Join the Revolution

Summer 2004
Small Group Material
Altrincham Baptist Church

Join the Revolution—Introduction

We are in our ‘Revolution of Kindness’. Last term we introduced the theme of kindness and have explored a Christian understanding of it. Kindness is not merely action motivated by how we personally feel. In acts of kindness we align ourselves with God and his relationship with his creation. In our talk and action of kindness we are being taken into the heart of God for the world.

The only way of being kind is to express it in some way. ‘Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.’ Kindness always leads to specific commitment, to expression and to embodiment. So as we get involved practically with our Revolution of Kindness, we pause and think about the spirituality of commitment – of joining God’s revolution. Commitment turns thought into practice, intention into action, desire into expression. So these next few weeks will be a short focus on commitment both in our Sundays together and in our small groups.

As soon as the word ‘commitment’ is mentioned it may stir feelings of weariness and even anxiety or fear. ‘Am I going to asked to do more, to give more of myself?’ ‘Aren’t I doing enough already?’ ‘Will I be able to cope with the expectations of others?’ ‘Help I just can’t do any more!’
To be honest churches are quite good at placing expectations on people. Churches can subtly become quite coercive places. It can lead some people to back-off or give-up because they feel they just can’t keep pace with other people’s expectation. Or another condition is spiritual arteriosclerosis, ‘the hardening of the oughteries’. And to be frank there are many ‘unfree’ Christians. Under the cover of talk about commitment we smuggle in a new legalism.

So in this material I have tried to avoid this drift towards covert legalism by emphasising ‘relationship’ as the only bedrock that maintains freedom in the commitments we make to God, one another and in the world.

The Themes

So the first couple of weeks we look at a couple of stories that hold this vision of commitment rooted in relationship. Each week has a title taken from phrases found in 2 Corinthians 8 & 9 – the passage that itself forms the basis of the study in Week 3. Finally we end with a story about Jesus serving his disciples and making his action a model for your own service.

• Week 1— Joining the revolution in our commitment to God

• Week 2— Joining the revolution in our commitment to one another

• Week 3— Joining the revolution in our commitment to giving

• Week 4— Joining the revolution in our commitment to service

Week 1 Joining the revolution in our commitment to God – ‘They gave themselves first to the Lord…’

Aim

To understand that all our actions as believers and disciples of Jesus arise from offering ourselves to God.

Mind Maps

What thoughts, ideas, pictures come to mind when the word ‘commitment’ is used. Write the word in centre of large sheet of paper & add ideas as group suggests. Perhaps circle items and draw connecting lines between concepts as the group discuss what’s generated.

Stand back at end of process and see if any patterns have emerged from the group about ‘commitment’.

Commitment today

Chat about how the concept of commitment is thought and how it is practiced today in society generally.

A few quotes:

‘If you are not too long, I will wait here for you all my life.’ Oscar Wilde

‘Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes; but no plans.’ Peter Drucker. Management guru

‘Loyalty means nothing unless it has at its heart the absolute principle of self-sacrifice.’ Woodrow T Wilson – USA President

The Story

Abraham & Isaac Genesis 22

• After reading the story encourage people to share their initial feelings. Does the story make anyone feel uncomfortable? Do any find it offensive?

• The offering of the firstborn son to the gods was relatively common practice in the ancient near east before and long after the time of Abraham (e.g. 2 Kings 16:3; 17:17; 21:6; 23:10 cf. Jer 7:31-33). He was doing what was expected, although Isaac was older than normal for such ritual sacrifices. Does this throw light on the story as a whole? How else could Abraham have broken from the common practice other than by this dramatic intervention on God’s part?

• The God of this story is demanding, even sinister. Sometimes we may feel that God wants us to give up that which is most precious to us. Or we think that God will only ask us to do something that we don’t want to do or like. Or certainly that God wouldn’t ask us to do something that we actually enjoyed doing. Why do we think like this? Perhaps it’s because it is true to how we at times feel about God, our lives and loves – God as demander and tester. Share stories of such experiences.

• The way to read stories like this in ancient texts, is to remind ourselves that the point is not in that which was general practice (the sacrifice of the first-born), but in that which was novel or new (God’s provision). The impact of the story is the balance between commitment and provision. The story is about the God of Abraham being a providing God, not merely God over against us making demands. Share your fundamental views about God and how you think he is ‘looking at me’.

• Do you tend to believe more in the demanding God than the providing God?

• Do you need to re-balance your understanding of God more towards the God who provides?

• When we hear a call to commitment like we are having in ‘Join the Revolution’ what God plays more on our minds? Does the God who tests and demands come more to the fore than the God who blesses and provides?

• This story points clearly to our understanding of God that develops from our faith Jesus Christ. Look at some of the following verses in the New Testament to see how much it tries to get us to understand that God is our provider. Romans 5:6-10; Phil 4:19

Reflection

Take the group through an imaginative prayer exercise. Suggest they try to imagine the various scenes. Go through them slowly and pause each time you set the scene, and encourage them to identify with the different characters in the story and even those not mentioned – e.g. Sarah. Lead up to the moment where God intervenes and stops Abraham. Get people to imagine the feelings Abraham now has towards the God who provides. Encourage people to offer themselves to God again during the time of joining the revolution. End by reading Hebrews 11:17-19.

Week 2— Joining the revolution in our commitment to one another— ‘…they gave themsleves to us in keeping with God’s will’

Aim

To remind ourselves that in God’s Church we are not merely committed to an organisation or even a vision, but to one another.

The Philippians’ story

Read Acts 16:11-40

Begin the group session by reading the account of how the church started in Philippi.

Spend some time thinking about the effect of these events and how relationship would have been forged through them particularly the relationship of Paul & his companions with

1. Lydia and Lydia with them

2. The jailer & the jailer with them

3. How these events might have formed the relationship between Paul and this whole church community

Share your own stories of how relationships have been established through sharing events. How do deep strong relationships form? Are there differences between the way women and men generally form and nurture relationships? (This should generate some fun responses!)

Key Passage

Look at Philippians 1:3-11. Paul’s relationship with them

• As you read this pay particular attention to words that convey Paul’s feelings.

• What does this tell you about the character of the relationship between them and probably in this church?

Look at Philippians 4:10. Their relationship with Paul

• Try to imagine the quality of relationship that lay behind the action that the Philippians church had taken in supporting Paul.

• Pay attention to the feelings their action provoked in Paul, and the significance of this, given his circumstances at the time cf. Phil 1:12-17

Are there key qualities and principles of relationship you can discern from these and other passages in this letter? e.g. 2:1-11; 4:2-3

Reflect on the quality and depth of relationship in our own church and your own group. What are the strengths and weaknesses in relationships? What opportunities and difficulties do we face? Are there aspects of relationships you want to work at within group life?

As we encourage others not yet in a group to join one, share how you feel about others joining your group. More generally how would you feel about growing and starting a new group through multiplying, which would have the effect of changing relationships you currently have.

In 1:2-5 Paul is thrilled that they are partners with him. Why is this partnership of such importance. ‘Partners’ might be a useful word that captures the meaning of ‘church membership’. Do you think it’s important to be partners/members in a church that has a gospel mission? Why or why not?

End by praying for growth of relationship within our church.

Week 3 — Joining the revolution in our commitment to giving –
‘…this grace of giving’

Aim

To identify some of the principles of giving that arose from the relationships Paul had with early churches and discuss their relevance to us today

Thought Swap

Share some of the ways in which money is viewed in society generally. And then ask the same question about life within the church. Are there any marked and significant differences?

The tale of four cities – 2 Corinthians 8 & 9

In this passage Paul compares the practice of giving in Corinth with churches in Macedonia—Philippi, Thessalonica & Berea.

Brain storm the passage by reading through the chapters slowly and carefully. You may want to do this in sub-groups. Be alert and note down what you find on paper

• principles of giving
• unusual or surprising phrases
• challenging or difficult ideas
• key images or pictures he uses
• the way in which he goes about getting the Thessalonians and Corinthians to give

Allow yourselves plenty of time to do this – there are plenty of ideas in the chapters.

When this is done share what you’ve found as a whole group – compare notes, swap ideas, relate thoughts by writing up your findings on a piece of paper that everyone can see.

When you’ve done this compare and contrast how these chapters deal with issues of money and giving, with any general observations you have about our attitude to money, possessions and giving in church life in this country.

Reflection

Spend time at the end of the evening quietly reflecting prayerfully before God & one another those things that have particularly struck group members. Whoever is leading at this point I would suggest you get people to be quiet for some minutes and ask people to capture from all the ideas that have buzzed from your search and sharing, those things that have impressed them most or thoughts that have settled within them. After that time of quiet, let people share with the group what has struck them, as the group remains prayerful.

Finally

Talk about how you feel about need to raise our income by 12% and to keep other spending on a tight reign in order the pay for an expansion of mission through the appointment of a Mission Co-ordinator. End with prayer for this new person—whoever it might be.

Week 4 — Joining the revolution in our commitment to service – ‘…this service to the saints’

Aim

To help people reflect on their service for God in their own lives—whether at home, work, church or in the community

The dinner party John 13:1-17

• After reading the passage share from the general pool of knowledge people have of the other Gospel accounts of this last supper, the mood, atmosphere and events that took place during this evening’s meal.

• John makes a number of preliminary statements about Jesus’ frame of mind, his intention and purpose. Do these statements bear any relation to what Jesus is about to do? What’s the significance of the connections you see there? Compare what Jesus does in verses 3 & 4 with Philippians 2:7-8. What is the significance of the one with the most authority doing this? Cf. Mark 10:42-45

• Peter is taken off-guard by Jesus. How easy do we personally find it to receive and be served by others? How independent minded are you? Share about why we feel the way we do. What could an independent spirit indicate about that person? What was Jesus trying to communicate to Peter in 13:8 and less obviously 13:10?

• Jesus’ question ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ is the most searching question. How easy do we find it to understand the implications of following the way of Jesus as servants.

• Verses 13-17 raise a number of questions. What does it mean to be a servant? Where do we draw the line? Are there any limits to what Jesus says here and if so what are they? Can some people get put-upon because of their nature? How can this text become dangerous and damaging? How do we avoid the challenge of this teaching?

• Share stories of when you’ve been able to serve and been taken for granted in serving.

Sharing

Talk about ways in which in your life—home, relationships, work, church and community, you feel you have opportunity to serve God. Please remember we’re talking about a lifestyle of serving not just serving in church life. Some may be called to serve in very different ways and contexts.

Prayer

Spend time praying for one another in your serving roles,

Finally

Think about the opportunities for service within the church community at the moment. Perhaps you could pick up a sheet of opportunities for service within ABC from the ‘Serving’ desk that is currently in the main hall. End with prayer about serving opportunities in the church.