What marks you? It’s an interesting question. And I’m not just talking about your physical wounds, your scars or your tattoos. It seems everywhere we go today, someone is trying to get us to wear their logo, put their stamp on us or entice us to buy into their brand. Branding is big business. And companies everywhere spend thousands and millions of dollars to tell us who they are, who we are and what life is all about. Who could deny the emotional and magnetic pull of the golden arches of McDonalds, Nike’s swoosh, or Taco Bell asking us to “think outside the bun”?
And maybe that is why it is so surprising when it comes to thinking about and following the way of Jesus. Because if we had to put a brand or messaging strategy around the life of Jesus it would be signified through the symbol of a cross. It’s a shocking symbol if you stop to think about it. What brand today would mark its message with an electric chair or gas chamber? Yet, everyday we drive by churches or encounter people with bracelets and necklaces worn around their necks and wrists or who decorate the outside of their buildings with the cross. We wear the brand and place the brand, but do we really know what the brand means for life and practice?
Thankfully we are not the first to pioneer this journey. In fact, it is this question that stands behind so much of Paul’s message to the church in Corinth. That’s why this week we continue our journey through the book of Corinthians as together we embrace the way of the cross, and see the way it leads us to unity in the way we live, lead and learn. So why don’t you join us, as together we make our journey to the cross and leave this time marked by the way of Jesus.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: August 23, 2015 // Title: Cross Training
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4:20
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
As followers of Jesus, our lives are marked by the Cross. In other words, we should be noticeably different from the world in the way we live, lead and learn. Not only will this lead to impacting the world, but this mark of the Cross will create greater unity among believers.
THE MAIN THOUGHT: (keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion)
The Cross changes the way we live, lead and learn.
SEE IT – Questions 10–15 minutes
Picture: What does it mean to live missionally? What is the difference between humility and humiliation? What does it look like to learn the way of Jesus or to be a disciple of Jesus?
Mirror: Who are the people closest to you? There is a saying that we are a representation of the five people that we are the closest to. If this is true, what does this say about you? In light of living in the Cross, what does it change for you and the community that you are closest to?
Window: Dave illustrated life by climbing a ladder to get ahead, to make your way or to make a name for yourself. With the ladder mentality, there is always someone ahead of and beneath you. To lead well—to lead like Christ—we are to have an elevator mentality of lowering ourselves to help bring others up to health and wholeness. How does living on the ladder or elevator affect your career goals? How does it affect the places where you lead?
BE IT – Practice
UP // Cross Leading 15 minutes
Sometimes we miss chances to pray for those in leadership over us. Take a few minutes those in leadership over you in your life. If you are a leader, pray for those you lead.
IN // Cross Learning 5 minutes
Everyone is unique but not independent. Ephesians 4 teaches that each one of us has been graced by Christ to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers—to equip his people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up in unity in the faith and becoming mature. There is a short quiz that you could take to find out your “base” in spiritual gifts (www.fivefoldsurvey.com). Discover and explore how your group can be united as a body by using your gifts to bring about maturity to your group.
OUT // Cross Living 5 minutes
Live out the Cross by “service to everyone but slave to no one.” Think of one person that you could send a thank you card to. Look for a neighbor who could use an extra hand this week in their yard, and find a way to serve them.
CLOSING PRAYER 5 minutes
Take a few minutes to gather any prayer requests and pray for each other to SEE IT and BE IT this week.