Since the last session • How have you been generous toward others? • Have you seen opportunities to extend extraordinary generosity in the past week? • How has the practice of the spiritual discipline of generosity impacted your daily walk with God? The concept we are examining tonight is witnessing to your faith. Prayer: Would someone volunteer to read this and open us with prayer? Loving and gracious God, we thank you for your presence in our lives. We thank you for the people who have shared your love with us, who have made you faithful presence known to us. We hear your call to be faithful witnesses and followers of Christ. We look to you for guidance, strength and courage as we answer that call. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. Since the last session • How have you been generous toward others? • Have you seen opportunities to extend extraordinary generosity in the past week? • How has the practice of the spiritual discipline of generosity impacted your daily walk with God? The concept we are examining tonight is witnessing to your faith. Prayer: Would someone volunteer to read this and open us with prayer? Loving and gracious God, we thank you for your presence in our lives. We thank you for the people who have shared your love with us, who have made you faithful presence known to us. We hear your call to be faithful witnesses and followers of Christ. We look to you for guidance, strength and courage as we answer that call. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. THE WALK: FIVE ESSENTIAL PRACTICES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE LESSON 5: SHARE: GOING FISHING. REFLECTING LIGHT REV. ADAM HAMILITON’S LENTEN STUDY
OPENING DIRECTIONS AND QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: • We like to maintain confidentiality so if you hear something you might like to share, please ask the person who has shared for permission. • This is our third time using a Zoom call—so as we venture out into new territory, please let me know if you have thoughts on how to make things better. WEEK 5: SESSION GOALS Through conversation, activities, and reflection, participants will: • Consider what it means to be a witness for Christ. • Reflect on why we are followers of Christ. • Affirm the importance of being a light for Christ in the world. PREPARATION FOR THE STUDY
If you get to read the text before the session—that is helpful, however we will able to show the class the video when we do our Zoom call, and Hamilton does cover most of the text in his videos. I will get on the call ten minutes before the class so people can try out how Zoom works if they have not used it before.
• We may have one new person joining, if that is true, we will ask everyone introduce themselves with one or two sentences. Please indicate where you live.
• Zoom calls usually have squares with people’s faces in them. You need to put it on video and sound to be able to participate. You can also call in on a phone line and listen if you have computer problems.
• Last week’s class went well. The learning curve for Zoom calls is high—but if you are isolated for a long time, this can help us stay connected.
• Here is the information for the call. You should have received an email inviting you to the meeting.
o Kathleene Card is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
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o Topic: Kathleene Card's Zoom Meeting
o Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime
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o Join Zoom Meeting
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o Meeting ID: 614 090 896
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FROM LAST SESSION:
Since the last session
• How have you been generous toward others?
• Have you seen opportunities to extend extraordinary generosity in the past week?
• How has the practice of the spiritual discipline of generosity impacted your daily walk with God?
The concept we are examining tonight is witnessing to your faith.
Prayer: Would someone volunteer to read this and open us with prayer?
Loving and gracious God, we thank you for your presence in our lives. We thank you for the people who have shared your love with us, who have made you faithful presence known to us. We hear your call to be faithful witnesses and followers of Christ. We look to you for guidance, strength and courage as we answer that call. In the name of your son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
(Segment of video only)
LEARNING TOGETHER VIDEO, STUDY, AND DISCUSSION After we watch the video, these are the question we will contemplate together. • Hamilton describes sharing faith as giving away what has been given to us. Who are the people who help you? How did they help? • We naturally share what is good and positive. What is good and positive about your faith that you want to share? • According to Hamilton, what do non-religious and nominally religious people tend to care about? How can we witness to people that connects to the things they hold as important? • Is witnessing a one time thing for you or a log-term relationship? • How does a relational focus shape your understanding of how you share your faith? • Most people like to let their actions speak for themselves. Why is it important to use our words, too? • How can we express our faith in words more directly and frequently? Bible Study and Discussion—Matthew 6:19-21 We need Volunteers to read: NRSV 14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. CEB 14 You are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they put it on top of a lampstand, and it shines on all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before people, so they can see the good things you do and praise your Father who is in heaven. We are in the Section: “What is your Church Known For?” 1. What is Jesus strategy in these Scriptures for evangelism? 2. Why is it important for people to work together in a community to be the light of the world? 3. Why as individuals? Read Matthew 6.1-6 6 “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.[a] 5 “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6 But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 4. How does Jesus’ teaching Matthew 6.1-6 relate to the teaching in Matthew 5.14-16? BOOK STUDY AND DISCUSSION Can someone summarize the section in Chapter 5 titled “Testifying”? Remember the conversation between Wesley and Bohler. 5. What did Bohler mean when he said this to Wesley? 6. When have you found this to be true in your life? 7. Do you review things online? 8. Do the reviews form others influence you? 9. Have any reviews online caused you to visit or stay away form a church? Would someone read the past paragraph in the section entitled “The Power of Reviews”? (p. 118) 10. How does the image of the church being the body of Christ enhance your understanding of what it means for the church to be a witness for Christ in the world? 11. What talents and abilities has God given you to do this? What is your church Known for? Positives Negatives 12. What can your church do to turn negatives into positives? 13. What else not listed would you like your church to be known for? 14. How could you help the church do this? Elevator Speeches: In the Section labeled “Invitational, Incarnational Living” we will read Hamilton’s “elevator speech” (pp. 132-134) 15. Summarize the Christian faith in 7 words. 16. What 3 or 4 beliefs about Jesus and God are important to you? 17. How does faith in Christ make a difference to you? 18. Why are you a Christian? 19. Who is Jesus to you? 20. What would be your elevator speech to share Christ with another? WRAPPING UP The Challenges for this week: How can the practice of Generosity Bring us joy as individuals and as a community? • Continue to practice Prayer, Study, Service, Giving, Sharing • Write out an elevator speech and let me know if you want to share it. This should be fun! • Commit to inviting 5 people to worship this year—it is easy to ask them to worship with us online! • Read Chapter 6 CLOSING PRAYER Would someone volunteer either to read the prayer at the end of the book on page 136, or pray in their own words? Please pray for the following: Barry Brodil, ski accident Phyllis Porter’s birthday is Friday Leslie Crossman’s cousin Jan with Pancreatic cancer Jim Poplin who fell moving a chest and is very tired and sore Scott Dakota, Lyme disease cure Janet Hazel, recovering from a fall, and suffering a cold now, too All of the health care workers and people working to make sure we have food and supplies Our Services on Sundays that will be online now for a while
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