16/8/25

1. Where in your life do you find yourself living like the two sons?

2. What about Jesus story of God challenges your story of God?

3. Where might God be calling you to come home to the party?

4. What do you need to accept the call?

Questions for reflection:

1. Which of the two aspects of Jesus' nature have you tended to downplay - his 100% humanity, or his 100% deity? 

2. What was one thing you found helpful from Wayne's reflection?

3. If you can, share how you have been struggling or coming to terms with mystery being part of your faith journey.

4. Read Philippians 2:5-11 and share something from this poem/hymn that particularly impacts you. 

Questions for reflection:

• What do you find beautiful about Jesus? What moves your heart about Him? 
• Are there any particular Gospel passages that stand out for you with special meaning over the years that have captivated your heart?
• Are there any moments in your life where God has become very personal to you? Where your walk with God has moved from head to heart?

Looking at Acts 10:1-29

1.     God reveals His will to humans through prayer.

2.     We often need to change so that others might experience the wonder of Jesus. 

3.     The Spirit inspires a radical Good News response in the face of the world’s lies.

For the sake of Jesus, can we recommit ourselves to:

1.    Being so connected with Jesus in prayer that we are receptive to His loving direction and correction, which leads to transformation for the sake of others.

2.    A deeper conversion to Jesus’ call to reach new people, in new places and new ways with the love of Jesus. 

3.    To Be Good News wherever we are - we may need a deeper conversion to living out and holding relentlessly to the Hope of Jesus as foretaste of the coming Kingdom. 

What’s in my heart (in other words, what do I feel passionately about) concerning God’s purposes through me? (This might be related to my neighbourhood, paid or voluntary work, a national or global issue etc.)

Who are the people in this faith community that I am sharing this with?( Do they know what’s percolating away in me?)

How am I/how are we, making space so that the Spirit can prompt me/us to move in a new direction?(By this, I mean, what are the habits or practices in my life that might help me/us to hear the Spirit’s voice?)

1. What stood out to you from Alison's talk? 

2. Read the quote. What is your reaction to it? 

'We were a small Christian community. We were not powerful, we were not resourced. We would focus on expressing the truths and hopes of the kingdom message Jesus preached…. The gathered Christian community was first and foremost a missional group, called together to work as anti-terror cells in our n/hood. Over many meals and midweek gatherings, we plotted ways to challenge the brokenness and celebrate the beauty of our neighbourhood.'

Discuss how you think your group expresses the kingdom message of Jesus in your location. Where do you think you, as a group or individually, are being invited to push the boat out into deeper water? What could one 'next step' be? 

3. Reflect on the questions from the end of the talk. 

1.     Do I have an awe of God?

2. Are there things I feel I need to repent of? 

3. Am I willing to let go of things that get in the way of me saying 'yes' to the call to greater faithfulness to the gospel? 

Questions for reflection:

1.      Sit with John 14:23

·      What does being ‘home’ mean to you?

·      What does it mean to you to consider God making ‘home’ within you personally, and within us as a community? Does that change anything for you?

2.      Sit with Romans 8:11, 22-23, 26-27 & Matt 5:4 & 6.

·      The Spirit making home within us also brings an ache for the completion of God’s healing and renewal of our world. These are experiences of the Spirit “groaning” within us.

·      How can we enable these “groans” within us to lead us to prayer?

·      What else does this raise for you?

Alison Robinson shares a reflection on Pentecost after we hear encouraging testimonies of God at work in peoples lives.

Reconciliation, Revitalisation and Anticipation.

Questions for reflection:

- Which of these feel the most relevant for you today?

- Where do you need to pray for God to work?

- What are you going to do about it?