Week 10: Sunday 15th March 2020
Third Sunday of Lent
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Theme: Putting on Christ (Practically) – An Introduction to Spiritual Disciplines
Scripture: Colossians 3:9-10, Hebrews 12:11, Hebrews 5:14
Top Tips for Spiritual Disciplines (from ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted’ by John Ortberg):
1. Always Seasonal
2. Bring your own personality
3. Peaks & Troughs
4. Can’t earn God’s love
Prayer:
Father, you are good, full of light, constant in grace, mercy, justice and love.
We are seeking to follow your Son, the one who showed us life in all it’s fullness, complexity and joy. Would you send your Spirit again to fill us up because our spirits are willing but our flesh is indeed weak.
Spirit make us more like our creator, into the image of the Son. Into the people you want us to be for our family, friends, colleagues, neighbours & brothers and sisters in Christ.
Give us fresh vision that the way of Christ is not only worth it but it is also near. Within reach. Here right now.
We receive your help this day
Amen
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Learning Circle
When God speaks or nudges us very often the challenge is dwelling on what he says and following through in obedience. The learning circle is a simple visual tool to help disciples discuss and discern together how God may be speaking to us. Imagine the sorts of conversations Jesus would have had with his disciples in the gospels.
Why don’t you grab some people from your MC and use the learning circle to deepen your conversations as you reflect on this Sunday’s message.
Theme: Apprenticeship with Jesus: Pruning & the Ugly Zone
Scripture: John 15:1-4, Hebrews 12:4-7, John 7:37-38
Prayer:
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me for ever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me
Psalm 13
Further Reading:
Dallas Willard interview on Spiritual Formation
Drawing Near to God When God Seems Far Away (Lecture)
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Learning Circle
When God speaks or nudges us very often the challenge is dwelling on what he says and following through in obedience. The learning circle is a simple visual tool to help disciples discuss and discern together how God may be speaking to us. Imagine the sorts of conversations Jesus would have had with his disciples in the gospels.
Why don’t you grab some people from your MC and use the learning circle to deepen your conversations as you reflect on this Sunday’s message.
Theme: Sabbath Rest for the Land
Scripture: Leviticus 25:1-7 & Luke 4:16-21
Practice:
Learn:
Pray:
Produce:
Consume:
Prayer: Psalm 24 & A prayer for climate grief
Theme: ‘When you Pray…’
Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15
Practice: Prayer of Examen
What?
The Examen is a simple, four step way of reflecting and praying through the day. This prayer tool outlines how to start praying the Examen.
Why?
“The Examen is an immediate solution to the problem of ‘what do I pray about?’ The answer is: everything that’s happened to you today. You might have the impression that your everyday life is the dreary same old, same old. It isn’t. Daily life is rich and meaningful. Every encounter, every challenge, every disappointment, and every delight is a place where God can be found.” Jim Manney
Practice: How to Pray the Lord’s Prayer
Further resources:
Theme: Rest for the body
Scripture: Mark 2:23-28
Practice: Digital Sabbath exercise cited from https://practicingtheway.org/rest/part-five.
Below are a few suggestions for how you can limit your use of technology:
Practice: Design Your Sabbath
Further resources:
Prayer: Psalm 131
Week 4: Sunday 29th September
Theme: An Introduction to Silence & Solitude
Scripture: Luke 5:16
Practice:
Others do better lying on their back in a relaxed position.
Inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth.
A few things to note:
Practice from practicingtheway.org
Further Resources:
Prayer: Psalm 46
Theme: Sabbath Rest: We are worth more than bricks!
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:1-12
Practice: DESIGN YOUR SABBATH TOGETHER.
Further Resources:
Prayer: Psalm 42
Theme: TRAINING vs TRYING – The Spirit of the Disciplines
Scripture: Galatians 5
Practice: Recap on the Learning Circle questions.
This week review the follow on from the previous conversation using the Learning Circle.
Download the Learning Circle Booklet Here
Further Resources:
John Coe – Resisting the temptation of Moral Formation (requires a free sign up/login)
Prayer: Psalm 1
Theme: Introduction – The WITH God Life.
Scripture: James 1:22-25 & Matthew 11:28-30
When God speaks or nudges us very often the challenge is dwelling on what he says and following through in obedience. The learning circle is a simple visual tool to help disciples discuss and discern together how God may be speaking to us. Imagine the sorts of conversations Jesus would have had with his disciples in the gospels.
Why don’t you grab some people from your MC and use the learning circle to deepen your conversations as you reflect on this Sunday’s message.
Download the Learning Circle Booklet Here
1. ‘The Divine Conspiracy’ by Dallas Willard
2. ‘The Life You’ve Always Wanted’ by John Ortberg
3. Ruth Haley Barton Podcast Season 1 Episode 1 ‘Dangerously Tired’
Prayer: Psalm 84