Discussion Questions from Christa Hesselink’s Talk

by Jonathan Manafo | Nov 7, 2017 | Sunday Conversations

Keep on going. It’s worth the adventure, the struggle, the pain, and the arrival to the other side.

Below are some questions Christa left us with in regards to our conversation on Sunday. Dig in.

1. What feels like a place you are stuck or burdened, weighed down?
2. (Philippians 4:4-8) Seek the Sweet: Do you have a practice of solitude and/or gratitude in your life? If so, what is it and how has it impacted you? If not, what might be your first step towards it?
3. (Romans15) Embrace your Pace: What are the weaknesses/vulnerabilities that you feel insecure about and self-judge yourself about? What does God have to say about you amidst these “frailties”? How can you bring some peace to these parts of yourself?
4. (Romans 12) Lean on others: Who are the fellow pilgrims you have in your life right now? (can include books, songs, others resources/things). Who needs you to take special notice and encourage them today?
5. (Hebrews 11,12) Keep the long view:
What images, messages can you lean on to get a new perspective on your circumstance so you can “keep going”?

Heart Matters: Guard your Heart

by Jonathan Manafo | Nov 1, 2017 | Sunday Conversations

(just a few summarized thoughts from Brad Clarke’s talk this past weekend)

We go to great lengths to protect the things we value. We protect our phones, we protect our cars and homes (via alarms and insurance), we protect our computers and tablets, we protect our eyes (sun glasses), our skin (sun screen), etc. In sports we use some handy pieces of equipment to protect certain parts of our body: shoulder pads, knee pads, helmets, chest protectors, and the all important jock strap.

There is one very important part of our body the scriptures urge us to protect – our heart. As important as our physical heart is, it’s our metaphorical heart (inner most being) that Solomon is talking about. The part of us that reflects who we are and what drives the things we do.

Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Eugene Peterson paraphrases it like this, “Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”

I guess we might say that life begins and ends with and in your heart. Anything good we do, anything bad we do, comes from our heart. It starts there and moves outward. It was Jesus who said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45)

So when Solomon says ‘Guard your Heart’ it’s because he knows how essential our heart is to determining who we are. The Bible is full of failed examples when it comes to this. Adam, Eve, Moses, David, Solomon himself, and others. When they let their guard down, things went down hill. Jesus, our best example, set up boundaries around his heart, which, along with other factors, led to his impact and influence. In the wilderness, Satan tried to get to him, to distract him, to knock him off course – Jesus didn’t budge. He stayed the course, protected his own heart, his own mission, his own purpose, and went on to accomplish what he came to do.

You have only one heart. That’s it. And it’s that heart which defines the course for your life. Ensure its safety, its purity, its wholeness, its strength. Don’t just give it away to anyone or anything. Well, you can give it to God. He’s been known to take hearts of stone and turn them into hearts of flesh. But he does ask us to guard it so that he can work in it and through it.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Living a Questionable Life

by Jonathan Manafo | Oct 24, 2017 | Sunday Conversations

Do you ever wonder about how repeatable our days are? How uninterrupted our lives are? How monotonous things get? It’s not all bad of course? Doing good things regularly, is, well, good.

Do you ever wonder if your life is too predicable?

When was the last time you did something to break from the mold, the monotony, the routine?

Someone wise once said, “When predictability is high, impact is low”.

That begs the question…When was the last time you did something questionable?
I don’t mean something morally questionable or stupid or foolish.
I mean, does our life cause others to question who we are?
(or)
Do we just fit in without even thinking?

Jim Carey’s old movie, The Truman show, about someone who is stuck in a routine, is a metaphor or analogy for those who want to dream of something more. For those who might say, “I don’t want to fit in anymore”

How about if I told you that Jesus invites us to live a questionable life?

WHAT? Some might not be able to fathom this, because in their minds, faith is this prim and proper box that religious people fall into. But Jesus definitely didn’t call us to live in a box. He invites us to live in the world, making a difference in every corner we might find ourselves in. How can we do that if we aren’t living questionably?

2 scriptures come to mind here: Colossians 4:2-6 & 1 Peter 3:13-16

In Colossians 4, after Paul talks about being prayerful, watchful, and thankful, he challenges the reader to be wise in how they speak to those outside of their community – seasoning their conversations with salt, filling them with grace. Then Paul says, “So You May Answer Everyone”

He’s saying, live in such a way, that inspires, spurs on, begs for questions. Because answers are only answers if someone is asking a question.

It’s in 1 Peter 3 where we are really challenged to make a splash with our life, and define who we are to those watching…

Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”  But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

What is Peter getting at here? What makes a questionable life?

Give Jesus a prominent spot in your heart

In other words, “In your hearts, give Christ a unique place”

Paul says something similar in Col 3…Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated…”

Jesus also says something similar…(Luke 12) do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it…(Matt 6) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,

Peter is saying – Who you are is dictated by what your heart values– what occupies the space of your heart. Peter is simply saying, give Jesus the prominent place in your heart.

Let Jesus leak out into your life

Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. (the message)

For Peter, every day is an opportunity to live a questionable life, where you live and act in such a way that people question why.

Peter’s example is? Doing Good! That’s it. Good?

But for Peter, this is an alternative way of life. The good life for Peter is a life of values, of virtue, of hope, of love, of kindness. We have simplistic view of GOOD, but it’s the opposite. It’s profound.

Doing good, even when it’s hard, especially when it’s hard…is the questionable thing Jesus is inviting us to.

For Peter, this is how Jesus leaks out of us. By living out the good values of God’s kingdom. (peace, joy, kindness, justice, compassion)

Jesus’ place in our hearts effects those around us, only when he leaks out of us. That is questionable living.

Peter, in this brilliant letter says, our lives can spur on questions – our lives, our actions, our way of doing life in the world – hope, peace, love, mercy, kindness, etc, is what get’s people asking questions…leading them to much more than predictability.

TAKE HOME:

Surprise the world
Don’t be predictable
Live a life that gets the attention of others

Have them asking…

Why are you hopeful? (when things look dismal)
How do you have energy to do good? (when I can hardly get up to go to work)
How can you be so calm or patient or joyful? (when circumstances are crummy)
Why does it seem like you walk to the beat of a different drum?

– – – – – – – – – – – – –

small(er) group questions:

What do you think about this quote?
“When predictability is high, impact is low.”

Take some time to read 1 Peter 3:13-16. What are some initial take a ways?

Colossians 4 challenges our conversations with those who don’t follow Jesus to be seasoned with salt, and filled with grace. 1 Peter 3 challenges us to respond to questions with gentleness & respect.
What does that mean for you?
What does that look like?
Why is this so important?

What does it mean to live a questionable life? What kind of lives make people ask questions? Is this hard work? Should it come naturally?

Why and How can Christianity surprise the world?

What are you praying about or praying for today?Exodus Week 3 – Parent Take Home

NAKED: when the church strips down to its essentials – (the new) bullhorn

by Jonathan Manafo | Oct 17, 2017 | Sunday Conversations

You’ve all seen this guy…the guy on the corner of a busy city street…yelling at people he doesn’t know…
– the one with the pamphlets
– the one with the loud voice
– the one who sounds angry
– the one who’s talking, but nobody is really listening (are they?)

This of course, is Bullhorn guy, who I have a few problems with…
– he’s loud, he’s angry, he’s talking to people he doesn’t know, he’s condemning, harsh, irrelevant, etc.
– he’s unfortunately painted with the same brush as you and me
– it’s unfair that our faith is still associated with this kind of image

But…here’s the dilemma…no matter what the bullhorn guy does, we, as followers of Jesus, are still called to share the gospel story and the message of Jesus. Our mission is still to let others know.

So what if we could rebrand the Bullhorn? What if the Bullhorn could get a better rap? A new identity? Create and leave a better impression and taste in people’s mouth?

There is only one way this can happen – if our loud speaker is not an electronic tool, but a message of Love, Hope, Peace, & of course, Jesus.

Over the last few weeks we’ve tried to strip down the layers of what it means to be a church. We’ve narrowed things down to a few essentials. We’ve talked about Tables, Microphones, Notes – Communion, Worship, Teaching. All of these, if understood and experienced well, can be and should be things that attract people to Jesus.
Table = brings people together  /  Worship = brings people to God  /  Scripture = brings people to Jesus
Loud Lives/BullHorn = brings Jesus to the world

One of our essential layers is this: Sharing the story of Jesus. Living loud the gospel message. Matching action with words that combats the noise of hate, unrest, injustice, and brokenness.

A place in scripture that helps us see this well? 1 Thessalonians 1.

The Thessalonians were a young church. Maybe just over a year old. Some might say that younger Christians tend to be louder about their faith. I agree and disagree. Anyone captivated by the message of Jesus can’t help but share it. The maturing ones know how to show and tell!!!

Here’s what Paul says…

Three words / Three trail markers (1:2-3)

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul starts with 3 words…with trail markers of their faith in Jesus. 3 things that seem to really be getting people’s attention: FAITH / LOVE / HOPE. These words are connected to very practical and down to earth terms: Vocation / Labour / Patience.

Faith is connected to your vocation (that’s what this word means in the greek = ergon).
– Faith is something that is seen and produced by what you do, and who you are every day.

Love is connected to your effort
– Love is more than a feeling
– Love is work  (i.e. a labour of love)
– Agape is an all encompassing love

Patience is inspired by Hope
– Hope isn’t based on escaping circumstances through ignorance, but dealing with things
– Paul’s hope is always JESUS
– In this particular text, patience means taking on problems and suffering that actually create opportunity

For Paul, nothing speaks louder than these 3 words in action!!!

Let’s see how Paul reaffirms this theme…

More than words…tell & show (1:4-7)

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 

There’s no way that the church grew in the first century without an exhibition of power from the Holy Spirit. Demonstrable faith…love…and hope.

You think it’s just words? NO. It’s Power!
You think it’s just words? NO. It’s you, living this out for people to see what this gospel is all about.

What’s the example Paul gives? Suffering. It’s his go to illustration or example.

Their faith, love & hope come out loud and clear because they were able to have JOY in the midst of SUFFERING.
– a huge theme in scripture
– Joy in Suffering (for Paul, the best way to model faith)

Paul introduces the idea of being an imitator…a model if you will…
– a pattern for people to follow
– models for people to see how these the new clothes fit
– like one big fashion show.

This quote about fashion helps us understand Paul a little here.
“People stare…make it worth their while” (H.W.)

Paul’s telling this young church that as they’ve been living out their faith, people have been watching. The world was staring…and they made it worth their while!!!

And here is the final and most important part of today’s text…The BULLHORN comes out.

Is the message RINGING out from our lives too? (1:8)

The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,

Because of their faith, their love, their hope – Because they have been showing, in action, the power of the Spirit – Because of the their modelling skills and the way they can have JOY in Suffering…Their message RANG out from them.

The word is out
People are talking
The news is spreading
The message is being heard
The BULLHORN is in full force

But this BullHorn isn’t about standing on a corner and yelling at people, it’s about working faith, laborious love, and enduring hope.

This kind of RINGING has to be an essential for us who follow Jesus and gather as community.

Let’s TAKE this HOME:

I have teenage kids. Sometimes they come home after school and are quiet. But sometimes they enter the door talking up a storm, telling us how amazing their day was. I don’t have to pry it out of them. They simply offer up their feedback and stories. Why? Because in their point of view, they have good news to share. You can’t shut them up (and I love listening to it…most of the time:).

We have good news to share.
We have a story that brings joy out of suffering.
A story that requires faith, but spurs on love, and inspires hope.
We have news about Jesus, who is the king of redemption, healing and justice.

It shouldn’t take much to get the story out of us.

Now know this…

Living loud isn’t about volume, it’s about impact. 
Loud is only good when it does good.

You can be a quiet person and lead a loud life.
You can be an introvert and make a huge splash where ever you go.
You don’t need a mic or a speaker or an old school bullhorn to get people’s attention.
Just live out your faith in a way that gets people’s attention. Nothing fancy, but definitely impacting.

Think about these final quotes…

“We are a blessed people & a sent people”

“In the daily rhythms for everyone everywhere, we live our lives in the market place of this world. In homes and neighbourhoods, in schools and on farms, in hospitals in businesses…In those places, by simple grace, we are hints of hope…splashes of love…sprinkles of faith.”

May the things we do…and the things we say…cut through the noise of greed, of materialism, of politics, of selfishness, and may the message of Jesus RING out and slowly get the attention of those he loves and we love.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

small(er) group questions:

What’s you’re impression of ‘the bullhorn guy’? Anything wrong with his or her approach?

We’ve walked through 4 essentials in this series. Any one in particular stand out as more important or impactful? (Eucharist, Worship, Teaching, Sharing Faith)

1 Thessalonians 1 is packed with challenges. Think and talk about these things…

• why do words like faith, love & hope speak so loudly?
• what speaks louder, words or actions?
  • can you have one without the other, or is balance important?
• seems like Paul puts the responsibility on us to be imitators and models? hmmmm?
  • “people are staring…are we making it worth their while?”
• joy in suffering is talked about so much. why?
• how can Jesus’ message RING out from you?

“We are blessed & sent (gathered & scattered) to be hints of hope & splashes of love” (discuss)

What should you be praying for tonight?

I wanna be grateful. You?

by Jonathan Manafo | Oct 10, 2017 | Sunday Conversations

It is Thanksgiving weekend…a Holiday that I think we get right.

Not all Canadian Holidays are created equal. I love every day off I get, don’t get me wrong, but there’s something about taking a day off to be grateful that so resonates with our faith, and is good for our soul.

Of course we are smart enough to know that being grateful needs to be an every day thing.

RW Emerson once said, “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously…”

Some of us don’t care how we got this holiday, only that we have it. (like the other stat holidays we enjoy)
– Indigenous peoples paused for thanksgiving well before Euro settlers every arrived
– It became common in the 1870s and official in 1957
– It’s always been connected to and associated with being grateful for what we received…harvested.

The question we’d like to get at is: why do so many of us have a hard time being grateful?
– Because we compare what we have verses what we don’t have.
– We start asking…Why me? Why not me? Why them?
– We compare incomes, stuff, toys, experiences, and feel like we get the raw end of the deal.

Think about this: We all know someone who is rich and unhappy, and someone who is far from rich, yet very happy. And we’ve figured out that it’s directly connected to how grateful or ungrateful they are.

A few places in scripture we can go to that challenges us on the importance of being grateful.

Phil 4:11-13
I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

Colossians 4:2
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Heb 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Thomas Merton said something that directly addresses these verses:
“If we are too eager to have everything, we will almost certainly miss even the one thing we need.”

Let’s look at some helpful tips or ways that we can become more grateful or develop the posture of gratefulness:

9 habits/steps of Grateful People 

Spend time with loved ones
Know the value of the little things
Volunteer
Get moving (be active)
Intentionally choose gratitude
Count your blessings / Not what you don’t have
Embrace humility / Embrace the struggle
Open your eyes to those with less
Find Gratitude in every situation

Gratefulness is a posture…a privilege…a position we take. We choose it. We live it. We sit in the seat that says, “I’m grateful for what I have, for who is in my life, for a God who is with me everywhere that I go.

“We are hopeful, only to the degree that we are grateful”

So let’s be grateful!!!

NAKED – when the church strips down to its essentials: Notes

by Jonathan Manafo | Oct 3, 2017 | Sunday Conversations

This past week I lost something very important to me. What you might ask is that? My notebook. Not just any notebook, but my everyday, everything, notebook. It’s also happens to be a Moleskine notebook (don’t worry, I only purchase them when they’re on sale). Why was this a big deal? Because I have everything in that notebook, project notes, ideas for future talks, weekly to-do lists, notes from important meetings, etc. I don’t wanna lose those things. My memory isn’t good enough for me to afford losing that information. Just so you know, this story does end well, I found it at chapters. They had it behind the counter. (Phew) Luckily they didn’t restock it and sell it to someone else. (now that would be a fun story)

If you’ve followed along thus far, you know that we’ve been talking about stripping down to our essentials as a church. Taking off the layers that are (or may be) less important, and focus on the things that have kept us going since the church launched, in and around the first century.

One of the things we consider essential around here, because we are part of a long and rich (and messy) church tradition, are the notes, records, writings, we have about faith, God, people figuring out why and how to follow him, and of course Jesus. We also value the conversations that proceed from those notes.

We’ve talked about the TABLE, and about WORSHIP (sing & serve). Today we talk about TEACHING (from the scriptures).

Le’s phrase it like this: What conversation, message, theme, emerges fromthe notes, records, writings that we have in the scriptures?

By using this language, we’re not making light of the scriptures. No. It’s the opposite, these notes are treasured…not because the paper they’re on is special, or because the writers were holy in some way, but because they lead us to Jesus, who is the clearest picture of who God is.

Now, why do we teach these scriptures, and keep the notes and the conversation floating around?

1) Teaching the story of God, that leads to Jesus, assures us of Jesus’ presence…

In Matthew 28, the great commission, we read these words… “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

These final words from Jesus do a few things:
– talk about the importance of discipleship
– reminds us about the Trinity
– urge us to TEACH & FOLLOW Jesus’ commands
– assure us that as we do this, disciple, baptize, teach & obey, Jesus will be present.

God is with those who converse about him. Too Simple? Maybe. Profound? Definitely.

2) We teach the scriptures because they are practical and useful…

Paul wrote these words to Timothy about why we teach and converse about the scriptures… “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, ¹¹ persecutions, sufferings…Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them…. as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Paul see’s teaching as something we say and something we show. Show & tell. Never just tell!

Paul’s main idea here is verse 16. All Scripture is inspired by God (that’s what ‘breathed’ means). This doesn’t mean that the writers were controlled and under the influence of some trance when they wrote. This does mean that God breathed life into these stories because God was always the main character, coming in and out of the scenes of the narrative.

Paul is at least saying that we shouldn’t approach the scripture like some approach tourist spots or historical sites – “That’s nice” “Wow, what a beautiful structure” “So glad we visited this place”.

The scriptures are alive, because the God of whom the writer’s spoke about was and is alive.

Paul doesn’t end there. He goes on to say that the scriptures are useful.
– for teaching, rebuking, correcting, training in right living.
– being acquainted with the scriptures will equip us to do good work.

Now, we have to be careful that this is not all we see it as, that said, the scriptures are and should be used for this. Practical, Useful, Helpful.

Our Canadian friend, Bruxy, said this recently, “The gospel is not just the message that people get saved by, it Is the message that saved people live by.”

3) We teach the scriptures because it is the story that leads us to Jesus…

Paul says this in Colossians 1…

I have become its (the church’s) servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— ²⁶ the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. ²⁷ To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Paul is passionately committed to teaching the WORD of GOD. But for Paul, the WORD of God is JESUS.

(John 5:39) You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me…
(John 1:14)The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

We get caught up in the book, and forget that the purpose of the book is to introduce us to its main character.

How many Christians have gotten in trouble by focusing more on the Bible, and less on Jesus?

Who is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12)? The Bible or Jesus? JESUS!

Think about these quotes from Brian Zhand,

“I believe in the infallible, inerrant word of God. And his name is Jesus.”

“When we speak of the ‘word of God’, Christians should think of Jesus first and the bible second”

Paul says a few other things in Colossians:
– The word of God is Christ
– Christ, the hope of glory, is in us
– We proclaim Jesus, teach about Jesus, help people grow and mature in Jesus

For this reason, and many others, teaching (the scriptures and the gospel) is an essential of what it means to be the church!

TAKE HOME:

So…why do we continue to teach and continue to keep this conversation going?
– To immerse ourselves in the way of Jesus.
– To slowly, but surely be defined by the values and teaching of Jesus.
– To live out the ways of Jesus.

May we continue the conversation, share the notes, live out the gospel.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Questions to consider…

Do we value the notes (that have been passed on to us)?

Do we continue the conversation (we have been invited to be a part of)?

Are we talking about, and listening to, Jesus, the WORD of the GOD?