Reflection
What small experiment around listening to God am I curious to try?
What might a community practice of listening to Love look like?

Resources
Video: NFL 2018 A Bad Lip Reading
Book: Sorry for Your Troubles (Padraig O Tuama)
Video: The Guy Who Finishes Your Sentences
MWG: Discussion Guide

Reflection
Where do I sense meaning and connection this morning?
What gift am I being invited to receive today?

Resources
Film: Lucky
MWG: Discussion Guide

Reflection:
What burdens am I being invited to release today?
What forgiveness do I need to extend or receive today?

Resources:
Video: SNL – Church Lady
MWG: Discussion Guide

Reflection:
How can I open myself to participate in God’s presence now?
Where am I being invited to play?

Resources:
Video: Three Year Old Arguing
MWG: Discussion Guide

Reflection:
What “self-talk” messages do I tell myself about my needs?
Do I have a need that never seems fulfilled? How might I name that need to God and my community?

Resources:
Video: The Prestige
Book: Nonviolent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
Video: Sharing Food
MWG: Homily Discussion Guide

Reflection:
What areas of our lives might need to experience death or for us to let go of?
How might we practice discernment through a lens of grace?
Who or what are we imitating?

Resources:
Podcast: This American Life: Alain de Botton
Podcast: Fresh Air: Jay-Z

Reflection:
What am I being invited to let go of and return to a relationship of enjoying?
What desires am I being invited to carry with compassion this week?
What does it mean that God is delighting in me today, as I am?

Resources:
Exercise: Nonviolent Communication Handout

Reflection:
Who among us needs to hear the message, “You belong”?
How do I enjoy being playful with God and others?

Resources:
Article: Don’t Think You Have a Yoga Body?
Video: Whose Line is It Anyway Improv
Video: Don’t Think Twice – The Art of Improv

Reflection:
What would it look like to participate in sharing your beauty in community?
Who’s a safe person you can share a face plant story with this week?

Resources:
Video: Kids Kissing
Podcast: On Being: Carlo Rovelli
Book: Community and Growth by Jean Vanier
Video: Andrew Bird
Video: Beirut
Podcast: This American Life: Grand Gestures

Reflection
Where is God asking you to be on the journey towards unity?
In what ways do we need healing in order to walk with others in our lives?
In what ways can we reframe the language and perspective we adopt with others?

Resources
Video: TED Talk-Suzanne Barakat

Reflection:
What might it look like for you to spend more time in the shine of a face than the shine of a screen in the year to come?
How might you serve as priest, a go-between, to another who needs to receive the blessing of YHWH?

Reflection:
How can we see ourselves and others the same way God sees us?
How can our responses to hopelessness be more life giving instead of life limiting?
How can we practice grace in the face of hopelessness?

Resources:
Film: Interstellar
Film: The White Helmets

Reflection:
What are certain possessions or attachments which we might need to let go of because they generate anxiety and fear?
What are the areas we have neglected in our pursuit of our possessions and attachments?
What do our choices reflect about our value and perspective of our possessions?

Resources
Film: O.J. Made in America
Book: The Cardinal and the Deadly
Art: Megacities Asia
Book: The Paradox of Choice

Reflection:
How can we think in terms of system and not individualizing issues?
How can we stand and be near those who are suffering in order to learn more about who God is and who we are?
How do we tend to both the spiritual and physical aspects of injustice and the gospel?

Resources:
Figure: Gustavo Gutierrez
Short Story: Gabriel García Márquez The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World

Reflection:
How might I use my freedom to practice love in a more concrete way?
What would it look like to belong to Christ and others more freely?

Resources
Movie: Eddie the Eagle
Vox Rhythm of Life

Reflection:
In what areas of life am I being invited to wait?
Where do I sense God calling me now?

Reflection:
How do we take a small risk when the support is there?
When do we need to reach for support in order to risk trusting?
How do we practice curiosity and wonder?

Resources:
Video: Do Sheep Only Listen to Their Shepherd
Trust Inventory:
Where am I investing my trust, energy?
Does it actually care for me? (supported)
Is the amount of investment an escape from investing in real support and care?
What would it look like to pull some energy out of unsupported trust?
What might happen if I invest that energy in rebuilding a supported trust with God?

Reflection:
How do we give and receive peace when we are practicing becoming?
How do we give and receive peace when we are practicing belonging?
How can we pass God’s peace to those in our community?

Resources:
Person: Jean Vanier
Video: Boyhood
Poem: The Journey by Mary Oliver

Reflection
How do we engage in relentless curiosity in our journey of faith?
What is the fear in our lives that we can come together to engage?
What are the areas that we can actively participate and simply respond through action?

Resources
Video: Cavedigger

Reflection:
What do we strive for in our attempt to be loveable?
What image of God is no longer helpful in your connection with God?
When you fast, or pull back from automated behavior/consumption, what word reflects your connection with self, God and community?

Reflection:
When you consider your current level of intimacy with God and others, what feelings do you feel?
If you believed you were fully loved, what would you do differently?
In trying to get what your soul wants, what shortcuts are you taking?

Reflection:
What are the things that keep you up at night?
Does your spiritual energy go towards busyness, distraction, or restlessness?
How might a spiritual pause help you properly redirect your energy and resources?

Resources:
Book: The Holy Longing by Ronald Rolheiser
Film: The Revenant
Film: Amy

Reflection:
When have you experienced homesickness and for what were you longing?
What comfort do you find in how Jesus comforted his disciples?
How do Jesus’ words “I am the way the truth and the life” speak to you?

Resources:
Film: Up

Reflection:
How are we invited into the process of healing in our own lives and not simply focusing on the macro level of injustice in the world?
What is our version or experience of “home”?
How can we view home as the pilgrimage and not a destination?

Resources
Podcast: How Trauma and Resilience Cross Generations
Movie: Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child

Reflection:
How do we tend to engage mourning? Do we brush it off in a dismissive way or are we willing to be guided into lament?
How can we be a community of prayer that is present with the pain and suffering of those around us?
How can we be present in advocating for those who are oppressed so they we can experience peace and joy?

Resources:
Video: Interview with boy after Paris terror attacks
Book: Prophetic Lament – Soong Chan Rah
Article: Advocacy for Sikhs

Reflection:
How are we able to live out peace in the places God has put us?
What would self care look like in this season of Advent?

Resources:
Blog: The Hoskins’ Blog

Reflection:
What are the some new questions we need to continue to ask in our journey of following Jesus?
What are some rhythms that provide structure for our spiritual formation?
How can we practice the difficult expression of love in a diverse community?

Resources:
Video: Peewee Football Game Dance
Vox Expressions: Rhythms of Life
Vox Expressions: Covenant Membership

Reflection:
In what ways can you give up judgement of yourself and others?
How can you bring your full self into God’s loving light?
What does a conversation on healing and repentance look like this coming week?

Resources:
Podcast: On Being – Repentance
Book: Accidental Saints
TED Radio: What can doctors learn by admitting their mistakes?

Reflection:
What one thing would make our lives simpler and open ourselves up to spiritual growth?
Who are the people that make room for our humanity and spiritual growth?
What’s is alive in us today? What is dying? What is being reborn?

Reflection:
How can we be someone who is kind and useful to the greater community?
How do we hold space for other people’s experiences and pain and hear their story?
What does it look like for us to forgive they way Christ forgave?

Resources:
1.Podcast: This American Life – Changing Your Mind
2.Person: Oscar Romero

Reflection:
What do you think of the Bible?
How does scripture affect your soul in a trans-rational way?
How are you living out scripture in active ways?

Resources:
1. Book: The Bible Tells Me So: Why Defending Scripture has made us unable to read it.
2. Video: AJ Jacobs: My year of living biblically
3.Artist: Ai Weiwei
4. Article: “The powerful words of forgiveness delivered to Dylann Roof by victims’ relatives” The Washington Post, 19 June 2015
5.Movie: Stranger Than Fiction

Reflection:
When has God been something you have not expected? How have you been disappointed or even offended?
How does God use those who are least expected?
How is faith built and developed in community versus individually?

Reflection:
How is the God as a father metaphor helpful or hurtful?
How has your experience with your own father shaped your understanding of God?
What part of your experience needs healing?
What are some ways can you receive God’s love as a perfect Father this week?

Resources
Video: Interview with Gabriel Tsang

Reflection:
How do we invite conversation and dialogue in how we live the church?
What does it mean to open ourselves up to see and recognize the image of God in others?
What are your biases and labels that impact how we categorize people and prevent us from hospitality?

Resources:
Book: The Abundant Community
Person: Jean Vanier

Reflection:
Where am I being invited to listen/empathize more deeply – with my self, with God/wisdom, or with others?
What would it look like to lean into that on a practical level?

Resources:
Image: Spheres of Listening

Reflection:
How do we respond when we or others cry? How do we distract ourselves from crying?
What is our tendency to ask of God when we are afraid?
How can we embrace our true self and acknowledge and seek the help that we need?

Resources:
Video: Louis CK Hates Cell Phones
Book: Ann Lamott, Help Thanks Wow.
Video: Hands on a Hard Body

Reflection:
In what ways have we experienced the nurturing aspect of God in our lives?
What would it look like to have a God who demonstrates mothering attributes and impacts how we make decisions and engage with God?

Reflection:
What is a new intention that we can try in this upcoming season of lent?
What are the thin spaces in our lives where we can engage with God?
How would it look different for us to live out of love instead of living to be loved?

Resources:
Video: 5-Minute Ageing Clip
Place: Monastery of Christ in the Desert
Photo: Gideon’s retreat photos
Person: Barbara Brown Taylor
Article: NYT “36 Questions to Fall in Love”

Read the Prayers:2.15.15

Reflection:
What are the graces around us that we overlook and forget?
How can we tell good stories to remind us that God is involved regardless of our situation and that there is hope to come?

Read the Prayers 02.08.2015

Reflection:
What areas in our lives do we seek to control in order to avoid God or people? How have we checked out of certain relationships?
How can we pray and participate in such a way that we understand God wants our collaboration?

Reflection:
What does spiritual health look like for you? Are the rhythms of how you live sustainable? Why or why not? How are we affected by our ideology and identity?

Resources:
Book: Gregory David. Shantaram: A Novel
Video: Love of Mud
Article: Nationals Disaster in Austin
Audio: This American Life- Invisbilia
Video: First Steps

]]> Gideon Tsang speaks about the rhythms of our spiritual health and whether we are living sustainable lives. [1 Cor 6:11-14] Reflection: What does spiritual health look like for you? Are the rhythms of how you live sustainable? Why or why not? Gideon Tsang speaks about the rhythms of our spiritual health and whether we are living sustainable lives. [1 Cor 6:11-14] Reflection: What does spiritual health look like for you? Are the rhythms of how you live sustainable? Why or why not? How are we affected by our ideology and identity? Resources: Book: Gregory David. Shantaram: A Novel Video: Love of [...] Gideon Tsang clean 33:46 podcast@voxveniae.com (Vox Veniae)vox,veniae,austin,church,gideon,tsang,weylin,lee,CCC,Evangelical,Covenant,Church,sermons,christ https://voxveniae.com/2014/11/identity/ Mon, 01 Dec 2014 02:37:47 +0000 http://voxveniae.com/?p=6813 https://voxveniae.com/2014/11/identity/#respond https://voxveniae.com/2014/11/identity/feed/ 0 Chris Morton speaks about our identity in Christ and what it means to practice resurrection in our lives. [Ephesians 1:15-23] Reflection: What parts of our identity do we need to leave behind in order to claim our new identity and inheritance? How can we help those inside and outside our community begin to expect resurrection? Where, in our lives and [...] Chris Morton speaks about our identity in Christ and what it means to practice resurrection in our lives. [Ephesians 1:15-23]

Reflection:
What parts of our identity do we need to leave behind in order to claim our new identity and inheritance?
How can we help those inside and outside our community begin to expect resurrection?
Where, in our lives and in our neighborhoods, can we proclaim resurrection?

Reflection:
Where am I over-preparing for what is non essential (threat management)?
Where am I under-preparing for what is essential (enjoying God)?

Reflection:
What is the work and calling in our life that requires faith? How can we pray more for faith instead of clarity?
How can we practice the skill of loving people this week?

Reflection:
What is the balance of giving in your relationships?
What is the balance of receiving in your relationships?

Reflection:
How has God been patient with you?
In what ways can you be patient with God and others this week?

Reflection:
How is the Holy Spirit working in your life today?
What stories come to mind when you think of what God is doing in your daily life?

Reflection:
What does it look like to clothe yourself with humility this week?
Who can you practice gratitude with today?

Reflection:
How can we reveal our authentic selves to experience connection in all our relationships?
In what ways can we can we be transformed in our attempts to support the vulnerability of others?

Reflection:
What is our burning bush that God is dreaming for us?
How can we turn away from our everyday routines in order to embrace God’s dream and for him to show up?

Reflection:
How do we host God’s table and who do we invite?
Who invited us to God’s table?
Who do we consider to be guests of honor at God’s table?

Reflection:
When was a moment when you knew and experienced that God was with you?
How can we engage suffering in our lives and come along side those who are experiencing it?

Reflection:
Do you approach scripture with a cognitive (head) or affective (heart) approach? How would it look like to approach it in a paradoxical manner (holistic)?
How can you bring the reality of who you are right now to allow Scripture to take us apart and allow us to experience God?

Reflection:
How can confession be a blessing to our lives?
Who are those that we need to seek forgiveness from?

Reflection:
What is the source of our strength that we lean on to go through the valleys and struggles of life?
How do we search for God’s presence?
How have you experienced God searching for us in the valleys of life?

Reflection:
How do we respond to the difficult circumstances and seasons in our lives?
How have we experienced God’s shade in our lives?

Reflection:
How do we connect our expression of faith with what how it has been done before?
Who are the Lois and Eunice’s in our lives? And who will we be Lois and Eunice to?

Reflection:
In what times and places have you seen God work in your life before?
How can we pay attention to what God is doing around us and for us to be a part of it?

Reflection:
In what ways can we live and promote the kingdom of God here and now?
How is Jesus king in our lives and how do we worship Him?

Reflection:
How can we be intentional about dwelling on and examining who we are?
What areas of our lives need to experience growth this coming year?

Reflection:
How does being adopted into the family of God shape our relationship with God and others?
How can we be involved in serving the orphans and the fatherless in our city?