Pastor David titled his message this week "The Wannabes" Definition of a "wannabe" :a person who wants or aspires to be someone or something else or who tries to look or act like someone else.
- Looking back on your life- what have been some of your aspirations? (Have some fun, and remind everyone that aspirations are not necessarily a bad thing.)
Here is the bigger question to ponder- and where aspirations can be counterproductive, the question is what am I missing about me that "ME" is called to BE? What am I escaping that I’m called to actually enter?
Leaders- open in prayer as your group ponders this question.
Have someone read aloud the Luke portion of scripture-and discuss what is happening here. amongst the Disciples.
- A bit of history- Rome had conquered a large part of the known world, including Israel. Pastor David made the observation that- naturally being around a culture so long it is common to adopt and adapt, which is reflected in the Disciples' arguments/discussion.
- What is Jesus' response to the Disciples regarding this?
- What are some ways we can fall into this “adopt and adapt” way of thinking?
- What does it look like to follow Jesus in this culture today?
- Discuss the quotes: WE CAN BE CLOSE TO JESUS YET UNTOUCHED BY HIM “WHEN OUR THEOLOGY IS RIGHT BUT OUR PRACTICE IS POOR WE ASSAULT THE INTEGRITY OF THE GOSPEL”.
- Proximity doesn’t mean Intimacy…
- Theology doesn’t mean practicality.
How have you seen this to be true? Are there any other stories in Scripture that reflect this? (i.e. the woman with the issue of blood?)
- Read aloud the passages in Matthew and Mark as well as the Philippians passage.
- Pastor David made a list of all the things that the attitude and actions of serving can do for us and for those around us- take the time to, as a group, make your own list.
- How can serving, as Pastor David asserts, be the antidote to divisions among us?
Before you close in prayer- if your group feels comfortable sharing- what is one way of serving you want to work on this week. Close in prayer by praying for each other to manifest the servant heart of Jesus this week.
"We can be close to Jesus, yet untouched by Him."
"When our theology is right, but our practice is poor, we assault the integrity of the Gospel."
David Hawkins
Read
Luke 22:24-27
Matt. 20:20-28
Mark 9:33-34
Phil 2:6-8
Reflect
How have we adopted and adapted to the world around us? Reflect on how we as Christ-followers can move toward a more Christ-like behavior. What might your personal world look like?
Do
As a group, make a list of the ways you can reflect the nature and character of Jesus. Then personally choose one to work on this week.
Go Deeper
If you feel led, find some way to serve someone in your community, someone perhaps outside of your circle of friends this week- and try to do so anonymously. Pray for the Holy Spirit to direct you.