NOVA SCUAD

"Cold Brew, Warm Chaos" is a lesson focused on addressing everyday disagreements by replacing unhealthy reactions with biblical peacemaking.

Session Four transitions from theory to practice by instructing participants to form groups, select one of ten specific conflict scenarios, and use the "Everyday Peacemakers" worksheets to assess the conflict's scope before role-playing a resolution. The instructions guide the groups to map their dialogue using the "GO Conversation Framework," which consists of four steps: Plan and Name, Be Curiou...

Session Three completed the discussion of the "GO" Conversation framework, covering 3. Share your opinion, 4. Resolve the Issue, and 5. GO get help. When sharing an opinion, individuals are encouraged to watch their tone and attitude, and focus on communicating objective facts about what the person did (behavior, words, actions) rather than making assumptions about who they are (guessing motives,...

Session Two introduced the first steps of the "GO" Conversation framework for conflict resolution, derived from Matthew 18:15 ("GO and point out their fault"). The framework aims for a win/win/win resolution that honors God. The session focused on the initial steps: 1. Plan & Name the Issue (Sin) and 2. Be Curious & Listen to them. Planning involves answering reporter questions (Who, What,...

Session One introduced the concept of the "Everyday Peacemaker," emphasizing that conflict is natural but can be either constructive or destructive, making one's response to conflict key. The discussion defined three main conflict behaviors—Peace-Breaking, Peace-Faking, and Peacemaking—and provided examples of each from biblical figures. Peace-breaking involves escalating conflict and seeking to w...

This episode delves into Shalom Elohim (Peace with God) , which is identified as the foremost pillar and cornerstone of comprehensive well-being and harmony. We explore Jesus' invitation for a profound and intimate communion, or Shalom, found in John 14:23-27, which is rooted in loving Him and obeying His teachings. The discussion confronts how modern cultural views often misunderstand obedience,...

This inspiring episode, "Shalom Qahal: Peace in the Church Part One," invites us to rediscover the profound meaning of the church as a "called-out community" and a "visible representation of the Kingdom of Heaven". Far from just a building, the church is a "hidden treasure more valuable than anything any man could possibly own," designed by God to be a "nation of peace and a light to others," refl...

The SCUAD lesson, "Who Is Leading You: The World or the Spirit," explores the ongoing tension between worldly influences and spiritual guidance. It outlines how global conflicts, societal divisions, and various media tactics, including appeals to similarity and the vilification of opponents, can draw individuals away from God's truth and into turmoil. A primary tool introduced is biblical introspe...

Courageous Conversations are defined as uncomfortable discussions concerning deeply held personal beliefs related to topics like race, gender, culture, or justice, requiring vulnerability, openness to sharing experiences, and humility in listening to others. They are uncomfortable because they expose personal values and challenge assumptions underlying actions and views. The purpose of these conve...

In this powerful lesson from the SCUAD Shalom series, we explore "Shalom Bayit" - Peace with Family . This is the third pillar in the series, following peace with God and peace with oneself. The lesson uses the biblical story of Jacob and his family, particularly Joseph, as a lens to understand common barriers to peace within families and how to overcome them. The lesson identifies three key barri...

This Squad lesson is focused on the Serenity Prayer as a tool for achieving inner peace. The group discusses the prayer line by line, relating each section to biblical passages and personal experiences of overcoming hardship. SCUAD Members share their struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the importance of surrendering to God's will and finding joy amidst life's imperfections. The overall message ce...

This lesson discusses Shalom Atzmi , which means “peace with self”. The lesson emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and understanding one's role as created in God's image . For men, this involves acknowledging their inherent worth, accepting responsibility for stewardship of the world and care for women, and recognizing God's strength in their weaknesses. For women, it means understanding...

Shalom is a Hebrew word that means peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and tranquility . It can refer to peace with God, between countries, groups, individuals, or even within oneself. Shalom is also used as a greeting and farewell. The concept of Shalom is deeply rooted in Jewish thought and Biblical tradition. While Shalom does not appear in the New Testament, because i...

This SCUAD lesson explored the concept of truth and how disciples can determine what is true amidst the noise of today’s society. The lesson uses the story of Ahab and Jehoshaphat to illustrate how we must be honest about our agenda, identify our assumptions, reflect on their origins, study our Bible, gather evidence, seek alternative perspectives, interrogate our beliefs and assumptions, consider...

This episode discusses the importance of lament in the Christian life. ● Lament is defined as deep grief or sorrow over personal or communal pain , including injustice, sin, and suffering. ● Biblical lament is often expressed through actions like wearing sackcloth and ashes, symbolizing humility and desolation. ●The book of Lamentations uses an alphabetic acrostic structure to convey that lament h...

Podcast Show Notes Summary: "The Love You Owe: Exploring Hesed Love Principles" In this episode, hosts Alton Murphy and Andy Yateman explore the concept of Hesed love, a biblical principle centered on mercy, kindness, and covenantal faithfulness. Drawing from scriptures in Leviticus, Matthew, and other biblical texts, they explore how Hesed applies to everyday relationships, conflict resolution, a...

Overview: This episode is part of SCUAD’s midweek series focusing on fostering courageous conversations within the church community. Building upon previous lessons on “Courageous Conversations” and “Connecting Through Lament,” this session emphasizes the importance of unity and explores how Jesus exemplified unity through his teachings and actions. The discussion examines how divisive opinions can...