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?

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GUARDRAILS: Keep Short, Direct Accounts Of Grace

Mark begins our new series TAKE HEART with a story from Joshua 1. This message explores how transitions are sacred moments where we can learn to take heart. 

Joshua 1:1-9

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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What comes to mind when you hear the phrase “take heart?” What does that phrase call one to do?
2. Before we read Joshua 1, consider the context. Replay what people have experienced to get to that point and what might be going through their hearts and minds?
3. Read Joshua 1:1-9. What do you notice in these verses?
4. Mark shared how transitions are places where God does some of God’s best work. Respond to that notion. What uniquely happens in moments of transition?
5. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either as encouraging, confusing or curious? 
6. Joshua 3:9-17 shares a profound moment. For a generation born in the wilderness, who heard how God parted the sea for their parents’ generation, what would this moment mean?  
7. Who is experiencing transition in their life- either on the edge of the river of transition or walking through one now? What does it mean to take heart?

TAKE HEART: transitions

In this second week of our series TAKE HEART, Fabs shares from 1 Chronicles 28. In this moment, Solomon calls the people together so that they can live out their dreams and gifting to build something great with one another.

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REFLECTION QUESTION
1. What did you want to be when you grew up as a kid?  Do you hear anything in your response that gives you clues about who you are at your core?  
2. When you read 1 Chronicles 28:20 - what stands out? 
3.  When you look around the world today, where do you see God’s presence?  Where do you feel afraid or discouraged? 
4. What has stayed with you from the sermon - either as encouraging, confusing or curious?
5. As we see the giftedness of Solomon in this passage, what comes up for you when you consider the notion that you have been given a spiritual gift to help you? Can you identify what that gift or unique abilities might be? 
6.  What gets in the way of you dreaming with God?  What narratives or fears?  
7.  Do you currently have an area of your life or this world where God might be inviting you to dream and participate in God’s restoring presence? What might it look like to carry - through your giftings and design - God’s presence into that area? 
OR Does someone else or some organization have a dream that you might want to step into with your gifting and design?  

Conclude by spending time in prayer with one another, asking God to stir your hearts to dream of ways to carry God’s presence into this world.   

TAKE HEART: Dreams

Mark continues our series TAKE HEART by exploring how Psalm 27. This psalm shares surprising instructions on how to take heart in a time of great conflict.

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. What is one of your favorite kids’ books? Why do you like it?
2. Mark shared three surprising responses in conflict that we find in Psalm 27. The first was to honor your emotions. Read Psalm 27. What emotions do you find in this psalm? What emotions have been in you recently? What barrier (if any) has there been for you to take those emotions to God?
3. The second response was to set your gaze on the right thing. Read verses 4-5. What does it mean in the modern life “to dwell in the house of the Lord  all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple?”
4. The third response is to wait for the Lord. What does it mean to “wait for the Lord,” and what is produced in us if we can “wait for the Lord.” 
5. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either as encouraging, confusing, or curious?
6. What is the conflict that is apparent in your life (whether globally, interpersonally, or within)? 

Conclude by spending time in prayer, asking for God to help us take heart in the conflicts in our world and lives.

TAKE HEART: conflict

As we continue in our series where we consider the occurrences of the phrase TAKE HEART, we look to a story in Matthew 9. This passage and the example from a woman's courageous act of faith can teach us how to take heart in the midst of suffering.

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Matthew 9:18-26

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
1. Have you seen a celebrity in the wild? Did you talk to them?
2. Recount this woman’s life. When you imagine carrying this affliction for 12 years, what comes to your mind? What would have been hard for you?
3. Why was this woman’s act such a risk of faith?
4. Why do you think Jesus made a scene when this healing took place?
5. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either confusing, curious or encouraging?
6. In the sermon, Mark shared that Jesus’ cross should form our view of suffering. What healing do you find in Jesus’ choice to endure the cross?
7. What suffering are you carrying today?
 

Conclude by spending time in prayer, asking for God to help us take heart in the suffering in our world and lives.


TAKE HEART: suffering

The Vine continues in our series TAKE HEART by considering a story from Matthew 14:22-33. In this passage, we discover how our Savior invites us to walk upon the chaos of life while we take heart.

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REFLECTION QUESTION:

1. If you were to survey your thoughts, feelings or emotions, what are you bringing with you as you enter this gathering?
2. Recount what took place before Jesus walked on water in the beginning of chapter 14. What do you think Jesus was carrying in him before that moment? 
3. Read Matt 14:22-27. What do you notice taking place? 
4. Read verses 28-33. Why do you think Peter wanted to walk on water? What significance do you find in his sinking?
5. What do you make of Jesus’ words verse 31? 
6. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either confusing, curious or encouraging?
7. This sermon touches on the power of fear. Where does fear exist in your life today? 
8. What would it mean to keep your attention upon Jesus in that place of fear?  

Conclude by spending time in prayer, asking for God to help us take heart in the chaos in our world and lives.


TAKE HEART: chaos

The Vine continues in our series TAKE HEART by considering a story from Mark 10:46-52. In this passage, we discover how our Savior can heal us from our blindness. 
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DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Share a moment where you felt like you were aware of the presence of God. It could be through an interaction with a friend, a beautiful moment in nature, or a simple morning walk. What did it feel like? 
2. Read Mark 10:46-52? What do you notice happening in this passage? 
3. What stands out to you about the disciples telling Bartimaeus to “take heart?” 
4. When do you feel the most blind? What are things that take your awareness away from Christ? 
5. Share a moment that you looked up and your perspective changed. How did that feel? What happened afterwards? What changed? 
6. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either confusing, curious or encouraging?
7. What person or group of people do you want to illuminate who you feel like has been erased? 
8. Is there anything in this message that has helped you take heart? 

TAKE HEART: darkness

This last week of our Take Heart series, Fabs leads us through John 16 and Jesus' encouragement to take heart because he has overcome the world.  

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Discussion Questions:
1. What stayed with you from the sermon?
2. What reaction do you have when you hear that Jesus has "overcome the world."  What do you like/dislike about that idea?
3. Read John 17:13-18.  What stands out to you? 
4. How might this passage challenge Western 'sphere' ideas about positivity or triumph?  In what ways is Jesus' sphere of 'overcoming the world' different than we might understand it through our western lens?  What feels good or bad about that? 
5. Are there moments in your life when have you experienced being 'in Jesus' - what has that felt or looked like?

TAKE HEART: hope

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. 


GUARDRAILS: Keep Short, Direct Accounts Of Grace

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