discipleship
An invitation to… Wonder
On Sunday 17th September Ben introduced our new teaching series: An invitation to…
This Sundays theme was Wonder and the reading was Psalm 104. You download the sermon here or listen on the player below.
You can also find Ben’s discussion questions and ideas to try here.
The shooting star image is by Ali and was found on unsplash.
P=H+F+W (5P)
You can listen to Ben’s talk from the 6th August by downloading it here or using the player below. The reading was Genesis 12: 1-5.
Whoever We Are
On Sunday 30th July, Paul continued our Frontline Sunday series talking about ‘Whoevert we are’. The reading was Galatians 4:6-7.
You can download the talk here or listen on the player below.
We showed the video below after the talk.
Wherever we are
Sunday 18th June was our second Frontline Sunday, exploring how we meet and serve God in the places we spend everyday life: our frontlines.
Jen spoke on Genesis 28: 10-22: Wherever we are. You can download the talk here or listen on the player below.
We used the video from LICC below to introduce the theme.
Frontline Sundays
Our Central Gathering Talks this term are helping us think through how we meet and serve God in the places where we spend everyday life: our homes, workplaces, neighbourhoods. We call these our Frontlines.
We are using LICC’s Frontline Sunday material. You can watch a short video introducing the theme below.
Examen Week 6 – Story
I am able to share God’s story and my story.
Your story is caught up in God’s great story of creation, fall, redemption and new creation. Your story has always been part of God’s story and with each step you take following Jesus the stories become more intertwined.
Sometimes we find it hard to understand or articulate this, sometimes we’re not sure about the story we are telling or want to tell, or about the stories we’ve heard about God. But God invites us to immerse ourselves in God’s story. The primary way we will be able to do that is as we read, explore and chew over the bible. Its the bible that shows us the story God is telling. One of my favourite ways I’ve heard the bible described is as ‘a unified story that points to Jesus.’
You also have a story that you are living out and telling to the world, it is a story of God and you and the people around you, it is a story where the hero is Jesus! You are one of the best demonstrations and explanations of what it looks like to follow Jesus in the present day.
How confident do you feel telling God’s story?
What is the story that your life tells?
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 1 Peter 3:15
Thank you Father that I have a story
and I’m part of your story.
Help me find my voice,
and share our stories well.
Amen.
Ponder
Do you find it easy to read, understand and tell the story the bible tells?
What might help you grow in confidence about knowing and sharing God’s story?
What are you most grateful for about scripture? What do you find hard or difficult?
When do you get to encounter the bible? How often do you find yourself reading, listening to or sharing God’s word?
How do you feel about the story your life is telling?
What is your story? Why is it that you are trying to follow Jesus?
What is God teaching you or doing in you at this time?
Try This
Are you intrigued about the idea of the bible as a ‘unified story that points to Jesus’? Its a phrase used by The Bible Project.
Their website is full of videos and tools to help make the bible more understandable and shareable. Why not spend some time exploring: bibleproject.com
If you are working through a book or some daily readings try telling someone else about it. If you aren’t try asking some Kairos friends what they use.
Can you describe why you are following Jesus? Take some time to write down your story. Thank God for it, and ask for a chance to share part of it with others.
Can you describe what God is showing you or teaching you right now? Can you think of a way to describe what you are practicing or trying this Lent? Again write a few thoughts down, thank God and ask for a chance to share.
Deliberately practice telling other people about things your are interested in or passionate about – often people are interested in people who have interests. This doesn’t have to be specifically faith related – just practice getting used to sharing the things that are important to you.
Practice asking others what they are interested in or thinking about. Often we miss out on sharing stories because we don’t ask people about theirs.
Do you use social media? Is there a way you could share a part of God’s story in a positive, generous, loving way.
Continue a ‘try this’ practice you found helpful last week.
Examen week 4 – fruitfulness
I experience fruitfulness on my frontlines.
God invites us to experience fruitfulness in the places where we are planted. We have started to use LICC’s language of frontlines – a place where we are often, where we get to know people around us and are involved in some sort of activity or work. A frontline could be a workplace or school, a home or neighbourhood, a club or social group you spend lots of time with.
Fruitfulness is not just about looking for opportunities to tell people about Jesus. Its about discovering how to live with purpose in those place, staying connected to Jesus and so bearing fruit.
LICC talk about 6Ms of fruitfulness. Together these give a holistic impression – fruitfulness looks like:
- Modelling godly character
- Making good work
- Ministering grace and love
- Moulding culture
- Being a Mouthpiece for truth and justice
- Being a Messenger of the gospel
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17
May the Father who loves us, the Son who sends us
and the Spirit who empowers us be with us and bless us,
Wherever we go, whatever we do, whoever we’re with,
To His praise and glory, Amen.
from ‘The One About’ by Mark Greene. © LICC Ltd, 2018.
Ponder
Where do you spend most of your time. How do you feel about describing these places as your frontlines?
What are you most grateful and least grateful for about these places?
Read the description of fruit in Galatians 5: 13-23. How might your life display more of God’s fruitfulness?
Take some time top read through the list of 6Ms. Can you spot ways you are already doing these things on your frontline.
Is there one of the 6Ms that intrigues you, that you don’t quite understand or that you want to learn more about?
Try This
Take some time to watch LICC’s 6M people. Notice what these stories prompt in you. How do they inspire you to embrace fruitfulness on your frontline. If you want to go further you could try the 6MOT. https://licc.org.uk/ourresources/6m-people/
Map out the places where you spend most of your week and the people you often meet there. Spend some time praying for those places, ask the Holy Spirit to help you be fruitful in those places.
Think about some of the people you encounter on these frontlines. Spend some time praying for them.
Talk with someone (perhaps in your community) about your frontlines. Tell them something about the challenges and opportunities you face there. Ask them about the places they spend everyday life and pray for each other. Are there any ways you could serve or encourage each other as you seek fruitfulness?
Continue a ‘try this’ practice you found helpful last week.
Revelation and Response
On Sunday 15th January Ben spoke on Revelation and Response. What is God showing you, or calling you to, at the start of the year and how are you going to respond? The reading was John 1: 29-42.
You can listen to the talk on the player below, or download it here.
With Our Whole Lives
At the Feast on Sunday Ben shared a vision for the year, encouraging us to respond to this unsettled time by following Jesus with our whole lives.
You can watch a video version of the talk below or download audio only here: https://kairoschurch.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/With-our-Whole-Lives.mp3
You can find a copy of the giving booklet Ben mentions here or click here to find out more about giving to Kairos.