This week, as a group, you will hopefully be taking some steps into the mystical realm of harmony. But, rather than some flaky sense of "getting along with others", this is the summation of what God wants for humanity. That we would evaluate and make decisions about each other a new way, which is actually the old way. In so doing, we will more and more find out things about ourselves. Deep things. We will also lean about God and just how powerful love actually is.
To the extent that this doesn't seem deep, or that somehow this is just a rehashing of some feel-good message but lacks substance, perhaps it is time to re-evaluate what we consider what depth means. Regardless of our understanding of original languages, the theological camps we join or our views on hot button issues that define our worldview, our ability to embrace the oneness of humanity and the power of simply loving others the way we wish to be loved is all that matters.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love". (Paul, I Corinthians 13:11-13, Galatians 5:6b)
Thaw
- What is something you believe has always been misunderstood about you?
- How has this affected your relationships (to others, elf and God)?
- What has most hung with you from Sunday morning?
- What do you feel like you are supposed to do with whatever it is that has been in your mind since Sunday morning?
Read
Leader note: You may want to add more texts to this list, choosing them based on a recurrent theme of others-centeredness and having each member read one aloud.
- Deuteronomy 10:19
- Proverbs 18:13
- James 1:19
- Thoughts?
- What do passages like this have to do with the love of Christ?
- What do they have to do with the inherent unity of people?
Discuss
- What are ways our day-to-day lives reinforces division and separateness from each other?
Leader note: It's important not to vilify as much as recognize reality. Fashion is an example. We are taught to both conform to a visual standard, and yet stand out as unique. There's a paradox to both all look alike, and yet be notable. We are not made to live and experience this strange duality. Rather than it being evil, our individual expressions of style and art, like unique pixels in an overall screen, has been turned into a way of rating and categorizing each other. This is not shalom, harmony or love, and it's one more way we cost ourselves the ability to know each other, to know ourselves, and to experience love like Love intends.
- What are the counterfeits of unity?
- What is something you have learned about yourself by loving someone that wasn't "easy" to love?
- Why are we threatened by allowing the Spirit to flow between us and seemingly dissimilar people?
- How much of our hesitation about loving people is based on fear of our own welfare? Explain.
- What is the difference between "building a tower" and "building a bridge"?
Leader note: The reference comes from Genesis 11 and the tower of babel being built. Towers are for protection and defense. It's about human conquest, rather than true shalom. Acts 2, at Pentecost, we have a reversal of the confused languages, and the Spirit-filled disciples can now go to others and speak THEIR languages. The Spirit of Immanuel, the GHod who comes to us, is now reuniting divided people.
Read
- Ephesian 4:1-3
- Thoughts?
Apply
- What obstacles do the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace have in your life? What can be done about those obstacles?
- What obstacles to unity are playing themselves out within the context of this LifeGroup? What can be done about this?
Leader note: Depending on where the conversation is going, you may enjoy sharing thoughts from Tertullian, AD 210:
It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to label us. "See," they say, "How they love one another!" For themselves are animated by mutual hatred. "How they are ready even to die for one another!" For they themselves will sooner put to death.
They are angry with us, too, because we call each other brethren. There is no other reason for this, I think, than because among them names of consanguinity are given in mere pretence of affection. ...
How much more fittingly they are called and counted brothers who have been led to the knowledge of God as their common Father? Who have drunk in one Spirit of holiness? Who from the same womb of a common ignorance have agonized into the same light of truth?
But perhaps the very reason we are regarded as having less right to be considered true brothers is that no tragedy causes dissension in our brotherhood. Or maybe it is that the family possessions, which generally destroy brotherhood among you, create fraternal bonds among us. One in mind and soul, we do not hesitate to share our earthly goods with one another. All things are common among us but our wives. (Apology, ch. 39)
Meditation
- Read quietly to selves Galatians 5:13-26
No comments:
Post a Comment