Life Outside the Booth Part III

As you wrap up this series with your group, record the responses your group has to the first four questions and put those in the comments this week.

• What has been the most helpful in this series?
  
• What nagging questions has this series created but not resolved for you?
  
• Considering this series was kind of "introductory" for our community, where else do you think it could have gone?
  
• What have you felt challenged/inspired to start doing or thinking with regard to God's Kingdom?

Read

• 1 Samuel 8
  
• Thoughts?

Leader Note: Some members of the group may find that this text is either far too idealistic to be believed ( in that God being King is a concept rather than a daily reality for making social decisions) or that it has implications for developing someone's idea of a theocracy. Where the latter may have some merit for those of us seeking the Kingdom in its fullest sense, we would never imply that this can be instituted by someone who merely wanted or had the power to enforce it. A true theocracy has to come from God, not those who position themselves to be His spokespeople for others. 

As the leader, it would be a good idea not to let the discussion go there. Instead, have your group focus on the attitude of "the people" in the 1 Samuel passage; who insisted on having a human king for the sake of competing well with other nations. This, for them, was a way of garnering security, strength and a better standard of living in keeping with other tribe and peoples that had either rejected or not know the God of Israel.

Read 

• Revelation 21:1-4
  
• What's the picture being described or humanity?
  
• What kinds of things do you see being visualized as being replaced?
  
• From the perspective of a first century Christian under persecution, how would you have heard this?

Read 

• Matthew 5:1-16
  
• Thoughts?
  
• This is Jesus' platform to call people to align with Him. How do you think He would do with this platform today?
  
• How is our view of His invitation and vision obscured by the fact that we are a people in the position of wealth and power?
  

Leader note: This may still be a difficult concept for some members, that we are the richest. This can be hard to remember when we see our lives only through the lens of our own reality. When the bills stack up, we feel like we are "broke". When we get fired, lied about or mistreated in traffic, we can think we know something of "persecution". Perspective is everything, so we need to see the text and the context of matthew 5, as well as Revelation, in its proper light.

Read

• Luke 22:14-27
  
• How would you describe the differing worldview of the 12 Jesus calls?
  
• What benefit would Jesus have in calling people that differ with Him and each other so fundamentally?
  
• Do you feel that their question about who will have the highest position in the Kingdom ( the position of highest authority and rule) is the same question that governs politics? WHy or why not?
  
• How would you relate Jesus' response in your own words?

• How do you find Jesus' response unrealistic in light of the current situation we find the world in?
  
• If it is realistic, what keep us who follow Him from giving ourselves to His way, verses entrusting ourselves to human institutions, good policies and programs?
  
• In a "perfect world" where no one is vying for power, trying to control or manipulate others and actually has in mind to make the world about the values of Christ, what role would politics and government play? How would it be distinct from how we see it unfolding right now?

Leader note: As you close your time, take a second and thank your group for their openness, vulnerability and desire to discuss such a sensitive topic. Undoubtedly, each group has taken on its own shape with regard to the discussions generated by the messages. The highest value for us will always be Kingdom, so whatever shape the discussions have taken, it's the desire to see Jesus' dream for the planet realized that gives us hope. Everything else falls short to say the least.

You may want to share communion with your group to reinforce this, embracing what the disciples didn't at first; the bread and the cup are symbols of a different kind of politic and a far higher patronage, and leaves the divisive politics of nationalism, tribalism, power, control and false hope far behind. The Most High God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men. To prove that, Jesus stepped out of His office and gave Himself to us before we could agree. That's what shapes our life outside the booth.