Mars Hill

The birth of the Church in Acts called for a New way of being for Peter, who had been a devoted follower of Jewish laws. God disrupts Peter's "devotion" with a vision that sets him on a course that allows him to participate in God's mission among Gentiles like Cornelius. This Teaching shows how the Spirit works through disruption to invite us into the new. 

Acts 10:9-19

Questions to consider—

Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?

Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?

It's hard to push through and endure. Thankfully, God has opened up a new and living way, via Jesus, for us to be confident and to be empowered to persevere in drawing near to God, holding on to hope, and meeting and being together. 

Hebrews 10:19-25

Questions to consider—

Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?

Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?

Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?

In saying we are "all one in Christ," - Paul is not erasing our diversity and uniqueness - but claiming that our baptism into Christ forms an identity that is the deepest and most true thing about us. This lays the foundation for deep, personal healing and renewal, as well as the formation of a community that is more powerful than the divisions of Rome and our current culture.

Galatians 3: 26-29

Questions to consider—

Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?

Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?

This new series kicks off with a focus on the new life that is inaugurated and punctuated by the resurrection of Jesus. Paul's description of the fruit of the Spirit serves us as not simply an individual moral checklist, but a vision for what builds up and sustains a community of people who seek to follow God more faithfully.

Galatians 5:16-23

Questions to consider–

Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?

Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?

Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me?

Galatians 5:16-23

John's gospel portrays Mary's first-hand experience of the resurrection in ways that inspire fellow Christians to honestly tell the story, to simply declare what is true about God, and to boldly proclaim the ways we have seen the Lord.  

John 20:1-2, 11-18

Questions to consider—

Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?

 Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?

This prayer from Ephesians 1 is filled with thanksgiving and hope and encourages the faith community to look to who God is, what God has done, and what God has promised to do in the future. Since God has demonstrated God's faithfulness in Jesus, we can have hope.

Ephesians 1:15-23

Week 6 Prayer Practice

Questions to consider—

Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?

Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?

Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me to care about more deeply and tangibly?

Hannah's prayer is a great example of praise being fueled by intentional remembrance. Though remembering can be hard for many of us, practicing and capturing our times of remembering can be a source of more regular praise of the One who is faithful and steadfast in love.

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Questions to consider—

Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?

Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?

1 Kings 3:6-9

Bold prayers are confident, open, and plain. They call us to pray together, say God's word back to God, and expect the impossible to become possible by the Spirit. Finally, we engaged in a contemplative prayer practice using prayer beads, visio divina, and the seven last sayings of Christ.

Acts 4:24-30

Week 3 Prayer Practice

Questions to consider—

Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering?

Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn to my mind in this Gathering?

Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus?