Week 2

The Christian Season of Lent provides the opportunity not usually highly valued in our fast passed and ever changing world.  In our Christian year it calls us to a period of reflection.  It begs us to Stop, Listen, Reflect, Learn and Transform. Our faith again and again recognises that humans need a pattern of rest, reflection and recreation (re-Creation).   The weekly Sabbath is an example of a pattern is intended to help as restore our Shalom (Peace).  Lent can be a time in the pattern of our year that offers space so that things might be different.  If you yearn for change in your life, our church and in the world changing direction requires us first to stop.

 

You may like to prepare for this week’s study by engaging with the following resources:

Review Glossary : Please review the material provided in the glossary to remind yourself about the types of relationships we are exploring in our Gospel readings.

Importantly can you take some time to explore the material about Christian Mindfulness practices as one way to help as see each other afresh. Here is some useful introductory material that you could read, listen to or watch.

Podcast - ABC Radio National “Creating mindfulness in your work through meditation”

Simple Explanation of Mindfulness and how to get started

or Perhaps try a simple five-minute example found on the Headspace Page

Watch how to Meditate from The World Community for Christian Meditation

 

Remember, O Lord,
what you have wrought in us
and not what we deserve,
and, as you have called us to your service,
make us worthy of our calling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

John 3.1-17

Read the passage in what ever way suits the gathered group.  If it is a long passage you may wish to use different voices.  Give space after the reading for people to read quietly on their own to reflect on passage. Click on the button below to bring up the reading.

 

Listen again to Sunday’s message from the service.

These questions can be a guide to encourage the group to engage with the Bible Passage and/or the Sermon from the previous Sunday.

Reflecting inwards: Transforming You

  1. How have you experienced this passage in your life?

  2. Did you discover something new in reading it again?

  3. Did it raise any questions you would like an answer for?

Reflecting outwards: Transforming Relationships

  1. Name the people or groups that are mentioned or referred to in the text?

  2. Describe the the various relationships that are present? 

  • Try and keep to what you observe in this passage only and avoid straying into what you know in other parts of scripture

  • Can you name any of these types of relationships present in this passage?

    • Transactional

    • Mutually Reinforcing

    • Mutually Excluding

    • Mutually Transforming

  1. Do these relationships change as a result of encountering each other?

  2. Do these relationships change as a result of these encounters? 

  3. Are the individuals or groups changed during these encounters?

  4. Are these changes positive or negative if compared to the character of the Kingdom of God?

  5. Who or what was necessary to make these changes possible?

 

Reflecting on the Now

  1. How would you describe what being “Mindful” is?

  2. What are the benefits of Mindfulness that you are aware of?

  3. What are the benefits of Mindfulness to seeing someone else afresh?

  4. Were the Characters we meet in today’s Gospel practising Mindfulness?

or

  1. Discuss your response to the stories Andrew McDonough shared from his Westcare community?

  2. Andrew described the difference in relationship between a volunteer and a participant in the Westcare community. How might this be helpful in our church?

  3. Do you also have stories of where you have seen someone afresh that was unexpected?

Gathering the wisdom

  1. What new thing have you learnt through participating in this Study?

  2. How might you use this learning in your life?

God, as we have gathered in your presence
we have come to recognise our inner tendency
to pre-build walls and defensive arguments
for moments of competition and opposition to our views.
We know this comes from fear
and that it robs us of seeing the other afresh.
Help us, O Lord, fill us with courage and grace
to see others and their views not as threats
but as fellow human beings with hopes, dreams and ideas.
As we go from this place help us to embrace those we fear and see them as you do.

Amen.