St. John's Episcopal Church

Sunday Sowing for the Rest of the Week:

Where do we find the Church? June 6, 2009: Focus Galatians 1:11-24

1. Where else in the Bible does Paul share his “being overwhelmed by God” or “grace/conversion story?” What makes each telling different?

2. Why do you think that, after being overwhelmed by God, Paul heads to Jerusalem?

3. Do you tend to see yourself more driven by the Spirit or by the Tradition of the Church? How has this helped you as an apostle? How has this hindered or challenged you as an apostle?

4. The Church is almost as old as conflict. When can conflict be helpful for the Church? When can conflict be destructive?

5. Christians are challenged to both listen and share their “grace stories” of being overwhelmed. Can you think of a time when you had the opportunity to share your story with someone? Did you? What did you share? What did you conceal? Can you think of a time when you had the opportunity to listen to someone else’s story? Did you? What do you remember?

6. Have you ever pushed people away from the Church in sharing your story? Have you ever pushed people away from the Church in not sharing your story?

7. For you, what is the hardest part of being together with fellow Christians? Why?

8. Where do we find the church in ourselves?

Sunday Sowing for the Rest of the Week: June 13, 2009: Focus Galatians 2:15-21

1.  Lots of people say they have faith in God but end up doing arduous ministry with a stoic or guilty or just plain bad attitude. While ministry does require work, do you do ministry with a sense of blessing or a sense of guilt and obligation?

2.  How are you blessed?

3.  Are these blessings from God or from stuff?

4.  How are you blessing others?

5.  Are you blessings others with God or with stuff?

6.  Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” This is a provocative statement. If this statement is true for us, then we are a transformed people. If a more pious appearing person came up to you and wanted to know if you truly had been transformed by Jesus, what would you say? If a person who appears to be struggling or even rejecting faith came up to you and wanted to know why you think your so blessed to be transformed, what would you say?

Sunday Sowing for the Rest of the Week:  June 20, 2009:  Focus Galatians 3:23-29

1.  How many garments do you own?  Shirts?  Slacks?  Jeans?  Shoes?  Even socks?  With all of our material blessings, can we today still imagine Jesus clothing us day in and day out -- through prayer and presence?

2.  Is our church reaching out to our potential -- to allow Jesus to clothe and feed his flock?  How can we reach out further?

3.  Have you ever been guilty or accused of "compartmentalizing your faith?"  What are ways in which we can continuously keep Jesus out of the dresser drawers and on us in a way that is authentic?

4.  Baptismal promises.  Baptism is a one-time event but our baptismal promises are long reaching.  As Christians, what are ways in which we can remind ourselves that the Sacrament of Baptism isn't a "check" but the beginning of a long, great journey?

5.  We find the church where we find people who constantly "clothe" themselves in Christ.  We don't find the church where people reject Christ.  Yet, the church is called to go exactly to these places.  We don't want the church to look exactly like one type of person.  How can we reach out to places where Jesus is needed without losing Jesus on the way?

6.  We don't find the church where people fail to clothe in Jesus.  Paul wrote back to the Galatians exactly for this reason -- they were led astray.  What are ways in which "we" the church can lovingly reach out to those who use the name of the church for purposes other than Christ?

7.  There is the Gospel of Christ and the gospel of convenience.  Convenience doesn't always mean outward laziness (e.g. sleeping in on Sundays).  The Galatians were being mislead by needing to do more than the Gospel.  Yet, inwardly, they weren't being compelled by Christ.  It's easier to work harder on the outside for appearance sake and not have to listen on the inside for that still small voice of God.  How much time each day do you spend simply listening for God in the silence?

Sunday Sowing for the Rest of the Week:  June 27, 2009:  Focus Galatians 5:1, 13-25

1.  This week the topic of Christian freedom is both defined and explored.  It was mentioned in the sermon through a few illustrations that we find the church where we find people embracing this freedom.  What is Christian freedom?  Do we find it at St. John's? 

2.  Why is it so easy to abuse and misuse freedom as nothing more than the "pursuit of happiness"?