Where We’ve Been / Where We’re Going
By Josh Porter
Begin with prayer
Gather together as a Community in a comfortable setting. Have somebody lead a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to lead and guide your time together.
Read this overview
“Once you were alienated from God,” Paul writes to the church in Colossae. “You were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.”
This is the glorious “You Are Here” marker for all disciples of Jesus. Once you were alienated, now you are reconciled. That was your past, this is your present.
But Paul adds a conditional clause to the future: If. You will remain holy in his sight if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel.
Begin this practice together as a community
Take turns sharing the story of how you came to follow Jesus. This practice may require more than a single week, that’s fine. Don’t feel rushed. One at a time, allow each member of the community to recount who they were, and how they became disciples.
Don’t stop there. After you’ve shared the story of your journey with Jesus to date, describe your hope for the future of your discipleship in the weeks, months, and years to come.
Continue to share until you’re out of time, then pick up where you left off next week.
As each story concludes, answer this question:
- How can this community help support and empower the person you are becoming in Jesus?