M-Note 2.28.2026
March
Turning the Lights On | Lent Devotional Day 12CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 1Love That Leads to Change | Lent Devotional Day 13Like Ads for Love | Lent Devotional Day 14Who are You…Really? | Lent Devotional Day 15Nothing Between Us | Lent Devotional Day 16Let It Rip | Lent Devotional Day 17Christ + Nothing | Lent Devotional Day 18An Unjustifiable War // M-Note 3.7.2026CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 2A Queer Atonement | Lent Devotional Day 19In Christ Was Life, the Light For All People | Lent Devotional Day 20Failure and the Invitation To New Imagination | Lent Devotional Day 21Jesus & Queerness: Entertaining Angels | Lent Devotional Day 22The Least of These | Lent Devotional Day 23The Good News For All Creation - and the Strange Wonder of God’s People | Lent Devotional Day 24Ready to Receive an Invitation // M-Note 3.14.2026Christ’s Death Frees Us So His Reconciling Life Can Flow Through Us | Lent Devotional Day 24 CopyFeminist Atonement Theory | Lent Devotional Day 26CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 3Time to Tear Down | Lent Devotional Day 27God Doesn’t Glorify Violence, Man Does | Lent Devotional Day 28God Shares in Our Emotions, Death, and Resurrection | Lent Devotional Day 29A Meal that Matters | Lent Devotional Day 30The Cross is About Community | Lent Devotional Day 31Only Later Did It Begin to Make Sense | Lent Devotional Day 32CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 4Jesus is Liberator of the Oppressed | Lent Devotional Day 33The Bigger Picture - Exodus, Jesus, and the God of the Oppressed | Lent Devotional Day 34Marginalized Prophetic Voices Emphasize God’s Character | Lent Devotional Day 35Freedom from Sin is both Personal AND Communal | Lent Devotional Day 36Christ’s Victory Empowers His People to Serve | Lent Devotional Day 37Jesus and Community | Lent Devotional Day 38CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 5Serving (at Easter) is Powerful // M-Note 3.28.2026Working Out My Own Salvation | Lent Devotional Day 39Christ’s Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem | Lent Devotional Day 40Do I Trust that Christ’s Sacrifice is Enough? | Lent Devotional Day 41I Will Sing to the Lord | Lent Devotional Day 42
April
Embracing the Gift of Presence During Holy Week | Lent Devotional Day 43The Wonder of Dust and Dirty Feet | Lent Devotional Day 448 Reasons to Join Us for Easter // M-Note 4.3.2026Good Friday | Lent Devotional Day 45The Day Between | Lent Devotional Day 46CoreGroup Guide | Easter 2026Experience the Surprise of Easter | Lent Devotional Day 47CoreGroup Guide | Christians In Name Only - Part 1Christian in Name Only // M-Note 4.11.2026
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9