Weekly Reflections:
Throughout our foundations series the focus of the GPS will be to dig deeper into scripture about the part of the creed we discussed the previous week in worship.
Further there is an open invitation to join us for conversation at Foster’s Grille Thursdays beginning at 6:30 for deeper conversation. Come for as long as you can for good food and great conversation.
Finally you can visit https://faithpointum.org/foundations-series/ for other weekly resources and a printable version of the creed worksheet so that you can create your own creed by the ned of the series.
Monday: Read Joel 2:28-32, Ezekiel 36:25-28
With hope, longing and waiting generations would have read these passages of scripture and desired for the Spirit to come. There would have been desire for the spirit and there would also have been some frustration about God’s timing as well I would think.
- At many points scripture seems to say something like, “The law was given so that the Spirit might be desired, and the Spirit was given so that the law would be obeyed.” Take some time to reflect on this idea.
- How does the Spirit coming in a new way at the day of Pentecost chance our interaction with God?
Tuesday Read Acts 2:1-12 or watch http://youtu.be/nOm1DMZJITs
Gregory of Nyssa writes, “If, then, the Holy Spirit is truly, and not in name only, called Divine both by scripture and by our Fathers, what ground is left for those who opposes the glory of the Spirt? He is Divine, and absolutely good, and Omnipotent, and wise, and glorious, and eternal; He is everything of this kind that can be named to raise our thoughts to the grandeur of His being.
- In what ways do these words encourage you to expand your understanding of the Spirit?
- Do you agree with the totality of this statement? If not why?
Wednesday Read John 14:15-18, 25-27; John 15:4; John 16:12-15
Nothing good happens apart from being connected to the true vine. This fruit/vine imagery is a powerful reminder of the way God is working and moving in the world.
- It is a hard thing to think that there is no good work that happens apart from the Spirit. There are lots of non-Christian people that do good stuff so how could this be true?
- John Wesley would have said that this good work can happen before we know it due to the prevenient/preventing grace of God. That God is at work before we even know that God is moving. Do you agree with this? Is the Spirit of God bound in acting in just Christ followers? How does that work in your understanding of God? (please feel free to share your answer to this or other GPS questions with meChris@faithpointum.org)
Thursday Read Galatians 5:16-18; 22-26
We have a tendency to think about the spiritual world and physical world as 2 opposed things (thank you very much Platonic Dualism), but many times in scripture we see the harmony between the two. This is an easy “trap” or mentality to fall into because many times, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,” as Paul writes.
- Have ever had a time where you come to see you can’t live the fullness of the intended faith life on our own? When was that and how did it change your approach to connecting with God?
- How do you deal with unifying the flesh/spirit friction?
Friday Read 1 Corinthians 12:7-14
This weekend we are going to be talking about the church universal. With that we see the way that the Spirit bleeds in here a little bit in this passage as we reflect on what it is to be the body of Christ.
- What are some of the spiritual gifts that you feel like you have? Take some time to discover some of them with this SHAPE tool: https://faithpointum.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SHAPE.pdf
- Share your results with us Chris@faithpointum.org and get plugged into your sweet spot.
Saturday Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
Evidence of the Spirit moving in your life is not necessarily the gifts of the Spirit but your love for God.
- How are you growing in your love for God?
- Pray and reflect on this prayer from St. Augustine of Hippo
o Breath in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen