They say, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” And most likely, if you are reading this email, you are probably sitting somewhere between the reality of a full stomach, a full house of family and friends and the anticipation of putting up your Christmas tree and getting yourself ready for all the excitement of the season to come. You may even already have the movie Elf playing in the background.
I know for my own family, this has been an incredible week. Moms and dads, aunts and uncles, friends and even those just passing through have combined with that sacred space created by a few days off, to remind me just how special the Holiday season is. So as I sit here thinking about Sunday and us gathering together as a church family, to be honest, I’m incredibly grateful for the life I get the chance to live and family that God has allowed me to be part of. That’s what Thanksgiving does. It reminds me that I have a lot to be grateful for and brings the contentment I’m so often in search of. And yet, as Thanksgiving ends and the Christmas season begins, I’m also completely expectant for what the next few weeks will bring. And that is the tremendous tension of Advent. In Advent we are thankful for what God has done and expectant of what is still to come.
So, it is into this tension that we make one last turn to Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church. On the heels of such inspiring words of resurrection, Paul now turns his focus to the details of Christ’s ongoing missional movement. And like us this week, he is both thankful for what Christ has resolved in his resurrection and expectant of the church to be part of the immediate solves that still remain present in his current reality. It’s a tension between the times so speak.
So join us this week as we too stand between the times—thankful for what He has done and expectant what is still to come. It’s going to be a great beginning to what we are calling a Family Christmas, so why not bring the whole family and look forward to the future with Hope.
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(Weekly Community Group Discussion Guide)
Date: November 29, 2015 // Title: Tension Between the Times
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 16
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
ARRIVAL / SOCIAL TIME 15-20 minutes
Spend the first 15 minutes or so of your time together catching up and socializing with one another. Also find time to catch up together on how the assignments from last week turned out.
SERMON REVIEW 5-10 minutes
On the heels of such inspiring words of resurrection in I Corinthians 15, Paul now turns his focus to the details of Christ’s ongoing missional movement. And like us this week, he is both thankful for what Christ has resolved with His resurrection and expectant of the church to be part of the immediate solution that still remains present in his current reality. It’s a tension between the times, so to speak.
THE MAIN THOUGHT Keep this in mind as you facilitate discussion.
When it comes to living between the times, the resurrection of Jesus brings ultimate resolve, but it’s the movement of Christ through His church that functions as the immediate solve.
SEE IT Questions :: 10-15 minutes
Picture: What has Paul been urging the early church to do for each other? What realities did he offer for living in the tension between the times?
Mirror: When you look into the mirror of 2015, where do you see God’s hand in your NOW? What are you trusting Him with the future (He has already WON)? Is there something that is keeping you from living with an open heart, open home, and an open future?
Window: When you see people who are sitting in the ruble of a collapsed area of their lives, what answer do you have to give them? How can you be a conduit, rather than a container?
BE IT – Practice
Change UP // Exercise 15 minutes
As we live with open hands, homes, and futures, we cannot do it without God continually filling us up. As you pray together, use music or scripture to invite God to give you a fresh filling of His presence and His hope.
Change IN // Group Activity 5 minutes
Find one or two other families that God wants you to invite into your open home (community group), and make a plan to do it!
Change OUT // Life Application Assignment 5 minutes
Each one has something to give (time, energy, finances). Make a plan for your family/group to give in one or more of those ways this month.
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.