Category: Love Without Walls

Date:  October 20-21, 2012
Series:  Love Without Walls
Message:  Changing the World
Passage:  Various

INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES

When was a time you got help from an unexpected source?

Leader note: Think about different aspects of your life and people who have helped when you needed it.  Maybe you were running up against a deadline at work or school, and someone you wouldn’t expect to help you came alongside of you and helped you finish.  Maybe it was a check coming in the mail that was unexpected. 

OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES

Read John 1:1-5,14,18 and Philippians 2:3-8, Mark 10:45, Matthew 20:28, 2 Corinthians 8:9 and Luke 4:18.  What do you learn about Jesus’ heart?

Leader note:  The passages reveal a lot about the heart of Jesus – but you will need to push your group to see it.  Have them read the first passage and say, “What does that reveal about the heart of Jesus?”  Then read the next passage and ask again.  Keep pushing it until you think you have gotten all of the answers from each passage.  Some will have several points, others only one or two – depending on the length of the passage.

Commentary:  Some of the answers you are looking for are:

John 1:1-5,14-18 He is creative He is full of unfailing love He is humble – became flesh – self-giving He is eternal – He wants to be with us He wants us to know Him and He knows us He is loved by the Father – knows what it means to be loved He is faithfulness He’s trustworthy He’ll never leave Always who He is – doesn’t change

Philippians 2:3-8 Humble – thinking of others BETTER than Himself – puts others first Gave up privileges He is obedient Unselfish Wasn’t trying to impress Not vying for position Sacrificial Giving up his life Pays our penalty Wasn’t clinging to status or position Loves God Focused on others

Mark 10:45 Gave his life He was a servant He was all in He was intentional – this is why He came Embraces his servant hood

Matthew 20:28 He wasn’t here to be served He was the King that should be served – but he served others

2 Corinthians 8:9 He was rich – became poor – humble Gave up everything

Luke 4:18 Took good news to the poor Cares about the poor, brokenhearted, marginalized, rejected

Which of these statements surprise or startle you?

Leader note:  Look at the statements from each of the passages – are any of them new thoughts for you?  Do any of them surprise you?  What about the thought of Jesus being in the position to BE served and serving instead.  It wasn’t just that he was a nobody – he could have pushed his position of King and have been served by all, but chose to serve.  There are many startling statements because of the position of power Jesus had and gave up – no one can identify with holding the position of God, and deciding to become a servant – that is startling.

UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES

Where have you lived out Jesus’ heart?  

Commentary:  You may want to talk about Rooted experiences with serving, or how your group has become involved in serving since Rooted.  Some examples would be:  it could be an individual effort or as part of a group.  It could be in your community on your own, or through the Outreach ministrie and there partnerships.  For instance, helping a neighbor who has mobility issues, working periodically at an orphanage, or doing some work in Mexico.  Maybe you have done some random acts of kindness like helping with a flat tire or giving money to the homeless in your neighborhood.

Where have you missed living out Jesus’ heart?

Leader note:  Consider both blatant and subtle misses.  Maybe when they were passing the basket in church for Outreach ministries or other causes you looked in your wallet and had a $10 bill and a $20 bill – you gave the $10.  You could have given the $20 – or even both!  Is there a group of people that you hold subtle prejudices against and you avoid engaging them, or helping them when necessary?  Think of those standing on the corner, at the grocery store.

What stops you?

Leader note:  We talked about a lot of these last week:  fear, think they deserve their circumstances, don’t want to enable, etc.  Ask yourself if you have changed your opinion or your reaction to those in need since your discussion last week.  If so, how?

APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES

Where do you want to lean in more where you do live out Jesus’ heart?  Where do you want to lean in more where you don’t?

Leader note:  Look at your answers from the previous questions.  If you are already helping the homeless, how can you help more?  When you look at those that you are missing completely – how can you lean into them.  If you avoid the homeless, maybe you can serve at a soup kitchen.  Maybe you can buy a meal for a homeless person. One great idea someone had was to buy them a gift card for groceries so they would have the dignity of shopping for food as opposed to it being given to them. Think of any groups you avoid and see how you can begin to lean in and serve them instead.  Maybe you have a neighbor who drives you crazy, maybe you can help them with their yard work, or bring them a homemade dessert.  Perhaps you avoid Mexico – maybe you could serve at Minnie Street or our learning center on Wilshire.  For ways to serve, visit our Outreach website for ideas.

Pray: As you end your time together, thank Jesus for the model he set of a servant.  Pray that God will prompt you to an area of service that honors Him and stretches you a little bit.  Pray for each other in the areas you are trying to lean in where you miss having Jesus’ heart and for the compassion and desire to serve in those areas you avoid most. 

LIVE IT OUT

What would be different in our community if we all lived out Jesus’ heart? 

Date:  October 6-7, 2012
Series:  Love Without Walls
Message:  Status Update
Passage:  Philippians 2:1-11

INTRODUCTION – 5 MINUTES

When was a time you experienced excellent service from someone?  Poor service? 

Leader note:  Keep this to pretty short answers.  Have people think about restaurants, shopping, airlines, DMV experiences, etc.  It would be fun to talk about both the good and the bad.  But don’t go too far on the bad side.  Ask what made the good service good.

OBSERVATION – 20 MINUTES

Read Philippians 2:6-11.  What is Jesus like?

Leader note:  Notice that you are starting with verse 6, you will look at verses 1-5 in a few minutes.  But for right now just look at 6-11 to answer this question.

Leader note:  As your group answers by observing the text, ask them to put it in their own words.  For instance if they say He is like God – ask, “what does that mean?”  That will bring out answers of how He is powerful, etc. and get your group to think past their preconceived ideas and will help you take them deeper in the discussion.

Commentary: 

He has position of power/nature of God
Does not use it to his own advantage – self-limiting, gave up diving privileges even though He didn’t stop being God – surrendered his status/rights
Became human – like us, relational-knowable, vulnerable
Humbled himself – not served but a servant – humble servant
Became obedient unto death…on a cross (ask why the cross? – criminal’s death, he took on sin, violent death – satisfies justice) – sacrificial
God will exalt him to the highest place – equality
Given a name above all names (those living and preceding him in death)
Every knee will bow (he regains divine privileges)
To God’s glory

Now read Philippians 2:1-5.  What are followers of Jesus like?

Our identity is to be a humble servant

(embrace the attitude Jesus had:  surrendered His rights and status, be knowable and vulnerable, be a humble servant and not be served, be sacrificial and self-giving)

UNDERSTANDING – 20 MINUTES

How have you seen people react when they expect to be served and receive poor service?

Leader note:  Give your group a chance to talk about people (anonymously) who they have seen react to poor service in a restaurant, hotel, travelling, airlines, doctor’s office, hospital, any other place they expected “to be served” and it didn’t go their way.  What are the different reactions people have?  Have your group discuss this in a manner where they talk about those who extend grace by forgiving and not harassing their “servers” and those who react with anger, disappointment, etc.

How have you seen people react when they expect to be served and receive great service?

Leader note:  How do people respond when they feel as though they have been “served” well.  For instance, a meal for free if it was late, vouchers for additional flights when a flight was cancelled or overbooked.  

APPLICATION – 20 MINUTES

When was a time you served with the attitude of Jesus?   

Leader note:  Keep the four key points in mind:

• status – not using position or power when you serve
• Being knowable, vulnerable – this would require relationship and revealing your story
• Humble – intentionally not expecting anything in return, not even thanks
• Sacrificial – it had to cost something that wasn’t easy to afford (time, travel, giving serving priority over something you wanted to do, giving above what was easy to give)

Which of the qualities do you struggle with?

Leader note:  If you have time, follow up this question with “Is it right for a Christian to ever feel like they should be served?”  You can also send your group home with that thought as they head to restaurants, gyms, home to their housekeepers or babysitters, their office where they oversee staff, etc.

Pray:  As you end your time together, ask the Holy Spirit to intervene when you become less than humble in your expectations of service or serving.  Confess silently those times you know you were served and either felt you deserved it or overreacted when it didn’t go well.  Ask for an overwhelming desire of humility to wash over you as you consider places to meet or exceed needs of those around you and for God to give you an opportunity to demonstrate your story and His restoration power in you and through you.

LIVE IT OUT

How will we have this attitude of Jesus toward the poor and marginalized in the next few weeks?