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HOW DID YOU SEE GOD THIS WEEK AS YOU FOLLOWED HIM?

WHAT DID GOD SAY IN HIS WORD?

Opening Question:

Considering this week’s Lent practice of “one hour with phone off” how might this help form us in the love of God and neighbor? Check out this video for more.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!

10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful-- for he cannot deny himself.

Reflect Together:

When Paul wrote this he was awaiting his execution (see 4:6), so he was literally “being chained like a criminal.” What gave him the strength to endure?

List all the promises and truths that are mentioned in these verses. (Ex: Jesus was raised from the dead, God’s Word is not chained, we will live with him, we reign with him, God will remain faithful even when we are faithless.)

What difference do these truths make, for Paul as he was facing death and for us as we go through hard times?

What does it mean to “die with him” and then also to be raised or live with him (v.11)? (See also Colossians 3:1-3)

WHAT DID GOD SAY TO ME THROUGH HIS WORD?

Some of our Asian brothers and sisters are grieving the events of this past week.  How does our faith help us to lament? Lament is uniquely Christian practice in that we have a God who grieved with us and suffered for us. We can also specifically “name a situation that is painful, wrong, or unjust – in other words, a circumstance that does not align with God’s character and therefore does not make sense within God’s kingdom.” - Deep Clouds and Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegob

Consider joining in a special Lament service on Holy Saturday at Wellspring to grieve the many losses we have experienced this past year.

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT?

As you practice the habit of one hour of phone off, use the time to be more present with the people in your life. How can you enter into what they are feeling, lean in and listen, and be with them?  It may mean learning to mourn with those who mourn or rejoice with those who rejoice.