Mark kicks off our Third Way series by telling the story of where this conviction came from and what it means to our community.

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Most families have stories they tell again and again. What is a story your family repeatedly told?
2. How would you define or describe the Third Way to someone who didn’t know our church?
3. What stayed with you from the sermon- either as confusing, curious or encouraging?
4. Read Matthew 22:15-22. What stands out to you? 
5. What does it mean to “give back to God’s what is God’s?”
6. What about our Third Way is hopeful or life-giving?
7. What about our Third Way seems challenging or impossible? 
8. Discuss this phrase found on our website. “We choose to value empathy and compassion over certainty and absolute agreement. We seek unity in following Jesus within the essentials of our faith.” 

End in prayer with one another. Perhaps pray for these 5 weeks, that Jesus would form us in this journey- bringing a clarity of conviction, merciful view of others and a Jesus-shaped lifestyle. 


THIRD WAY: The Story of our Sacred Experiment

Welcome to the first episode of "Third Way in Practice." Today, Mark is joined by Stefani and Fabs as they explore the common misconceptions people have of the third way.

Third Way in Practice- Common Misconceptions

Mark continues in our Third Way series by exploring the difference between wells and fences, the power of a shared center, and why Jesus is enough to hold us together.

Colossians 1:15-20

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How would you describe the difference between center-set (wells) groups and bounded-set (fences) groups? What are their key characteristics?

2. In your recounting of the Gospels, how does Jesus challenge the religious/ethnic fences of his day?

3. What stayed with you from the sermon- either as confusion, curious or encouraging?

4. Paul wrote the poem in the middle of the first chapter of Colossians to stretch the spiritual imagination of who Jesus is and what he accomplished. Read Colossians 1:15-20. What inspires adoration and worship? What inspires a sense of mystery and wonder?

5. Read Jesus’ prayer for the Church in John 17:20-23. Why do you think unity is so important to Jesus?

6. From our Third Way document, we find these words- “The Third Way is formed and shaped by Jesus — his posture, his priorities, his teaching, and his pattern of love. Rather than prioritizing doctrines or debates, we seek to organize and focus our lives around Christ.” With this in mind, what does it practically mean to have Jesus in the center of our individual lives? What does it mean to have Jesus at center of our church? 

End in prayer for one another. Perhaps, have your prayers be in response to the conversation from question #6, and pray that we would center Jesus in our lives more and more. 


THIRD WAY- Jesus at the Center

This is the second installment of our midweek conversations called Third Way in Practice. These dialogues explore the complexities and opportunities in practicing the Third Way. Today, Mark is joined by Ben Law as they discuss how the Third Way creates a path to reclaim a courageous faith. 


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