Stuff Jesus Made Up, week 6

To complete the series, we have to embrace what it means to go forward both discussing Jesus' parables and trying to live them. The former is interesting. The latter is life-altering.

As with any week, try and guide your group into discovering how Jesus' words will play out in the days, weeks and months to come. Be specific with your group and reference prayer concerns and hunches that have been shared to help individuals see what God might be asking them to step into. And be sure and share with the rest of us any stories about surrender so that we can all celebrate together the stuff Jesus made up becoming lives Jesus transformed.

Thaw

• How have you caught yourself playing the chair game in the last week?
• What did you do about it?
• What was most impacting from the message this Sunday?
• If you were to act on whatever sense you had after Sunday, what do you suppose would happen?
• What has been the "main thing" that you have learned or that has shifted in your life during this series?

Read

• Luke 13:6-8
• Thoughts?

Leader note: The context Jesus tells this parable in is a tricky one. He spends the beginning of the chapter talking about some strange ideas and then cuts right into this teaching on the fig tree. There was apparently a time when Pontius Pilate killed Jewish men during worship, "mixing their blood with their sacrifices" and another episode when a tower fell on some people. In both cases, Jesus doesn't lament, but says they AND his present listeners have it coming. It's helpful to note that the men killed during their worship, as well as those whom the tower fell on, appear to be embroiled in fighting. Often times the Jewish men would try to beat the Roman soldiers at their own game, suffering at the hands of very powerful, skilled killing machines. The purity of the temple, the concept of God as King rather than the Emperor, national and social injustice, loss of sovereignty; these were all issues that were fought for in all the wrong ways. And the fighting always ended in brutal defeat at the hands of Rome. The tower, we can safely assume, is a military barracks as well. So, rather than Jesus telling them numbly that the Galileans had it coming, and so do his listeners if they don't clean up their act, he is likely teaching that those who have died trying to use guerilla warfare in God's name didn't fail because of their sin, but because of foolishness. They are trying to use war to bring about peace- which gets even righteous people killed. The "repent" in Christ's warning, then, is about turning from the madness of war and trying to beat Rome by behaving like they do. Fight Jesus' way is an invitation to go to war differently. If they were to truly "defend" the ways of God, then they need to live in the creative and cunning ways of peace (Matthew 5:38-48, Romans 12:21). This may or may not come up, or need to, in the course of your discussion.

• What do the components of the parable mean?

Leader note: There have been many that put the owner of the vineyard as God the Father, while the vinedresser as God the Son. In doing so, you get different minds seemingly at odds with each other, as though Jesus is trying to talk the Father into doing something he didn't want to do. A better theology is simply the two personalities represent the tension in God's own mind between justice (what should be based on what has or hasn't happened) and God's mercy (his infatuation with what he created and his desire for good things for his children). Additionally, you may want to read Isaiah 5:1-7 to get a Jewish sense of the visualization Jesus uses.

Discuss

• What do we learn about God in this parable?
• What do we unlearn about God in this parable?
• Why do you think Jesus used the word "afiamee" ("forgive") for the words translated "leave it alone..."?
• Why do you think that the worker's reaction to the tree's unfruitfulness is more blessing (aerating and fertilizer) rather than threat and consequence?
• Do you know of a time when God used more blessing to get you to step into something important that you had previously refused? Share.

• Would you say that your life is more about existing and absorbing from the soil, or about trying to produce fruit?
• How do you answer the question "If I was removed from the garden, what would no longer happen?"

Read

• Matthew 21:28-31
• Thoughts?

Discuss

• How can this group help you come out of dormancy and into whatever you think it is God wants you to do or be?

Leader note: This could be everything from addiction, surrender to Christ, forgiveness issues to looking for a new job. Ask follow-up questions pertinent to your group to help them be as specific as they need to be.

• Do you think you have to be more informed and less doubtful to be able to surrender yourself and your decisions to Christ? Why do you believe you do or you do not?

Leader note: You may find it helpful here to reference John 8:31-32, where jesus puts obedience ahead of truth and freedom. In other words, if we submit, we get the clarity we long for on the journey, but not before, despite we would rather it went that way so we could be certain it was going to work out for us.

• Is there anyone in the group that needs to invite the group to help them take a step forward into the way of Jesus? Take a moment to make that known.

Prayer

• Pray that Christ's parables would continue to carry weight because of the impact they have on our real life, as well as our discussions. Pray for His Spirit to come along side ours so that we can enact the Kingdom that we hear wrapped in all Jesus' teachings. Pray that the group will "go there" with each other and make these stories a reality with each other.

Additional reading

• Isaiah 6:1-8
• Leviticus 19:23-35
• Hebrews 5:11-14

Stuff Jesus Made Up, week 5

Luke 15, to 16....And now backward to Luke 14 (chronology is overrated anyway...).

This week is on a topic that will be very quickly recognized as something we all wrestle with.

How much of our lives are based on trying to acquire honor, recognition and praise? How often do any of us decide to encourage another, while at the same time letting that deferred praise benefit him or her as we ourselves slide out of the limelight? How utterly un-American.

The way of humility is up there with "as hard as it gets" we live in a culture that hates humility, and instead thrives on self-promotion, out-classing/ranking/achieving the people (or "competitors") all around us.

Use this discussion time to step into a new level of humility, love and peace. This may be a discussion that shapes others as you refer back to it in the future. You will discover ways in which the "seat of honor" is lived for, and may find it helpful from here on out to refer to a solid discussion on humility as a way of understand ing some of the relational tensions that are subtly created by brothers and sisters who haven't realized how often they're playing the game with each other.

Thaw

• Does the way the group is seated tonight reflect any sort of hierarchy? How are the seats chosen?
• If age and reputation for punctuality were factors for higher honor, how would people in this group be seated in relation to the host?

• What stuck with you most from the message on Sunday?
• Where are the specific areas in your relating to others that you sensed God wants to work with?
• Were there any ideas that weren't covered in the message that you think are applicable?

Read

• Luke 14:7-11
• Thoughts?

• Jesus was very much familiar with both the content and the heart of the Proverbs in this parable. Read:
• Proverbs 25:6-7
• Proverbs 25:7
• Proverbs 27:2

• Is what Jesus is teaching still valued in our culture ( or any modern culture), or has it been lost? Explain?

• What does Jesus mean in Luke 14:11?
• Is this a statement that brings peace, or skepticism? Explain.

Read

• 1 Peter 5:5-7
• Thoughts

Leader note: "Lift you up" in 1 Peter is the same Greek word hypso-o, and isn't strictly a elevating in the literal sense, but a lifting up from lowly circumstances, such as better seating around the banquet table. It's interesting to note that in Jesus' parable, he has the humiliated person moving down to the least place, rather than everyone scooting one seat to accommodate the more distinguished person arriving. Many of us would "choose another table" where we could find the honor we're due. Jesus wants us to experience the Father exalting us, however, rather than moving us to another place where our lust for honor and respect can continue to burn unchecked. Sliding us down won't teach us. Moving us to another table wouldn't teach us. Painful, but what our hearts need to be like Christ.

Discuss

• If our father in heaven wants to bring us up or exalt us anyway, why doesn't he just let us acquire whatever honorable position we're proud of?
• What affect on our love and equity with other does it have when we are allowed to believe that we're entitled to honor, praise and recognition?
• What does it do to our internal sense of peace when we feel as though we must constantly fight for a better chair in the chair game?
• When we live in "chair anxiety", how does this affect our relationships at home, at work at school or even within our church community?
• What are examples of how we try and position ourselves in the eyes of others, and what's really going on?

Leader note: Sometimes, when a stay-at-home-mom or dad answers the question "what do you do?" with "well, right now, I am home with our young children, but I have 2 degrees and I'll be getting back into my career when they're old enough..." what we are hearing is someone that doesn't believe God is going to exalt parenthood, so they are trying to get their listener to place them in the right chair. Being able to simply rest in the fact that they are doing one of the most sacred jobs in the universe, regardless of its lack of appeal in this production-based culture, or the absent income and flare, is an indicator that he or she is not playing the chair-game, and has peace. Help the group be creative in discovering ways we play with our words, our possessions, our experiences, our reputation and our overall spot in our culture.

• Why is desperation for praise and honor often easier to detect in others?

Apply

• More than getting used to "giving up our chair", we have to be people that serve the others seated. Jesus washed feet, taking the place of one who wasn't worthy to even sit in the low spot. Lower than low, the King of kings. When we practice humility, we defer praise and encouragement by serving. Where can we begin the practice of generous praise first?
• What are ways we can stop playing the chair-game at work and become the consummate encourager instead?
• Will it cost you?
• Who in your circle seems to not be worthy of much honor, and, in fact, is often the object of much dishonorable speech, gossip, etc...? How can you, regardless of their behavior, begin providing honor immediately?
• How is our style of relating, speaking, etc. changed by giving up the chair-game?
• Is there any one in the group willing to endure the discomfort of allowing the group to help them stop playing the chair-game by calling him or her out on it when it's happening?

Prayer

• Spend some time asking for God to give eyes to see and ears to hear all the ways in which the game is being played and its not even realized. Additionally, pray that the other members of this group would step into helping shape an attitude of humility that flies in the face of a completely different and anxiety fueling way that our culture has taught us to live. Pray that God would show us in the next 24 hours all the ways that we seek better seating, and for others to agree we should be sitting ahead of them somehow...and then that He would give us the courage to give up our seat, the game and serve them with the honor we wanted for ourselves.

Additional texts

• Psalm 94:18-19
• Mark 10:44-45
• Romans 12:16
• Philippians 2:3

Stuff Jesus Made Up, week 4

We move from Luke 15 to Luke 16, and find Jesus building up a head of steam. He seems to be passionately deconstructing the idea that their can ever be a gap between the children of God for any reason. It's a gap we've learned to tolerate and even in some cases, work for and enjoy.

Continue to lead your group to understand that the Jesus we are seeking and following is not strictly interested in a bland morality that tries to get people's naughtiness in line, while making them "nicer" in the process. That comes with it- but this is a revolution we are discussing in our groups. This is reconciliation, redemption and the turning of all broken systems and ideas (and people) back to the Creator through him. If we aren't excited about this as leaders, it may not seem as such to those we lead!!!!

Make this time about steps toward action. Over discussing the content of the message is counterintuitive to the main point Jesus is trying to make. The chatting we do has to be for love of each other, but also for those whom remain unloved. Help your group dream and even decide about readjusting their priorities, schedules and thinking around the purposes of Christ, which is about our groups of faithful brothers and sisters "going" (Matthew 28:19).

Thaw

• What are examples of racial, gender or class division that you have experienced in your life?
• What are examples of social division that you have experienced recently (whether it's shy people being walked on, uneducated people being shorted somehow, or the disadvantaged being taken advantage of...etc.)

• What has most stuck with you from the message on Sunday?
• Have you felt as though a clearer picture of Jesus' heart has come into you mind? Explain.
• What kind of action steps have you begun to take in recent weeks as you consider the parables?

Read

• Luke 16:13-31
• Thoughts?

• Have you heard sermons on this passage before? What do you remember from them?

Leader note: The Jewish mythological context helps us understand this passage even more. Consider the following as you discuss Jesus' parable and some of the presumptions we bring to it. Consider reading the short Apocalypse of Zephaniah found here, especially section 6-9, to get a sense of what some of the popular Jewish superstitions of the day were.

Meditation

• Read the following texts to yourself and use them to allow the Spirit of God to further illuminate his heart to you. After a few minutes, discuss with the group how you feel about what Go is asking his people to do and be (fears, excitement, frustrations, lack of clarity, a sense of purpose, etc..)

• Deuteronomy 16:20
• Leviticus 19:16
• Micah 6:8
• Isaiah 1:17
• Psalm 146:9
• Exodus 22:21
• Zechariah 7:9
• John 13:34

Discuss

• How can this group's faith, resource, hope, influence and creativity be used in ministering to those without resource, influence, hope and creativity?
• What are ways that these principles apply to people not specifically in the circumstances in which Lazarus is depicted?

Leader note: Help the group understand that classrooms have kids from a broad spectrum of advantage, and the class, economic, language, opportunity gaps within a given classroom is a great example of how we can deliberately tear down walls in the name of love. We can also work in our interactions with people to identify someone who is at a disadvantage. Some people are spiritually disadvantaged, and sit in hospitals with no hope or understanding of a God that wants to heal them. Will we recognize this and help be a source of hope in the ER waiting room? Help them see all the ways that walls and chasms can be obliterated so connect people to the life-changing love of God.

• The Rich man's possessions and lifestyle were not sinful. So what is the issue?
• How does your answer to that apply to us right now?
• How does our society, lifestyle, daily regimen work against loving those trapped "outside the wall"?
• What can be done?

• How can this group encourage one another to take some risks and live a different way than most of our culture's counterparts?

Prayer

• Spend some time praying that whatever sense there is in the group that this is something less than an exciting opportunity to be part of what God is up to, would be removed. Prayer for eyes to see through walls. Ear to hear across chasms. Hands and feet to act on what we become aware of.

Additional texts

• Exodus 28:1-5
• James 2
• 1 Corinthians 13
• "Now the report goes, that this elder Annas proved a most fortunate man; for he had five sons [Eleazar, Jonathan, Theophilus, Matthias, Annas the Younger], who had all performed the office of a high priest to God, and he had himself enjoyed that dignity a long time formerly, which had never happened to any other of our high priests. . ." (Antiquities, Book XX, chapter 9, section i, p.423)

Good reminder for us leaders....

This email came last week, and served as a great reminder that God uses what happens on Sunday mornings, and in our LifeGroups, to weave together difficult and beautiful stories of redemption. I have taken the names out to keep it anonymous. Thanks for all you do, group leaders!

Hello Steve... I attended 2nd service last week. While listening to you teach about forgiving and remembering, and asking someone to forgive you is just as important as forgiving someone, it happened. For the first time in my life I heard God!
I realized that I had not forgiven my uncle for the hurt he inflected on me and my family in a situation ten years ago. Currently I am “hand writing” a letter to him stating that I have forgiven him and asking for his forgiveness in my reaction to this hurt.
Monday night I also called my little brother (whom I have not been the best sister too) and asked for his forgiveness. My brother was a little taken back, but I asked him to forgive me for all my actions that caused him any hurt throughout the years. As you know, this is not an easy task for anyone to do. For me (a prideful big sister) it was especially difficult to admit that I had been wrong about something. He shared with me a few situations where I did hurt him (without my knowing) and I told him “I was not going to give him any excuses for my actions. Please forgive me.” I asked him to not respond to my request during our phone call, but to truly think it over and let it sink in what I was asking him to do. He told me that he has seen a change in me over the last 2 years and knows that I’m not the same person. This is mostly thanks to the support from Crosspointe & our life group coming along side me in my journey. My journey is just beginning (even though I grew up in a church) but I know that I am on the right path.

Simply – Thank you.

Planning ahead...

As you plan what your discussions will be for the rest of the year, remember the following:

1. The questionnaire is a great way to get some answers from your members about what they actually need (not just want, thought that's important too!) to grow in.
2. The discussion guides based on Crosspointe messages may be a fit, and so looking at the series line-up ahead of time will help you determine if you want to follow along there, or pursue a book/DVD/Bible study instead. here's the line-up for the rest of 2009, also always found on the right-hand side of the Leader Site itself: 8/2-8/30 "Stuff Jesus Made Up". Jesus' most enduring, penetrating teachings were encased in strange stories and mental imagery. We will unravel these beautiful, ancient teachings for our own context. 9/6-9/27 "Revelation" 4 weeks on one of the most misunderstood, powerful writings ever known. 10/4-11/1 "Ephesians 2:8-9" Grace, salvation, God, works... we will get at some of the root paradigms of our faith, celebrating just what's been extended to us and how it contrasts with our misconceptions about what Christ-following entails. The last Sunday will be a BAPTISM SUNDAY! 11/8 DRIVE Celebration 11/15-12/20 "Practical Atheism" What we profess is often at odds with the way we live. Though none of us would say we had no belief in God or His way or His power, or lives betray the actual faith we have. Jesus lived according to His faith, to the end. We are invited, at all costs, to do likewise.
3. Remember that discussions are but one way we seek out God, wisdom and the Kingdom life. How will you be serving with your group? Call Bonnie Kovacik for volunteer opportunities at Crosspointe to accomplish as a group,and Pam McKerring for opportunities to serve around town, or begin planning to serve in Haiti and Kenya.

And don't forget to pray...our Father wants to lead leaders (since those we lead belong to HIM!)

and that's the best "resource" of all.

Thanks for all you do,

Steve

Stuff Jesus Made Up, week 3

This week deals with how we interpret and then live the message of God through Christ. Is this just another religious moral code, or is it something more costly? More radical?

See your group, and subsequent leadership, as the loving kick in the pants your people may need to bring Jesus and his way into the foreground of their life. Don't let it merely be a "follow your dreams" conversation, but a vision toward what it would be like if we all loved enough to listen for God's voice and follow it, no matter where it led.

A good idea for leaders is to have a journal out, or some note cards, and as yo

u listen to some of your group members' responses about what God might be challenging them to do, write it down. Months from now, if your members seem to be at an impasse, or are feeling that unfulfilled hollowness that comes from a season of dryness, you'll be able to better lead them by reminding them of God's voice and helping them stay on track with what he has been leading them toward.

Thaw

• Picking up on last week, has there been any forgiveness offered, or dealt with that anyone would like to share? (Whether it's resolved or not!)

• What was most challenging about this weeks message?
• How would your life look in one year if you responded to the challenge of the message the way you sensed you should?

Read

• Luke 15
• Thoughts?
• Is there anything in this passage that you haven't noticed before, big or little?
• Would you have entitled the last parable, if not the traditional "The Prodigal Son"
• Does this parable (or parables) run counter to your deeply held beliefs about God?
• With whom in the story, the Father, the older son or the younger, do you think people most associate you? Why?

Read

• Matthew 23:23
• 1 Corinthians 13
• What is Jesus trying to get into the heads of his listeners?
• What is Paul saying about the role of love?
• How have you seen what they are speaking against play out in your life?
• Are you guilty of forgetting to love powerfully, sacrificially and for the sake of others more than self in your faith in God? How so?

Application

• The church has been largely turned into a weekend event, rather than living, breathing body of Christ. The creator of the Universe has put together a people and a movement, empowered by his Spirit, and we've made it a hobby that some find boring and/or irrelevant. If each LifeGroup were comprised of unified individuals ready to go and pursue what God pursues, how, realistically, would our corner of the world be different?
• Our families?
• Our places of employment?
• Our health?
• What's holding us back?
• What can we do about what's holding us back?

Leader note: In terms of "what's holding us back", help the group get past vague notions of a pep rally, and key in on things that have been shared over time. You may want to call out different members and say, "John, how would your marriage be different if you loved and pursued your wife and family in a whole new way?" "Mary, what do you think God would do through your faith if you quit this job you can't stand, and freed yourself to do what he made you to do?". Help them hear what God may have already begun to whisper, but disallowing the conversation to be so vague the wriggle out of hearing.

Additional texts

• Revelation 3:14-20
• 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

Stuff Jesus Made Up, week 2

One topic that gets misunderstood and neglected enough to be harmful is forgiveness.

In this discussion, you will likely have to lead with more humble strength than normal, as latent un-forgiveness has devastating affects between friends, family and the involved persons and their forgiving God. It must be dealt with head on, just as Jesus dealt with it on numerous occasions.

At the same time, the "what ifs" and special circumstances may bring the feeling that forgiveness isn't possible or reasonable in all cases. As such, go into your time mindful of the all-encompassing love and forgiveness of God, and that our own sense of pride and strong desire to defend ourselves against any form or measure of discomfort is often what holds us back. You may, as a leader, find yourself leading your group to go places you haven't fully gone yet, so may your leadership be rooted in an increased trust that Jesus, the Son of God, claims victory through the power of Cross-style love, and not the retribution we deserve. He redeems all with love.

You may find it is appropriate to deal with the content here for two weeks, rather than just one. Discern well, and lead accordingly.

Thaw

• Have you ever been forgiven of an offense, when you could have had the book thrown at you? Do tell!
• What are your thoughts from the message on Sunday?
• Are there any areas of change, or specific people, that God has brought to mind that He seems to want to give attention?
• Have you found yourself making exemptions, or classifying certain situations as not applicable to Jesus' words of forgiveness?

Read

• Matthew 18:21-35
• Thoughts?
• In what ways does the parable teach what God is like, and in what ways does it prove to be an illustration or allegory?

Leader note: Help the group understand that the metaphor isn't supposed to be broken down or pushed too far to comprehensively understand the reality it illustrates. But we can draw some meaningful conclusions: Jesus' parable shows us that their is an accounting for our lives to be expected some day. It teaches that their is one King, and everyone else can be seen, seemingly, as equal "fellow-servants". The King calls the servant a "wicked servant" based on his lack of forgiveness, not based on the debt he had incurred. Additionally, we see that the King in the parable doesn't know what''s going on until the fellow servants tell him, which is unlike our omniscient God. The King is also shown as having pity, but not Father-like, "remains present with the servant" brand of love. The King hands the servant over to jailers for torture until the servant pays, which is unreasonable because imprisoned, tortured servants have even less means for payment than before they were imprisoned. It may be EXTREMELY helpful to stay rooted in jesus initial words about forgiveness being offered 7x70 times in the beginning of this part of his discourse. Even the jailed servant can be thought to have an awakening to love and grace while experiencing his "prison" and, in acknowledgement of his error, be offered the King's debt-canceling forgiveness again.

Read

• Matthew 5:43-44
• Matthew 6:14-15
• Romans 12:21
• Thoughts?
• Why do these passages, and many like them, seem to register in our hearts as, at the same beautiful and inspiring, while also unrealistic?
• What do we learn from God from the passages that stands against what we have come to believe about Him?

• Psalm 32:1-2
• What do covering and forgiving have to do with each other?
• What do forgiveness and having no deceit have to do with each other?

Leader note: Totally acknowledging sin seems key here, as it does everywhere. Holding back what we should admit we owe is a way of trying to "cover" our own sin. This is one main reason confession is such a healthy, redemptive labor.

Discuss

• The following are some clarifications about forgiveness. Discuss them and share from your own examples of how they ring true, or create theological/philosophical problems for you.

Forgiveness:

Is Condemnation

Is Final

Is Not "Forgetting"

Is From Your Heart

Is Not a Feeling, But a Choice.

Leader note: It's condemnation in that it implies the guilt of the other. It's final in that you can't cancel debt and secretly be hoping the other party still have to "pay", it's not forgetting in that you should remember so you can tell the story of grace to others, it's from your heart in that it's not forgiven if you can't hope good things for the forgiven, and it's not a feeling but a choice, because you may not feel "forgiving" type feelings. But, remember, God doesn't command feelings. He commands actions.

Apply

• How does one step into forgiveness if they haven't before?
• What holds us back?
• Is the thing that holds us back form God? If not, where is it from and what is to be done about it?
• How do you pursue true forgiveness while also allowing good and corrective (not retaliatory) consequences to follow? Can the group come up with a Jesus-centered rule for this?
• How can this group help one or more of it's members freely give the forgiveness he or she has freely received?

Prayer

Leader note: The following is how the Lord's prayer reads in Matthew 6. You may want to point it out and then spend some time prayerful in the same spirit he teaches:

"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.