Breaking Ground
What was your favorite family tradition growing up? Why?
The Dig
This week, we celebrated Baptism Sunday & reflected on the meaning of this critical Christian Sacrament.
What was your baptism like? What was most meaningful about that experience?
Read Matthew 3:13-17. Here, the Holy Spirit descends & calls Jesus “God’s beloved” with whom “God is well pleased” (i.e., God looks at him with pleasure & delight).
How does this scene impact you? What language sticks with you the most?
Notice that this statement of identity & favor is spoken over Jesus before he has done anything at all.
What is the significance of this? What does it tell us about God?
Why do you think baptism is meant to mark the beginning of our discipleship journey rather than its completion or end? How does this change how we respond to participating in this sacrament?
Throughout the New Testament, we’re told that, through Jesus, we too are God’s children. Thus, our baptisms become moments where we learn that this language of belovedness is spoken over us by God from the beginning of our Christian journey.
Do you believe that God’s first word to you is that you are beloved & someone that He delights in?
Where do you try to earn the identity of belovedness rather than accept that it’s already been spoken over you? How does that impact how you see yourself & others?
How would remembering your baptism by adopting this statement as your foundational identity before you begin each day change how you treat yourself? Others?
How can we better remember & live from this truth in our everyday lives?
Getting Out of the Hole
In this series, take time each week to reflect upon the story from the story & how you can find yourself within it during this season of your life.
- Read Matthew 3:1-17. First, break this story or teaching down into pieces. What is Jesus doing or saying? How are people responding to him? What changes by the end of the story?
- Next, close your eyes & reflect upon the story. Imagine yourself in it. Put yourself into the space of the various characters & imagine what it would be like to encounter Jesus in the story.
- What images, teachings, or ideas speak to you the most in this story? What intrigues or confuses you? What feelings arose as you thought about being in the story? How can this story impact your life & your relationship with Jesus in this next season?
Additional Resources*
TheBibleProject.com
Simply Jesus by NT Wright
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, February 23rd: Join us next Sunday as we continue our series Jesus the Christ!
* Please see mye3.org for details.