As we continue through our 40 Days of Prayer, Mark shares about the monastic practice of the praying the hours OR the daily office. Reflecting on Jesus' words in Luke 8:4-15, we consider how to receive Christ's presence in our lives through a rhythm of prayer.

www.thevineaustin.org/monkhabits

Scripture Reading: LUKE 8:4-15

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss your experience of praying the psalms or praying the hours. What did you notice and encounter?
2. When you think about the sermon, what stood out to you- either as encouraging, curious or confusing?
3. Read Jesus’ parable in Luke 8:4-15. How would you summarize the different conditions of the soil?
4. How would you describe the condition of your soul - either by using Jesus’ words or your own?
5. The Daily Office or Praying the Hours is a way of tilling the soil of our souls. How does prayer prepare our soul to encounter Christ’s presence?  
6. Of the three times/themes of the Daily Office (morning, midday, and evening), which is the most challenging for you to enact? How might your life be different if you built the habit of prayer during that time?

Monk Habits for the Rest of Us- Praying the Hours

The Vine is discussing 40 days of prayer and monk habits for the rest of us. In this message, Mark explores the importance of integrating work and prayer AND the call to pray without ceasing. 

Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss your experience of “praying the hours” last week. What did you notice and encounter?
2. When you think about the sermon, what stood out to you- either as encouraging, curious or confusing?
3. Why do you think it is so easy to live severed lives- especially separating our connection to Jesus in the workplace?
4. We find in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 the call to pray continually. What has that meant to you in the past? 
5. Mark shared the following definition of prayer- "Prayer is awareness and orientation to God’s presence." How is that understanding of prayer encouraging and also challenging?
6. The two practices of prayer this week are breath prayers and the prayer of epiclesis. How might utilizing breath prayers be helpful in growing an orientation to Christ’s presence? How are they subtly powerful?
7. Describe the meaning of the prayer of epiclesis, and discuss how your work-life and home-life would be different if you practiced this prayer.



Monk Habits Integrating work and prayer

The Vine is discussing 40 days of prayer and monk habits for the rest of us.  On Palm Sunday, Fabs unpacks the importance of worship in our prayer lives to help center our hearts on God, settle our hearts with God and stir our hearts for God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Discuss your experience of integrating work and prayer last week.  What did you notice and encounter? 
When you think about the sermon, what stood out to you- either as encouraging, curious or confusing? 
Read John 12:1-19.  What stands out to you?  Where do you see worship in this passage?
What has worship meant to you in your life?
Did you resonate more with: worship as a means to center your heart on God, as a means to soothe you by reminding you of what is true about God, or as a means to stir your heat for God?

Monk Habits for the Rest of Us - Worship & Prayer

Happy Easter! Mark finishes this sermon series, Monk Habits for the Rest of Us, with a message from John 20:11-18. As we consider how the Resurrected Jesus met with Mary, we find a story of healing and commission.  

thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. As we conclude the series on prayer, what practice has made the most impact in your life? What is one lesson you continue to carry?
2. Reflect on the imagery of a tidal island. How does the symbolism speak to rhythms in the Christian life and the dual calling of prayer/mission?
3. Read John 20:11-18. What questions emerge when you consider this story? Why do you think Mary went to the tomb that day? 
4. What has stayed with you from the sermon- either as encouraging, curious, or confusing?
5. What are the similarities between Mary's tomb experience and MLK's table moment?  
6. If in fact Easter is both a time of personal healing and sending, where do you feel Christ is sending you this week?

Easter- Mary, Martin and You

Ruth - Chapter Two.  Fabs continues our series on the book of Ruth by exploring the way God demonstrates God's lovingkindness in chapter two.

Discussion Questions:
What stayed with you from the sermon?  Challenged or encouraged you? 
Which circumstance currently resonates with you most: Ruth (in need and trusting God's lovingkindness), Boaz (being the provision of God's lovingkindness) or Naomi (in need and in despair, waiting on God's lovingkindness)?
Have you ever experienced a time in your life where someone felt like they were the expressing God's lovingkindness to you through their actions?   
What makes it hard for us to ask one another for help?  (Cultural scripts, narratives or beliefs, personality traits, schedules, etc…)
Read Deut 24:17-22,  what stands out to you?  Why do you think the text includes the reference to their status in Egypt? 
In what area could you leave more margin for those in need: time, energy, resources (other?)  What would this look like?  What gets in the way for you? 

Ruth - Chapter Two

Are you a fan of RomComs? Pastor Mark explores Ruth chapter 3 and considers the different elements of a good love story that are present in this ancient story. 

www.thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Read Ruth 3. What stands out to you today? 
2. What stayed with you from the sermon?  Was there anything confusing, encouraging or challenging? 
3. What do you make of Naomi’s plan? And what does Ruth display in her participation in this? 
4. Explore the element of the garment in this story. What is the symbolism, and what do you think Ruth was asking for? 
5. Building on what we know of the role “kinsman redeemer,” how is Jesus the truer version of that?
6. In the end, Mark shared about the use of the word “empty-handed” in this story. Part of Ruth’s redemption is the reversal of Naomi’s emptiness. As you conclude in prayer, what do you feel is empty from your life? 


Ruth - Chapter 3

Mark shares a sermon on the fourth and final chapter of Ruth. 

www.thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Read Ruth 4. What stands out to you today? 

2. What is the main difference between the perspectives of Boaz and this unnamed relative? 

3. What stayed with you from the sermon?  Was there anything confusing, encouraging or challenging? 

4. Why do you think the author concludes with the genealogy account of Ruth and Boaz’s family? Why is this so significant?

5. As you reflect on the entire story of Ruth, what is this story about? 

6. How has this story informed how you can live differently? 


Ruth- Chapter 4

Mark kicks off our new series, Moment with Jesus, by a series of stories detailing the power of a glance. In these stories we explore the power of God's face, Peter's denials, and Jesus' mercy.

John 21:3-9, 15-19

www.thevineaustin.org

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What images or stories have formed your view of the "face of God?"
2. When you survey the stories in this sermon, how would you describe Peter's personality?
3. Read John 21:15-19. Why do you think Jesus created that conversation with Peter on the beach? What was he seeking to do and to undo?
4. What have you taken with you from the sermon- what do you find encouraging or curious?
5. Why is the most important thing about us not "what comes to mind when we think of God" but "what comes to God's mind when God thinks of us?"

Moments with Jesus- The Face of God

Fabs continues in our series of Moments with Jesus. In this sermon, we explore the healing power of Jesus' solidarity; especially in entering our sorrow.

John 11:17-36

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Moments with Jesus - Jesus with us in Sorrow

As we continue with the sermon on the gospel stories, Moments with Jesus, Mark shares from the simple story of extravagant worship. The widow's two coins.

Mark 12:41-44

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Monk Habits for the Rest of Us- Praying the Hours

The Vine Austin