Our aim for this Fall has been to take part together in the most important component of our apprenticeship to Jesus – being with Him. Each of the practices we have taken part in this season has been about setting aside time and space to do just that – be with Jesus.
silence & solitude: slowing down and calling our attention the reality of God’s nearness to us and with us
abiding: making space & time to actually call our hearts & minds to learn or relearn how to remain in that reality
emotional awareness: growing in awareness of our own hearts and emotional state and then being honest about it before God and one another
casting cares: taking Jesus up on his invitation to bring him our burdens in exchange for his peace
Bible reading for transformation: learning how to spend time with Jesus as we read the Bible so that the gospel transfers from our head to our heart and hands (both individually and collectively).
In the Spring we will move to a new set of practices that will focus on another component of our discipleship – being like Jesus.
However, we do not mean to abandon what we have learned together this Fall. It is as Jesus said in John 15:5, “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” This is why we want to help you continue to practice being with Jesus; everything flows from there.
Therefore, we have created a daily Bible reading exercise that will be made available weekly throughout this season of Advent. Download this week’s readings below.
Advent begins this Sunday! Plan to join us (and bring a friend!) as we spend the next few weeks focusing on the hope, peace, joy, and love of God that has been given to us in Jesus Christ.
We’re looking forward to how the Holy Spirit will continue shaping us as the body of Christ this season!
We have found it helpful to take a few moments before you start to overview the upcoming month for your MC (both MC plans and Redemption Church rhythms)
BEGIN WITH SILENCE AND PRAYER (5 MINUTES)
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of a living room, etc.). Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together before spending a brief moment in silence.
DEBRIEF LAST WEEK’S PRACTICE (10-15 MINUTES)
If you are in a Community of seven or more, feel free to divide into small groups of 3–4 people each.
Spend a few minutes catching up before you discuss the following debrief questions:
How did reading the Bible go for you?
Was it easy or difficult?
What did you glean or take away?
If you didn’t do it, what would it take to make time and space for it?
READ THIS OVERVIEW (5 MINUTES)
If anyone missed last week, be sure to read this through for them.
Our aim for this Fall has been to take part together in the most important component of our apprenticeship to Jesus – being with him. And so each of the practices we have taken part in this Fall has been about setting aside time and space to do just that – being with Jesus.
silence & solitude: slowing down and calling our attention the reality of God’s nearness to us and with us
abiding: making space & time to actually call our hearts & minds to learn or relearn how to remain in that reality
emotional awareness: growing in awareness of our own hearts and emotional state and then being honest about it before God and one another
casting cares: taking Jesus up on his invitation to bring him our burdens in exchange for his peace
For practices seven and eight the goal remains the same – the practices are built to facilitate being with Jesus – specifically through time reading and reflecting on the Bible. Most of us are familiar and comfortable with the concept of reading the Bible, however many of us wrestle with being formed by what we are learning. That’s why we have opted to take on the practice of lectio divina. Lectio divina has been used as a method of devotional Bible reading in the Christian church since the 6th century. Lectio divina is not meant as a replacement of Bible study or sound biblical hermeneutics, rather it is best used in a complementary partnership with Bible study to help us get what we are learning into our hearts and hands. The practice consists of five distinct movements: Preparing, Reading, Reflection, Response, Rest. Last week we did this practice as individuals, but this week we will modify the practice as we will do it through a collective/corporate lens.
THE PRACTICE (30 MINUTES)
Take a few moments between each step to let them know what will be happening and what’s being asked of them for that time/space. This week will be slightly different than Practice 7 in two ways. First, the aim isn’t so much to reflect on the passage as an individual but as a community. For example, rather than asking, “what does this mean for me?”, ask, “what does this mean for us?”. Second, you will be doing two passages, so the order of the lectio is modified.
Prepare to meet with God: Turn your phone off and leave it in another room. Take 30-60 seconds together to quiet yourselves before God as you work to prepare your heart to receive what God has spoken, and to respond accordingly. Finally, invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thinking and feeling as you read.
Read text #1: Have someone read Acts 2:17-24 passage aloud – two times through. As you move through the text, pay close attention to what words and ideas draw your attention in unique ways – specifically in regard to your community.
Reflect #1: Have everyone read the text silently one more time and spend 2-3 minutes. Jot down the words or phrases that stood out to you in regard to the life or season of your community? Feel free to discuss with one another for a few minutes.
Read text #2: Have someone read Acts 2:41-47 passage aloud – two times through. As you move through the text, pay close attention to what words and ideas draw your attention in unique ways – specifically in regard to your community.
Reflect #2: Have everyone read the text silently one more time and spend 3-5 minutes reflecting on the following questions:
Which words or phrases stand out to you in regard to the life or season of your community?
Is there anything we need to know, or be, or do in light of the text?
What does this mean for us?
Respond: Take 5-10 minutes to discuss a,b,c together. Take a few moments to pray together specifically about your experience. Are there any concrete steps you all need to take, be sure to make plans.
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting (around a table, on the couch, the floor of a living room, etc.). Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together before spending a brief moment in silence. Hardness of hearing is an unfortunate side effect of the frenetic pace in which many of us conduct our lives. When your community comes together in the hopes of speaking to and hearing from God, even a momentary measure of silence can work to slow and silence the swirling chaos around us, that we might hear what God is saying in and through one another.
GROUP DISCUSSION: (10 MINUTES)
1. Do you enjoy reading the Scriptures, or does it feel like a chore? Why?
2. When you read the Scriptures, do you feel as though you actually meet with and connect with God? Why or why not?
READ THIS OVERVIEW (5 MINUTES)
Our aim for this Fall has been to take part together in the most important component of our apprenticeship to Jesus – being with him. And so each of the practices we have taken part in this Fall have been about setting aside time and space to do just that – being with Jesus.
● silence and solitude: slowing down and calling our attention the reality of God’s nearness to us and with us
● abiding: making space and time to actually call our hearts and minds to learn or relearn how to remain in that reality
● emotional awareness: growing in awareness of our own hearts and emotional state and then being honest about it before God and one another
● casting cares: taking Jesus up on his invitation to bring him our burdens in exchange for his peace
For practices seven and eight the goal remains the same – the practices are built to facilitate being with Jesus – specifically through time reading and reflecting on the Bible. Most of us are familiar and comfortable with the concept of reading the Bible, however many of us wrestle with being formed by what we are learning. That’s why we have opted to take on the practice of lectio divina. Lectio divina has been used as a method of devotional Bible reading in the Christian church since the 6th century. Lectio divina is not meant as a replacement of Bible study or sound biblical hermeneutics, rather it is best used in partnership with Bible study to help us get what we are learning into our hearts and hands. The practice consists of five distinct movements: Preparing to meet with God, Reading, Reflection, Response, Rest. This week we will be practicing this as individuals.
VIDEO PROMPT (3 MINUTES)
THE PRACTICE (15 MINUTES)
Using Psalm 1, read and move slowly through each of the five movements.
1. Prepare to meet with God: Turn your phone off and leave it in another room. Situate yourself comfortably in a quiet, solitary place. Calm your body and quiet your mind before God as you work to prepare your heart to receive what God has spoken, and to respond accordingly. Finally, invite the Holy Spirit to guide your thinking and feeling as you read.
2. Read: Read the passage slowly and carefully, read the passage three times. Take your time. As you move through the text, pay close attention to what words and ideas draw your attention in unique ways. When your focus is drawn to a particular word or thought, pause and reflect.
3. Reflect: Upon completing the passage, return to the beginning and read one more time. On your fourth journey through the text, allow the text to connect with you personally. Which words or phrases resonate with your heart, your season of life, your person in this moment.
4. Respond: Talk to God about your experience. This is a time to connect with God, asking questions that might arise or listening for insight from the Spirit.
5. Rest: Pause to sit in God’s presence before fleeing from the moment. You might express wonder, awe, gratitude, or praise through words, or you might allow yourself to feel and experience these things quietly before God. This is a step of waiting on God without resistance.
Note: It can be helpful to write your word or phrase somewhere and take it with you as a reminder for the week.
GROUP DISCUSSION: (10-15 MINUTES)
1. What word or phrase did you reflect on in your time?
2. What do I need to know, or be, or do in light of the text?
3. Name one step you can take this week to move from “heart to hand”.
4. Make a plan to read Psalm 1 five days this week.
