Scripture

But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did;
let them break out in joyful song.
May You keep them safe—
their love for You resounding in their hearts.

You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps of the right-hearted. Your blessings surround them like a shield.

Psalm 5:11-12 (VOICE)

The Gist

Your blessings surround them like a shield.

Today, we discuss a new perspective on what a blessing is and isn't. It's incredible how one sentence in scripture can open our hearts to something new.

We have been taught or often think of a blessing as a moment, a breakthrough, an answered prayer, or provision at just the right time, but Psalm 5:12 is pointing to something deeper. It speaks of blessing as being an atmosphere, posture or even environment that we live in.

Blessing doesn’t remove us from our difficulties or challenges, but it changes how much gets through to us living inside this blessing shapes how we interpret life, and we walk differently. Blessing isn’t something we’re waiting for, but what we remain within.

To say that blessing becomes our environment is saying I live under God’s care. I wake up in his favor, and I walk through the world protected by his presence, it’s saying, I don’t have to move toward the blessing or work for it. I wake up inside it.

Digging Deeper

If blessing is not something I chase, what parts of my life still feel like I’m striving to earn it?

What shifts in me when I imagine blessing as the atmosphere around me rather than a reward ahead of me?

What changes in my identity when I believe I am someone who lives in blessing rather than someone who receives it occasionally?

How might my decisions change if I trusted that I am already held, already covered, already favored?

What practices help me stay conscious of the environment of blessing rather than slipping back into striving?

Scripture

Love is patient; love is kind. Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about. There’s no arrogance in love; 5 it’s never rude, crude, or indecent—it’s not self-absorbed. Love isn’t easily upset. Love doesn’t tally wrongs 6 or celebrate injustice; but truth—yes, truth—is love’s delight! 7 Love puts up with anything and everything that comes along; it trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (VOICE)

The Gist

Today, we discuss why these verses make Allison roll her eyes.

Sometimes scripture is so overquoted and used in the wrong context it loses its weight and meaning. That’s especially ironic in these verses since Paul wrote them to call out and convict the people of Corinth, who thought that they already understood love.

He wasn’t writing poetry for couples or talking about romantic love in 1 Corinthians. He was writing to a church that was failing when it came to love.

In fact, it quietly describes the life of Jesus, not an ideal personality or marriage. These verses were written to confront our wills and call us to surrender back into obedience.

The gist is, our discomfort with this verse is the tension between a beautiful idea of Christ's love, and the real-world harm misapplied theology and incorrect use can have over time.

Digging Deeper

Can you relate to what we shared today about these verses from 1 Corinthians? Do they bother you because they have been made sentimental, because they refuse to let you off the hook, or something else?

How did it feel to hear that these verses weren't written by Paul to be sentimental, but surgical? What does that mean to you?

Is there a scripture that brings up strong emotional responses in you? Consider sitting down with curiosity and journaling through those thoughts.

Scripture: Mark 1:35-38 (Voice)

Early in the morning, Jesus got up, left the house while it was still dark outside, and went to a deserted place to pray. 36 Simon and the others traveling with Jesus looked for Him. 37 They finally tracked Him down.

People: Everybody wants to know where You are!

Jesus: 38 It’s time we went somewhere else—the next village, maybe—so I can tell more people the good news about the kingdom of God. After all, that’s the reason I’m here.

The Gist:

What is Holy Indifference? It's being present with/for someone without trying to "save" them or be "God" for them. It isn't indifference or apathy, it's loving someone without being consumed.

Jesus was a great example of Holy indifference. He cared deeply, but never let the urgency of others and their demands override His calling and God's plan.

Loving without being consumed requires a deep trust in God. When we practice Holy indifference, we are essentially handing people back to God again and again. We don't stop loving them, we stop holding what isn't ours to hold.

It's a heart that is: tender, not entangled, present, not pressured, and responsive, not reactive.

It's learning to listen instead of solving, care without chasing outcomes or solutions, and love without trying to manage someone else's emotions.

Digging Deeper:

If God asked me to release this particular attachment, what emotions arise in me?

When I imagine letting go of control, what part of my ego resists the most?

What would it look like to trust God without demanding guarantees?

How might holy indifference deepen my capacity to love others without needing them to be a certain way?

As promised, a fun break from the hard heart work! Take these questions to your next girls' night out or dinner party.

If your friendship were a cocktail, what would it be called and what would be in it?

If angels gave "Yelp" reviews, what would they say about you?

Which gospel personality would you invite to dinner?

If you had a podcast, what would you name it?

When do you feel most like your true self?

What's something you wish people understood about your personality?

What's your most unnecessary talent?

If we saw your Google search history, what would surprise us?

What's a habit that you have that drives your family nuts?

What's your favorite new app on your phone?

What's a Bible verse that has always struck a chord with you?

Scripture - Mark 10:17-22

When He had traveled on, a young man came and knelt in the dust of the road in front of Jesus.

Young Man: Good Teacher! What must I do to gain life in the world to come?

Jesus: 18 You are calling Me good? Don’t you know that God and God alone is good? 19 Anyway, why ask Me that question? You know the Commandments of Moses: “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not slander, do not defraud, and honor your father and mother.”[a]

Young Man: 20 Yes, Teacher, I have done all these since I was a child.

21 Then Jesus, looking at the young man, saw that he was sincere and responded out of His love for him.

Jesus: Son, there is still one thing you have not done. Go now. Sell everything you have and give the proceeds to the poor so that you will have treasure in heaven. After that, come, follow Me.

22 The young man went away sick at heart at these words because he was very wealthy,

The Gist

The young man in these verses is the only person in the Gospels (outside the disciples) Jesus personally invited to follow him. He is also the only one in the Gospels to walk away from Jesus's invitation.

Today, we discuss what we can learn from the young man and how we are actually very similar to him. This story illustrates the difference between following commandments and following Jesus.

The tragedy of the story wasn't that the young man had wealth, but that his wealth had him! The only thing worse than being far from God. . . is being close enough to hear His voice, feel His love, and still choose something else over Him.

Digging Deeper

What part of my identity would I struggle to live without?

Is there anything I've quietly decided is "off limits" to God?

Where am I slowly walking away from God, not outright, just not stepping fully toward Him?

Three GREAT Small Group Questions to answer regularly:

1) Where have I said "yes" to God? 2) Where have I said "no" to God? 3) Where have I seen God at work in my life?

Scripture

Watch closely: I am preparing something new; it’s happening now, even as I speak,
and you’re about to see it. I am preparing a way through the desert;
Waters will flow where there had been none. Isaiah 43:19 (The Voice)

The Gist

What does it look like when community is fractured (family, marriage, friends, church, neighbors, etc.)?

We are left feeling disoriented, our identities are a little shaken, and we get the "lonely in a crowd" feeling.

BUT how do we rebuild? Today, take a closer look at what rebuilding should look like: Don't rush, resist the lies that fear tells us, rebuild in small numbers, choose quality over familiarity, embrace the "in-between" season, be patient in your grief.

Digging Deeper

Am I trying to rebuild community or control it?

What past hurt might be shaping how I'm showing up for community right now?

Where am I guarded when God might be asking me to open gently?

Have I forgiven the community that disappointed me - or am I still bracing for impact?

Scripture

But that is not the way it will be among you. Whoever would be great among you must serve and minister. 44 Whoever wants to be great among you must be slave of all. 45 Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to be a servant—to offer His life as a ransom for others. Mark 10:43-45 (The Voice)

The Gist

Staying humble in our spiritual maturity and relationship with God is vital to adopting the posture of Jesus as minister and servant. Humility requires:

• Remember where our insight & wisdom comes from
• Continuing to see ourselves as learners, not just teachers
• Speaking from our personal experiences/testimony and not our position
• Remembering where we once were and not comparing ourselves to others
• Let words fall away, and let our lives speak

Digging Deeper

What does it look like for me to have a "gentle and lowly heart" as Jesus does in Matthew 11:29?

Where is Jesus inviting me to take the lower place?

How can I honor Christ in this person, even if I disagree?

Who am I when no one is watching?

Am I more concerned with being right or being loving?

Scripture

Grumbling broke out the next day in the community of Israel, grumbling against Moses and Aaron: “You have killed God’s people!”

42 But it so happened that when the community got together against Moses and Aaron, they looked over at the Tent of Meeting and there was the Cloud—the Glory of God for all to see. Numbers 16:41-42 (MSG)

The Gist

Spiritual maturity doesn't erase our humanity! We take a look at a few reasons we complain before turning to God, and consider how complaining becomes dangerous when it replaces prayer instead of leading us to prayer.

Digging Deeper

Is my delay in prayer coming from resistance, exhaustion, or the need to find truthful words?

What emotions am I sitting with right now that I haven't put into prayer yet?

When I find myself complaining, is it helping me avoid God, or helping me name what I want to bring to Him?

Worksheet for putting our emotions into words while they catch up with what we know intellectually and in our hearts.

Draw four circles: Label them in order: Emotions (what you are feeling emotionally), The Facts (about the situation w/ no emotions involved), Prayer Requests (based on the feelings and facts, what do you need to take to God in prayer), and Revelations (new understandings about the situation from God). You can also check out our social media for a visual of this worksheet.