Seven #1 Reasons, Principle Reason

This week is about broadening our view of salvation.

For many, both in how they understand it and in how they seek to help others understand it, it is merely and narrowly a transaction. Pray this, and after you die you get this. Jesus died so even I could go to heaven.

This isn't evil, mind you. Just so narrow that many people fail to see the relevance of the Christ in their lives if his concern is about an immeasurable negotiation that only has roots in the next world, from which no one has ever provided any feedback.

What people want/need/long for is a salvation that sets in now. Into the things that matter now.

And as it turns out, that's the thrust of the message in the scriptures behind the wall of tradition that many of us have never seen.

Help your group recognize not only the beauty of "the rest of the story", but that if there is a rest of the story, they have an immediate role in it with their family, work, attitudes, etc.

Incidentally, it's a good reminder to see the meaning of Jesus' (יְהוֹשֻׁעַ) name, which means, "God is Salvation. Jesus isn't merely an ambassador. He is God's redeeming plan and purpose for all that has been made!

Thaw

Leader note: you may need to talk about the recent storms and whatever needs there are as represented in your LifeGroup. As salvation is the topic, this may be your whole group time if one or more members has been affected and needs some support.

• What is the churches role when disaster strikes?
• How is this different from a government response?

Leader note: If the group pretty much created a line between intangible and tangible needs being met, make sure and challenge that before your time is up. Many people think that physical needs, even in an emergency-sense, are the job of "officials", while spiritual needs (those intangibles that cannot really be measured) are the role of spiritual leadership and church communities. Though the church community should indeed be helping with the emotional, psychological and spiritual (those words aren't distinct!) in a way that no one else can, once again this separation creates an understanding contrary to Jesus' teaching on salvation and makes the faith seemingly irrelevant when it matters most. The church is supposed to be a people that dive into the entirety of what loving people means, not sitting back resolving to do the conceptual leftovers. Make sure the group has a renewed sense that the church is the hands and feet of Jesus locally and globally, not just his ears and mouth!

• What most impacted you from the message Sunday?
• What do you feel like God is asking you, this group or your family to do?

Read

• Colossians 1:15-20
• Thoughts?
• What words stand out to you when you think about the Christian faith as largely accepted?

Leader note: Note the words "all things" in verse 19. Jesus came to save not just people, but things. All of them. What are the implications of this?!?!?!

• After reading this, do you think that salvation has any limits? Explain the implications of your answer with regard to the following list:

Impulsive words/expression

The environment

Al Qaeda

Public Schools

Our habits

Human trafficking

Unemployment

An abusive family member

Porn actors/producers/sellers/users

Depression

Care of body and mind

Inter-church/denominational tensions

Our giving-to-taking ratios

• Are any of these too far reaching or too idealistic to be salvaged by Christ and his way?
• Does your mind default to mere politics for the bigger ideas and "try harder" for the personal stuff?

Leader note: Make sure the group isn't thinking about Jesus saving things with his cross as a magic wand. The way Christ saves is through others-centered love, wisdom, patience, endurance and calm fearlessness that doesn't even avoid death. Numerous people think Jesus' way is beautiful, but when the pressure is on, an M-16 is how you get things done. This, once again, renders salvation to a post-mortem bonus, but not something for the here and the now. Additionally, the naive sense that God votes partisan politics to solve the world's problems hasn't gotten the Kingdom any more expansive over the years. Make sure and go bigger than "left" or "right" thinking about God and the "all things" he redeems.

Read

• John 3:17
• Matthew 5:14-16
• Thoughts?
• How do you compare these two statements in the different texts?
• What does it say about God's view of and feelings for us in that he wants to exercise his purposes of the Christ through people?
• Using evidence pertaining to who he will use and what the qualifications are, would you say that God is anxious about getting his agenda accomplished, or is he at peace about it?

Discuss

• If Jesus came to save or rescue all things, which includes all the people, paradigms and interests represented in this group, and the rescued people are the light of the world called to shine forth God's rescuing/redeeming/saving light- what does this say to your life this week?

• What does this say to what membership at Crosspointe (or any church) means?
• At what age does this begin? End?
• Who is not invited to be part of salvation? Why?

Apply

• Settling for a broad definition of salvation as "re-aligning things to how Christ would want them", what are some areas in your day-to-day life that you could imagine playing a part in salvation?
• How would you like to see this group step more into the salvation story that exists beyond the discussion? What stands in the way?
• How does a plan get implemented in the group to make a sense of wanting to be part of the redemption of all things a reality?