For the Sake of Others, Guide 5: Celebration

Take Communion (2 minutes)

Leader Note: This week, have the group remain at the dinner table for the duration of this Guide, if possible.  Begin this time by taking communion together, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read through John 15v8-14,17 as written below, then take a brief moment to pray aloud and thank Jesus for being our savior, laying down his life for us, his friends.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other.” 

Leader Note: Before diving into the rest of this Guide, close this time in prayer, asking Jesus to now be your teacher as you seek to become more like him and do what he did.

Review The Last Practice (10 minutes)

Let’s take some time to reflect on how the last Practice went for everyone. As a reminder, last week we agreed to practice Hospitality, by taking the next step that Jesus was inviting you to take towards the person you sensed God bringing to mind that night. 

1. What was the step you took this week to practice Hospitality? How was that invitation received by the person you chose? Is there a natural next step to take toward them to practice Hospitality again this week?

2. What have you noticed about that person recently? When you observe their life from Jesus’ perspective, what comes to mind? How might Jesus be prompting you to be a Witness to them this week?
   
   

Read This Overview Aloud (3 minutes)

Read This Overview Aloud (3 minutes)

Last time, we discussed how the practice of Hospitality is central to Jesus’ mission and the vision he had for his church. We witness to a lost and broken world by the way we welcome others to our table through the practice of Hospitality. As we heard on Sunday, one of the primary ways Jesus himself practiced this same Hospitality was through a weekly Sabbath dinner. Sabbath is a one-day a week, 24 hour period, dedicated to sacred rest and Celebration. This weekly rest and Celebration allows our whole being to align with the story of God. Through the practice of communal Celebration, remembering the good that God has done and the good end he promises to bring, we begin to live more fully into God’s story.

This practice of Celebration has most commonly occurred throughout church history at a dinner table, just like the one we are sitting at tonight. It’s at a table like this that we are offered an opportunity to see God among us in the faces of each brother and sister gathered here. It’s an opportunity to celebrate all that God has done and bless the image of God in those sitting beside us. As we do that, we rehearse eternity and we get a glimpse of the forever feast described in Revelation 19. It is through this practice of Celebration that our lives become characterized by joy and hope, and our common dinner table is transformed by the presence of God residing in each individual who has accepted the invitation to come.

Do This Practice Tonight (25 minutes)

This week, we are going to witness to a lost and broken world by inviting them to practice Celebration with us. Building off of our previous practice, as a Community, we will commit to practicing Celebration with someone in our lives that does not currently know God or see themselves within his story. But, if we are to do so with others in the week ahead, we must first practice Celebration at this table with one another.

As was already mentioned, Celebration is simply thanking God for the good he has done, remembering the good he has promised, and blessing the good we see in those around us. Tonight, we will practice each of those three actions, one at a time. 

To begin, let’s thank God for the good he has done by answering this question, “popcorn style”:

• When you reflect on this past week, what is one way you have “tasted and seen that the Lord is good?” (Psalm 34v8)

Leader note: Watch the clock. You’ll probably want to keep this first question to about 5 minutes. When at least half the group has had the opportunity to share, take a minute to pray and thank God for all he has done before moving on to the next portion of this practice. 

Now, let’s take the next minute to remember the good God has promised. Maybe during our time of reflection, you recognized that your life feels full of "not yets," or that there is little to celebrate. One of the best depictions of God’s kingdom, that is both here and still yet to come, is the Beatitudes. Jesus opens his famous Sermon on the Mount with words of promise. As I read these words, consider where you find yourself and celebrate what promise Jesus is offering to you.

“Jesus said: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’” (Matt 5v2-12)

Leader note: Close this portion in a prayer of gratitude and anticipation of the kingdom coming.

Finally, to close our practice for tonight, let’s take the next 10-15 minutes to bless one another by celebrating the ways we have seen the character of Jesus reflected in each other’s lives. Maybe it’s the way someone has recently walked through a season of hardship. Maybe it’s the way someone has chosen to live generously with others. Maybe it’s the way someone has made you feel seen or known at a previous Community night. It doesn’t have to be long or profound, it just needs to be honest and ultimately point to Jesus.

So once again, “popcorn style,” let’s bless the character of Jesus we see in one another.

Leader note: Set a timer for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of your group. Be prepared to go first and set the pace for this practice. Pay attention to those in the room that haven’t been blessed and if your time is winding down, be sure to bless them before moving on to “the Practice for the Week Ahead.”

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead (3 minutes)

Our Practice for the week ahead is to:

1. Expand your Sabbath table. Consider inviting someone to your Sabbath dinner this week who does not yet know Jesus. Take a moment that night to bless them for the ways you see God in them or their story. You can begin with something as simple as “Hey, I’ve been trying to practice celebrating more and affirming the good I see in others, so I just wanted to tell you…” (If you don’t currently have a Sabbath practice, consider teaming up with someone at this table who does, or simply designate a time and place to share a meal with the person God brought to mind last week and bless them.)

2. Practice Celebration at Thanksgiving. As we anticipate this upcoming Thanksgiving, be prayerful about using that space to express gratitude for the good God has done AND bless the goodness of God you see in those gathered at your Thanksgiving table. 

End in Prayer (5 minutes)

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue growing your Community into the first fruits of renewal through the Practice of Celebration.

For the Sake of Others, Guide 4: Hospitality

Take Communion (2 minutes)

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read through John 15v8-14,17 as written below, then take a brief moment to pray aloud and thank Jesus for being our savior, laying down his life for us, his friends.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other.” 

Leader Note: Before diving into the rest of this Guide, close this time in prayer, asking Jesus to now be your teacher as you seek to become more like him and do what he did.

Review The Last Practice (10 minutes)

Let’s take some time to reflect on how the last Practice went for everyone. As a reminder, last week we agreed to practice “bearing one another’s burdens.” We all had the option to either share our own burden with someone (like a counselor or trusted friend) or to respond to someone else’s burden in some tangible way. 

1. For those of you who shared your own burden with someone, how did it feel to share something personal or vulnerable with someone else? How did it impact your connection with God through another person holding safe space for you? 

2. For those of you who were led by Jesus to respond to someone else’s burden in a tangible way or in prayer, how did this impact your relationship or understanding of their situation? How might this change the way you relate to others in Community, or family, or friends? 

3. What felt freeing or encouraging to you personally about this practice of “bearing one another’s burdens”? What felt challenging or stretching? 
   
   

Read This Overview Aloud (3 minutes)

In Mark 12v30-31, Jesus commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These two commands form the rhythm of our lives—loving God by loving others. Loving others means creating space for people to experience God's welcoming presence, regardless of who they are.

Jesus models this by reaching out to the cultural outcasts like tax collectors, sex workers, and thieves, showing that his primary mission was to love and serve the sinners, who were in need of a Savior. New Testament writers call this practice hospitality, which is about sharing your home, food, relationships, and resources so others can experience God's love. When we begin to live with this mindset, we look for ways to offer "love of a guest" to everyone we meet, whether it's a barista, a colleague, or someone experiencing houselesness.

Hospitality doesn’t require an outgoing personality or a masters degree or a unique skill set —it’s about welcoming others as God has welcomed us. This can happen in everyday moments, when our goal shifts from impressing others to simply loving them. Through this practice, we cultivate a heart quick to honor and care for others with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In doing so, we not only deepen our relationships within our communities, but also embody the heart of Jesus, making his presence felt in tangible ways.

Leader note: The next section will include quiet reflection in listening prayer, so before you begin, be sure to transition into a quiet room and find ways to best support the kids to ensure the whole Community can engage the Practice.

Do This Practice Tonight (20 minutes)

Tonight, we are going to step into the practice of Witness, as we consider how we can create spaces of hospitality towards those who have yet to experience the Father’s welcome. We will do this tonight through Listening Prayer by asking Jesus for two things. First, we’ll ask God to bring to mind a person or family that we could extend hospitality to, who don’t  know Jesus yet. Secondly, we’ll ask the Spirit for wisdom and creative ideas about how to extend hospitality toward them. 

Leader note: you will need to have access to a clock or a phone or a watch for this next portion, in order to keep track of time while the Community enters a few portions of silent Listening Prayer. 

So, let’s begin by finding a comfortable position. Taking a few deep breaths, allowing your shoulders to drop, and then close your eyes. 

Let’s take 1 minute in silence and in gratitude to begin our practice of listening prayer. Bring your attention to the infinite love that God has for you, no matter what today has held. Think back over the last 24 hours and find 1 or 2 things that you’re grateful for. Maybe it’s a person, or an unexpected gift of time in the margin, or a specific interaction that you’re grateful for, etc. As those gifts come to mind, connect them back to the Giver as an act of worship. 

Leader note: Wait in silence here for 1 minute. After 1 minute, pray a brief prayer of gratitude as you move into the next section. 

Now, we want to pray and ask the Spirit to bring to our mind a person or even a family who does not know God that we could extend hospitality to – someone who God wants to equally bless and give good gifts to. Let’s take the next 30 seconds to quiet ourselves before God and listen to him respond by expanding our imagination.

Leader note: Pause in silence here for at least 30 seconds or up to 1 minute for people to listen.

Next, let’s pray, again quietly to ourselves, that Jesus would give us wisdom and insight about how we can best partner with him in the work he’s already doing to love this person or family. Let’s ask the Spirit for direction around practical and relational ways we can move towards this person or family. Maybe it’s reaching out this week to invite them over for a meal, or babysit, or offer a ride to the airport as they fly home for the holidays, etc. Let’s take the next 2 minutes to pray: come Holy Spirit, expand our imaginations. 

Leader note: Pause in silence here for 2 minutes for people to listen. Break the silence by praying gratitude for how God was present with us and the wisdom and insight for what next steps we can take. 

To end our practice for tonight, turn to the person sitting next to you and share who Jesus brought to mind during listening prayer. Secondly, share what next steps you sensed Jesus inviting you to make towards this person or family. Close your time by praying God’s continued presence and guidance for one another. 

Leader note: Set a timer for 5 minutes for people to share. Once the timer is up, go right into the Practice for the Week Ahead. 

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead (3 minutes)

Our Practice for the week ahead is incredibly simple: let’s follow Jesus’ example of eating and drinking with and offering hospitality to someone who has yet to experience the Father’s welcome. The practice for this week is to take the next step that Jesus is inviting you to, in practical and/or relational ways, towards the person you sensed God bringing to mind tonight. 

End in Prayer (5 minutes)

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue growing your Community into the first fruits of renewal through the Practice of Hospitality.

For the Sake of Others, Guide 3: Bearing One Another’s Burdens

Take Communion (2 minutes)

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read through John 15v8–14,17 as written below, then take a brief moment to pray aloud and thank Jesus for being our savior, laying down his life for us, his friends.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other.” 

Leader Note: Before diving into the rest of this Guide, consider closing this time in prayer, asking Jesus to now be your teacher as you seek to become more like him and do what he did.

Review The Last Practice (8 minutes)

Let’s take some time to reflect on how the last Practice went for everyone. Remember, last time we all agreed to practice Confession by incorporating a regular rhythm of the Examen or connecting with a trusted voice to share where we have failed to love God or others:

1.For those who practiced the Examen each night, how did it feel to review your day with God and confess where you had fallen short in either thought, word, or deed? (i.e. natural, challenging, grounding, new, etc.)

2. For those who practiced confession with someone you trust, how did it feel to confess where you had fallen short of God’s command to “love the Lord your god” or “love others as yourself?” (i.e. natural, challenging, grounding, new, etc.)

3. *Optional Question* If practicing Confession in this way is something you want to make common practice in your life, how might Jesus be inviting you to do that?

Leader note: The next section will include quiet reflection, so before you begin, be sure to transition into a quiet room and find ways to best support the kids to ensure the whole Community can engage the Practice.

Read This Overview Aloud (5 minutes)

Before diving into our Practice for tonight, we’re going to begin by reading Galatians 6v1–5. Would anyone like to read it aloud for us?

Leader Note: Have someone read this passage aloud.

Tonight, we’re going to engage in another practice that has historically served as a pillar of Christian Community, and that is “bearing one another’s burdens.” All throughout history, God’s people have been marked by love, generosity, and co-suffering. In the book of Acts, we see Jesus’ earliest followers “having everything in common…giving to anyone who was in need” (Acts 2v44–47). The same should be said of God’s people today—that we are quick to come alongside the hurting among us and bear one another’s burdens, just as Christ has done for us.

This is the essence of Christian Community, that everyone has a need and everyone has something to give. Whether it be an emotional, spiritual, or physical need, none of us are without need. We are all human. To this point, the Apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 6v1-5, provide two primary directives we need to consider before engaging in this practice of “bearing one another’s burdens.”

First, we must humbly face our own needs and respond, however Jesus is asking us to. In Galatians 6, Paul gets really practical and says that if anyone wants to fulfill the law of love in restoring another believer, you must first “watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted…each one should test their own actions…for each one should carry their own load.” In other words, check yourself!

Consider this silly analogy: You and your roommate are moving into your new apartment on the same day. You’re already carrying a box of your own glassware into the house, but you think you’re pretty strong and decide to carry a box of your roommate’s glassware as well. When you inevitably stumble and drop that load, the both of you suffer the consequences of your pride. 

If we attempt to carry the burdens of another without paying attention to our own load first, we could unintentionally cause unnecessary damage to ourselves and others. Though our practice for the night is “bearing one another’s burdens,” it is imperative that we humble ourselves and consider our own load first before carrying the burden of another.

Second, we must humbly consider the needs of others and respond however Jesus is asking us to. If we manage to do the first step correctly, we will have already humbled ourselves by assessing our own emotional, spiritual, and physical needs. This then allows us to rightfully discern with Jesus how he might be inviting us to come alongside our brother or sister in need.

Do This Practice Tonight (15 minutes)

With that said, our Practice tonight will have two movements. The first will be a time of guided prayer, to consider what we are personally carrying and ask Jesus how he would like us to respond. The second will be a time of sharing with one another what came to mind in that time of prayer and identifying how they can come alongside us.

Leader Note: Designate one leader to guide this time of prayer, simply reading what follows.

Let’s begin our time of prayer by closing our eyes, taking a deep breath in, and recentering our senses on the presence of God. [Pause Briefly]

Now, take these next few moments to consider what load you might be carrying tonight. [Pause] Maybe you have an emotional need, something causing you distress or concern. Maybe you have a spiritual need, some sin or oppressive thoughts you're wrestling with. Maybe you have a physical need, some practical challenge or financial burden. Consider what load you might be carrying tonight. [Pause Briefly]

Now, open your hands in front of you as a way of offering your load to Jesus. [Pause Briefly]

Jesus came to carry our load, and he did so “for the joy that was set before him.” Knowing this, consider what Jesus is speaking to you as you offer him your load. [Pause for a minute]

Leader Note: Close this time with a brief prayer aloud, of thanksgiving to Jesus for his kindness and nearness.

Now, let’s take the next 10 minutes to turn to the person next to us and share what Jesus revealed to us in our time with him. A few helpful reminders: 

• As the sharer, be as honest and specific as is appropriate, without expecting any particularly generous response from the listener. If you have an emotional need, something causing you distress or concern - consider asking someone to pray for you or to simply listen as you process that pain with them. If you have a spiritual need, some sin or oppressive thoughts you're wrestling with - in light of our previous practice, consider confessing this to someone, asking for guidance, or receiving prayer. If you have a physical need, some practical challenge or financial burden - consider asking for help or what resourcing is available that the listener might know of. (When prayer requests are made at the end of the night, that might be a good time to share this need with the group, in case others may know of resources the listener is unaware of). 

• As the listener, give the sharer your full attention, without interrupting, and avoid any sort of judgment or offering of advice unless asked for. This will be a tempting moment for us all to adopt a hero mentality, so remember, when listening, you should feel no pressure to fix whatever is shared. Rather, simply respond to the need with whatever grace God has given you to do so, even if it is to simply listen and pray. 

I will set a 5 minute timer, during which time the sharer will speak and the listener will consider how Jesus is asking them to respond. And after those 5 minutes are up, we’ll switch roles and I’ll start another 5 minute timer.

Leader Note: Set a 5 minute timer for each person. Once it goes off, have them switch sharers and set it again. Afterwards, gather everyone back in, thank them for their vulnerability, and discuss the practice for the week ahead.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead (2 minutes)

In the week ahead, let’s continue to practice “bearing one another’s burdens” within our Community by responding to Jesus’ invitation in one of these two ways:

1. If Jesus asked you to share your own burden with a counselor or trusted friend, then do so. You may also want to consider bringing a request to a pastor or your Community Leader for discernment and support. 

2. If Jesus led you to respond to someone’s burden in a tangible way, then do so. If nothing specific arose, consider actively praying for a specific request that was shared and follow up to check in about it sometime this week.

Leader Note: If a need arises where it would seem appropriate to share the Bridgetown Benevolence Form, feel free to share this form with them or fill it out on their behalf.

End in Prayer (10 minutes)

Leader note: Offer those who responded by asking for prayer to share what they are carrying, then close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue growing your Community into the first fruits of renewal through the Practice of Community.

For the Sake of Others, Guide 2: Confession

Take Communion (2 minutes)

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read through John 15v8-14,17 as written below, then take a brief moment to pray aloud and thank Jesus for being our savior, laying down his life for us, his friends.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other.” 

Leader Note: Before diving into the rest of this Guide, close this time in prayer, asking Jesus to now be your teacher as you seek to become more like him and do what he did.

Review The Last Practice (10 minutes)

Let’s take some time to reflect on how the last Practice went for everyone. Remember, last time we all agreed to practice active listening and being a compassionate Community by intentionally connecting with someone from our Community to hear more about what’s going on in their life, checking in on something they shared last time, or following up about something you’ve been praying for them:

1. How did it feel to connect with someone in the Community, outside of our normal night? (i.e. natural, challenging, grounding, new, etc.)

2. How did it impact you to have someone check in with you, or to know someone was praying for you?

3. If practicing Compassion in this way is something we want our Community to be marked by, what would it look like for us to make this common practice in our group?

Read This Overview Aloud (3 minutes)

We live in a culture that deeply values what it calls “authenticity,” in which we are taught that anything that comes from within us is good and worthy of celebration—that we should say, think, and do anything that comes naturally without fear, reservation, or shame. From what seems like every direction,we often hear messages like “be yourself,” to “live your truth,” or to “follow your heart.”

On one hand, this is not all bad. Human beings are created in the image of God and, therefore, much of what is beautiful in our world flows out of what’s inside us: art, generosity, music, love, and more that is deeply human and deeply good. But, what if that is only half the story?

Life in apprenticeship to Jesus involves an internal tug-of-war, a tension between our good desires and our broken desires and the actions that flow from them. Beneath the veneer of being “perfect just the way I am,” we each carry moments we are not proud of. There are thoughts, feelings, and actions that we know aren’t worthy of celebration: that fight we picked with our spouse, the words of anger in the car, the extra glance at the gym, the gossip shared at work, and on the list goes. To follow Jesus is to resist our disordered desires and to live into the new, redeemed desires of the Spirit.

But if we’re going to grow in becoming more like Jesus, we’ll need to be honest with ourselves, God, and one another about the reality of sin in our lives. There is no healing in hiding. For thousands of years, followers of Jesus have resisted their disordered desires not by hiding them, but by confessing them. It is the truth that sets us free.

Leader note: The next section will include quiet reflection, so before you begin, be sure to transition into a quiet room and find ways to best support the kids to ensure the whole Community can engage the Practice.

Do This Practice Tonight (20 minutes)

Tonight, we are going to step into the practice of Community through the ancient rhythms of the Examen and confession. As we engage the Examen and reflect on the day we’ve had, we willingly invite God into our ordinary life moments to see where he’s been at work, expecting that he will continue that work in the days ahead. When we practice honesty with God first, it can give us courage to step vulnerably into confession. These are foundational rhythms to our Practice of Community.

Let’s begin by getting into a comfortable position and taking a few deep breaths. I will open us up in prayer by inviting the Holy Spirit to come draw near. 

Open in Prayer

The Examen

Step One: Review your week with God.

I’m going to set a timer for 3 minutes, where we will sit in silence and spend time quietly reflecting on two things. First, review your week – where did you feel close or distant from God? Thank him for the moments that bring gratitude. Secondly, ask the Holy Spirit this question: “When did I fail to love you or love someone else this week?” Then, confess moments of sin or regret where you overlooked an opportunity to be with God or others. 

Leader note: After the 3 minute timer ends, break the silence by saying, “Thank you Lord for your forgiveness and loving presence with us tonight.” 

Step Two: Share with another person.
Let’s split into groups of two to share the moments that came to mind during the Examen. If multiple moments come to mind, share the one that feels most significant or that you feel comfortable sharing. And if you don’t feel comfortable sharing what you reflected on, you’re welcome to share about what that time was like for you.

For the sharer: this could sound like, “I realized that this week I failed to love God by _________" or “I failed to love (this person) by ________".

For the listener: this looks like quietly listening without judgment. Once the person has finished sharing, thank them for sharing and share your moment in return.

I’m going to set a 5 minute timer, during which time the sharer will speak and the listener will reflect back what they’ve heard. After those 5 minutes are up, we’ll switch roles and I’ll start another timer. 

Leader note: Set a 5 minute timer for each person. Once it goes off, have them switch sharers and set it again. Afterwards, gather everyone back to discuss the practice for the week ahead.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead (3 minutes)

The Practice for the week ahead is two fold: 1) continue engaging the Examen on your own – whether using the structure above or by utilizing the Lectio365 app’s Night Prayer option – and 2) identify someone that you can practice confession with. 

Follow the prompts we did together as you practice the Examen, and end by asking the Holy Spirit that same question: “When did I fail to love God or love someone else today?” The person you practice confession with could be another member of your Community, a good friend or family member, a pastor, or a mentor. When you meet, you can use the prompt: “This week I failed to love God by _____” or “I failed to love (this person) by ______.” 

In order to create spaces of safety while confessing, be slow to speak and quick to listen. Do not offer advice, feedback, or judgment. Instead, quietly listen until they have said all that they wanted to say. When finished, close in prayer thanking God for his forgiveness and his unconditional love for you both. 

End in Prayer (5 minutes)

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue growing your Community into the first fruits of renewal through the Practice of Community.

Family Guide: Community

A community of love and depth in a culture of individualism and superficiality through the practice of Community  

At Bridgetown, our goal is that every person—adult and child—would be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did. But these things don’t just happen overnight; they take time, intention, and repetition. So, with this in mind, we will be releasing a Family Guide during each teaching series to help you engage a particular Practice from the life and teaching of Jesus together. Since these Guides are aimed at kids of multiple ages, please skip or adapt anything that does not feel age appropriate. These Guides are written conversationally, so feel free to read through them. Italicized words are notes to parents and bolded words are questions to take some time with.

For a moment, let’s close our eyes together and use our memories and imaginations. Can you remember a time when you had the feeling that you BELONGED? Perhaps within a group of people where you know anything you might need would be found, and you felt a certain way? Do you have that time in your mind?

Okay, open your eyes. What or who did you think of? 

Give space for answers.

What did it feel like to know you belonged? Maybe safe, or happy, or not worried?

Give space for answers.

For lots of us, when we think of belonging, we might think of a group of people like our family. Or, we might think of our Bridgetown Community, your small group at Bridgetown Kids, or some of our closest friends in your school or neighborhood. In a group where you feel belonging, you can trust that you will be safe, that you won’t go without important things that you need—like food, or a hug or band-aid if you fall down and get hurt, or someone to sit next to.

One of the ways God talks about the church is as a family. Sometimes, the Scriptures even call believers or the church the “new family of God.” And when we participate in this new family, we call that practicing Community. 

Let’s open the Bible together and learn a little more about how some of the first Jesus-following churches practiced Community together.

Find Acts 2v42–47 and read out loud together.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Talk through these questions together:

• What are a few of the things the believers did together?

• How did these church members practice helping one another?

• How do you think it felt to be part of the community we just read about?

• What do you think is good about followers of Jesus being together? What might be better about being together than being alone?

Wow. This sounds like the kind of family or community everyone wants to be a part of. These people took care of each other’s needs! When someone needed food or money, everyone came up with it. They prayed together, ate together, spent time together, and loved each other really well.

Do we do any of these things in our lives right now, like share meals and pray with others?

Who do we do them with?

Give space for answers.

It sounds like you and I both have some people in our lives that we are practicing Community with in small or big ways. That’s so cool. In another place in the scriptures, Jesus says that the world we know we are his followers because of the way we love one another. 

How do you treat someone you love? 

Give space for answers.

Just like we read in the Bible earlier, communities treat each other with kindness, look out for each other, and take care of each other in all kinds of ways big and small. Some small actions that have a big impact are listening carefully to one another, and helping one another when we need help.

There are all kinds of different Communities. Sometimes, your Community might be made up of people who are a lot like you—boys or girls around your age who also know Jesus, like in your small group at Bridgetown Kids. Sometimes, Communities are made up of all kinds of different folks—like in your parents’ Bridgetown Community, there are kids and adults of all ages and from different places! We can also create Community and practice wherever we go: with friends at school, on your sports team, and with people we invite into our home. 

There are all sorts of different people in the family of God. That’s a good thing! There are some things we can only learn and experience with people who are different than us. Being with different kinds of people also helps us understand different things about God. Wouldn’t life be a little bit boring if everyone was exactly the same? God made us all different, but we have being loved by God in common.

Following Jesus isn’t something we do alone. It’s something we do alongside others! Community is fun, and Community takes practice. Just like we aren’t perfect and make mistakes and need forgiveness, other people we are in community with won’t be perfect, will make mistakes, and need us to forgive them.

There are so many ways we can practice Community, but here are a few we can try out right away!

Participate in your small group at Bridgetown Kids

At Bridgetown, in your classes, we have the opportunity to gather with a bunch of other kids your same age to talk about our Bible story of the week, talk about what’s going on in our lives, pray together, and have a ton of fun together. You can go to Bridgetown Kids every week, and see your small group every week too! You can participate by asking and answering questions, praying for your friends, and including new people as they come. If you haven’t started kindergarten yet and aren’t in a small group, you can do these same things in your Bridgetown Kids classroom! 

Go with your grown ups to Bridgetown Community.

If your family is part of a Bridgetown Community, then guess what? You are part of that community too! You are encouraged to eat dinner with the whole group and be part of the dinner conversation and fun, play games together, ask questions, participate in serving the city, and more! Note to adults: if your Bridgetown Community doesn’t have a clear entry point for kids, consider asking your leader how your family might more fully participate. If you’re not in a Community, we encourage you to join in Bridgetown’s next round of Basics! You can learn more about Community and Basics here.

Make Community: Invite a friend’s family or a neighbor over to your house for dinner or a playdate.

One thing that’s super helpful to remember is that in order to be in a Community, we need other people and they need us! At some point, all of us were invited in. We have an exciting opportunity to be that welcoming and inviting person to someone else. Does anyone come to mind that you think God would have you welcome with kindness? This week, once you have someone in mind, invite them and their family to your house for a meal or play time. While they are there, ask good questions, listen carefully, and show kindness and love!

How do you want to practice Community in this upcoming month? Let’s pick one to try, and pick a day we’ll follow through.

For the Sake of Others, Guide 1: Compassion

Take Communion (2 minutes)

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read through John 15v8-14,17 as written below, then take a brief moment to pray aloud and thank Jesus for being our savior, laying down his life for us, his friends.

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command…This is my command: Love each other.” 

Leader Note: Before diving into the rest of this Guide, consider closing this time in prayer, asking Jesus to now be your teacher as you seek to become more like him and do what he did.

Read This Overview Aloud (12 minutes)

One of the most common pictures used throughout Scripture to define the people of God is that of a family. The word “family” is a pretty loaded term in today’s world and means different things to different people. Whether we like it or not, and whether we acknowledge it or not, we all have a particular family background that shapes who we are and how we operate today. The norms that exist within our family of origin often filter the way we relate to others, but most specifically those closest to us. It’s important that we take time to both honor and evaluate the family patterns that have shaped us. 

Let’s take the next few minutes to work through some questions together. We’ll read them one at a time, take a moment of silence to reflect on our family experience, and then have a few of us share what comes to mind. 

1. What three words would you use to describe your family of origin?

2. How did your family talk about—or not talk about—difficult events, conflicts, or feelings?

3. If your family had a mission statement, what might it have been?

The family of God throughout Scripture is depicted as a highly committed, multi-ethnic community of self-giving and sacrificial love (see Acts 2v42-47 as an example). But, as we just talked about, our experience of what it means to be a family often doesn’t line up with that—and this includes our experience of church community. But this is what it means to be first-fruits: We are a group of imperfect individuals being continually formed into the likeness of Jesus, so there will be tastes of the perfect to come and of the perfect that is not yet here. 

And this is why it’s so important to practice Community. We cannot become fully formed followers of Jesus alone; we need other people. Jesus valued Community enough to build his life around it, so we do the same—knowing that we are formed as we offer love to one another and allow ourselves to be loved by our brothers and sisters.

Now, while we gather to practice Community each time we meet, throughout this series we will be zeroing in on what exactly that means. More than a weekly dinner party or Bible study, this is the family of God coming together with the distinct purpose of practicing the way of Jesus. The clarity that we established during our conversation around Community Commitments in the last Guide will serve as the foundation for our Community practice. And one pillar that is crucial to the health of our Community is the practice of Compassion. Compassion was a defining mark of Jesus’ earliest followers, as it should be for our Community.

Do This Practice Tonight (15 minutes)

If we’re going to practice Compassion and learn to love God and others, we have to fight against 3 distinct tendencies: to read minds, to make assumptions, and to have unreasonable expectations. For this week’s practice, we will explore practical ways to stop mind reading, clarify expectations, and listen well, so that we are better equipped to love people in our lives and Community. Followers of Jesus are to be “quick to listen” and “slow to speak,” so let’s do an exercise in listening well! 

We’ll begin by splitting into groups of two and taking turns asking one another the following question: What is one thing that has been impacting you lately? 

Before we get started, though, here are a few guidelines to follow:

As the sharer

• Be as open and honest as you feel comfortable.

• Do not feel like you need to over-explain or qualify what is affecting you right now.

• Try to keep your statements brief enough to give the listener time to paraphrase.

• Practice using emotion words in your sharing. (e.g. happy, disappointed, frustrated, distant, excited, resentful, defeated, honored, etc.)

As the listener

• Give the sharer your full attention and listen without interrupting.

• Avoid judging or interrupting, and do not offer advice.

• When they finish, thank them for sharing and then practice active listening by attempting to paraphrase what they’ve said. You can start this by saying, “What I hear you saying is…” (Remember to speak with empathy and respect.) And once you finish paraphrasing, ask the person, “Is that correct?” and let them respond.

I will set a 5 minute timer, during which time the sharer will speak and the listener will reflect back what they’ve heard. And after those 5 minutes are up, we’ll switch roles and I’ll start another 5 minute timer.

Leader Note: Set a 5 minute timer for each person. Once it goes off, have them switch sharers and set it again. Afterwards, gather everyone back in to discuss the practice for the week ahead.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead (2 minutes)

In the week ahead, let’s continue our practice of Compassion within our Community by committing to one of these three actions:

1. Reach out to or get together with a friend from the Community to catch up and learn more about what’s going on in their life.

2. Follow up on what you heard someone share during the practice tonight.

3. Actively pray for a specific request that was shared and follow up to check in about it.

End in Prayer (10 minutes)

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue growing your Community into the first fruits of renewal through the Practice of Community.

Community Commitments Guide

Take Communion

Leader: Begin your gathering by taking communion, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after dinner. If you don’t already have a Communion plan, have someone read these words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 11v24–26 

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

Think of our Community like a rowboat: everyone has an oar and we’re all rowing together in the same direction to reach a destination. As you may have experienced, a rowboat trip only works if everyone agrees on where we’re headed. If we all have a different understanding of, or vision for, where our boat is going, we’ll likely just paddle in circles (and probably get splashed in the face along the way). To keep us united in purpose, every Fall each Bridgetown Community sets aside intentional time to return to the Commitments we’ve made and have a conversation about what’s going well and where we can improve. And tonight is that night! 

Do These Practices Tonight

1. General Community Reflections

Before we begin our conversation around recommitment, let’s take some time to reflect on the last year of life in this Community by discussing the following questions:

• What has this Community meant to you over this last year? Who or what are you grateful for? Where has God met you through this Community?

• How have you noticed the Practice of regularly attending this Community change you as a person or as a disciple? 

2. Community Commitments 

As individuals, and as a community, we have committed to following the way of Jesus together in Portland. That commitment looks like active participation in this Community - to show up, ready to engage and contribute. Community Commitments are a way of laying the foundation of and setting the direction for our Community. None of them should be a surprise, as they are the list everyone agreed to upon joining a Community. We revisit this list each year as a way of a) reminding us about the commitments we’ve made and b) figuring out how we can recalibrate to get back on course if we’ve drifted. The Community Commitments are organized into 4 categories: active participation in your own spiritual formation, active participation in Bridgetown Church, active participation in your Community, and active participation in Portland. 

As we discuss them, it would be great if we could all open up the Community Commitments (or share a screen with someone next to you). Once we have them open, I’ll read each out loud to remind us what our Community is organized around and then we’ll work through a few discussion questions. As a side note, if there are any questions or concerns about any of these Commitments, please talk with me at some point (it doesn’t have to be tonight). I’d love to help you work through it or help point you to someone who can.

Leader: Pause here to read through the Commitments. Once you’ve read them all, move onto the following questions.

• Consider this list, what do you feel like we do well as a Community? 

• Where might there be an opportunity for growth for our Community or for you as an individual? What might we be missing? (e.g. for Community: mission, taking more leadership responsibility, praying for each other, etc.; for an individual: regularly attending the gathering on Sunday, showing up to Community on time, being present, etc.)

• In light of all this, what specific areas do we want to grow in as a Community? And how can we get there? How will we each, individually, be a part of committing to that growth?

3. 6-Stage Cycle of Community

A Community is a living thing, constantly growing and changing with those who are in it. With that in mind, there is a patterned story within most Communities that includes these 6 stages or seasons that repeat themselves again and again. 

While these stages do not have a specific amount of time associated with them (and we won’t necessarily go through all of them in a year), Communities change stages all the time. Though it may feel uncomfortable, change isn’t always something bad and we don’t need to fear it.Transitions can actually be a huge opportunity to grow deeper in vulnerability and transformation with God, yourself, and each other. There are healthy and restorative paths through each stage.

Let’s take a few minutes to work through the description of each phase. As we do, keep in mind where we think our Community might be. It’s okay if we don’t all agree about where we are at. This dissonance can actually foster important conversations as we explore not just where, but why each of us would place our Community where we do and to talk through what we think helpful steps forward might look like.

Let’s work through these questions together:

• What was the state of our Community last year around this time? What changes (good or hard) have we gone through communally over the last year?

• As we read this, what stage(s) currently fit our Community, and why do you think that stage is the right pick?

• Based on where we think we are, what would our next stage be and how would we like to prepare for that?

4. Other Important Conversations 

Whether we have enough time and stamina left this week or we want to set aside some time in the future, there are likely some other conversations that may be helpful for our Community to have. 

Leader: Not all of these will be relevant to your Community. Please have read through them in advance and pick out one or two that might feel helpful to discuss.

• How is mission going? Is it time to revisit that conversation?

• How is our meal plan working? Do we need to revisit that?

• How are our Leader(s) and/or Coordinators feeling? Do they need help with anything?

• Is there anything we want to start, stop, or continue doing as a Community?

• How do we feel about the way we’re currently integrating kids in our Community? Do we need to talk about that again? Or do we need to get ahead of some upcoming transitions?

• Are there any other conversations we need to have that we might be avoiding? 

End in Prayer

Before we leave, let’s spend some time praying for our Community, asking God for the things that came up tonight, and inviting the Spirit to help us become more like Jesus together.

Philemon, Pt. 2: Scripture

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:

Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.

Review the Last Practice 

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on Scripture, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another how our practice of praying Scripture went. 

• What did your time praying Scriptures look like this week? Did you decide to pray Philemon v4-6 or another Scripture passage?

• What’s one way you heard God speak to you through his Word in your time of reading this week? How did you feel led to practically respond to God’s voice this week (i.e. a change of mind or change of habit, an act of love toward someone you know, etc.)?
  
  

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

There’s no doubt that Scriptures played a central and essential role both in Jesus’ life and ministry. The study and knowledge of the scriptures for Jesus, measured far beyond academia, to a more personal and compelling reality. All throughout his life and ministry we see him use them in his relationship to teaching, interacting with the teachers or the Pharisees of the day, his disciples, and even Satan himself.

For Jesus, it seems, Scripture was not as much a tool, instrument, or weapon as it was part of how he viewed and interacted with both God and the world. Both from a historical knowledge of Rabbi’s, to the account we’re given in the Gospels, we know that the integration of Scripture in Jesus’ life was paramount to his work with his disciples and to those around him. 

For the disciple of Jesus, some of the greatest transformation we will experience takes place amongst the thoughts in our minds. What we think about will shape what we believe and, ultimately, that will shape what we live into. This is why, in the New Testament, Paul continually tells us to renew our minds – a renewed mind leads to a transformed life. As Paul invites Philemon to respond out of his own transformation and freedom, we are also invited to live differently because of the Gospel. We’re invited to live in unity with our brothers & sisters even when it doesn’t make sense – to let our weaknesses be our strength.

All throughout church history, disciples of Jesus have pressed into the practice of knowing the Scriptures — and more specifically putting to memory the truths of God found on the pages of the Bible. 

In meditating and memorizing Scripture, we are not only following the commands found within them, but employing the deeper reality and power of those words to combat the lies of the enemy about ourselves, culture, God, political climates, and who our real enemy is. When we harness God’s truth in our minds through meditation and memorization, it becomes both a realized and embodied experience. 

Do This Practice Tonight 

As we talk about memorizing Scriptures, there might be a temptation to think that we are not, or won’t be, good at it. And the truth is, this is a journey and it will take time to develop the skill of memorization. But it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do it. In fact, it means the opposite. Without the practice of memorizing Scripture, the enemy has the ability to deceive us and thwart the truth and, in turn, the good things that God has for us. Memorizing Scripture helps us to learn what the voice of God sounds like. And for the apprentice of Jesus, it is necessary for life in the Kingdom.

Let’s take the next few minutes and talk through these practical suggestions. The goal is to have each person share which idea they want to try this week. 

You can start with shorter passages you may already be familiar with (e.g John 3v16, Proverbs 4v5-6, or Psalm 23) or longer passages that are meaningful to you (John 15, Galatians 5, or Romans 12). Either way, keep it simple and start small. And if you learn best when you do something with your hands, it can be helpful to knit, shuffle a deck of cards, squeeze a stress ball, etc. while you quote. The repetitive motion might help you concentrate.

Index Card: Write the verse(s) on one side of an index card and the verse reference on the other side. Carry the card around with you so you can work on memorizing in your free time. 

Record Yourself: Try recording yourself on your phone reading the verse(s). Listen back to the recording while you're driving, working out, cleaning your house, grocery shopping, etc. 

Make It Visible: Tape the verse(s) to the bathroom mirror or to your car dashboard and work on it as you go about your day. You can also put it as your desktop or phone background. You'll honestly be surprised by how much that helps.

Repetitive Writing: Transcribe the verse(s) by hand. Rewrite the verse(s) over and over or use hand-lettering or other creative illustrations or pictures as a way of putting it in your mind.

Repetitive Recitation: Read the verse(s) out loud in 5 minute increments and repeat (while allowing some time for your mind to rest). Worked out as a discipline, this could look like:

• Reading/reciting it out loud 4 times per day for a week

• Then, read/recite it out loud once a week for a month

• Then read/recite it once every three months for a year

• And then read/recite it once every year 

Let’s talk through which of these ways of memorizing Scripture you want to try this week – which verse(s), when, where, how. 

• What do you think about meditating and memorizing Scripture? Is this something you already do? Have you ever done this before? When?

• Any thoughts or creative ideas about practicing it this week? Is there anything new you want to try? Or something that has been helpful to you in the past that you’d like to share?
  
  

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

In the week ahead, let’s continue this practice of memorizing Scripture, partnering with God in the renewing of our minds. The Practice for this week is fairly simple. Take the time to work through the above way of memorizing Scripture that you selected. Determine what you need to do ahead of time to be successful in your commitment. Whether it means buying index cards or a stress ball, take the practical steps you need to to make it happen. 

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time praying for each other, asking God to help you make time and press into the Practice, remembering that the enemy attacks that which God is after most. If we are in Christ, we have the mind of Christ, which is constantly being renewed and transformed. So as followers of Jesus, we want to be actively engaging our minds in ways that are worshipful and intentional. Perhaps even consider inviting another person in your Community to help keep you accountable to your commitment.

Philemon, Pt. 1: Scripture

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:

Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.

Review the Last Practice 

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on Scripture, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another how our practice of Lectio Divina went. 

• What did your time in Scriptures look like this week? Did you find Lectio Divina to be a helpful tool? In what ways did it differ from your typical practice of reading Scripture?

• What’s one way you heard God speak to you through his Word in your time of reading this week? How did you feel led to practically respond to God’s voice this week (i.e. a change of mind or change of habit, an act of love toward someone you know, etc.)?

• What about your current practice of Scripture feels off to you (i.e. a discomfort, interruption, inconsistency, etc.)? Is it something for you to change, or is it something God is using to change you?

As we dive into our practice for tonight, we’ll start to see how God uses Scripture to shape our hearts and minds to reflect that of his son’s. Let’s take the next few moments to simply pray and ask Jesus to be our teacher tonight, as we continue to practice reading Scripture together.

Leader Note: As followers of Jesus, we look to him as our teacher, so take this moment in prayer to offload the pressure of your formation back on to Jesus and receive the freedom to simply engage this practice, trusting that the practice itself is what gives the Spirit space to form you.

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

In the book of Philemon, the Apostle Paul writes to a pastor, named Philemon, asking him to not only welcome home a runaway slave, named Onesimus, but to go one giant leap further and receive him as a brother. Paul recognizes Onesimus’ genuine decision to follow Jesus and chooses to send him home to the master he wronged. The runaway slave returns to his master with a letter from Paul, detailing what should be Philemon’s proper response in light of this new spiritual reality. Paul seized this opportunity to reconcile the relationship between two brothers in Christ, and at the same time re-shape the minds of his readers to see their world, their society, and one another, through the lens of God’s kingdom.

In verses 4–6, the Apostle Paul prays for Philemon to direct his attention to “every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.” Throughout the letter, Paul is teaching Onesimus, Philemon, and surely the entire church gathering in his home to be “transformed by the renewal of their minds” (Rom 12v2) and to see themselves within the redemptive narrative of scripture. Paul knows that without an “understanding of every good thing” our minds will instead be shaped by societal trends, or what he calls in another letter “the ways of this world” (Rom 12v2).

Do This Practice Tonight 

Paul’s prayer for Philemon challenges us to reconsider the norms of our society and the typical narratives we accept. As we build a habit of reading Scripture, we learn to find ourselves in God’s story and reframe the world around us from the vantage point of Heaven. What we choose to intentionally fix our minds on will shape the way we view reality and ultimately determine the way we relate to one another. 

Let’s take the next few minutes to break into smaller groups and consider these questions:

• What influences are you currently giving your attention to on a daily basis? How might they be shaping the way you think about yourself, others, or the world around you? Do you notice each source influencing you in a positive way, or in a negative way, or something in-between? 

• Paul says in another letter to think about “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4v8). What practices or resources have you found helpful in cultivating your imagination around these things? 

• For those influences you notice impacting you in a way that isn’t helpful or pulls you away from a Kingdom perspective, how could you replace those habits or redirect your attention to things that reinforce a truer narrative? How do you feel about that idea — excited, daunted, encouraged, something else?

Leader Note: As the smaller groups discuss these questions, keep track of the time and encourage people to talk through each question before moving on to the next part of the practice.

Now let’s take the next few moments to consider each other's answers and pray for one another, using Philemon v4–6 as a guide.

"I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ." — Philemon v4–6

Leader Note: When everyone has finished praying, call everyone back in to read the next section and close out the night in prayer.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

In the week ahead, let’s continue in our efforts to renew our minds through Scripture, allowing God to give us the perspective of Heaven. This week, we’ll be setting aside intentional time each day to pray Scripture, using Philemon v4–6 (or Romans 12v2) as a template for our prayers. The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how this Practice of praying Scripture influenced our week and directed our attention.

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue teaching your Community that the renewal of all creation comes through our ordinary lives and the Practice of Scripture.

Jude, Pt. 1: Scripture

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:

Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.

Review the Last Practice 

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice of Scripture let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another about how the practice of daily Scripture reading went. 

• What did your time in Scriptures look like this week? Did you take advantage of BREAD in your time of meditation? If so, was it helpful? If so, what was helpful about it?

• What was something God spoke to you about through Scripture, more specifically Psalm 139, this week that you found particularly encouraging, or convicting?

• Was there any way that you felt led to practically respond to God’s voice this week (i.e. generosity, obedience, sacrificial love for another, forgiveness, etc.)?

• If your practice of Scripture reading is more irregular than you’d like or feels hard to integrate, what might be helpful to change this week in pursuit of greater consistency?

Read This Overview Aloud Together

We’re following Jude into a very deep dive of the Hebrew Scriptures. If it was a swimming pool, most of us wouldn't be able to see the bottom. But Jude, the brilliant pastor that he was, knew what he was doing. He wrote this letter to a church or churches who had fallen prey to some unnoticed, corrupt teachers who had embedded among them. He wrote with urgency, but with deep compassion, beginning his letter with intimate identity-language, reminding his dear friends that they were called, loved, and kept. He was writing to say two things: 1) What’s happening in your churches isn’t new – false teachers rebelling against God’s goodness is an ancient pattern that goes all the way back to Genesis and 2) that such practice always leads to death. There is no way to rebel that keeps you on the path of life.

We see Jude tracing a series of examples through the Hebrew Scriptures, some of which are probably new to us because they aren’t in our Bibles, but all of which would have been entirely familiar to his audience. Jude was reminding them that even though grace had been extended to them, they were still as much at risk of the destruction that rebellion produces as their own ancestors were. But also that they were just as able to choose the life and flourishing that Jesus offers instead.

Jude is speaking to them as a parent. He is warning them, pleading with them to change course, to return to Jesus. And he needs them to know the seriousness of what’s going on. He needs them to really see what’s at stake. But, as we find out, Jude doesn’t write to those who are following these false teachers with anger or legalism; he knows and understands that belief is a process, that spiritual formation is a journey, and that oftentimes belief grows out of the soil of belonging. Jude tells the church to contend for the faith, and this week we get to learn more about how to do that: we keep ourselves in God's love and we show mercy to those in doubt.

Do This Practice Tonight

In the narrative of Scripture, and as we see it in Jude, “mercy” is “enacted compassion.” It’s what happens when we see something that moves our heart in the same way God’s is moved, and then we do something about it. Jude is inviting us to imitate God by contending for the faith. And in a letter about how we do that, we learn it’s about staying in God’s love and showing mercy to others. So, tonight we are going to take some time to Practice lectio devina, a way of prayerfully engaging with Scripture as it reveals who God is, who we are, and how we can respond. Lectio Devina is not about “mastering” Scripture, but surrendering to it as a living and active authority in our lives. We’re reading for depth, not breadth. We’ll engage the five movements that traditionally are included in lectio devina, and then end our time hearing from one another about how God is inviting us to respond.

The five movements that are included in lectio devina are:

1. Prepare (Silencio): quiet preparation of the heart 

2. Read (Lectio): read the word

3. Meditate (Meditatio): meditate 

4. Pray (Oratio): respond, pray

5. Contemplate (Contemplatio): contemplate wait on God 

Leader note: Jude v17–25 will be read aloud three different times during the practice, so it could be helpful to have three different people be available and willing to read. 

Let’s take a moment to get comfortable. This can involve putting our phones aside, making sure the kids are doing okay in the other room, and getting into a posture that helps you feel open to the Spirit. 

Now, let’s begin.

Prepare.  Let’s become quiet and come into God’s presence by slowing down, and intentionally releasing the chaos and noise in your mind to God.

Read. Let’s have someone read Jude v17–25 out loud. We’re not in any hurry, so read this passage slowly. When a word or phrase catches your attention as you’re hearing it read out loud, attend to what God is saying. Listen and wait.

Meditate. We’re going to hear Jude v17–25 read a second time outloud. Listen for any invitation that God is extending to you in this passage. Meditate and reflect on the words that stand out to you. After this passage is read outloud, we’ll wait in silence for a few minutes.

Pray: Let’s read Jude v17–25 for a third and final time. This is the moment we get to move towards responding and prayer, as we enter into a more personal dialogue with God. There’s no right or wrong to do this. The important thing is to respond honestly and openly with God. 

Contemplate: Lastly, let’s contemplate, rest, and wait in the presence of God. The end of v21 and beginning of v22 says “...wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt.” What feelings or thoughts are stirring up in you? In the ways you have experientially known the mercy and compassion of God, how might you be sent out to help others to do the same? How might you be invited to contend for the faith by staying in God’s love and extending mercy to those around you who are having a hard time doing that?

Let’s wait for God to speak as we take the next few minutes in silence.

Close. Offer a brief prayer of gratitude to God for his mercy and compassion, and for the ways the Spirit met with the Community tonight.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, we want to continue this Practice of Scripture by setting aside intentional time every day for lectio devina. Either in your daily BREAD reading, or a Psalm, or the book of Jude, practice lectio devina by following these five movements: (Keep in mind, this could take as little as 5 minutes or up to an hour if you’d like. This is all about keeping company with Jesus whether or not he speaks to you.)

1. Prepare (Silencio): quiet preparation of the heart 

2. Read (Lectio): read the word

3. Meditate (Meditatio): meditate 

4. Pray (Oratio): respond, pray

5. Contemplate (Contemplatio): contemplate wait on God

Close by getting into groups of 2-3

Let’s split up into groups of 2–3. While there is no pressure to hear from everyone, we want to carve out space for anyone who wants to share what feelings, thoughts, even specific invitations came up during the practice. Close your time in prayer by blessing each person to live a life of love in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ruth, Pt. 3: Scripture

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:

Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.

Review the Last Practice 

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice of Scripture let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another about how the practice of daily Scripture reading went. 

• What did your time in Scriptures look like this week? Did you take advantage of BREAD in your time of meditation? If so, was it helpful? If so, what was helpful about it?

• What was something God spoke to you about through Scripture this week that you found particularly encouraging, or convicting?

• Was there any particular way that you felt led to practically respond to God’s voice this week (i.e. generosity, obedience, sacrificial love for another, forgiveness, etc.)?

• If the practice of Scripture is more irregular than you’d like or feels hard to integrate, what might be helpful to change this week in pursuit of greater consistency?

Read This Overview  Aloud Together

Tragedy and death. Feeling forgotten by God. Being victimized by disasters outside your control. The book of Ruth opens with truly devastating circumstances for Naomi and Ruth — deaths of sons and husbands, famine, and feeling forgotten and without hope. By the close of the book, we see each and every plot line that interrupted the lives of these two widows transformed by redemption — where there was death, new life. Where there was lack, abundance. Where they felt alone, they experience loyalty, honor, and love.

While God is not frequently talked about by name in the book of Ruth, God’s providence is behind every scene of this story, weaving together circumstances and faithful actions to produce kingdom realities. God is not interested in playing games with us or being a puppet master. He deeply desires to redeem and restore every plot line in our lives, and he’ll do it through our circumstances, through others, and through the small, faithful choices we make that we think go unseen. Ruth shows us that even if we hold real feelings of bitterness or fear, believing that God is out to punish or abandon us, we’re invited to trust a truer reality: if God has not redeemed a situation, then God isn’t done yet.

God weaves together the faithful obedience of his people to bring about his redemptive purposes in the world. And that is the real and true ending of Ruth. Chapter four’s genealogy shows that Boaz & Ruth’s son Oved was the grandfather of King David, from whom came the lineage of the Messiah. And so, all of a sudden, all of these seemingly mundane ordinary events in the story are woven into God’s grand story of redemption of the whole world. So, we too are invited to consider how God might be at work in the very ordinary, mundane details of our lives as well.

Do This Practice Tonight

Tonight, we are going to take some time to Practice praying Scripture together. Praying Scripture for ourselves or even for one another can lift the burden from our own shoulders and place it directly on God’s, and giving us words to pray where we may not have them Praying Scripture is one of several ways to enter deeply into the text, possibly becoming attuned to a unique and personal word from God. So, we’re going to pray Ruth’s great grandson David’s words in Psalm 139 tonight. 

We’ll begin in the quiet, simply noticing God’s love. Then we’ll have a few folks read Psalm 139 out loud over us, and we’ll end our time by sharing what you’re sensing God saying to you. 

Leader note: Before starting the Practice, ask if there would be one person willing to read Psalm 139v1-12, and then a second person to read Psalm 139v12-24. 

Get Comfortable. Before we begin, let’s take a moment to get comfortable. This can involve putting our phones aside, making sure the kids are doing ok in the other room, and getting into a posture that helps you feel open to the Spirit. 

Breathe. Let’s become quiet and take a moment to breathe. Welcome God’s love for you. Give yourself permission to let go of any of your own agendas. And let’s open ourselves to the wonderfully human prayers given to us in Scripture. If it’s helpful, you’re welcome to close your eyes, place your hands open in the posture of receiving, or place a hand over your heart as you welcome God’s nearness. 

Psalm 139. Let’s have (name) read Psalm 139v1-12, and then (name) read Psalm 139v12-24 aloud and slowly. We’re not in any hurry. Any words and verses that catch our attention can become invitations to simply be with God and hear his voice. We want to slow down Scripture reading to a pace that serves listening. 

Prayer of Gratitude. Offer a brief prayer of gratitude thanking God for hearing us, leading us, and showing us how to listen to his voice with our whole and honest selves. 

Respond. If anyone would like to share, what words or verses stood out as Psalm 139 was read aloud? What did you sense God saying to you? Has there been any specific situation or area in your life that you’re longing for God to redeem? How did you sense God leading you into prayer?  

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, we want to continue this Practice by setting aside intentional time to read the Scriptures and stay in Psalm 139. You could substitute your own name where the text says me and I. For instance, insert your name or someone’s name who you are praying for on a regular basis (a friend, your child, someone else) in the blanks: For you created _______’s inmost being; you knit _______ together in _______’s mother’s womb. _______ praises you because _______ is fearfully and wonderfully made… 

Similar to the last few weeks, the heart of this Practice is two-fold. First, it’s to allow God to shape our prayer life through the words of Scripture. Secondly, it helps us consider that God is at work in the very ordinary, mundane details of our lives for his redemptive purposes. 

The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how this Practice of praying Scripture went for each of us.

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue teaching your Community that the redemption of all creation comes through our ordinary lives and the Practice of Scripture.

Ruth, Pt. 2: Scripture

Note for Communities with families: The Family Guide for Scripture just came out! You can find it here and practice reading scripture together with your kids this summer.

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:

Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.

Review the Last Practice 

Leader Note: As you review the last Practice, it may be helpful to remind everyone that this is a space to simply notice how it went, not to be hyper critical or judgmental of yourself or others.

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on Scripture, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another about how the practice of daily Scripture reading went.

• What did your time in Scriptures look like this week? Did you take advantage of BREAD in your time of meditation? If so, was it helpful? If so, why?

• What was something God spoke to you about through Scripture this week that you found particularly encouraging, or convicting?

• How did you practically respond to God’s voice this week? Was there any particular way that you felt led to respond (i.e. obedience, sacrificial love for another, forgiveness, etc.)?

• If the practice of Scripture is more irregular than you would like, how do you plan to alter your approach this week in pursuit of greater consistency?
  
  

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

All of us handle grief and disappointment differently. Some of those differences are by choice, and some are the implicit stories we believe. The book of Ruth offers us a picture of how the stories we believe, the habits we form, and the community we keep deeply influence the way we respond to life’s most difficult moments. In this narrative, Ruth is honored for the way she chooses to respond to suffering, making an intentional choice to cling to her community, even in the face of profound grief.

Ruth is a beautiful example of what redemption and renewal is possible when someone allows their grief to push them toward God and others, rather than away from them. As she chooses to wrap her arms around her mother-in-law, Ruth experiences the God of Israel wrapping his arms around her through the ordinary actions of his chosen people. In this pivotal act of love and faith, Ruth rather unknowingly partners with God to secure the lineage of Jesus, the savior of the world, declaring “Where you go I will go, where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1v16).

Tonight, we’ll spend some time Praying Scripture, using this verse as a template for our practice.

Do This Practice Tonight 

Let’s break into groups of 2 or 3, and take the next 15-20 minutes to discuss the following prompts:

1. Share with your group where you are currently carrying grief or disappointment, to the extent that you feel led.

2. In a moment of silent prayer, ask God what it practically looks like for you to cling to him and others, while at the same time mourning the grief you shared.

3. Using Ruth 1v16 as a template, give each person in the group an opportunity to pray in their own words a commitment to cling to God amidst your grief journey.

Leader Note: Be sure to close in a prayer of gratitude for how God was present in this practice and how he chose to uniquely meet us in it.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, we want to continue this Practice by setting aside intentional time to read the Scriptures and pray this same commitment each day, “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and you will be my God.” Take a moment now to identify a time each day you intend to pray this verse over your life, then consider setting a reminder for yourself to do so.

Leader note: Take just a minute or two and give the group a chance to do this.

Keep in mind, the Practice of reading Scripture is aimed more at growing a relationship with God, so let this practice be more than a mantra. Let this prayer be a daily liturgy that reshapes your perspective toward each day. As we see in the life of Ruth, God is using our ordinary choices—our everyday lives—to bring about the renewal of all creation.

The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how this Practice of praying Scripture went for each of us.

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue teaching your Community that the renewal of all creation comes through our ordinary lives and the Practice of Scripture.

Ruth, Pt. 1: Scripture

Leader Note: Tonight’s Practice will include an invitation for everyone in your Community to reflect and respond by writing a few things down. People are welcome to use their phones to jot down notes, but having devices out might be a distraction, so ask ahead of time that everyone brings their Bible and consider having some pens and paper available. 

Note for Communities with families: The Family Guide for Scripture just came out! You can find it here and practice reading scripture together with your kids this summer.

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your gathering by taking communion together, whether as a full meal together or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone lead through this guided prayer:

Holy Spirit, as we begin our time tonight, would you bring to our minds a moment in which we heard your voice really clearly this last week?
(Leader Note: Pause here for a moment.)
God, we remember that you are kind and that you love to speak to us.
We remember that you are patient and will continue to teach us to hear you.
We remember that you are gracious, gentle, and good.
And, for all of this, we are thankful.
Amen.

Review the Last Practice 

Leader Note: As you review the last Practice, it may be helpful to remind everyone that this is a space to simply notice how it went, not to be hyper critical or judgmental of yourself or others.

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on Scripture, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another how it went last week practicing Intercession for those in our community. 

• Does anyone have an update from a lament or request that was shared with us during the previous series? 

• Who in the room chose to pray for one of those requests? Which of the three gifts (silence, groaning, or tongues) did you practice when interceding for that request? What was your experience like?

• When reflecting on the time spent interceding for others, how have you grown in compassion? Along with that, are you noticing yourself more attuned to God’s heart and voice?

• How has this practice impacted the way you might pray for others in the future?

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

The book of Ruth is a story about the lives of 3 people, told over just 4 chapters. But when you look closer, you’ll see that this short story actually contains the whole story of the Bible. This narrative emphasizes the biblical refrain of the renewal of all creation, through the ordinary lives of ordinary people. This means that the story of Ruth is an invitation to wonder at the ways God might use our ordinary choices—our everyday lives—to bring about redemption.

In the first chapter of Ruth, we get a hard look at life outside of Eden. Famine and death bring us to the grief of three women left behind in the aftermath. As we observe each woman’s response to their nearly identical suffering, we are confronted with the reality that the stories we believe, the habits we cultivate, and the community we keep deeply form us and shape who we become. Tonight, as a community, we will re-enter the story of Ruth together. As it is read aloud, we will listen for the ways God might be moving in the ordinary details of our lives. Through the practice of reading scripture (lectio divina) we learn to listen to God's voice, recognize his presence and see where he is at work in and through us.

Do This Practice Tonight 

Leader Note: If you want to follow along in your BREAD book, we’ll be using the prompts on page 6. It could be helpful to ask someone else in your Community to read Ruth chapters 1-4, so that you and/or your Co-Leader can guide everyone through the prompts below. 

As we build a habit of reading the Scriptures, we learn to find ourselves in God’s story. The Scriptures begin to help us see the world the way God does and be formed into his image. There are many ways to engage Scripture—like reading, studying, memorizing, and praying it—but tonight we are going to use the process of BREAD to encounter the Spirit through the book of Ruth.

BREAD is a modern take on lectio divina, which is a time-tested way of meeting with God in the pages of Scripture. So, as we do this, simply notice where you sense the Spirit speaking to you through the text. Pay attention to how your heart is postured, doing your best to open yourself to God’s voice and let the words you hear challenge, shape, and bless you. We will follow these five prompts to guide our time: Be Still, Read, Encounter, Apply, and Devote. 

Leader Note: Be sure not to rush each prompt. So pay attention to how people are doing in the room, and pause for 1-2 minutes between each.

Be still: To begin, let’s put away our devices or any distractions and get into a comfortable but alert position. Let’s take a few moments to breathe in and out deeply, centering ourselves before God. 

Read: Now, let’s read through the book of Ruth. After a minute or two, we will reread the story. As we read, take notice of what stands out and perhaps even write it down.

Encounter: Now, we’re going to meditate on what God highlighted to each of us by reflecting silently on the question: What might God be saying to me?

Apply: Next, we are going to name and write down what God might be inviting us into. How might we practically engage this invitation tonight, tomorrow, and in the week to come?

Devote: Finally, we’ll take a moment to write or silently pray a prayer, committing ourselves to what God has been revealing to us and how we want to be transformed by him and his truth. Through this, we get to surrender and entrust our deepest formation to the Spirit of God. 

Leader Note: Pause before moving on.

Let’s take a moment now to turn to the person next to us and share anything you’d like about your experience tonight with this practice. After your neighbor finishes speaking, simply thank them for sharing and when everyone is done we will reconvene to pray.

Leader Note: Be sure to close in a prayer of gratitude for how God was present in this practice and how he chose to uniquely meet us in it.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, we want to continue this Practice by setting aside intentional time to read the Scriptures daily. Keep in mind, the Practice of reading Scripture is aimed more at growing a relationship with God than gathering information about God. If you don’t have a regular Practice of reading the Bible, consider picking up a copy of BREAD and/or BREAD for Kids at church this Sunday. 

The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how this Practice of daily reading the Scripture went for each of us.

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking God to continue teaching your Community that the renewal of all creation comes through our ordinary lives and the Practice of Scripture.

Family Guide: Scripture

At Bridgetown, our goal is that every person – adult and child – would be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did. But these things don’t just happen overnight; they take time, intention, and repetition. So, with this in mind, we will be releasing a Family Guide during each teaching series to help you engage a particular Practice from the life and teaching of Jesus together. Since these Guides are aimed at kids of multiple ages, please skip or adapt anything that does not feel age appropriate. These Guides are written conversationally, so feel free to read through them. Italicized words are notes to parents and bolded words are questions to take some time with.

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In our Bridgetown Church family, we are on a lifelong adventure to be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what he did. Something we can participate in that combines ALL those things is reading the Bible!

When you think of the Bible, what comes to mind?

(Give space for answers.)

The Bible we have today looks like one big book. But, when you open it up, the Bible is actually a little library filled with lots of different kinds of stories! There are poems, there are adventure stories, there’s history, and there are songs praising God. All these little stories make one big story when you put them together: a big story about how Jesus rescues the whole world.

Do you have a favorite story from the Bible, or somewhere else? What is it? Why do you like it?

(Give space for answers.)

Jesus was once a child, just like you. He spent his childhood learning and even memorizing the story of Scripture. Since Jesus is who we want to be like, we want to read the Bible often too.

The Bible is a story about God and his people, and God’s plan to love and rescue the whole world. We get to follow and even be part of that story, from creation to God blessing his special people to God’s people going astray and Jesus coming to earth to heal and save us, inviting ALL of us to be part of his story. We even get to look ahead at how God will one day make the whole world new and how his church — us — gets to be a part of it!

Let’s open our Bible together to Psalm 23 and read this poem (written by King David) out loud together. As we read, let's listen for what David is saying about God and how he loves us, so we can talk about that afterwards.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Response

• What does this poem tell us about who God is?

• What does this poem tell us about how God loves us?

After we read the Bible, we can pray and talk to one another about what we read. We  can even ask God, “God how are you asking me to respond to what I read? Is there anything you want me to know, to do, or to change?”

• How is God inviting me to respond? 

When we need to remember something really important, it can be helpful to be reminded of it really often! The Bible teaches us about who God is and how we are loved and rescued by him, and we need to be reminded of that all the time. In Deuteronomy 6, God’s people are encouraged to talk and think about Scripture often — especially with their families — like at home, out and about, when you’re headed to bed or when you start your day. Reading the Bible often helps us remember that this is our story, too, and gives us a chance to let God speak to us through Scripture.

Jesus took those words of Deuteronomy 6 really seriously. He read scripture every single day, and even memorized lots of it! Many followers of Jesus today do the same as they learn to be with Jesus, become like him, and do what he did.

How does the idea of reading the Bible every day make you feel?

(Give space for answers.)

The Bible is a big book, and it’s okay if reading it sometimes feels really big or overwhelming! Even just a little every day helps us learn how to be like Jesus and remember who God is. A great place to start can be the Psalms, like the one we just read, and the Gospels, which are stories about Jesus' life.

Did you know that God sent us a helper to teach us to understand the Bible? It’s true! God’s Holy Spirit does so many things in us, but one of them is that he helps us to understand what God is saying through the Bible, and what he is trying to teach each of us when we read it. When you read something that feels confusing, you can ask the Spirit to help you understand. The Holy Spirit is who brings the Bible alive in us!

Here are a couple ideas for how we could get more Scripture into our lives now. Let’s pick one to try this week.

Explore the Bible together

Followers of Jesus often read scripture together to encourage one another and learn together. Here are a couple ideas for us to choose from to explore the Bible together.

• Every night before bed, let’s read a Bible story together. We can use a story Bible like The Jesus Storybook Bible or The Biggest Story Bible, or read straight from the Bible itself. Before we read, let’s pray together to ask God to show us something about him, his story, and what it means for us.

• Another idea is to read a verse out loud when we eat together as a family, like at breakfast or dinner. We can even choose one verse to read every day and memorize it together! Or, we could choose one Psalm, and do a verse of it each day, or read the whole Psalm out loud together.

• Adults: If your family would like to try memorizing scripture together, a few memory verses to consider are Psalm 27v1, Proverbs 3v5–6, Philippians 4v6–7 or 4v8, Ephesians 4v32, and John 3v16–17. Your family could also try memorizing a longer section a verse at a time, such as Psalm 23, Psalm 103v1-5, 1 Corinthians 13v4-7, or Romans 12v9-18.

Explore the Bible on your own

Once every week (maybe on Sunday or your family’s Sabbath), pick a Psalm to read on your own and talk to God about! If you open up BREAD for Kids (available in the Bridgetown Bookstore), there’s a Psalm picked out for each week, and space for you to draw or write down what you think or feel about what you read. If your grown-ups use BREAD too, they’ll be reading the same Psalm as you each week, so you can talk about it together if you like.

Which ideas would you like to try this week? 

Grown ups: circle or write down how your family would like to proceed.

No matter what we try, let’s commit to reading God’s words to us, and pray now that God would transform us and show us his love while we read the Bible.

The Gifts Of The Spirit For The Work Of The Kingdom, Pt. 4: Intercession

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your time together by taking communion, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read from the book of Acts 1v8 as you welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Review the Last Practice 

Leader Note: As you review the last Practice, it may be helpful to remind everyone that this is a space to simply notice how it went, not to be hyper critical or judgmental of yourself or others.

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on Intercession, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another how it went last week utilizing the Psalms in your prayers of Lament. 

• How did practicing Lament go this week? In what ways did you experience God’s presence through this practice?

• In what moments did you experience comfort, or maybe discomfort, while sharing your grief with Jesus?

• Was using a Psalm helpful to give voice to your grief? How so?

• How is God inviting you to make Lament a more active part of your prayer life?

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

Last week, we discussed how powerful the practice of Lament can be in moments of grieving and desperation. There are often moments of such deep sorrow, or compassion for another, that we find ourselves at a loss for words. And in those times, the psalms are a brilliant gift to us in finding the language that best articulates the cry of our hearts. But, there are also times when we meet the limitations of language, and are restricted by our native tongue — unable to find the words to capture our heart’s cry. 

It is in these moments of grief, God, by His Spirit, grants us a gift. Throughout church history, followers of Jesus have practiced the spiritual gift of groaning and tongues as a response to these moments of impasse within intercessory prayer. In our current cultural moment, we tend to value technology, rationale, usefulness, and intellect, so we often undervalue this gift, and instead we seek to exhibit competence, coherence, and control in our spiritual lives. But in the midst of this discomfort, tongues has a way of building our faith, drawing us closer to the heart of God, and orienting our hearts toward others in the form of intercession.

Do This Practice Tonight 

Tonight, we are going to practice interceding for one another in prayer, by means of groaning, tongues, or silence.

During our last Community Guide, we went around the room and shared the places in life we were holding the grief of unanswered prayer. We are going to revisit those again today, so we will go around and one-by-one remind the room of our request(s). Then, as a Community, we will all simultaneously pray aloud for that individual's request. If anyone wasn’t present for that discussion, take a moment now to identify an aspect of your life where you lack the words for what you want most from God, or want to say to God. Ask yourself, “What space in my life feels like my prayers are restricted by language?”

Let’s take a moment now to gather our thoughts and remember our requests.

[Pause for folks to reflect]

In moments of great desperation, grief, or compassion, the Spirit gives us a gift to communicate with God in a way that goes beyond language. One gift, or way to communicate, is through groaning, a form of lament that comes from your entire being. Another is the gift of tongues, a type of private speech that is led by the Spirit and is intelligible to us. A third way of communicating to God that goes beyond words is silence, holding a request before God without needing to make a sound. Each of these gifts relieve us of the burden to know all things and yet allow us to remain an active part of God’s good work in the lives around us.

We are going to use the remainder of our time together tonight to practice praying for each other. We will begin by hearing a lament from someone and then, after they share their request, we will all pray out loud together for that request. As we pray, let’s do so however the Spirit leads, keeping in mind that he may invite us out of our comfort zones, to intercede in one of the three ways we’ve just mentioned: through tongues, with groaning, or in silence. Then we will pray for the next person, and continue doing this for the rest of our time together.

Leader Note: Choose someone to share first and, when they’re done, introduce the moment of prayer by simply saying to the group “Let’s all pray aloud for this request.” Once there is a lull in the prayer, ask the next person in the circle to share and repeat the practice. When everyone has had the chance to be prayed for, thank the room for their vulnerability and participation.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, we are going to intentionally practice intercessory prayer for the requests mentioned tonight, utilizing the three prayer gifts we talked about earlier. 

Let’s all choose one request from the night to intercede for every day this week.

The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how practicing intercession has helped us grow in compassion for others and become more attuned to God’s presence in our lives. 

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer. Pray that God would continue to grow the Community with a renewed sense of the Holy Spirit’s power and loving presence. 

The Gifts Of The Spirit for the work of the Kingdom, Pt. 3: Lament

Leader Note: During the Practice for Tonight section, Psalm 80 will be read aloud. Plan ahead to have a Bible available for you or someone else in your Community to read from. 

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your time together by taking communion, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read from the book of Acts 1v8 as you welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Review the Last Practice 

Leader Note: As you review the last Practice, it may be helpful to remind everyone that this is a space to simply notice how it went, not to be hyper critical or judgmental of self or others. 

Before we jump into tonight’s practice on Lament, let’s take a few minutes to hear from one another how last week went, discerning God’s voice through the Prayer of the Examen. 

• Last week, we practiced the Examen. How did that go? 

• In the moments you felt nearest to God, do you notice any particular themes emerging?

• In the moments you felt furthest from God, were there any specific feelings you noticed surfacing? (i.e. anxiety, apathy, confusion, joy, loneliness, etc.) What did it look like to name and bring those emotions to God?

• What is one way you want to include the Examen into your practice of Prayer going forward?

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

Life can be painful, even tragic. It can feel full of unfixable problems. People we love die. Our bodies fail us. Our children make choices that pain us. We grieve singleness, or grieve how a relationship has changed. Sorrow can show up at a moment’s notice. Jesus himself told us, in this life, you’ll have trouble (John 16v33). Did you notice what he didn’t say? In this life you’ll have trouble, and your job is to pretend it’s not that bad, or get over it.

Whether we grew up in church contexts or not, many of us came up in environments where we were learned to bottle these things up, “find the bright side,” or move on from painful experiences or emotions. As a result, so many of us find it difficult to know how to face hard things with God, or how to pray in the midst of them. Learning what to do with our pain, grief, or even uncertainty is a large part of the journey following Jesus.

When we are in the midst of pain or grief, we have good company in Jesus, a man of many sorrows who called those who weep and mourn blessed. (Matthew 5v4). We read on the pages of Scripture that when we are grieved and have no words to pray, the Spirit prays and intercedes for us with wordless groans (Romans 8v26).

The Bible has a word for these kinds of pained prayers: Lament. Sometimes the most healthy response to the brokenness of this world and our own life is a mixture of tears and prayers, leading us to partnership with the Spirit in God’s transforming work. Tears and prayers of Lament were never intended to solve the problem of suffering, but they can suspend the raw nerve of pain by placing us right into the loving presence of God. Lament is a cry of belief in a good God, who does not abandon us but rather has the ability to hold all of us. One day God will wipe every tear away and every sorrow will be behind us. But until that day, we get to take our pain into prayer to the one who is acquainted with our grief.

Do This Practice Tonight 

Tonight, we are going to spend time discussing what it means for us to pray prayers of Lament and then do that together. In our western American context, we know very little about Lament so our aim tonight is to view grieving as a form of love through prayer. Over two-thirds of the psalms hone in on Lament: taking our frustrations, sufferings, and heartaches to God, from a posture of worship. We will read a Psalm and pray aloud with one another in response to a few prompts. 

So, let’s begin by settling in by putting away any distractions and get comfortable.

Leader Note: Once everyone has settled in, open in prayer. 

Silently to yourself, draw to mind an unanswered prayer in your life or a point of grief or pain that you are carrying tonight. With that unanswered prayer or place of pain in your mind, let’s have someone read Psalm 80. As you hear this passage read, do your best to hear it through the lens as your own prayer. 

Read Psalm 80. 

Let’s sit in silence for a few minutes, just letting the words of the psalm give you space to think and feel the weight of lament in your own life, Community, or world. It can be lament over unanswered prayer or a point of pain. 

Next, let’s go around the room and pray your own lament prayer to God. We want everyone to have the opportunity to pray, but there’s no pressure. Push past wanting to censor yourself. Give yourself permission to be honest. This can be a short prayer: bringing the sadness, pain, frustration to Jesus and asking him to help you carry this load. This might sound like “God, I am grieving the dysfunction within my family and the pain addiction brings” or “God, I feel powerless in the mystery of whatever is going wrong in my health” or “God, I feel really lost and I’m hurting.” 

Lastly, let’s have a few of us who might be feeling particularly faith-filled in God, even in the face of all of that’s been shared tonight, close this portion of our night with prayers of gratitude. We get to thank Jesus that he went through unanswered prayer and emotional pain in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. He will be present with us in the midst of our pain, and lead and guide us through whatever may come. 

Leader Note: If your Community is a newly formed Community, it could be helpful to take 30 seconds or so before moving on to offer a reminder that while there will be many opportunities to encourage and pray for one another during Community nights, be aware of opportunities to pray for one another throughout the week as well. 

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, you’re invited to pick out a lament psalm, and use it to give voice to your own prayers of Lament. Some great examples are Psalm 10, 13, 60, 79, or 80. Similar to how we read the passage tonight, allow the psalm to be your prayer. Don’t just read it and move on. Maybe it will involve sitting in the discomfort and letting God comfort you. 

The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how these prayers of Lament helped us remain honest with God, rather than shouldering our burdens alone. 

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer, asking that God would continue to grow the Community with a renewed sense of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. 

Family Guide: Prayer

At Bridgetown, our goal is that every person – adult and child – would be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did. But these things don’t just happen overnight; they take time, intention, and repetition. So, with this in mind, we will be releasing a Family Guide during each teaching series to help you engage a particular Practice from the life and teaching of Jesus together. Since these Guides are aimed at kids of multiple ages, please skip or adapt anything that does not feel age appropriate. These Guides are written conversationally, so feel free to read through them. Italicized words are notes to parents and bolded words are questions to take some time with.

When is a time when you’ve made a brand new friend? Maybe recently you met someone new at school, or at the playground?

(Give space for answers.)

When you first became friends, what did you do to get to know that person? 

(Give space for answers.)

If you want to learn about somebody, you have to spend time talking to them! Wouldn’t it be weird if you had a new friend you never spoke to? You just sat in the same room and stared at one another? I imagine you wouldn’t learn much about that person, and they wouldn’t learn much about you. They wouldn’t know what you like or what you’re interested in, and you couldn’t share any plans or excitement with one another.

Getting to know God as our friend is the same. To get to know God, we need to spend time talking with him. Talking with God is called Prayer.

You might be wondering, why do we talk to God though? He already knows everything about me! That’s a great question — we pray, because God is someone we want to get to know, too. To understand him better, to share ideas and feelings with one another, you can talk to him. 

God also gave us his Holy Spirit so we could talk to him any time, and so he could talk to us in all kinds of ways too. What are some ways God talks to us?

(Parents: give space for answers)

God talks to us through the Bible, through his Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts, and sometimes through other people, too!

You know who we can look to as an example for how to talk with God? Jesus! And Jesus talked to his Father God all the time! He told God how he felt, what he needed, and what he was thinking.

We can talk to God about anything and everything too — how we are feeling, things we need his help with, what we’re thinking, what we are worried about, to say thank you, and share things we want. Some people pray out loud, and some people like to pray without saying anything out loud at all! What are some times that we pray together? 

(Parents: give space to share answers, and perhaps offer examples if needed such as “when we need help,” or “to give thanks for a meal.”)

Do you ever pray by yourself? What are some things you pray about?

If not — that’s okay! We all start somewhere. Prayer can feel a little mysterious or intimidating at first. You might wonder what to say. That is okay — even Jesus’s disciples asked him to teach them how to pray.

Let’s open our bibles together and read Matthew 6v9–13, where Jesus taught his disciples all about how to pray.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.

Another way to pray this you might have heard at Bridgetown Kids goes like this:

God, we love you

We want to see your kingdom everywhere

Give us what we need today

Help us forgive, because you forgive us

Help us follow you

We will worship you forever

Amen

In this prayer, we tell God we know he is Holy and honor him. We ask him for help with what we need, and also help doing the things we should. You can pray any time and place — while you brush your teeth, while you walk to school, when you’re alone or when you’re with family or friends.

At Bridgetown, we follow a daily prayer rhythm or pattern. In the morning, we pray the Lord’s prayer that we just learned. At lunchtime, we pray for people we know who aren’t friends with Jesus yet. And at night, we pray to say thank you to God. It’s so cool knowing that when we pray, there are hundreds of people around the city praying the same things we are!

Prayer is the place where we can get to know God, and we can share more of ourselves with God too. Let’s pick a time and a way we want to try prayer together!

Idea 1: Pray the Lord’s Prayer

Pray the Lord’s Prayer together to begin our day. Remember the Lord’s prayer from our story earlier? Something cool to remember is that all over the city, friends and family from Bridgetown are praying the Lord’s prayer too!

When in our morning could we start praying the Lord’s Prayer together? Maybe in the car on the way to school, at breakfast, or before getting out of bed. When can we start?

Idea 2: Make a prayer tree

A fun tool to engage our creative gifts—like coloring, cutting, writing, and pasting—in prayer is to make a prayer tree! For lots of us, praying with our hands, eyes, and big ideas helps us to remember our prayers and get excited about talking to God often!

We can make a prayer tree by cutting a tree with branches out of cardboard, painting on a big sheet of paper, or bringing a real branch in from outside! We can make “leaves” by cutting them out of paper. On each of the leaves, draw or write a thing or person you are praying for. Each week, we can pray over those leaves together. When the prayer is answered, we can hang it up on the tree! Whenever we see those leaves we can remember God listens to us and answers prayers!

Note: for more detailed information and ideas about the prayer tree, check out Teach Your Children Well by Sarah Cowan Johnson. The Prayer Tree exercise is on page 118.

Which of these two options do we want to commit to?

Parents: Circle or write down the option your family has selected.

Whether we make a prayer tree, pray the Lord’s prayer or something else, let’s find time together to talk with God and listen for his voice.

The Gifts Of The Spirit For The Work Of The Kingdom, Pt. 2: Discernment

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your time together by taking communion, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read from the book of Acts 1v8 as you welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Review the Last Practice 

Leader Note: As you review the last Practice, it may be helpful to remind everyone that this is a space to simply notice how it went, not to correct or advise anyone. 

Before we jump into tonight’s Practice on discernment, let’s take a few minutes to share how God led us to be a witness this past week.

• Who did you witness to this week, and how did it go?

• Was there anything about who God revealed or what God did that was surprising? How so?

• Through which of the three categories we talked about was your witness expressed? (Spoken, Supernatural, or Sacrificial)

• What is one way you want to build the practice of witness into your life going forward?

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

God has given us his Spirit to help us discern his voice from other voices, in our ordinary, day-to-day lives and in big life decisions. So how do we learn what God’s voice sounds like? A great place to begin is in the Scriptures, where we can observe and read how God speaks to his people on the pages of the Bible. By reflecting on the way God has spoken in the past, we develop an ear for his voice in the present day.

Discernment is the spiritual gift and practice of attuning to God’s voice amidst the competing, counterfeit noise around us. This involves a lifetime of training in which we grow increasingly familiar in differentiating between God’s whisper from the deceiver’s lies, and our soul from our ego. An essential tool of spiritual discernment is community. Discernment in community looks like noticing and nurturing the presence of God’s activity with and for one another. We do this in three primary ways: Spiritual Friendship, Spiritual Direction, and Group Discernment. 

In discernment, we must hold the truth that God wants us to hear his voice. Discernment is not a maze he puts us in or a puzzle for us to solve; it’s a gift from the Spirit, allowing us to hear the voice of our Good Shepherd who knows and loves us. The goal is not to reach a stage of discipleship in which we no longer need to discern what God is saying, but to instead increasingly practice hearing his voice and learn to trust it more and more.

Tonight, we are going to take some time to talk about what it means for us to discern God’s voice as we practice Prayer by way of the Examen. 

Do This Practice Tonight 

While there have been various frameworks for the Examen over the centuries, the general aim is always the same: to review our own day with God, noticing where we felt close to God and where we felt far from him. We’re going to practice this together now. So let’s take a moment for everyone to get comfortable, put away our phones or other distractions, and then we’ll begin. I’ll guide us through the four prompts, giving us a few minutes between each, and then we’ll share together after we’re done. 

Let’s pray, welcoming the Spirit and ask him to gather any of our scattered senses, and spend a few moments in silence before our first prompt. 

First, let’s review your day with God. Start from the moment you woke up this morning and reflect through your day up until this moment here. What did you do? What happened to you? What did you feel? Where did you go? Who did you see? What did you get done? What was left undone for another day? What did you say today? What victories did you experience? Where did you feel loss? Let’s take some time to review our days with God.

Next, ask the question: Where did I feel the furthest from God today? Filter back through your day again, this time noticing at which point you felt the furthest from God. And as it comes up, what about that moment made you feel far from God? 

Then, ask the question: Where did I feel the nearest to God today? Once more, filter back through your day, this time noticing at which point you felt the closest to God. And as it comes up, what about that moment made you feel near to God? 

Finally, in light of your reflections, pray one intercession for tomorrow. Taking stock of what you have noticed through all of this, take a moment to ask God for something for tomorrow. Is there somewhere you need him to intervene? Do you want him to help you pay better attention to your temper? Would it be helpful for the kids’ nap time to go smoother? Spend some time asking God for what you need tomorrow. 

Leader’s Note: Once you’ve given time for the final prompt, close with a brief prayer and invite people to share what that experience was like for them and if anyone wants to share about something God brought up for them.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week, we are going to intentionally practice the Examen. Whether it’s every evening or a few times this week, set aside time near the end of your day to follow through the four prompts above. It could be on your commute home, as you’re doing the dishes, while you’re getting ready for bed, or perhaps even right before you go to sleep. And, remember that repetition forms habit, so do your best to create a rhythm that makes the most sense for you.

The next time we meet, we’ll take time to hear about how practicing the Examen has helped us be more attuned to God’s voice in our everyday lives. 

End in Prayer

Leader note: Close your time together in prayer. Pray that God would make your Community a people who recognize and obey his voice. 

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the work of the Kingdom, Pt. 1: Witness

Take Communion

Leader Note: Begin your time together by taking communion, whether as a full meal or some version of the bread and the cup before or after your meal. If you don’t already have a Communion liturgy, have someone read from the book of Acts 1v8 as you welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Read This Overview Aloud Together 

In prayer, Jesus often is inviting us to join him in the work he’s already doing and the love he’s already offering to those who we are witnessing too. Our job is to just look for signs of the everpresent God and to join in. 

In Acts 1, Jesus gives us an identity as witnesses. It’s something that we are before it’s something that we do. Maybe more simply put, a witness is someone who sees or experiences something important for others to know about. And since we’re witnesses, not salespeople, we don’t need to feel any pressure to “close the deal” with the right technique, but simply to bear witness to our life with Jesus. 

So, our practice for tonight is to talk through how this gift of witness from the Holy Spirit gives us the chance to embody Christ’s spoken, supernatural, and sacrificial love.

Do This Practice Tonight

While we’re in this series, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the work of the Kingdom, each of our Community Guides will focus on the practice of Prayer. Tonight, we will be diving into witness as a facet of Prayer. First, we need to unpack those 3 ways of love before we dive into what this practically looks like for each of us. A quick word on each: 

Spoken love. We get to speak truth in love, and bear witness to what God is doing in our life. As witnesses, we are invited by the Spirit to speak love and life into any conversation we have, out of the overflow of what’s going on internally. 

Supernatural love. Whether big or small, God is always supernaturally loving us. Oftentimes, this kind of love enters onto the scene of our lives as prophetic words. As we bear witness to the supernatural love of Jesus, we get to pray and respond to the Spirit…and then we get to humbly offer a word, a phrase, scripture, or picture to others, in love. 

Sacrificial love. Sacrificial love is the gift of allowing ourselves to be inconvenienced on behalf of someone else, to show them how much God loves them. And the truth is, that not only does the practice of sacrificial love in our witness have the potential to mend our world, but it has the power to mend us. 

For some of us, witness as a facet of Prayer is very familiar and well-practiced, and for others all this may be a brand new idea to consider. We want to create space for all of us to engage and start where we are. So with that, let’s take some time to hear from one another how these 3 ways of the Spirit’s love are showing up in our own lives as witnesses.

• Where do you feel resonance or resistance to this gift of Witness? 

• What choice or change in perspective would you need to make in order to become  more available to the Spirit as a witness?

• Who in your life do you want to share the good news of Jesus with? 

Let’s close this portion of our night by getting in groups of 2-3 to practice bearing witness about God’s love. Once we get into groups, begin by having someone ask: “How is your week going?” and respond by sharing about something good in your day and how that connects with God’s love for you. For example, “This morning I got to make pancakes with my son, and really felt God’s love in that” or “Today I got some tough news but felt God’s love through the way a coworker listened and cared for me”. Once everyone in the group has shared, end by asking Jesus to reveal to each of us opportunities to witness to others in this next week.

Read The Practice for the Week Ahead

This week our Community is going to individually practice witness as a facet of Prayer by praying “God, who am I being invited to witness to this week?” and then being open to respond when he shows us. This is going to look different for all of us, but the goal is to talk with and listen to God about ways you could speak in love, supernaturally witness truth, and sacrifice for the sake of others. Together as a Community, let’s commit to setting aside intentional time this week to pray, journal, or have conversations with one another, in order to take action and respond to God. Next week, we will take time to hear from one another about how God led us as witnesses to those around us. 

End in Prayer

Leader Note: Close your time in prayer by asking God to come lead and surprise your Community in the coming week so that no one misses an opportunity to witness by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Maundy Thursday Community Guide

Overview

On the night before Jesus was killed, he had one final dinner with his disciples in which he would sum up much of his life’s message and teaching with a symbolic practice. Jesus — ever the master of using parables to illustrate and emphasize various truths about God, humanity, and the evil one — would use these last moments not to tell one final parable, but to enact one. He would model for his disciples, and for us, exactly what God’s posture towards us was like in sending the incarnation and exactly what our posture, then, must be towards those around us. While this practice dealt with power, it didn’t do so in a way anyone expected.

“Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God…” This was John’s build up to the moment: Jesus knew he had all power and authority, he knew his source and his destiny. At this point, as the reader, we might expect Jesus to stand up and give a rousing speech or lift a sword to the heavens, shout some war cry, or set some covert plan in place to take down Rome — but this isn’t what Jesus does in response to his certainty and strength. Instead, we read that Jesus rose from the meal, only to remove his coat, wrap a towel around his waist, and then kneel before each disciple, washing their feet each in turn. 

The Maundy in Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin word maundatum, meaning command, and references the statement Jesus makes moments after he washes his disciples’ feet, when he seems to explain what he was doing: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Tonight, we will reenact Jesus’ symbolic gesture together by washing each other’s feet, as a way of remembering God’s love for us and embodying the love he calls us to have for one another. 

Communion

Before moving onto foot washing, take a moment to read John’s account of this story and take Communion together (whether the symbolic elements or a full meal). As the elements are passed out or plates are dished up, have someone read John 13v1-17 out loud.

Practice for Tonight

Tonight, we will be symbolically washing each others’ feet to remember God’s love for us and our call to love each other. Below you will find some helpful details to keep in mind.

Supplies: Make sure you have the following items.

• Some sort of pitcher or large cup or bowl filled with warm water

• Some sort of bucket or bin in which to catch the poured out water

• A few towels with which to dry feet (and perhaps one on the ground below the bucket or bin)

Process: The Community Leader will be “washing” the feet of each person in your Community. If your Community has co-Leaders, they can split the washing and then wash each other’s feet. If not, select someone who will wash the Leader’s feet at the end. When you’re ready and everyone understands the order, here’s how it works:

1. To maintain an atmosphere of worship, invite everyone to remain quietly reflective and play some sort of worship or instrumental music. We made a playlist that you are welcome to use.

2. Have the person whose feet are being washed sit in a chair with their feet in the bin or bucket.

3. The Leader will “wash” their feet by simply pouring the warm water from the pitcher over their feet. 

4. The Leader will then take a towel and dry the person’s feet.

5. Repeat steps 2 – 4 until every person has had their feet washed.

Reflection 

• John’s telling of this story seems to suggest that Jesus washes the disciples’ feet without saying a word until he gets to Peter, who was likely increasingly uncomfortable and embarrassed as he watched his Rabbi move from person to person, getting closer and closer. You may have experienced some similar level of discomfort or awkwardness as you awaited your turn. What was your experience like as you waited, as it happened, and afterwards? Did you notice anything interesting come up in you? (e.g. feelings of unworthiness, humility, honor, love, etc.)

• Why do you think Jesus chose foot washing as his enacted parable to teach us to love each other? 

• Was it easier for you to wash someone’s feet or to have your own feet washed? Why do you think that was?

• Foot washing was Jesus’ symbol for radically loving people. What is some way in which you could radically love a person or people in your life in response to his radical love for you?

Practice for the Week Ahead

For the week ahead, spend some intentional time reflecting on God’s love for you and ask the Spirit what you could do to radically love those around you. As you listen, do so ready to respond to what it is you sense him saying. Invite the Spirit to not just speak to you, but to empower you to love the way Jesus did.

Close in Prayer

Before you end your time together, pray, thanking God for his love and asking for his empowering presence to love others in the same way. Take some time to pray for other prayer requests as they come up.