By Cameron Silsbee
Begin with prayer
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting. Take a moment to sit in silence in the presence of Jesus and each other. Have one person read Mark 10v46-52 over the group and then pray to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Debrief last week’s Practice and the teaching
- What stood out to you about the teaching?
- What has stood out to you about this series?
Read this overview
One way people often try to understand something complex is to break it down into smaller components that can then be more easily understood. We can then begin to understand the whole by its parts. At the same time, this way of simplifying things can give us a false sense of comprehension and understanding. Sometimes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
When trying to understand ourselves, it can be easy to compartmentalize our differing experiences, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, into separated categories with minimal connection. However, humans were created as integrated creatures, a reality that God himself took on as Jesus of Nazareth. God demonstrates his value for this integrated reality through the incarnation by participating in it. God values what happens to you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Discuss the following questions
- When you think about a difficult season of life (or perhaps you are currently in one), did you struggle with your physicality, thoughts, or emotions? Was one area of struggle more predominant than others?
- In this current season, what area of life (physicality, thoughts, or emotions) does Jesus seem to be speaking to you about?
- What area of life seems to be taking the greatest amount of your focus?
Talk through this week’s Practice
As this series ends, set aside time this week to reflect on what was meaningful to you over the last several weeks as you listened to teachings and participated in the Practices. Consider what you’d like to carry forward into the coming months from what you’ve felt God has spoken to you.
Be prepared to share with your Community what you’d like to carry forward next week.
Close in prayer
End your time together by having one person pray the Nicene Creed over the group.
I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
Amen.