Happy Easter

Hello Leaders

Happy Easter

Thanks so much for creating life-change-making environments each week so that people can know the resurrection that God is affecting in each of us.

This week, for Easter, many groups are not meeting. If they are, it's more social than it is discussion based. If your group is coming together to have a discussion, here are a few ideas o steer you:

• If you discuss the message, share your own stories about when you may have learned that performing and producing were the toxic keys to achieving worth.
• Talk about ways that that gets reinforced today.
• Read a few passages together and discuss both the general theological points, as well as the implications for each of your faith-lives. I recommend 2 Corinthians 5:14-22 for great fodder for discussion and application. You might also consider reading the crucifixion account in John chapters 18-21 as a meditation and then simply discussing the dominant images, ideas and inspirations that each person comes away with.
• Lastly, you may consider taking communion together. Matza crackers and grape juice does the trick. If you use wine, make sure you do so aware of everyone's background with alcohol, as this can create an unintended hurdle or even divide. Prayer of personal confession, and thanks for Christ's sacrifice are a good way to start. Then, while eating, each person sharing what God is up to in the lives of the members turns what we normally think of as a somber moment into one of celebration and life.
• Dream out loud about what needs resurrected in the next year. What areas need hope, and life. Write these ideas down, pray as a group about them and prepare to step into whatever is shared as a group as much as that's possible.

May The risen Christ awake and regenerate things in your hearts, and may the love of Christ compel us all to further his wonderful commonwealth.

Peace to you.

Steve