SCRIPTURE: John 14:5-12, Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:18-25

The principle that “all truth is God’s truth” is derived from the 4th century writings of St. Augustine and has long been used to advocate for reconciliation in the relationship between faith and science. But what does this principle mean, where does it find root in Scripture, and how does it impact the work or mission of the church? In the broadest context, Augustine is echoing the author of Psalm 19, who says that all of creation bears the mark of its creator, and by knowing the natural world, we can know God more clearly. But truth isn’t only a way of describing who God is; it is also something essentially relational. In John 14, Jesus says that he is the “way, the truth, and the life,” and “no one comes to the father” except through him. This means that truth is something we know with our hearts as well as our minds: it is something that draws us in and has the power to transform who we are. When we set out to “seek truth” in the world, we need to do so not as explorers but as pilgrims, looking for the threads that tie our world into something coherent, whole, and ultimately testifying to the loving character of God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. This week’s message continues a theme from Week 1 about accepting reconciliation with God/God’s plan. What do you think about this concept? How is it challenging you?

2. What do you think about the idea that “all truth is God’s truth”?

3. On Sunday, Kenny said that “seeking Truth” means “believing in the power of a bigger picture.” What did you think of this idea? What questions do you have about it? 

4. In Psalm 19:1-6, David uses the sun to remind himself/remind us of certain truths about God. Read the passage together and talk it through: what can we learn about God from the sun?

5. In the Romans 1 passage, Paul agrees with the psalmist that the natural world testifies about God...but he also says that we tend to ignore the natural world, choosing instead to worship gods “made in our own image.” What do you think of this passage? 

6. Kenny said on Sunday that when we forget the bigger picture, we tend to see everything as a fight: we think we have to look out for ourselves, since no one else will. Have you felt this way before? What happened? How could “remembering the bigger picture” have helped?

7. Jesus tells us that knowing God isn’t about having certain information, it’s about living in relationship with him. How can you pursue a more intimate and full relationship with God?

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Colossians 1:19-27, Luke 17:11-19

In his letters to the early church, the apostle Paul repeatedly tells followers of Jesus that the ministry of reconciliation is meant to transform both the people of the church and the world in which we live. He emphasizes that the work has been done: with his death on the cross, Jesus’s life has paid for the sins of all mankind. But do our friends and neighbors--and do we--really know that this has happened? Paul says that we, as Christians, are “Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” That appeal is an invitation to receive the gift that has already been paid for and is even now being offered: a life with our God, free from the bondage of sin. This week, we want to explore what it means to accept that gift ourselves and live lives that help others believe in the no-strings-attached generosity of Jesus.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. What have your experiences with “reconciliation” been like in the past? Have you ever had to pursue formal reconciliation processes before? What makes reconciliation so difficult sometimes?

2. Kenny said on Sunday that reconciliation means wholly returning to a place you have been before. Did that definition make sense? What are the implications of this when we consider reconciliation with God? 

3. Paul writes that reconciliation with God is made possible because of Jesus’s death on the cross. Have you ever thought through this process? What does Paul mean? 

4. Christians are called to be “ambassadors of reconciliation” in our world. What does that mean to you? 

5. Where is there a need for reconciliation in our world? In our lives? 

6. The challenge for this week is to “accept that you are God’s beloved.” What does this mean? What makes this difficult? What can we do to try it this week? 

SCRIPTURE (from the Revised Common Lectionary): Psalm 80; Romans 1:1-7; Isaiah 7:10-16

The prophetic writings of the Old Testament, and even Jesus himself, make it clear that death will be a part of the Messiah’s story. This can feel paradoxical at best or even cruel at worst: why does God allow his son to suffer? But the most important part of what the Messiah is here to accomplish isn’t just the forgiveness of sins, which is something Jesus accomplishes on the cross, it is the work of real restoration. Jesus’s resurrection from the dead proves that even things that seem utterly broken can be mended by God. The Messiah needs to show us a way forward, too...and by defeating death, Jesus gives us real reason to hope that the Kingdom of God is coming, and a day will come when all things are restored to God’s original intent for them.

SCRIPTURE (from the Revised Common Lectionary): Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:46-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Jesus’s birth makes real joy possible because Jesus’s arrival means the Kingdom of God is here. The effect of this for us, Isaiah teaches, is like the arrival of rain on parched desert ground. Oftentimes, we allow the realities of our shortcomings to lead us into places of shame or despair...but the forgiveness Jesus offers is not something he promises in some distant future; it is something that is available to us right now. This season, we want to celebrate the arrival of a God not only of justice and mercy, but of joy.

SCRIPTURE (from the Revised Common Lectionary): Romans 15:4-13; Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72; Matthew 3:1-12

In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes that hope is the product of steadfast belief. He tells the Gentiles of the city that all of the Law and all of the writings of the Old Testament prophets point forward to the arrival of Jesus, and by believing in him, we are connected to that story and given the gift of real hope. This leads us to two important responsibilities in the Advent season and beyond: first, we need to do the work of getting to know Jesus by exploring just who the Law and the prophets say he should be. By doing this, we are strengthening our beliefs about who Jesus says he is! And second, we need to live out what Jesus teaches us about being human; this is how we do the work of actually believing! Paul’s letter tells us that doing these two things produces hope in us, and as we live more and more like Christ, it allows hope to pour out from us into our world.

SCRIPTURE (from the Revised Common Lectionary): Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44

In the early days of Jesus’s ministry, the most common attempts to discredit him focused on the humbleness of his birth: the messiah the prophets promised was going to be a mighty ruler, a fearsome judge, and famous the world over. How could a carpenter’s son from the small town of Nazareth ever lay claim to such a lofty title as the “prince of peace”? And yet, against all expectations, this is exactly who Jesus proves to be, in no small part because of the quiet and humble way this story begins. Jesus shows us that peace is the fruit of love, not power...and as we continue to look forward to Jesus’s return, we can be challenged to remember our own responsibility to be peacemakers in our time.

SCRIPTURE: Acts 24:22-28:30 (Acts 27:33-38)

The final voyage of Paul’s ministry in the book of Acts takes him to Rome, where he is ultimately placed under house arrest. However, his journey to the capital is not without incident: he is shuffled between a number of ships, one of which sinks in a winter storm and leaves him (and the rest of the crew and passengers) stranded on the island of Malta for three months. During all of this, Paul is a model of Christian kindness, charity, encouragement, and hope. Although we never hear Paul’s case before Caesar, we do witness the defense his life presents of the Gospel. As we close our series, we want to return to our initial question: why church? Paul’s life as a missionary suggests that the answer to that question is unavoidably focused on how we live our daily lives. The desire to expand the circle of the church drives Paul’s invitational kindness towards others, it keeps his heart open to the particulars of others’ circumstances, and when he himself is in need, it is the church who supports and ministers to him, too. As we look to our future at Revolution, we want to be a church that follows the example we see in Acts: we want to create a culture of belonging, grow in our beliefs as we live them out, and become more and more like Jesus together.

DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. How would you summarize the second half of the book of Acts? What are some of the big themes you have noticed or that we have discussed on Sundays? What would you say you have learned in this study?

2. What example does Paul set for us about how to endure “persecution” well? In what ways are you currently experiencing hardship? How can Paul’s example challenge you to respond?

3. Where can we see God’s hand at work in Paul’s story? 

4. Who are the “fellow passengers” in your own life? How can you be a more encouraging presence to them, even if you are in the midst of your own trials? 

5. In what ways can you lean more on the support of your church family? What keeps you from reaching out for help at times? 

6. Spend time over the coming month praying for others by name: ask God to work out his will in their lives and to show you ways you can be an encouragement and hope to them.

SCRIPTURE: Acts 21:17-24:21 (Acts 24:10-16)

The last 8 chapters of Acts are a fast-moving story: after Paul arrives in Jerusalem, there is nothing the leaders of the church can do to keep him out of trouble with the quarreling factions of the Jewish leadership. He is repeatedly arrested and beaten, and in each instance where he is given an opportunity to speak in his own defense, he is cut off and interrupted. Finally, the Roman procurator of Judea, Felix, listens to Paul’s case, and Paul makes it clear that he has lived by his own conscience: what he is teaching is not meant to discredit or destroy Judaism but to extend it by joining it to the church’s teachings about Jesus. As we reflect on Paul’s defense, we want to explore how the message of Jesus unifies, rather than divides, our history.

DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1. It is tempting to immediately dismiss the accusations against Paul made by the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem, but it can be fruitful to approach them with empathy: how are we also sometimes guilty of interrupting others or assuming the worst of their intentions?

2. At root, the Jewish leaders’ resistance to Paul comes from their fear that he is abandoning the Law in order to expand the circle of their religion to include those they believe are “unclean.” They are worried that he is being too gracious with others, and that this will cheapen what they believe. Have you ever been frightened by others’ willingness to show too much grace to a person or people? When? How do you feel about this instance as you look back on it?

3. Are there times when you have feared (or still fear) the church is too accepting of outsiders? 

4. One issue that divides even the Jewish leadership is belief in the “resurrection of the dead.” What are your beliefs about this? Why do you think this issue is so important to Paul (and to the Christian church)? 

5. What is one area in your life where you struggle to be accepting of others, and you would like to be challenged to show more acceptance? How can we support and challenge one another in this moving forward?