In this third message on The Vine's guardrails, we turn to one on conflict and communication. "Keep short direct accounts of grace."

Matthew 7:1-5

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Mark gave examples of how animals respond when they perceive a threat (deer/run, possum/ignore, boar/charge). How do you typically respond?
- Why do you think Christians aren't better prepared for hard conversations or conflict?
- Read Ephesians 4: 25-27. How does not keeping short accounts problematic? How do you know when you are ready to have that short account discussion?
- Read Matthew 7:1-5. What are the steps of instruction found in this passage?
- This guardrail is not simple or easy. What is an aspect of this conversation that was not discussed in the sermon or in these two passages you think is important to acknowledge?

thevineaustin.org

GUARDRAILS: Keep Short, Direct Accounts Of Grace

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. 


www.thevineaustin.org

Third Way in Practice - A Path towards Courageous Faith

Fabs continues our series on the Third Way by clarifying what it means that we prioritize posture over position at The Vine.  

Romans 14:1-5, 19-20

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What stayed with you from the sermon, either as confusing, curious or encouraging? 
2. How would you describe the ‘work of God’?  Why do you think Paul says that arguing over their positions on food has the potential to destroy the work of God? 
3. Read the blessing Paul offers the Romans in 15:5-7.  What stands out to you as his priority for the church? 
4. Often we feel we have to pick between valuing position or posture (one or the other).  How is the third way different?  
5. What are the potential obstacles or risks of prioritizing posture over position?  Why do you think people resist this? What are the potential risks of prioritizing position over posture?

THIRD WAY- Posture Over Position

This is the third installment of our midweek conversations- Third Way in Practice. Our world does not equip us to have hard conversations; in fact it does the opposite. This week, Fabs hosts Abby and Dana as they discuss how the third way can provide alternative approaches to more productive conversations. 
www.thevineaustin.org

Third Way in Practice- Habits for Having Hard Conversations

In this sermon, Mark addresses how the Third Way creates an alternative vocabulary in a time of tribalism.

Ephesians 4:1-6, 25-32

www.thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Interact with the quote from Abraham Heschel- “words create worlds.” How have you seen that concept at work in your own life or our world?
2. What stayed with you from the sermon- either as confusing, curious or encouraging?
3. Read Ephesians 4:1-6. Verses 1, 2 and 3 seem to address different concepts, but how are they connected? 
4. Read Ephesians 4:25-27. Is anger wrong or sinful by nature? If not, when does anger become sin? How does anger provide the enemy a foothold?  
5. Read Ephesians 4:29-32. What does this passage say about God? How do these verses challenge the church to live differently? 
6. A common practice in our world of division is to label and “other” people into tribes. What are ways we can push against that temptation? 

End in prayer for one another using Colossians 3:12-14 to be your prompt. Imagine putting on the posture of Jesus and taking off the antagonistic ways of this world.
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

THIRD WAY- An Alternative Vocabulary in a Time of Tribalism

This week's "Third Way in Practice" features a conversation between Fabs, Johnny and Ashley. They explore best practices of self-care, boundaries and emotional intelligence that help us maintain a third way posture as we navigate challenging relationships.

Third Way in Practice- Boundaries, Limits and Best Practices

In this final sermon of our THIRD WAY series, Mark explores a conversation that is central to our Third Way. "What about the Bible?" In this message, we consider the beautiful, complex gift we have in our shared Word, and how our posture compels us to read and wrestle with Scripture in community.

www.thevineaustin.org

2 Timothy 3:14-17

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. How did you first get acquainted with the Bible? How did that initial experience shape your relationship with Scripture? 
2. What stayed with you from the sermon- either as confusing, curious or encouraging?
3. Consider the image of the two hands drawing one another. How does this depict how the Bible was written (both God’s words and words from human experience)? Which hand do you most often accentuate? 
4. Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. What does it mean to you that Scripture is “God-breathed”? How could that shape how we read and experience it?
5. What does it mean to read Scripture through the lens of Jesus? How does that sit with you?
6. Finish by sharing what your relationship is with the Bible today, what would you want it to be, and how could you develop that?

End in prayer for one another. As this is the final sermon of this series, what has been a lesson, thought or practice that stands out to you? Share how this Third Way has challenged and inspired you towards change. Lift one another up in prayer.


THIRD WAY- What About the Bible?

In our final "Third Way in Practice" conversation, Pastor Ben is joined by Andrew and Haley as they discuss the ways in which our Third Way compels us to work towards justice in a posture fashioned by Jesus. 

Third Way in Practice- People Pursuing Justice

In the first week of our Advent series, we explore Zechariah's question in response to God's promise: how can I be sure?  

Luke 1:5-20	

www.thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Consider the view that faith is not about how 'sure' you are of God, but about how willing you are to trust in God even when you aren't sure. How does that view challenge or comfort you?
2. When you think about your own faith, what kinds of obstacles do you experience in trusting in God? Are they more external (e.g. questions about God’s character or ability) or more internal (e.g. fear of disappointment, fear of being wrong, fear of hoping again.) 
3. Read Zechariah's song: Luke 1: 67-79.  What stands out to you?  
4. Fabs talked about three ways of avoiding hope: reducing desire, defensive pessimism, blind optimism.  Which one(s) do you relate to?  How does that show up in your life and relationships? 
5. What’s one area where you feel like Zechariah: wanting to believe, but terrified of hoping?  What might it look like to hold hope in that place rather than trying to escape, numb, or control it? 


Questions of Christmas- How Can I Be Sure?

In this second sermon of this Advent series, Questions of Christmas, we consider Mary and her question, "How will this be?"

www.thevineaustin.org

Luke 1:26-38

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What (if anything) has Advent meant to you? How would you describe Advent to other people?
2. From the sermon, Mark talked how living in the age of the internet combats our embrace of not knowing. What is lost when we continually decrease and outsource the space between question and answer?
3. Imagine being in Mary's shoes. What feelings and thoughts come to the surface when you consider this uninvited disruption in her life? 
4. Mark shared four gifts for people in a time of uncertainty- God's presence, power, companionship, and word. How do you see that in verses 35-37?
5. Which of those four do you need now?

Pray for those who you know are in a time of unknowing, transition and vulnerability.

Questions of Christmas- How Will This Be?

Mark continues our Questions of Christmas with the unspoken but important question- What shall we call him? This message explores the power of a name, Jesus-centered salvation and how God becomes visible.

www.thevineaustin.org

Matthew 1:18-25

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What is the lineage of your last name?
2. What do you make of how Matthew starts his Gospel- through the line of descendants from Abraham to Mary and Joseph? What significance do you have of this lineage?
3. Read Matthew 1:18-25. Joseph is silent in this account, so we don't know about his internal world. How would you respond to the promise the angel made? What questions would you hold?
4. What from the sermon has stayed with you- as encouraging, curious or confusing?
5. How do you feel about the delineation between Joshua and Jesus, and their embodiment of different kinds of salvation? 
6. Mark shared - One of the great issues  the modern church must grapple with in American society is our relationship to power. Do you believe that? Where is that manifesting?
7. Spend time considering where in your life you need to release the power of Jesus' name and his saving work.

GUARDRAILS: Keep Short, Direct Accounts Of Grace

The Vine Austin