Emphasis: Becoming Like Jesus: Dealing with Our Past

READING THE BIBLE FOR COMMUNAL TRANSFORMATION

BEFORE YOU START

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:

1. How did reading the Bible go for you?
2. Was it easy or difficult? 
3. What did you glean or take away?
4. 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.

1. 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.
2. 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. 
3. 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.
4. 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. 
5. Reflect #2: Have everyone read the text silently one more time and spend 3-5 minutes reflecting on the following questions: 
   1. Which words or phrases stand out to you in regard to the life or season of your community? 
   2. Is there anything we need to know, or be, or do in light of the text? 
   3. What does this mean for us? 
6. 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.

CLOSE IN PRAYER (10 MINUTES) 

 

 

PRACTICE SIX: CASTING CARES WITH A FEW OTHERS

For practice six we will be meeting together in smaller groups of 2-3 within our missional communities to share our experiences from the workshop and take part in a modified version of the practice.

PRAYER

Take a moment to open with prayer, thanking our loving Father, welcoming the Holy Spirit’s work in each of you, and giving thanks for the invitation from Christ to bear our burdens.

WORKSHOP FOLLOW-UP (20 min)

At the workshop, we walked through releasing burdens/casting cares
1. Was the practice new to you or something you had done before? If so, feel free to share.

2. How would you describe your experience with the practice this time?

3. What did you find most valuable about the practice? Feel free to take a moment to share a few of the core burdens, anxieties, or fear you “cast” upon Jesus?

4. Have you found yourself having any trouble with “picking things back up”, or are you currently experiencing the weight of any particular burden, anxiety, or fear?

SCRIPTURE & DISCUSSION (20 min)

Read Matthew 6:19-33, Matthew11:28-30, Hebrews 4:14-16
1. What do learn about who God is and what He does/has done from each of these passages?

2. What do learn about who we are and how we should live from each of these passages?

3. What value is there in reading these passages in concert with one another – particularly as you worked through the first two questions?

4. Is there anything that strikes you about Jesus’ character or personality from these verses that you may normally or subconsciously operate unaware of?

EXERCISE (20 minutes)

(Do individually and return with one another for debrief)

1. Getting Still & Quiet: Set aside your phone/watch and settle in and begin with a few minutes of intentional breathing and silence.

2. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak and bring clarity:
• to reveal to you areas of personal or relational fear/anxiety.
• to show you areas of fear/anxiety associated with the present or future.
• Take your time and wait on the Holy Spirit. • Ask the Father to reveal any areas of unbelief in your life where you don’t believe the Father will care for you.

3. Write: Jot down and list these anxieties/fears down on a piece of paper. Take a few minutes to reflect on what you have written.

4. Release your burdens: Pray and visualize yourself with the Father, and then, one by one, imagine giving (handing) each anxiety to Jesus. Take your time with this.

• This exercise should create a mental snapshot of Jesus doing exactly what He says He will do (Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25-26). By handing Jesus your anxieties you are expressing your trust in His ability to take care of you.

5. Exchanging Burdens: Fold your paper in half and write down, “I am not what I do. I am not what I have. I am not what others say of me. I am the beloved of Jesus.”

DEBRIEF (20 min)

1. What was your experience with the practice this time around? Take time to share openly and honestly with one another.

2. In what ways might you return to the practice when anxieties reappear (on a smaller scale)?

3. Take some time to share with one another how the others in this group could
• love and serve you well when you are wrestling with burdens/anxiety/fear?
• encourage you to make space and time to be with Jesus in those moments?

Intro

During our workshop, we spent time practicing giving our anxieties to Christ. Today we’re going to spend a bit of time praying, reading the Bible, practicing, debriefing the workshop, and speaking into the lives of one another.

Pray

Begin with prayer, inviting the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.

Open the Scripture

Have somebody read the following texts:

• Romans 12:2

• Psalm 56:3-4

• Matthew 11:28-30

What does Scripture say we can do with our fears and anxieties?

Practice

Spend a few minutes responding to the following prompt.

I am not ____________________________ — I am ___________________________ (Ex. “I am not the sum of my feelings or emotions — I am beloved by God”)

Debrief

1. What was your experience at the workshop, would you share something that you noticed?

2. In what ways might you return to the practice from the workshop if and when anxieties reappear?

3. Throughout the week did you do anything that reminded you of your identity in Christ?

4. How can we encourage one another as a community?

Make a Plan

Next week we’ll be practicing as DNA’s instead of a large MC gathering. Before you leave, find 1-2 other people to meet with and schedule a time to meet. A DNA guide will be posted online. 

Practice 3: Emotional Awareness

Overview

Human beings are emotional creatures. We feel, deeply at times. Sadly, American church culture can be quick to write off “feelings” or “emotional health.” But Jesus puts on display a high level of emotional awareness. For Jesus, emotions – positive or negative – are places to meet with God. The goal of practice three is to grow our awareness of our own feelings and practice processing each one with the Father.  

Prayer 

As you begin, take a few moments to pray as an MC and invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.

Debrief 10 min

Talk through the following debrief questions:

1. How have you been keeping up with your practicing silence and solitude? 
2. What did you experience in silence and solitude?
3. What was the best part? The hardest part?
4. What barriers did you experience? What would help you better navigate those?

Open to the Bible together 10 min

Have somebody read Luke 22:39-46

Talk about the following questions:

1. What did Jesus do with his deep emotions of sorrow and dread? What kind of example does that set for us who want to be with Him?
2. What was the result of Jesus recognizing his emotions and then giving them over to the Father in prayer?
3. What are some of the reasons that we, like Jesus’ apprentices in the story, have a hard time meeting God in our emotions, specifically our negative emotions?

The Explanation & Prompt 15min

A few notes before beginning:

• Notebook/something to write could be helpful this week
• You will get into groups of 2-3 for “debrief”. Go ahead and select who/where before you start the video prompt. 
• It will be helpful for people to be able to have a physical copy of the guide both for practice and the debrief questions after.

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

• Close your eyes; Take long, deep, slow breaths; Release the constant chatter in your mind. Let each thought go as quickly as it comes.

3. “Abide”: God has given followers of Jesus the Holy Spirit. Abiding is acknowledging and tuning our own hearts and mind into the reality that God is here with us in this moment. 
4. “Self-awareness”: Ask yourself a few questions: “What am I experiencing now?”; “What have I been experiencing lately?”; “What is/has been going on in my heart and mind?”. 

• What emotions rise to the surface, big or small? 
• You might feel joy, gratitude, sadness, emptiness, fatigue, worry, shame, conviction, or any number of perceived positive or negative emotions.
• Name “the good, the bad, and the ugly” of your emotional state. Don’t run away from what you’re feeling. 
• If you find this exercise to be difficult, you may find it helpful to jot down a few prompts and then finish the sentence. Here are few examples:
  • This week I was happy when …
  • I felt angry this week when …
  • I’m discouraged or disappointed about…
  • I am feeling…

5. Pray: Get it all off your chest. Give whatever you are feeling over to God – the good, the bad, and the ugly. No filter. The point here isn’t to be good, but to be honest. 

• Different emotions call for different kinds of prayer. 
• If you’re happy – celebrate! Sing! Dance! 
• If you’re grateful, tell God what for with specificity. 
• If you’re anxious, give your worry over to the Father and ask for his peace in return. 
• If you’re sitting in unanswered questions about your life or future, hold that tension before God. Tell him how it feels not to have an answer. Don’t force clarity where there is none. Just be patient before God with all that is unsolved in your heart. 

Close in a prayer of gratitude to the Father (simple version: thank Him that he is near to us)

A few things to note:

1. Emotions are not inherently “good” or “bad” but do offer clues to how we are experiencing God and the world around us.
2. Having a journal to write some of the things you are feeling can be really helpful.

The Practice 15 min

Dismiss everyone to go find a spot to be silent and “do” the practice. (The leader will set a timer once everyone has found a place). Take a notebook/pen with you. When the timer is up, go to your “smaller group”.

Work through these discussion questions in groups of 2-3 10-15 min

1. Would you say you are able to name your emotions readily? Or is it difficult for you? Why or why not?
2. Was emotional awareness a part of your upbringing? How did your family deal with emotions? How has that shaped your life today?

Close in prayer 5-10 min

Tips for the Coming Week

Continue taking time throughout your week to be in silence and notice the emotions that are rising up within. For now we are simply naming these emotions and recognizing that they are neither “good” nor “bad”. 

1. This is the type of practice that might take some time. Emotions can be hard, and naming them can be confusing. If you are having a difficult time putting a name to your emotions try using a “feelings wheel” to better define your emotions.
2. Keeping a journal can also be helpful for learning to name and understand emotions.

This week we encourage you to hang out with your Missional Community at the Arts City Festival.

Recreation week discussion questions:

• What challenges did you face in spending time abiding with Christ? Did you experience any positive outcomes from you time? 
  • If you feel comfortable, take a moment to share about your practicing silence and solitude, honestly. 
• How can we help one another continue this practice?

The ArtsCity Festival is a Mini-Arts in the Heart Festival on September 17, 18, 19, 2021. Over 80 juried Fine Artists Booths will line the center of Broad Street. Booths will be spaced to integrate social distancing. Two Stages of non-stop entertainment will include the Global Stage on the Augusta Common with cultural music and dance along with featured music. A Jazz Stage will offer Jazz, Blues and Roots performances on Broad Street. The Global Food Village on the Augusta Common will feature ten international food booths and encourage Grab ‘n’ Go Specials from Festival restaurant partners. Plenty of outdoor tables will be provided to encourage safe dining. We also have a Southern Beer Garden, Artzilla Artists painting all weekend outside the Book Tavern and a Westobou Sponsored Ferris Wheel! Advance weekend badges are now available!

FESTIVAL INCLUDES:

– Over 80 Juried Fine Artists Booths

– Global Stage on the Common and Jazz/Blues/Roots Stage

– Non-stop Concerts and Performances All Weekend

– The Wayne Hoey Band featuring International Star Wycliffe Gordon

– Westobou Sponsored Ferris Wheel

– Southern Beer Garden

– Artzilla Live Painting All Weekend

– Authentic International Cuisine from 10 Countries including Ireland, Greece, Italy, India, China, Laos, Philippines, Jamaica, Latin America, and Thailand

– Great Food from Downtown Restaurant Partners

– Public Safety Enhancements

– Great Hotel Discounts

– Weekend Badge: $10 in Advance / $15 at the Gate

– Festival App for mobile devices: Text ARTS to 55741 for App Link

Practice 2: Abiding

Overview

As a whole church, throughout the course of this Fall, we are going to make space and intentionally pursue “being with Jesus” – both together and individually. Our first step in this direction was to familiarize ourselves with the practice of “Silence & Solitude”. As we continue to build upon the practice of spending time in silence we are going to add small pieces to our time in silence. This week we will be moving from simply “stilling” our hearts to beginning to be with Jesus. 

Our goal for today is to build upon last week’s practice of “Silence & Solitude”, continue to practice together, and make plans for how we will implement it personally this week.

Prayer 

After you debrief, take a few moments to pray as an MC and invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.

Debrief 10 min

Talk through the following debrief questions:

1. How did last week go? What did you experience in silence and solitude?
2. What was the best part? The hardest part?
3. What barriers did you experience? What would help you better navigate those?

Open to the Bible together 10 min

Have somebody read John 14:8-10 and another person read John 15:4-11. Talk about the following questions:

1. How do you see the connection between silence and solitude and abiding in Christ?
2. Where do you see the role of abiding in Jesus’ ministry?
3. How did the disciples abide in Christ? How can we?

The Explanation & Prompt  5-10 min

Here’s the practice for this evening and the upcoming week. It is going to look very similar to the previous practice:

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

• For most people, sitting with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, legs on the floor is a good start. 

2. Begin with a “breathing prayer” (this is just a fancy term for ↓)

• Close your eyes.
• Take long, deep, slow breaths (if you want, count 4 seconds in, 4 seconds wait, 4 seconds out, repeat).
  Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth.
• Start to pay attention to your breathing. Just “watch” your breath go in and out.
• Release the constant chatter in your mind. Let each thought go as quickly as it comes, and just focus on your breathing.
• Your mind will seize this opportunity to run wild with thoughts, feelings, memories, to do’s, and distractions. That’s okay. Don’t judge yourself, feel bad, give up, or worry. When you notice your mind start to wander, just recenter with a quick prayer, like, “Father, you are here with me.”  and come back to your breathing.

3. Whether we believe or experience it, God is omniscient/present with us. Welcome his love, joy, and peace from the Holy Spirit.

• The main goal here is to sit in and grow an awareness of the presence of God. Just as Jesus retreated and quieted himself to be with the father, we too want to make space to get quiet and be with Jesus.

4. Close in a prayer of gratitude to the Father (simple version: thank Him that he is near to us)

A few things to note:

1. You can’t “succeed” or “fail” at this practice. All you can do is show up. Be patient. Resist the urge to say, “I’m bad at this” or “This isn’t for me.” Don’t judge yourself, especially if you’re an overachiever type.
2. If sitting still feels like death, you might want to try this while doing a stretching exercise or going on a walk somewhere quiet and distraction free (like a park or short hike). 

The Practice 7 min

Dismiss everyone to go find a spot to be silent and “do” the practice. (The leader will set a timer once everyone has found a place). Feel free to take a notebook/pen with you. When the timer is up, return to the group.

Work through these discussion questions 10-15 min

1. How did it go?
2. What was the best part? The hardest part?
3. What barriers do you think you will face in practicing silence at least 5-7 minutes 3 times this week?
4. What is your deepest fear and greatest hope for this coming week’s practice?

Close in prayer 5-10 min

Tips for the Coming Week

1. Identify a time/place that works well for you

• Time: For most people, first thing in the morning works best. You’re rested, fresh, and the day is young. For others, a more optimal time slot is when kids are napping in the late morning, or on a lunch break, after work, or before you go to bed. Feel free to experiment until you find the right fit.
• Place: Find a place that is quiet and as distraction free as possible: A comfortable chair or a park are also a good bet.
• For most people, sitting with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, legs on the floor is a good start. Others do better lying on their back in a relaxed position.
• Some of you may prefer to do this exercise while walking or doing something simple with your hands like drawing.

2. Set a modest goal

• Beginners: It’s better to start small and work your way up. We recommend you start with 5-10 minutes, 3-5 days a week.
• Intermediate: If you already practice silence and solitude a few times a week, consider upping it to every day.

Practice 2 was adapted for use by Redemption Church from Practicingtheway.org

Practice 1: The Basics

Overview

Whether you are a graphic designer, a pastor, a small business owner, a parent of young children, retired, or unemployed, one of the significant challenges we face in our apprenticeship (discipleship) to Jesus is our difficulty making space to be with Jesus. 

As a whole church, throughout the course of this Fall, we are going to make space and intentionally pursue “being with Jesus” – both together and individually. Our first step in this direction will be to familiarize ourselves with the practice of “Silence & Solitude”. Not because it’s magical, but because most of us desperately need to create a space to get in touch with our own hearts and minds, and more importantly Jesus. The remaining Fall practices will build on the foundation of “Silence & Solitude”, but are geared to be more active/interactive (no need for extroverts to panic).

Our goal for today is to introduce “Silence & Solitude”, actually practice it (at least to some measure… the solitude part is debatable), and make plans for how we will implement it personally this week.

Note before you start: Be patient with yourself and God, and enjoy the journey.

Prayer 5 min

As you begin, take a few moments to pray as an MC and invite the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.

Debrief 10 min

Talk through the following debrief questions:

1. What did you think of the sermon this week?
2. Is silence and solitude a regular part of your discipleship to Jesus? If yes, what does that look like in your life rhythm? If no, why not? (Note: The point of this question is honest conversation, not guilt or shame. Work hard to create a safe place in your community for people at every stage.)
3. How does the idea of silence and solitude make you feel? Excited? Scared? Too busy?

Open to the Bible together 10 min

Have somebody read Luke 4:42 and another person read Luke 5:15-16. Work through following questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus would regularly slip away to “lonely places”?
2. Where do you see the role of silence and solitude played out in Jesus’ emotional health and spiritual life?
3. What challenges would Jesus have faced to carve out time to be alone with himself and God? Do you face any similar challenges?

The Explanation & Prompt  5-10 min

Here’s the practice for this evening and the upcoming week.

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

• For most people, sitting with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, legs on the floor is a good start. 

2. Begin with a “breathing prayer” (this is just a fancy term for ↓)

• Close your eyes and take long, deep, slow breaths (if you want, count 4 seconds in, 4 seconds wait, 4 seconds out, repeat). Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth.
• Start to pay attention to your breathing. 
• Release the constant chatter in your mind. Let each thought go as quickly as it comes, and just focus on your breathing.
• Your mind will seize this opportunity to run wild with thoughts, feelings, memories, to do’s, and distractions. That’s okay. Don’t judge yourself, feel bad, give up, or worry. When you notice your mind start to wander, just recenter with a quick prayer, like, “Father, you are here with me.”  and come back to your breathing.
• The main goal this week is to practice “stilling” our heart and mind. 
• In the beginning, just 3-5 minutes of this is a huge win, and 10 minutes is a home run.

3. Close in a prayer of gratitude to the Father (simple version: thank Him that he is near to us)

A few things to note:

1. You can’t “succeed” or “fail” at this practice. All you can do is show up. Be patient. Resist the urge to say, “I’m bad at this” or “This isn’t for me.” Don’t judge yourself, especially if you’re an overachiever type.
2. If sitting still feels like death, you might want to try this while doing a stretching exercise or going on a walk somewhere quiet and distraction free (like a park or short hike). 

The Practice 5 min

Dismiss everyone to go find a spot to be silent and “do” the practice. (The leader will set a timer once everyone has found a place). Feel free to take a notebook/pen with you. When the timer is up, return to the group.

Work through these discussion questions as a group 10-15 min

1. How did it go?
2. What was the best part? The hardest part?
3. When will you practice this week? What barriers do you think you will face in practicing silence at least 5 minutes 3 times this week? How will you navigate those?
4. What is your deepest fear and greatest hope for this coming week’s practice?

Close in prayer 5-10 min

Tips for the Coming Week

1. Identify a time/place that works well for you

• Time: For many people, first thing in the morning works best. You’re rested, fresh, and the day is young. For others, a more optimal time slot is when kids are napping in the late morning, or on a lunch break, after work, or before you go to bed. Feel free to experiment until you find the right fit.
• Place: Find a place that is quiet and as distraction free as possible: a comfortable chair or a park are also a good bet.
• For most sitting with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, legs on the floor is a good start. Others do better lying on their back in a relaxed position.
• Some may prefer to do this exercise while walking or doing something simple with your hands like drawing or knitting. 

2. Set a modest goal

• Beginners: It’s better to start small and work your way up. We recommend you start with 5-10 minutes, 3-5 days a week.
• Intermediate: If you already practice silence and solitude a few times a week, consider upping it to every day.