GOING DEEPER
01.03.2021 | DANGEROUS INTERSECTION | Wk 1: “Deep Faith”
Join the community and go deeper with this Bible study.
Breaking Ground
What was your favorite memory from 2020?
The Dig
Spend this week reflecting on the first part of E3’s vision statement that we are exploring in our new series – deep faith.
How would you define “deep faith”? What does it mean? What doesn’t it mean?
What thought patterns, emotions, behaviors, actions, & habits do you associate with having a deep faith?
Next, read Acts 9:1-19. This is the pivotal moment of Paul’s story. At the beginning of his story, he was a zealot who persecuted others because he believed it was what God was calling him to do. However, he has this encounter with Jesus & it changes everything.
What stands out to you the most from this account in Acts 9?
Why do you think God calls Saul (later Paul) to take part in His Kingdom work (despite all that he’s done)? What does this tell us about who God is & how He operates?
What do you think went through Paul’s mind/heart during the three days when he was blind?
How do you think this experience impacted his faith? In particular, how do you think it impacted how he understood God, his own life, who he was called to be, & what it meant to follow God?
Paul exits this experience transformed & he goes on to become one of the most important figures in Christian history.
What is the relationship between deep faith & transformation?
How might Paul’s story speak to an area of your life where you feel like you need to experience transformation in the coming year?
What are some new behaviors, actions, & habits that you could adopt to potentially deepen your faith & experience that transformation in your thought patterns, emotions, & spiritual life?
How might your involvement in the E3 community help you on that journey of spiritual growth?
Close by praying for your group & the coming year.
Getting Out of the Hole
Take time in this series to reflect on & pray over each part of Element3’s vision statement. This week, focus on deep faith. Ask yourself:
- What does this part of the vision statement mean to me?
- Where does E3 currently help me (or others) experience this?
- How can I help E3 be a place where this is experienced more deeply (by myself & others)?
Journal, reflect, & pray over these questions. Ask God where you need to hear & take part in God’s work to make E3 the community it wants to be. Share your experience with your growth group next week!
Additional Resources*
Sacred Companions by David Benner
A Community of Character by Stanley Hauerwas
The Church on the Other Side by Brian McLaren
TheBibleProject.com – website by Tim Mackie
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, January 10: Join us for week two of our series Dangerous Intersection – where we will be looking at Paul’s story & what it might teach E3 about the intersection of deep faith & authentic community.
* Please see mye3.org for details.