Lent Bible Studies

Hi Guys

Peter Mallen has put together a Series of Bible studies to help you and your small groups prepare for Easter. The six Bible studies take up some core themes of discipleship. They are based on various readings from

the book of Acts, which forms a companion text to this year’s lectionary readings from the Gospel of Luke.

Acts records some of the exciting adventures of the early Christians but also provides many insights into the

joys and challenges of the Christian life.

• Week 1   People of the Way
• Week 2   Daring to be different
• Week 3   Knowing the story
• Week 4    Living the story
• Week 5   Co‐operating with God
• Week 6   Walking the way of the cross

Download here

PS. Tell me what you think and how they are working with your group(s).

Stages of the Watch - An Easter Prayer Guide

Hear is an Easter Prayer Guide and reflections I pulled together.  Incase your looking for a devotions thing this Easter. The Pdf can be found here stageswatcheaster

  Evening - Last Supper

Friends & Farewells

When have you had to leave your friends? What did it feel like?

Farewells sometimes feel like you are with friends but already gone. Who are your friends that are currently feeling ‘not with your group’? Pray for them.

What will you leave this year? Pray for it.

What would you like the world to farewell?  Pray that we do.

 Pray for and remember those friends who will not be with us this Easter.  

Midnight  - Betrayal

Being let down

 Think of a time when you felt betrayed or let down? 

How did it feel? Pray about it.

Who/what are you betraying/letting down?  Pray about this too.

Who/what is being betrayed in our world? Pray about it.

Cockcrow  - Peter’s Denial

 Denial

 When in your life have you denied your spirituality? Denied being apart of the church? Pray about it.

 What does it mean to deny Jesus in your everyday life? Hear God about this. 

How has the world denied Jesus? Pray for our world’s denial.

Morning  - Crucifixion

Whipping, Trial & Crucifixion of Jesus.

“When someone whips you or someone crucifies you which hurts more?” Pray about those times.

 Think of people & events on trial.

Who is whipping and who is judging. Pray for all involved

Morning again  - Resurrection

Ecstasy, Trauma and New Life

Remember a time you saw new life come to a family, community or group? What were the emotions. 

What scares you about following the risen crucified Jesus?

Where do you see the need for resurrection and new life in your life and world? Pray about it.

True faith, true discipleship transcends comprehension and security. It steps out not knowing the outcome but believing in the way. 

Pray about this unbalanced life.

Fires Debrief Idea - Enough

‘Enough’:A worship resource for youth groups, congregations and groups responding to the bushfires

The following ideas are possible ways of helping youth, churches and community groups process and debrief the tragic week of fires in Australia. Feel free to adapt, cut, paste and tweak it to ensure it is helpful with your group and context. Adrian Greenwood

Leaders Notes

The process I am suggesting is: Lament, Name and Respond.

‘Lament’ starts where we are – during this time we remember all that causes us hurt,  all that once was and now is forever different. This time allows us to express our anger and questions to God.  We join with Jesus crying out from the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken us.”

It is hoped that by being reminded of the suffering of Jesus we will be reminded that in such times of devastation God draws near to comfort, as One who in Jesus, shares the pain of creation.  Please avoid ‘rushing to the resurrection’ and trying to make everything neat and finished – that time is yet to come.

In these spaces and weeks people need to name the pain, shout at God and hopefully, meet our healing/suffering God there. Give God and people the space for healing.

Pre-preparation:

Glass bowl of water with a printed OHP sheet floating in it with the word
“Enough” written on it with a marker.

Large sheets of paper with the words - Family, Friends, Service, Homes & Businesses, Pets and Animals, Environment, Memories.
Coloured Textas

Image to reflect: I suggest an image/s of comforting and community. Times of crisis can build community, and the possibilities for neighbourliness are many.

Choose a room where you can make a circle with the people – it’s OK to have it layers deep. Think of this as a group hug.

A reading from scripture

Psalm 42 (NRSV)

Readers note: This is a despairing angry, questioning psalm of longing which covers a lot of emotional territory.

As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When shall I come and behold the face of God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me continually,
“Where is your God?”

These things I remember, as I pour my soul;
How I went with the throng, and led them in procession to the house of God,
With glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

My soul is cast down within me; therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows have gone over me.
By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.

I say to God, my rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully because the enemy oppresses me?
As with deadly wound in my body, my adversaries taunt me, while they say to me continually, “Where is you God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.

A Time to Remember Activity

During this time place the worded sheets of paper around the room with textas available.

Encourage people to draw or write about their feelings and thoughts in each area.

Allow enough time for this then call people back to make a circle

Celtic Circle

Ask people to form a circle.

The Celtic tradition loves circles. They are unbroken with no beginning or end. They also surround and protect the centre.

‘Today we are going to name and pray for those we wish to surround with the strength, hopes and prayers of this community. We will begin by naming those we know of in the various areas affected by the fires.  I will name an area and leave time for people to name those within this area either aloud or silently….

Let us pray for:

• Those who have lost their lives…

• Those who have lost homes, businesses and property…

• Those who fought/are fighting fires…

• Those who helped/are helping care in various ways…(CFA, police, ambulance, SES, chaplains, counsellors, family members and friends of those who have suffered, church and community agencies and groups, government departments (local, state, federal)

• The environment and animals…

‘Now we will say the things we wish to keep out of this circle for those we have named. (Maybe things like bitterness, revenge, debt…) Burdens or attitudes which may not help us during this time….’

‘Now let’s share the things we wish to keep in this circle for all named. (Maybe things like friends, compassion, chocolate, perseverance…) Things and attitudes which may help during this time…’

‘Let us draw near each other as community encircling ourselves and those beyond this space.

John 6:5-15

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Brief Reflection on Enough

In this passage the concern was whether there would be enough food to go around. Philip saw that they did not have the resources to cope with the need. “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

But others disciples looked to what they have with them, in their midst, a boy with five loaves and two small fish…. and Jesus.

Thousands have lost their homes in the fires and the need is great. Everyone knows someone affected by the fire and as such we all are affected. The need is very great. Like the disciples, as a community we look to what resources we have amongst us: the care and compassion of people opening their world, hearts, wallets and homes to others in need. This is all we have and, with Christ’s blessing, it is enough. We are enough.

Jesus is with us as we face this tragic time. We have a God who is not a stranger to suffering, even in this passage he has to skip town before they make him king by force. Jesus, even after the resurrection, still bears the scars on his hands and feet (John 20: 19-20). Jesus multiplies the very common things we have and makes it enough.

Celtic Poem Blessing. RS Thomas

I think that maybe
I will be a little surer
of  being a little nearer.
That’s all. Eternity
Is in the understanding
that that little is more than enough

Amen

Mark the Cross

As people leave you may invite them to dip their fingers into the bowl of water and mark the sign of the cross on the back of their hands or on their forehead to remind them that God is with them in this time and always.

As a pdf enough

Walking with the Radical Jesus Bible Study

So I have prepared a series of 5 Bible studies entitled “Walking with the Radical Jesus” based on Mark’s Gospel. Perfect for Lent or or a five week discipleship focus with your group.

They combine watching segments from the DVD  “The Call to Discipleship in Mark’s Gospel” by Ched Myers, recorded at the Centre for Theology and Ministry in Melbourne  (July 2008) with questions for discussion and guidelines for leaders. Each session needs about 1.5 hrs to complete. This time would usually include food and hospitality, as well as chatting and prayer. I think small groups often work best if hosted in a member’s home instead of a church.

You can download it and print as many copies as you need for your group. $10 or buy a A5 colour printed copy for $5. Call 03 9340 8815.

The DVD of Ched speaking at Call to Discipleship can be purchased for $25

Go to morestore

The Bible Study The DVD

Note: morestore is a new feature here so…. If you pay and the download link doesn’t work don’t wipe us off as a scam. Your should get an email with the link after we hear from paypal. Or  email info@morepraxis.org.au with your receipt and we will give you another link to try.

Irresistible Revolution - study guide

The Tassy mob have put together four-session group reading guide to Shane Claiborne’s Irresistible Revolution.

The four sessions are available in a single PDF document here:  irresistible-revolution-a-group-reading-guide

Continue reading over here

C-Change - UCA Small Group Discipleship Resources

Ched Myers - DVD Resource & Reflections

Ched Myers spoke at Call2Discipleship08 for us in July. We have created a resource by filming those sessions. (For those who saw him at School of Discipleship in Canberra these are also the same 2 inputs on he led on Saturday about marks gospel)

What it is

Value Pack= 2 disc set containing DVD’s 1& 2 (see description below) $25 + $5ph

DVD 1= The call to discipleship in Mark’s gospel sessions 1 & 2 plus question time  $15+$5ph

DVD 2= Unplugged with Ched - mp3 audio tracks of the 3 sessions above. $12 +$5ph

Go to idearipple.com to buy one now. Also found at morestore along with Age’s 5 week Bible Study guide for it ‘Walking with the Radical Jesus’

What struck people about Ched’s & Elaine’s input over the various events they spoke at here in OZ?

Leadership08 - Discussion Sheets

Below are the leadership day discussion sheets we pulled together for the 19th of April and sent up to the Shepparton mob for their leadership day on the 26th. Thanks Chris, Drew, Rod and Joan for your work.

The Art of Leadership - Chris Rowntree (224kb) artofleadership.pdf

Youth Group (240kb) youthgroup.pdf

Schools - Rod Dungan (192kb) mission-opportunites-2.pdf

What is Spiritual Formation - Joan Wright Howie (188kb) spiritualform.pdf

A More Reflective Bible Study - Adrian (Age) Greenwood (240kb) lead08bible.pdf

Justice (Too Much Said Not enough Done) - Rod Dungan (192kb) justice.pdf

All in one download (956kb) leadership08sheetsemail.pdf

Anzac Day - Remembering the Peacemakers

http://lestweforget.org.nz/

Kia ora.

This website provides information on people from Aotearoa / New Zealand who have made significant contributions to and suffered in the process of promoting peace.

From this site you can download a booklet that can be used in groups to reflect on the lives and actions of these peacemakers on ANZAC Day.

Mk 11 - Palm Sunday Bible Study

MorePraxis bible study works as a resource to prime a conversation and reflection on a passage. So reflect and think about the text, listen for God and your spirit. I hope the format is less like the normal comprehension styled Bible study, but rather that it feels like ideas are raised and space is left for you and your groups to have a conversation.

Mark 11:1-25 - Jesus’ Palm Sunday
(Full TExt in PDF)praxisbiblemk11.pdf

Reflect:
Read the text and notice what grabs your attention. Key words? Ideas?
Read it again, now what stands out? What do you relate to? What do you disagree with?
Is there a story from your life it reminds you of?

Think:
“The first part of this passage is what many Bible headings call “the triumphant entry into Jerusalem” But what’s so triumphant about it? Jesus doesn’t even spend the night there, because it was too late. At Palm Sunday Church services everywhere will have donkeys and kids chanting HOSANNA! Etc. Laying palm leaves and blankets at the feet of the conquering king like a defeated army laying down their weapons. We all know that Jesus did not come as the conquering king he is the servant king. Jesus is involved in street theatre a staged political stunt - Jesus statement is that he is not this king and not bringing this type of kingdom. I think Jesus knew the passage in Zech 9:9 that he was recreating and that it was too late in the day for the next step in his action. Hence the next day he trashes the temple, disrupts trade for the day and teaches in such a way that astonished and provokes the powers to plot to kill him. So let me prompt our conversation in short hand. Symbolism anyone?….Fig tree = temple? Moneychangers = economic injustice, Mountain = temple or controlling systems?

So each year do we re-enact in our churches the crowd missing the point of the radical kingdom? A kingdom that will overturn the tables of economic and political injustice through forgiveness” (Age)

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