A New Name

May 9/10, 2015


READ Luke 8:1-3
What was Mary Magdalene like before she found Jesus? Scripture says she was possessed by seven demons, but let's imagine what that would look like. DISCUSS with your group:

• What would her behavior maybe have been like? 
• How did she speak? 
• How did she dress? 
• To whom did she relate with? 
• What would her attitude have been like? 

It's important to understand what she was like before she met Jesus to understand how great her transformation was after she began to follow Him. Jesus was someone, maybe even the first person, who valued her and allowed her to Be-loved. He spoke to her, looked her in the eye, found the best in her so that she could find the best in herself. He forgave her, and she could let go of her past. There was nothing she could do to make Him love her more. There was nothing she could do to make Him love her less. Beloved.

READ John 19:25
We can see in this one verse that Mary Magdelene didn't just follow Jesus, but she followed Him right up to the cross. Many of His disciples didn't even make it that far. We can sense her desperation in this verse. Women in this day and location didn't have rights. They depended on parents or a spouse to take care of them. She not only didn't have family or a marriage to fall back on, she had a questionable background that would have kept her at a distance from most people. Jesus had given her hope to rise above all of those limitations, and now He was gone. She didn't want to go back to who she used to be, but she didn't know how to go forward without Jesus.

• Have you ever felt that alone?
• Have you ever been that desperate?

READ John 20:1-16
And so Mary Magdelene was out walking to the tomb in the dark of the night. Had she slept at all in the past couple of days? How great was her despair? What drew her to the tomb of Jesus? What questions were going through her mind as she came upon the open tomb? Could the others help find the body of Jesus? And then, when the others simply gave up and went home, the layers of despair were overwhelming and she began to weep.

Many of us have been in this place of being overwhelmed. THINK back on a time when life brought more than your coping skills could handle. SHARE with your group how you got to that place and how you were feeling.

* * * * *

And then He called her name. IMAGINE the shock and wonder and joy that she would have felt all at once. It's no wonder the first thing Jesus said to her was, "Do not cling to me." In other words, "I'm here but I'm not staying long." Instead, He gave her an errand. He sends her off to bring hope to others. 

Mary had hope again. She was still beloved. She didn't have all the answers, but Jesus still loved her. He was still alive, and she was still dear to Him.

• Do you feel this way too? Do you have the sense that you're dear to Christ?
• Do you feel that you have to earn His love?
• Do you feel that you can lose His love by doing or saying the wrong thing?
• Do you stop during the day to sense His love for you?

TALK with your group about where you're at on your journey. Is there someone in your group who needs to know that they are beloved? Precious? Cherished? 

TAKE a moment to pray together as a group. SIT for a moment. TAKE a deep breath. LISTEN for His voice. THANK Him for His love and His presence. FEEL His love for you. You are beloved!

 * * * * *

By giving her the new name Beloved, Jesus filled Mary Magdelene with joy and hope and sent her off to share it. We're called to do the same. When we're empty, we don't have any hope to share. REMEMBER to continue coming back to the presence of Jesus to be renewed. SEEK Him. READ His word. FEED your soul.

Soul Talk - The Language of Your Soul

February 21/22, 2015

contemplative prayer

This week we want to focus on the practice of contemplative prayer. This type of prayer is about being with God. Just as we can be comforted in the presence of friends, so it is being in the presence of God.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Choose a scripture or prayer to focus your attention on. Imagine your prayer as an invitation for God’s presence to be with you all day. You’re opening the door of your whole day to God.
2. Sit comfortably for a couple minutes with your eyes closed, settling into silence, taking a few deep breaths, and then turn your attention to your scripture or prayer.
3. As your group begins reading, engage with your thoughts, body sensations, feelings, images, and reflections. Don’t be discouraged by distractions. They are like clouds floating by. God will bring to mind later on anything that’s important to your life.
4. At the end of the prayer period, remain in silence with eyes closed for a couple of minutes.

Feel free to use one of the prayers listed, the scriptures from your outline in the program, or choose another scripture or prayer that’s meaningful to your group. If this is new to you, it’s going to be uncomfortable at first. But the more you train your soul in this type of prayer, the more you’ll come to enjoy and cherish your time with God.

the gloria

Glory to God in the highest. 

And on earth peace to men of good will.    

We praise You. 

We bless You. 

We adore You. 

We glorify You.                  

We give You thanks for Your great glory.                                                          

O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty.                                    

O Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son.                                                      

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father:                                               

You Who take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.                  

You Who take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.                 

You Who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.                

For You alone are holy. 

You alone are the Lord.                                          

You alone, O Jesus Christ, are the most high.                                             

Together with the Holy Spirit in the glory of God the Father. 

Amen.

the Lord’s prayer

Our Father, Who art in heaven

Hallowed be Thy Name;

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

And forgive us our trespasses,

As we forgive those who trespass against us;

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil. Amen.

the welcoming prayer

                        (by Father Thomas Keating)

Welcome, welcome, welcome.

I welcome everything that comes to me today

   because I know it’s for my healing.

I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions, persons,

   situations, and conditions.

I let go of my desire for power and control.

I let go of my desire for a affection, esteem, approval and pleasure.

I let go of my desire for survival and security.

I let go of my desire to change any situation,

   condition, person or myself.

I open to the love and presence of God and

   God’s action within me. Amen.

next steps

   worship

Join us in prayer February 22 @6pm in the Fireside Room at JW.

Also, if you attend a Sunday morning worship service, would you and your group pray and consider moving as a group to a Saturday night service? You could help those who are new to JW by opening up seats during the busiest times.

   

   belong

Spend some time praying as a group. 
   
   grow
Choose a time each day to sit with God in contemplative prayer. Put it on your calendar.

Further reading:
   Prayer – Richard Foster
   The Good and Beautiful Life – James Bryan Smith
   Invitation to Solitude and Silence:

     Experiencing God’s Transforming Presence – Ruth H. Barton

   serve
Attend "Discover Your Design" at Camille's on Wednesday, March 18 @6:30pm to find how God designed you to help others.

   share
Invite a friend to church.