Mars Hill

Paul urges the Roman churches to not only place importance on what is real, true, sincere, and genuine but concretely to live it in their communal life and as they interact with the world around them. Romans 12:9-21 Questions to consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering? Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next s...

Jesus' Teaching of 'do not worry' is given rich meaning when we consider its connection with Genesis 1 + 3. We can take Jesus' invitation to a new posture of rest and renewal as God is the one who offers us healing, rest, security, and even new clothes! Matthew 6: 25-34, Genesis 1 + 3 Questions to consider— Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are bein...

The birth of the Church in Acts called for a New way of being for Peter, who had been a devoted follower of Jewish laws. God disrupts Peter's "devotion" with a vision that sets him on a course that allows him to participate in God's mission among Gentiles like Cornelius. This Teaching shows how the Spirit works through disruption to invite us into the new.  Acts 10:9-19 Questions to consider—...

It's hard to push through and endure. Thankfully, God has opened up a new and living way, via Jesus, for us to be confident and to be empowered to persevere in drawing near to God, holding on to hope, and meeting and being together.  Hebrews 10:19-25 Questions to consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering? Forwa...

In saying we are "all one in Christ," - Paul is not erasing our diversity and uniqueness - but claiming that our baptism into Christ forms an identity that is the deepest and most true thing about us. This lays the foundation for deep, personal healing and renewal, as well as the formation of a community that is more powerful than the divisions of Rome and our current culture. Galatians 3: 26-29 Q...

This new series kicks off with a focus on the new life that is inaugurated and punctuated by the resurrection of Jesus. Paul's description of the fruit of the Spirit serves us as not simply an individual moral checklist, but a vision for what builds up and sustains a community of people who seek to follow God more faithfully. Galatians 5:16-23 Questions to consider– Withward [Community]: How is my...

John's gospel portrays Mary's first-hand experience of the resurrection in ways that inspire fellow Christians to honestly tell the story, to simply declare what is true about God, and to boldly proclaim the ways we have seen the Lord.   John 20:1-2, 11-18 Questions to consider— Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?  ...

This prayer from Ephesians 1 is filled with thanksgiving and hope and encourages the faith community to look to who God is, what God has done, and what God has promised to do in the future. Since God has demonstrated God's faithfulness in Jesus, we can have hope. Ephesians 1:15-23 Week 6 Prayer Practice Questions to consider— Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighti...

Hannah's prayer is a great example of praise being fueled by intentional remembrance. Though remembering can be hard for many of us, practicing and capturing our times of remembering can be a source of more regular praise of the One who is faithful and steadfast in love. 1 Samuel 2:1-10 Questions to consider— Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are be...

1 Kings 3:6-9

Bold prayers are confident, open, and plain. They call us to pray together, say God's word back to God, and expect the impossible to become possible by the Spirit. Finally, we engaged in a contemplative prayer practice using prayer beads, visio divina, and the seven last sayings of Christ. Acts 4:24-30 Week 3 Prayer Practice Questions to consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of a...

Praying for other people is one of the ways Christians live into their calling to follow Jesus. But it can't be hard to know what to ask for others. Paul's prayer for the Ephesians can help inspire more specific and aspirational prayers as we kneel before the Father. Week 2 Prayer Practice Ephesians 3:14-21 Questions to consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with...

Psalm 51 God is not surprised by our secrets. Our invitation in the practice of confession and receiving assurance is to name our great need and receive grace and freedom. Week 1 Prayer Practice Questions to consider—  Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering? Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouragin...

There's no need to choose between a life of contemplation or a life of action. Healthy discipleship will always include both while recognizing we all lean toward one more naturally than the other.  Luke 10:38-42 Questions to consider— Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus? Outward [Service]: Who or where might God be calling me...

Consider the reality of orphans and God's concern for them, as demonstrated by David toward Jonathan's son. The gathered body is invited to join God's heart at work in South Africa.  2 Samuel 9:1-7 Questions to consider— Upward [Celebration]: Which attributes of God am I noticing and delighting in throughout the Gathering?  Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in m...

There are good [and good-for-us] reasons for us to look at injustice. And though looking can be challenging and convicting, God's faithful work in accomplishing God's purposes leads us to rejoice, along with Habakkuk, come what may.  Habakkuk 1:1-4 Questions to consider— Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging transformation in me? Outward [Service]: Who or where might G...

What a question! The invitation from Jesus is to 'stop looking for life in dead places!' [come home and be healed] and to 'be those who expect life in places of death' [people of hope and resurrection]. Consider these words: come and be healed and empowered to show up to be a part of the resurrection work of Jesus with hope in hand! Luke 24: 1-8, Luke 15, Ezekiel, 1 Kings 18 Questions to consider—...

Many of us face situations that require more resources than we have to give. This significant story from the life of Jesus reminds us to trust in the compassion and abundance of God more than we focus on our limitations or inadequacies.  Matthew 15:29-34 Questions to consider— Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus? Inward: [Who...

Moses invites parents, but more broadly all of Israel, to "tell the story" to the next generation. Likewise, we are invited to do the same thing. Deuteronomy 6:20-21 Questions to consider— Withward [Community]: How is my understanding of and engagement with the church being formed during this Gathering? Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being dr...

Even the Christmas Story can be approached with faithful curiosity. What Zechariah's song and the popular seasonal song "What Child Is This" both stress is the immediacy of God's promises in Christ being jumpstarted. Hear the Good News: Jesus has always been and will always be the King! Luke 1:68-79 Questions to consider— Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church trad...

Matthew 2:1-2

When confronted in a season of waiting and preparation, what will we choose to say about ourselves - as individuals, as a church? We look at the life of John the Baptist for an invitation. John 1:6-8, 19-22 Questions to consider— Forward [Journey]: What is a practical next step I can take in my journey of following the way of Jesus? Inward: [Wholeness]: How might the Holy Spirit be encouraging tra...

This familiar story of Mary helps to highlight a reality many still face: in light of divine good news, we often default to focusing on what we are or are not. Mary's eventual response encourages us to trust in God's pronouncement of truth above everything and cooperate with the power of the Most High in seeing the good news actualized.  Luke 1:26-34 Questions to consider— Forward [Journey]:...

The beautiful story of Zechariah and Elizabeth invite us to consider raising our expectations for God's power and blessing in our lives. In light of this, our Advent call is to wait, hold hope in the secret place, in conversation with God and anticipate God's good future for us. God is bringing you through something in order to speak something powerful through you.  Luke 1:11-18 Question to c...

Moses' question is both a plea and a confession. The task to which he is called seems impossible and insurmountable because of the gravity of the message and who he is as a person. Moses' question opens up space for God to reveal who God is - one who is with him. Exodus 3:7-12 Questions to consider— Backward [Roots]: What personal stories, Biblical narratives, or church traditions are being drawn...