Breaking Ground
What was your friend group like growing up? Did you belong to any cliques or specific communities? How did these impact you?
The Dig
This Sunday, we began our new series Secret of Life, in which we’re unpacking several topics that our world says can bring us ultimate fulfillment. To kick things off, we explored the concept of community & the Church.
Begin by reflecting upon the various communities & social groupings that you see strongly present in our world today.
How do social groups tend to form in our world & culture? What or who do they form around? What promises do they make to those seeking to join them? How do they seek to impact their members & the world around them?
How does the Church fit into your answers from the previous question? What or who do churches tend to form around? What promises do they make? What impact do they seek to have on their members & the world around them?
Next, read Ephesians 2:19-22 & Acts 2:42-27. Here, we find a concise expression of the New Testament’s vision concerning both the foundation of Christ-centered communities (Ephesians 2) & the fruit that such communities should produce (Acts 2).
What foundation do these church communities form around? What promises do they make to those seeking to join them? What impact are they trying to have on their members & the world around them?
How do these communities differ from those you discussed in the previous questions? What makes them unique?
Are you a member of any communities that embody the vision of community in Acts 2? What drew you to it? What impact is it having on your & your world?
Which communities do you belong to that don’t reflect an Acts 2 community? Why do you think that is? How might you help it better embody this vibrant vision of community over this next season?
Getting Out of the Hole
In this series, take time each week to reflect upon the topic we covered in the Sunday sermon.
- What does “Church” mean to you? How has that been shaped more by our world’s definition of community as opposed to Christ’s?
- How has your definition of Church shaped your commitment & engagement as a member of E3 (for good & ill)?
- Where do you need to shift your understanding of Church & further lean into helping E3 become a more Christlike community this Fall?
Journal about how this prayer practice makes you feel this week. Share your experience with your group next week.
Additional Resources*
Centered Set Church by Mark D. Baker
Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer
TheBibleProject.com
Coming Up This Week:*
August 10th: Join us next Sunday as we continue Secret of Life with another BAPTISM SUNDAY!* Please see mye3.org for details.