Crossroads Church

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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Week 01: A Jesus-centered life is a peace-centered life.

Rule #1 Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving mercy, doing justice and living sacrificially Rule #2 Daily listen to wisdom: work hard for knowledge then use it to rewrite the Five Unacceptable Truths Rule #3 Practice mindfulness: be fully present with God in every moment

What’s the Issue Anyway?

When built on human love and not ___________ love, the church gathering becomes self- centered and will inflict every ___________ it is meant to heal.

What Wisdom does I Thessalonians 4:14-21 offer us regarding Divine Love in Community?

Divine Love ___________ ___________ our weakness and wounds. (14)

Divine Love creates a __________ space. (15)

Divine Love offers __________ in all circumstances. (16-18)

Divine Love ______________ our unjust actions and our distortions of God. (19-21)

Divine Love shapes us for __________ works. (22)

The Way of Peace Commitment Four

___________ Together: Weekly join with others to learn, celebrate and experience divine love.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Prioritize a weekly gathering with others to _____________ ______________ as a peacemaker.

Join the peacemaking movement and become a _____________ of Crossroads Church.

Participate in Church-Wide Spiritual Journeys: Advent, __________, Special Focuses.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Christian community that is centered on divine love reminds us we are not ___________.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Sign me up for the Lenten Journey
2. I would like more information about Baptism with Crossroads
3. I would like information about Membership with Crossroads
4. Send me the link for the “Find Your Fit” information

Thought provoking questions:

1. Have you ever personally had a difficult experience with church and decided to stop attending? Do you know anyone who has decided to stop attending church? What circumstances played a role in these decisions?
2. Which of the five marks of divine love in a Christian community mean the most to you in your journey right now?
3. If you are gathering weekly with other people following the peacemaking path of Jesus, why? What is important to you about that gathering? If not, what, if anything, would you want to see in a weekly gathering that would make it worth your while?
4. What would make a weekly gathering relevant and impactful to you in this season of your life?
5. Why is it important to not feel alone?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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A Quick Review of the Peacemaking Rule of Life

Week 01: A Jesus-centered life is a peace-centered life.

Rule #1 Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving mercy, doing justice and living sacrificially

Rule #2 Daily listen to Wisdom: work hard for knowledge then use it to rewrite the Five Unacceptable Truths

What’s the Issue Anyway?

What do you ________ when you hear the word ‘prayer’? Some of us feel _________________.

Some of us feel _________________.

Some of us feel _________________.

I feel _________________.

Our understanding of the _________________ of prayer can shape our understanding of the purpose of ________ in our lives.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

Jesus prayed that we would be ________ with God. (John 17:21)

Jesus was the perfect example of ____________. (John 14:10)

Prayer is _________________ my mind to my life in Christ (oneness). (1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Colossians 3:3)

Prayer is _________________ mindfulness of our oneness with God and all that is in God.

The Way of Peace Rule #3

Practice _________________: be fully present with God in every moment.

How can I Practice Mindfulness in my every day, normal life?

Treat no moment ________ _________________ than any other moment. Mindfulness sees the moment without _________________.

Carry a mindfulness ____________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Mindfulness brings awareness to our oneness which grows _________________ in us.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Grow in my daily practice of mindfulness.
2. Spend a few minutes each day dedicated to quiet reflection and attentiveness to what I am thinking and feeling.
3. Create a reminder that is with me and helps me to be mindful of God’s presence throughout the day.

Thought provoking questions:

1. What positive experiences have you had with prayer? Have you had any negative experiences with prayer?
2. Why do you think oneness was such an important reality for Jesus to teach his disciples?
3. What beliefs do you think Jesus was trying to correct by teaching oneness?
4. Where/when do you feel oneness with God most strongly? Where do you have the hardest time feeling oneness with God?
5. One way we can begin to practice mindfulness is to bring the same focus to every moment. What are a few “mindless” activities that you could be more attentive to while performing?
6. Have you ever experienced the power of someone acting with compassion towards you?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

We focus on ______________________ interests.

We focus on ______________________ interests.

We focus on ______________________ interests.

Peace is broken when our vision _______________ on one interest area over the other.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us in Balancing multiple interests?

The story of Solomon established wisdom as God’s highest _______________ for Israel’s leadership. (1 Kgs 3:11-12)

_____________ was the fullness of Isaiah’s vision for Israel’s leadership. (Isaiah 11:1-5)

The Spirit of Wisdom is a divine __________ and _____________ for anyone willing to listen. (John 14:15-17, 26)

Way of Peace Commitment Number Two

Listen to _______________: Daily work hard for knowledge then ________ _______ to rewrite the Five Unacceptable Truths

How can I Listen to wisdom in my everyday, normal life?

Be _______________

Develop a love of _______________

Get _______________

Exercise good _______________

Maintain a healthy ___________________

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Wisdom produces a balanced vision for _______ story, ________ story and ________ story.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Consider if my actions reveal a vision too focused on my own interests, the interest of others or organizational interests.
2. Choose one Unacceptable Truth and intentionally become more knowledgeable.
3. Stay spiritually full by daily engaging with spiritual topics through scripture reading, podcasts or spiritual writings focused on following Jesus.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. What are some common ways people experience the tension between interpersonal, intrapersonal and extrapersonal interests?
2. Read 2 Kings 3:1-15. What do you find interesting and insightful about this passage as it relates to wisdom? Why do you think this passage became so important to the people of Israel?
3. What knowledge do you have that you could use for the common good?
4. Which of the five character strengths that grow wisdom do you feel are your strongest? Which do you feel might be your weakest?
5. Which of the 5 Unacceptable Truths do you feel you have the greatest perspective on? Which do you feel you need to grow the most in? Which one are you most curious about?
6. Why is balance so important as it relates to wisdom and our conflicting interests?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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Week 01:

A Jesus-centered life is a peace-centered life

The Way of Peace Prayer:

Jesus, I choose to follow your Way of Peace. Lead me to one person that I can love, give hope and bring your peace to today.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Our daily CHOICES ripple out further than we can imagine, creating life and death in this world.

What Wisdom does Jesus in Matthew‘s Gospel offer us?

Following Jesus is a daily choice to live SACRIFICIALLY. (Matthew 16:24) Matthew 7:13-14

Jesus is talking about choices that either PROMOTE or DESTROY the common good. Jesus believed life to the fullest was found in taking up his CAUSE. (Matthew 16:25)

Way of Peace Commitment One

Daily choose to follow Jesus: walk the narrow path of loving MERCY, doing JUSTICE and living SACRIFICIALLY.

Two Questions to help me live this in my everyday, normal life

Who needs mercy? Where can I sow seeds of GRACE and FORGIVENESS today? What SACRIFICE can I make today to create a more JUST world?

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." –MLK

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The COMMON GOOD flourishes when we daily choose to love mercy, do justice and live sacrificially.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Extend grace and forgiveness to someone I have been unmerciful towards.
2. Make a sacrifice that will create a more just world.
3. Memorize The Way of Peace prayer.

Thought provoking questions for Reflection and Discussion:

1. Think of a choice you made that came with a consequence (good or bad). Is there something you wish you would have known then that you know now that would have affected your decision?
2. When Jesus uses the words life and death, these are metaphors that go beyond physical life and physical death. What words would you use to describe a way of life that is truly living?
3. Have you ever been the recipient of mercy? Describe the circumstances and emotions you felt during that time.
4. Are you a person who finds it difficult to forgive? Do you find it difficult to set boundaries with people? In either case, what could you do to grow in being more forgiving or setting boundaries in forgiveness?
5. What does the common good mean to you? What do you think happens in a work environment when the common good is flourishing? How about in a home?

What does it practically mean to follow the peacemaking path of Jesus? In The Way of Peace, learn about the concept of a rule of life and discover flexible and achievable ways to walk this peacemaking path.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

What is your life CENTERED on?

Some of us center our life on MONEY.

Some of us center our life on FAMILY.

Some of us center our life on RELIGION.

The center point has a GRAVITATIONAL PULL to everything in its orbit.

What Wisdom does Jesus offer us on the Gravitational Center of our lives?

Matthew 6:31-34

Jesus believed the center should be a desire for GOD’S VISION for the world. (31-32) Jesus knew anything else in the center leads to WORRY and ANXIETY. (33-34)

Jesus knew that God’s vision was PEACE on earth. (Matthew 5:9)

Don’t Miss This!

A Jesus-centered life is a PEACE-centered life. (John 14:1, John 14:27, John 16:33)

How can I live an everyday, normal Peace-Centered life?

Follow a RULE of LIFE called the Way of Peace CHOOSE Love, Forgiveness and Inclusion LEARN from Wisdom

PRACTICE Mindfulness

GATHER Together GIVE Hope

GO Humbly

REST Intentionally

MEMORIZE the Way of Peace Prayer

Jesus, I choose to follow your way of peace. Lead me to ONE person that I can love, give hope and bring your peace to TODAY.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

ANXIETY, FEAR and INJUSTICE decrease when we live a peace-centered life.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Commit to participating in the next 7 weeks online or in person.
2. Memorize the Way of Peace Prayer and start each day with it during the next 7 weeks.
3. Participate in the Peace is Worth It Giving Season

Thought-provoking questions:

1. What are some things that you have seen people center their lives on?
2. When you think about the “reign of God” or “kingdom of God” that Jesus talks about, what comes to mind? How would you describe it?
3. What does faith in Jesus mean to you right now? Has it meant something different in the past? What do you think Jesus meant in John 14:1 when he asked his disciples to have faith in him?
4. If we put the work of peace in the center of our lives, what would be some questions that we could ask ourselves when making everyday decisions around money, friendships, physical health, voting, etc?
5. What emotions does the idea of a “rule of life” bring to your body? Do you get anxious or overwhelmed? Do you feel excited?
6. Why is it important to say that fear, anxiety and injustice decrease and not disappear in a peace-centered life?

This Christmas season, Crossroads Church will reflect on the opening line of the famous Christmas Carol in the teaching series What Child Is This. Explore how the birth of a Jewish peasant over 2000 years ago lights our darkness and guides our feet on the path to peace.

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Anchor Verse: In the heartfelt Mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those sitting in darkness, in the shadow of death, to guide our feet to the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Week 01: This Child Lights the Path to Peace in three key relationships: God, Others and Ourselves.

Week 02: Jesus lights a path to peace with God by ending sin’s power over our minds.

What’s the Issue Anyway?

Currently in our world there are more than ______ armed conflicts.

We live in a world that believes the path to peace is ______________, __________, and ______________.

What Wisdom does Scripture offer us?

Luke 1:26-36

Jesus was the ________________ of Isaiah’s deepest longing.

Isaiah 9:5-6 and Isaiah 11:1-9

Isaiah longed for a king whose heart ________________ ______________ with God’s heart.

John 18:33-37

The Kingdom of Jesus is not built on the lies of empire: __________ and ______________.

Don’t Miss This!

This child lights a path to peace with others by revealing the truth of the Kingdom of _____________ and the lies of the kingdoms of this ___________.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Choose between ________ paths of peace in your everyday, normal life.

God is One and for ________.

God is sovereign to any group _______________ or personal _________________.

God is available as __________ __________ and not through sacrificing another.

God __________ no victims and _____________ no victims.

Promote policies, leaders and actions that align with __________’ path to Peace on Earth.

Keep reminding yourself that Jesus’ path to peace never leads to ______________and ________.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Imagine the _______________ available for ending disease, eliminating poverty, exploring the universe, rehabilitating the prisoner, and healing the sick in a world where violence and killing are unacceptable under any circumstances.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Choose the peacemaking path of Jesus over the peacemaking path of this world.
2. Invite a friend to Christmas Eve Service.
3. Gather some friends to read and discuss “Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount” by Richard Rohr.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. How has your life intersected with war? Do you have families serving in the military? Have you served? Do you know people who have experienced the pain of war firsthand?
2. What are some of the ways that Isaiah describes the ideal king in chapters 9 and 11?
3. Can you think of any political leaders that reflect the longings of Isaiah?
4. Think of and discuss a few ways that the values of the kingdom of heaven (reign of God) clash with the current values of the kingdoms of this world. What is the role of the follower of Jesus and the church in this clash of values?
5. What does it mean to believe that God is one and for all?
6. What does it mean to believe that God is sovereign to all group ownership or personal manipulation?
7. The United States spends 801 billion dollars on the defense budget, which is more than China, India, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea combined. If you woke up tomorrow in a world without war, what would you like to see those funds applied to?

This Christmas season, Crossroads Church will reflect on the opening line of the famous Christmas Carol in the teaching series What Child Is This. Explore how the birth of a Jewish peasant over 2000 years ago lights our darkness and guides our feet on the path to peace.

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In the heartfelt Mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will visit us, to shine on those sitting in darkness, in the shadow of death, to guide our feet to the way of peace. Luke 1:78-79

Week 01: This Child Lights the Path to PEACE

What’s the Issue Anyway?

What do you think of when you hear the word SIN?

Some of us have been told that sin SEPARATES us from God.

Some of us have been told that we DESERVE eternal fire because of sin.

Some of us have been manipulated, shamed, and TRAUMATIZED by the word sin.

The Tension

Our understanding of sin SHAPES our understanding of God, others and ourselves.

What Wisdom does Matthew 1:18-21 offer us about Jesus, Sin and God?

For Matthew, Jesus is both Son of God and Son of David at BIRTH. Who are his PEOPLE?

What is SIN?

Sin is a DESTRUCTIVE and DECEIVING force.

Sin is an INHERITED and UNIVERSAL experience. Sin results in WOUNDEDNESS.

Sin is a bigger problem for us than GOD.

How will he SAVE them?

Jesus saved his people from their sin by teaching and modeling RADICAL love

and forgiveness.

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Jesus lights a path to peace with God by ending sin’s power over our MINDS.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Acknowledge your participation in the WOUNDING.

Don’t let your wounds separate you from the HEALER.

Participation in the BODY of CHRIST reminds us that sin cannot separate us from God.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

Freedom from sin’s power and deception produces a BOLDNESS to love God and others. 

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Live a life of confession and honesty about my wounds and the wounds I cause, knowing that I am perfectly loved by God.
2. Invite friends and family to one of the Candlelight services and share on my social media networks.
3. Jump into the Honest Advent journey.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. How does your understanding of sin shape your view of God? Do you think that sin separates us from God? Do you think that sin separates us from others?
2. Matthew believes the ultimate purpose of Jesus was to save his people from their sins. How has this been explained to you in the past? Does anything in those explanations no longer resonate with you?
3. What metaphors for salvation resonate with you and your spiritual journey?
4. Liberation from bondage - Exodus
5. Return from Exile – Babylonian
6. Light in the Darkness and Sight to the Blind
7. Life to the Dead
8. Food and Drink
9. Saved from Sin
10. In your own words describe the lie that disrupts our peace with God and way that Jesus’ life shines a light on the path that creates peace with God.
11. What does confession look like in your normal life? How do you reflect on your wounds and wounding?
12. Who do you talk with about the pain you carry and are tempted to transmit back into the world rather than have it transformed by grace?
13. Can you think of a person in your life who lives with a boldness to love God and love others, free from the power of sin’s lie of separation? What stands out to you about them?

This Christmas season, Crossroads Church will reflect on the opening line of the famous Christmas Carol in the teaching series What Child is This? Explore how the birth of a Jewish peasant over 2000 years ago lights our darkness and guides our feet on the path to peace. 

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

For some, Jesus is a path to wealth and health NOW and/or LATER.

For some, Jesus is an icon of FREEDOM.

For some, Jesus is an icon of OPPRESSION.

Jesus’ birth has brought HEALING and PEACE to some but PAIN and VIOLENCE to others.

What Wisdom does Zachariah’s Song in Luke 1:67-74 and 78-79 offer us?

The earliest followers believed that Jesus was the VISITATION of God. The earliest followers believed that Jesus was the MERCY of God.

The earliest followers believed that Jesus was the RESCUE of God.

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The earliest followers of Jesus believed that he was the PATH to PEACE.

Three big questions to unpack this Advent Season

How does Jesus light the path to peace with GOD? How does Jesus light the path to peace with OTHERS? How does Jesus light the path to peace with MYSELF?

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The more we walk the path of peace, the more we participate in our own HEALING.

The more we participate in our own healing, the more we participate in the healing of OTHERS.

What is God inviting you into today?

1. Participate in the Honest Advent Journey
2. Invite family and friends to a Christmas Eve Service
3. Read Luke 1-2 this week
4. Participate in the Peace Is Worth It 2023 Vision Acceleration     

Thought-provoking questions:

1. Think of different people in your life (family, friends, coworkers). What are some of the different ways these people view Jesus?
2. Zachariah’s song speaks to the pain of the people, particularly their fear in worshipping their God amidst the hatred they experience from Rome. What are some fears that we experience today? How would you rewrite this poem for the 21st century?
3. Zachariah’s song culminates with a light that shines on those sitting in the shadow of death and darkness. This light illuminates a path out of death and into peace. If you are following Jesus, how have you experienced this in your own life?
4. Of the three paths to peace that we will be talking about this advent season, which one strikes you as the most relevant for your life right now? Why is that?
5. Why do you think participation is so important as it relates to peace on Earth? Why not just sit back and let God take care of everything?

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus’ path to greatness.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

We are told the path to greatness comes through what we OWN.

We are told the path to greatness comes through the TITLES we earn.

Greatness built on credentials and ownership perpetuates DIVISION and ends with DEATH.

What Wisdom does Paul offer us in Philippians 2:1-11?

Paul believed his suffering and sacrifice was worth it under ONE CONDITION.

Paul believed that SELFISH ambition would destroy the work of God.

God completely changed Paul’s definition of SUCCESS.

The MIND of CHRIST is a radical commitment to humbly serve and obey the demands of love. Jesus became the center of the winner’s circle by LOSING everything.

Jesus taught his followers this kenosis and exaltation process as “LOSING” and “FINDING” life.

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In Christ, the winners circle is filled with TOTAL LOSERS.

If we are only living for that which ends with death, are we not DEAD already?

Jesus’s path to true greatness, true freedom, true influence is KENOSIS, the mind of Christ.

How can I live this in my everyday, normal life?

Empty yourself of your OWNERSHIP rights. Empty yourself of your CREDENTIAL rights.

How does this make me a better person and the world a better place?

The more we lay down our lives for sake of loving others, the more God will lift us up for the sake of PEACE on Earth.

        What is God inviting you into today?

1. I will take a simple step of serving my community by volunteering to ring the bell for the Salvation Army this holiday season.
2. Start each day with an intentional prayer of self-emptying.
3. Surrender all that I am to God’s love for me and this world.

Thought-provoking questions:

1. How does culture define greatness in terms of ownership? What things might someone our culture defines as a winner own? How about titles?
2. What things do you own or titles do you hold that people would look at and associate with success, winning or greatness?
3. Have you ever seen someone use those titles and things to serve others? Have you ever seen someone use those titles and things to take advantage of others?
4. Paul uses this very interesting word that is translated as “Empty Conceit” or “Vain Glory” in Philippians 2:3. The idea behind this unique word is that we can live in a façade of greatness. What do you think is Paul’s answer to combatting this temptation to live in empty conceit?
5. Paul uses a word for the “self-emptying” action of Christ that is linguistically related to the word used for “empty conceit.” Do you think Paul is using a word play here? To what end?
6. Jesus offers an unlikely path by our world’s standards to greatness: Kenosis or self- emptying. How would you describe that in your own words?
7. What ownership rights could you empty yourself of to be more available to serve the demands of love in this world? Has anyone ever loved you by using their stuff in a positive way in your life? What about credentialing rights? What title(s) do you hold that the world might say frees you from the demands of love and serving?
8. To where would you like to see God elevate you so that you might be an agent of greater peace on earth?

In The Winners Circle, explore the power of ambition and modeling, turn freedom on its head and ultimately discover Jesus’ path to greatness.

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What’s the Issue Anyway?

Freedom is a BIG DEAL in our COUNTRY.

The fantasy of freedom is that if I could just have more of THAT, I could be truly free. Freedom is a BIG DEAL in our RELIGION.

Definitions of Freedom:

Freedom is doing WHATEVER I want to do, WHENEVER I want to do it, WITH WHOMEVER I want to do it.

Freedom is doing what I was CREATED to do and doing that with EVERYTHING I have.

What Wisdom does the Bible offer us regarding freedom?

Freedom is a BIG DEAL in the OLD TESTAMENT story. Freedom Charter = 10 COMMANDMENTS

Freedom is a BIG DEAL to JESUS.

Freedom Charter = THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT (Matthew 5-7)

Freedom is a BIG DEAL to PAUL.

Paul uses freedom 28X. The rest of the New Testament, 8X.

Three Necessary Qualities of Freedom (GALATIANS 5:1-18)

1. Freedom is an INHERENT GIFT that naturally flows from the nature of God as Father, Son and Spirit. (Gal 5:1)
2. Freedom is a SKILL to be developed. (Gal 5:1-2)
3. What’s wrong with a rule-keeping system as the basis for our lives?
4. Rules set up systems of COMPARISON which lead to insider/outsider VALUE JUDGMENTS.
5. Rule enforcement seldom leads to deeper RELATIONSHIPS.
6. Rule keeping systems leave no room for GRACE.
7. Rule keeping systems will eventually CRUSH US.
8. Freedom is always RISKY and cannot be DOMESTICATED. (Gal 5:13)

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The purest expression of freedom is SERVING OTHERS in love.

“Freedom is not so much liberty of choice, but rather the disciplining of desire so as to make the achievement of the good first possible and then effortless.” –Bishop Robert Barron

What is God inviting us into today?

The freedom to get lost in the moment by...

Serving our families—again and again, higher and higher

Serving our friends—again and again, higher and higher

Serving our work colleagues—again and again, higher and higher Serving our church—again and again, higher and higher

Serving our enemies—again and again, higher and higher

Thought-provoking questions:

1. Tell about a time when you got lost in the moment.
2. What are some of the most popular definitions of freedom circulating in our community and country? What is the best definition of freedom that you know of?
3. Why is the concept of freedom so important to us?
4. What is one of your best freedoms? How is it both a gift and a skill to be developed?
5. Paul uses the word freedom 28 times in his New Testament writings, usually in contrast to religious rule keeping systems. Why is Paul so hard on rule keeping and so high on freedom?
6. Why is serving one another in love the purest act of freedom a human being can do?
7. Tell about an experience you’ve had serving someone in love where you got lost in the moment (and wanted to do it again and again, higher and higher).