Summer 2022 MC Overview

How do we actually do what Jesus does? As apprentices of Jesus, we are called to not only follow Jesus in spirit but we are called to continue his work on earth as it is in heaven. This includes things like opening up our homes and our lives to those who don’t know the real Jesus, praying for the lost, peacemaking, doing justice, preaching the gospel, teaching the ways of Jesus, standing up against religious and political corruption, and peacemaking. This summer we are allocating very intentional time as a church and in missional communities to explore and take next steps in forming our lives around the practices of Jesus; specifically regarding how we eat and drink and with whom.

The history of the church is around the table. For hundreds of years, this is where the people of Jesus met. And it’s from around tables that the gospel spread – from one table to the next. From one home to another. All over a meal.

The table is a very ordinary place and can become so routine that it gets easily overlooked as a place of life-changing community. By setting a table and sharing a meal, we provide the context for which people feel loved, where people feel heard; a place where God’s spirit can move. The practice of eating and drinking is central to the Kingdom of God; Jesus ate with the lost, Jesus ate with community, Jesus ate with God.

 

 

Summer 2022 Missional Community Calendar

Emphasis: Doing the Things Christ Does: Church Around the Table

Week of:page1image2052603872

5/1-5/7: Sermon Discussion/ Practice 1: Radically Ordinary Hospitality

5/7: Serving: Augusta Handmade Fair

5/8-5/14: No MC: Global Missions Emphasis & Mother’s Day

5/15: Practice 2: Neighboring Workshop (Sunday Morning 10:45am)

5/15-5/21: Debrief Practice 1 & Workshop

5/22-5/38: Rec+/Off

5/29-6/4: Rec+/Off: Memorial Day Weekend

6/5-6/11: Practice 3: Food as Justice

6/12-7/2: MC’s will not meet for the remainder of June

6/17: Practice 4.1 – Dinner for 10

6/24: Practice 4.2 – Dinner for 10

7/1: Practice 4.3 – Dinner for 10

7/3-7/9: No MC: July 4th Week

7/10-7/16: Practice 5: Debrief Dinner for 10

7/17-7/23: Sermon Discussion

7/24-7/30: Sermon Discussion

7/31-8/6: No MC Gathering, Practice 6: Church Lake Day on 8/6

8/7-8/13: Practice 7: Communion & Dining Room Table Christianity

8/14: Baby Dedications

8/14-8/20: Practice 7 – Part 2

8/21: Family Gathering 4pm

8/21-8/27: MC Optional Off

8/28-9/3: Rec+

Practices: (1) Radically Ordinary Hospitality; (2): Neighboring; (3): Food as Justice; (4-5): Eating & Drinking Together; (6): Celebration; (7): Communion & Dining Room Table Christianity

Dealing with our Past: Generational Blessing – Week of 3/20-3/26

BIBLE & DISCUSSION (Genesis 12:1-3)

1. Take a few minutes to make a list of some of the blessings (traditions, scripts, relational patterns, habits, rhythms, values, etc…) from your family of origin you want to celebrate and continue?

2. If you are comfortable, share 2-3.

3. God’s promise was to bless every nation on earth through Abraham’s family. Why do we think families play such a key role in God’s plan for the world? What does this say about how we do family in the church? And in this community?

PRACTICE OVERVIEW

After several weeks of working through our genograms, family patterns, and scripts we’re going to transition from the past to the present and future. We’ve talked a lot about family and will continue to do so but it is important to note that family in this context does not only mean the biological family you were born into, nor does it simply mean children. At Redemption we’re striving to invite everyone into the family of God which means we are all a part of each other’s family. We can use the space tonight to think about our families of origin, our biological family and children, our spouses, and the family of God.

This week we’ll be looking at various aspects of our life and family while prayerfully determining what things we want to continue, stop, and start. While we will be spending some time addressing the places in our stories we want to stop, the end goal is to find the stories that we want to start and continue. This is an opportunity to speak life into our own families and the families of others.

GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. If you had to summarize your family’s “blessing” in one sentence, what would you say?

2. What is the main blessing you hope to pass on to your own kids? OR How can you pass on your blessing to the next generation? Is it through a niece or nephew, a child in your community, a student you mentor, a kid from church, or some other way?

QUICK NOTES

  • Additional resources (sample genogram, digital guide and workbook, relevant reading, list of local counselors, and coping skills), can be found HERE.

Content adapted from practicingtheway.org

 

 

Exploring Our Stories Workshop Debrief – Week of 3/6-3/12

WORKSHOP DEBRIEF QUESTIONS

1. How was it considering how your own narrative scripts have shaped your life?

2. What was one of the scripts you chose to focus on during the workshop? –

3. Were you able to take a new script away from the workshop? (Believing a new script may take time).

4. How can we as a community help to speak the truth in love?

 

 

Dealing with our Past: Relational Patterns Pt 2 – Week of 2/6-2/12

DEBRIEF QUESTIONS

1. Were you able to identify a few relational patterns in your family of origin? Was it difficult to do? Why or Why not? Were you able to see how any of those patterns have affected you?

2. What do you think was helpful about identifying an attachment style?

3. If you’re able, share one thing from your life and family history that was evil, but that God has used for good. And how?

4. Did you experience any “aha” moments or breakthroughs?

5. What was your experience processing some of these things through the prayer and scripture prompts?

EXERCISES (OPTIONAL)

For each of these exercises allow yourself 20-25 minutes of dedicated time (you can use more if needed or desired). To get going with each of them, start with our abiding framework from the fall:

1. Put away your phone or any other distractions, settle into your time/place

2. “Breathing prayer”: this is meant to help us slow down and disconnect from distractions

3. “Abide”: God has given followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit. Abiding is acknowledging and tuning our own heart and mind into the reality that God is here with us in this moment.

EXERCISE ONE

• Take a few minutes to read through the work you did in Week One.

• As you review exercises 1-3 from week 1, acknowledge the truth of what you are experiencing, feeling or thinking and write them down.

• Take time to share these things (without censorship) in writing with the Father. These can be thoughts or feelings about the moments of trauma, redemption, or the Father. Be sure to make some space to listen in silence as well.

• Close this exercise by reading and meditating on Isaiah 43:16-21

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

EXERCISE 2

• Take a few minutes to read through the work you did for Week 1, Exercise 4.

• If you didn’t complete this exercise the first time around, take some time to go back and do it.

• If you completed this exercise previously, start here.

• Take a few minutes to review the list of sins you carry forward in your own life. Acknowledge the truth of what you are experiencing, feeling or thinking as you review them and write it down.

• Take time to share these things (without censorship) in writing with the Father. Be sure to make some space to listen in silence as well.

• If you haven’t already, spend some time in prayer over each item on the list. Make time to confess

these before the Father, asking God for forgiveness or asking for and receiving His grace.

• Close this exercise by reading and meditating on these two passages:

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Isaiah 61:1-3. Remember that Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning,and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

EXERCISE 3

• Take a few minutes to read through exercises 1-2 from week 2.

• As you review these exercises, acknowledge the truth of what you are experiencing, feeling or thinking and write them down. If you are able, identify which patterns elicit which feelings/thoughts.

• If you find yourself overwhelmed, use this coping skills resource as needed. Don’t hesitate to reach out to someone in your community or contact someone one this list of local therapists and counselors.

• If you are able, take time to share these things (without censorship) in writing with the Father. Be sure to make some space to listen in silence as well.

• Close this exercise by reading and meditating on Ephesians 1:3-8

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight…

QUICK NOTES

  • You can listen to the podcast again here: PODCAST
  • Additional resources (sample genogram, digital guide and workbook, relevant reading, list of local counselors, and coping skills), can be found HERE.

Content adapted from practicingtheway.org

 

 

Dealing with our Past: Relational Patterns – Week of 1/30-2/5

DEBRIEF QUESTIONS

1. What was your experience like working on your genogram?

2. Was there anything from your own personal story that you want to share or discuss?

3. What was one insight, event, or pattern from your family of origin that was surprising or new to you? OR Is there an event or pattern from your family of origin that you believe has had the greatest impact on you?

4. Did you experience any “aha” moments or breakthroughs?

5. What was your experience processing some of these things through the prayer and scripture prompts?

EXERCISE 1: RELATIONAL PATTERNS

• Pull out your Genogram Workbook from last week. Settle into a comfortable, quiet place, and put away any other distractions.

• Invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your mind and heart, and give you peace through this exercise.

• Review your genogram, then turn to pg. 5 and fill in the following relational patterns using the key provided.

◦ Separation, divorce, remarriage, abandonment, adoption, relational enmeshment, codependency, emotional unavailability, sexual relationships, living together, sexism, cutoffs, cutoffs repaired, closeness distant relationships, sexual abuse, physical abuse, or emotional abuse.

• Take a few minutes and identify and write down any relational patterns you’ve discovered. Listed below are a few examples of what to look for:

◦ Patterns of births, deaths, natural crisis

◦ Patterns of closeness and distance

◦ Patterns of emotional availability, codependency, and depth

◦ Patterns of emotional cut-offs or enmeshment

◦ Patterns of dominance or submission

• At this point be mindful of the emotions you are feeling. Invite and allow the Holy Spirit to help you identify and process these emotions. Utilize the coping skills resource as needed.

• Journal: Take a few minutes to write how doing this exercise has emotionally impacted you.

• Pray: ask God to comfort you, protect you, and continue to help you make connections between your past and present.

EXERCISE 2: ATTACHMENT

• Read through each of the listed attachment styles on page 6.

• Take a few minutes and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help lead you as you review the attachment styles listed.

• Check the box that you feel applies to and describes your relational default. (Please note these are not prescriptive. Do your best to identify the style that best fits you.)

• If you’re married or dating seriously, talk through your findings with your spouse or significant other.

• If you want to go deeper on this exercise, see a therapist or couples counselor.  Check out these additional resources for a list of local therapists and counselors.

EXERCISE 3: EVIL FOR GOOD

• Locate the third section of week 2 in your Genogram Workbook. Read and respond to the following question: What evil things in your life and family history has God used for good? And how?

• Answering and thinking through this question should foster a spirit of gratitude. Take a minute or two to thank God for his ability to heal, transform and deliver.

• Take a little time to read through the story of Joseph from the end of Genesis. Meditate on Genesis 50:19-21.

• If you want to go deeper on this exercise, see a therapist or couples counselor.  Check out these additional resources for a list of local therapists and counselors.

QUICK NOTES

  • You can listen to the podcast again here: PODCAST
  • Watch this video:
  • Be sure to highlight the prompt portions that involve prayer, journaling, etc… this is the meat of these practices and might be the easiest to ignore.
  • Additional resources (sample genogram, digital guide and workbook, relevant reading, list of local counselors, and coping skills), can be found HERE.

Content adapted from practicingtheway.org

 

 

Dealing with our Past: Genogram & Generational Sin – Week of 1/16-1/22

The goal of the Genogram Workbook is to review key events in your family history and identify generational sin, brokenness, relational patterns, and inherited values.

• Take out your Genogram Workbook. The first step is to fill out our Genograms, going back as far as we can (ideally 3-4 generations). For now, just fill in names, and we’ll add symbols next week.

• On page 2, there’s a list of questions to help you navigate the next few weeks of Practice. Don’t feel like you need to answer them all. Maybe tackle a few each week. Each week, you’ll start to have “aha” moments of revelation. When those come, write them down in a journal or your workbook, and share them with somebody in your Community.

• Once you have your genogram done, there are four exercises to do over the coming week.

Note: The following four exercises are found on pages 3 – 4 of your Genogram Workbook.

EXERCISE 1: KEY EVENTS

• Fill out the four boxes of key events:

• In “Trauma” write in any traumatic moments in your own life – the death of a parent or sibling, a divorce, growing up in poverty (or wealth), a childhood disease or accident, moving often, etc. You’re looking for key events that shaped you in ways you might not yet have realized.

• In “Redemptive Moments” write in any redemptive moments in your own life – getting saved in high school, getting into your dream college, your parents getting sober, moving to a new city or school where you discovered something you loved, a best friend, etc. You’re looking for key events that Jesus has used for good in your life.

• In the second column, do the exact same thing, but for your family going back 3-4 generations. Under “Trauma”, put things like the premature death of a grandparent, a family scandal, etc.

• Under redemptive moments, put things like an ancestor coming to follow Jesus, etc…

• Remember: you’re trying to identify key events that may have played a shaping influence on you who you are and who you have become.

EXERCISE 2: GENERATIONAL SIN

• List out any generational sin in your life and in your family going back 3-4 generations. For example, things like alcoholism, fits of rage, adultery, abuse, etc.

• If you feel safe, this can be a healthy conversation to have with a sibling, parent, or grandparent.

• When you finish your list, before you move on, ask the Father, “Are there any generational sins I’m missing here?”

• Pause for a moment and remember the death of Jesus on your behalf, to “forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1v9)

EXERCISE 3: GENERATIONAL BROKENNESS

• List out any generational brokenness in your life and in your family going back 3-4 generations.

• “Brokenness” is a much larger category that includes anything outside of what God intended in the beginning. These are not necessarily issues of morality or right and wrong. For example, things like premature death, disease, infertility, miscarriages, addiction, obesity, mental illness, eating disorders or unhealthy relationships with food, poverty, wealth,or cult practices such as Freemasonry or Scientology, etc.

• When you finish your list, before you move on, ask the Father, “Is there any generational brokenness I’m missing here?”

• Pause for a moment and remember this line from Paul’s letter to the Romans: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8v28)

EXERCISE 4: GENERATIONAL SINS AND BROKENNESS THAT I CARRY FORWARD

• Now it’s time to put it all together.

• Look over your lists of generational sin and brokenness. Write down anything that you carry forward in your own life.

• Spend some time in prayer over each item on the list. Make time to confess these before the Father, asking God for forgiveness or asking for and receiving His grace.

• Ask the Father, “Is there anything you want to say about these sins in my life” Remember, conviction is from the Holy Spirit, but shame and guilt are never from God. Silence the voices of shame and guilt in your heart and mind.

• Pause for a moment and sit in this declaration of God’s name from Exodus: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Realize that the number one description of God’s character is “compassionate.” Sit in the reality that God’s baseline emotion toward you is mercy.

• If you’re up for it, share this list with your Community or a close friend that you trust. Don’t go on this journey alone!

Listen to the podcast again here: PODCAST

Additional resources (sample genogram, digital guide and workbook, relevant reading, list of local counselors, and coping skills), can be found at www.redemptionchurchga.com/mcguides

Content adapted from practicingtheway.org

 

 

Spring 2022 MC Overview

Last Fall we intentionally built our rhythms as a church around investing in and cultivating the most crucial component of our apprenticeship to Jesus: “being with Jesus”. Together we intentionally practiced silence and solitude, abiding in Jesus, casting our cares on Jesus, and reading the Bible for transformation. As we enter the new year and transition to the Spring “semester” we don’t want to leave those practices but build upon them. So we will be making space and implementing rhythms to help us in another significant component in our apprenticeship to Jesus: becoming like Jesus.

Whether we care to admit it or not, our lives have been significantly shaped by external influences: family, friends, school, church, culture, etc…. For most of us, the greatest shaping influence on our life has been our family of origin. And no matter how healthy or unhealthy our families and childhood experiences have been, at some level every family experience involves function and dysfunction (health and unhealth). As a result, each of us has inherited ways of thinking and living from our family of origin and culture that are out of sync with the way of Jesus. Our hope for the Spring is that 1) God would be glorified as 2) The Holy Spirit uses the season to shape and form us in a way that we become more like Jesus, and 3) that we would experience greater wholeness, joy and freedom in Christ as we deal with our past with both honor and honesty.


 

 

Spring 2022 Missional Community Calendar

Emphasis: Becoming Like Jesus: Dealing with Our Past

Week of:page1image2052603872

1/2: Wreck the Halls, 4pm

1/9-1/15: MC Party & Calendar Meeting

1/16-1/22: Practice 1

1/23:  Members Meeting Banquet

1/23-1/29: Recreation +

1/30-2/5: Practice 2

2/6-2/12: Practice 3

2/13: MC Super Bowl Party

2/20-2/26: Off (Optional Rec Week)

3/5: Spring Workshop 9am-1pm, Practice 4

3/6-3/12: Discussion: Practice 4 Debrief

3/13-3/19: Recreation +

3/20-3/26: Practice 5

3/27-4/2: Recreation +

4/3-4/9: Off (Optional Rec Week)

4/10-4/16: Off (Optional Rec Week)

4/17: Easter Sunday

4/17-4/23: Recreation

4/24-4/30: Practice 6