Narrate Church

Matthew 11v20-12v14

This week Adam looks at what it might look like if we were to prune back some of our Christianity in order to refocus on Jesus. In this week's message he references Dallas Willard's quote “Character is developed by increments of fellowship with Jesus.” To what extent is there an invitation to develop a moment by moment conversational connection with Jesus? Could that also be an invitation to be with God by being with Jesus?

Question for reflection:
What might it look like for you to rethink your faith by getting back to Jesus and the Gospels?

Matthew chapter 1 through chapter 11v19  read by Nathan, Ashley, Steve, Anna, Roxanne, Nick, Shari, Troy, Abbie, Derek, Jill, Bob, Alex, JoLin, Karen, Bill, Alex, Tiffany, Jenn, Andy, Darrel, Justine, Linnea, Carol, Karin, Tiffany, Donnie, David, Jheri, Chris, Elsie, Amy, Christian,  Susie, Jeff, Dave, Sheila, Leslee, Tristan, and Sean.

Matthew 11v1-19

What if Jesus smokes what he sells (so to speak)? In Matthew 11, Adam takes a look at how Jesus responds when it seems John is having doubts. What’s the value of really taking in the implications of this story? Along with that, what’s the value of apprenticing under Jesus and thus learning how to respond to others disappointment with us?

Questions for reflection:

• Where in your life is there opportunity to receive God’s kindness toward you?
• Where in your life is there opportunity to extend God’s kindness toward those disappointed in you?

Matthew chapter 1 through chapter 10 read by Nathan, Ashley, Steve, Anna, Roxanne, Nick, Shari, Troy, Abbie, Derek, Jill, Bob, Alex, JoLin, Karen, Bill, Alex, Tiffany, Jenn, Andy, Darrel, Justine, Linnea, Carol, Karin, Tiffany, Donnie, David, Jheri, Chris, Elsie, Amy, Christian,  Susie, Jeff, Dave, Sheila, and Leslee.

Matthew 9v35-10v42

• What are the things life demands you do, but you don’t particularly enjoy? 
• What if the ideas in Matthew 10 work kind of like that, that is, important to know but not particularly invigorating or glamorous? 
• What if we struggle with this section because the version of Christianity we want to be true is too often in opposition with what Jesus intended?

Adam explores these questions and more as he looks deeper at Matthew 10.

This week, Adam discusses Matthew 9v14-34. In this section, what if Matthew is summarizing the different ways people have been responding to Jesus invitations? What does a closed (decided), amazed, or open posture look like?


Questions for reflection:

• What is the value of knowing our current posture, whether in general or on a particular issue?
• What is a situation in which we’re currently choosing between closed, amused or open?
• What would “openness” look like?
• What actions would it take?

Matthew chapter 1 through chapter 9v13 read by Nathan, Ashley, Steve, Anna, Roxanne, Nick, Shari, Troy, Abbie, Derek, Jill, Bob, Alex, JoLin, Karen, Bill, Alex, Tiffany, Jenn, Andy, Darrel, Justine, Linnea, Carol, Karin, Tiffany, Donnie, David, Jheri, Chris, Elsie, Amy, Christian, and Susie. 

This week, Adam continues the Matthew series in chapter 9 and asks, to what extent, if any, do you believe in the idea of sin? Or is sin just an archaic word utilized by pre-modern people who lacked any understanding of human psychology? What if these stories point to the idea that at times (not all the time as demonstrated by Jesus numerous healings that did not make mention of sin) Jesus sees sin and suffering as intertwined? How might forgiveness, or lack thereof, relate to this?

Here are some questions to reflect on:

1.  Who are you mad at?
2. How are you doing at exercising your call to forgive others?
3. To what extent are you aware of your need for God’s forgiveness?

As summer comes to an end, Adam reflects on the last 18 months and takes note of several aspects of the cultural moment we are in.  What if this cultural moment is only a crisis if we ignore God’s calls for renewal? 

Adam presents several questions that may be helpful:

1. How do we retain our commitment to hospitality?
2. How do we retain our commitment to serving others, especially our community?
3. What’s the value of Sunday gatherings?
4. What’s the value of following Jesus in community?
5. How do we serve students more effectively?
6. How do we lean into spiritual practices?

As we roll into September and a new year, what’s the value of taking some time to note what you’ve lost and what you’ve gained, especially as it relates to the story you're trying to live within?

This week Adam continues exploring Matthew with chapter 8v18-27. What if the answer to how Jesus wants us to believe in Him has something to do with being led to serve God and people in ways that leads us beyond our comfort zone? Why does Jesus talk about little faith so often?

A challenge this week is to put some thought into where the heat is for you? What in your imagined future brings with it fear?

How might these 3 questions help when you are afraid?
1. What are you afraid of?
2. What can you do about it? 
3. What do you need to trust God for?