Worship Sundays at 9 am

“Coming Alongside” (Acts 8)

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Being part of a bigger thing means giving yourself to it.
Being part of a bigger thing means giving yourself to it.

September 29, 2013

Theme      (Building “community” in the community of faith.)

The posture of discipleship consistently shows itself in working beside and along with others.  It brings mutual encouragement and affirmation.

Faith invites us to walk together.
Faith invites us to walk together.

Prayer

Come alongside us in worship today, O Lord, and help us to come alongside others, that they may know your presence and touch even as we give thanks for the power of your nearness.  May we do your will as we strengthen one another in faith.  May it always be so.

Lesson, Acts 8:26-40

Bible Study  (use 3 or 4 of the first group and all of the second)

Group One

1) Who was the best tutor or teacher you have had?  What traits or habits made them a good teacher or tutor?

2) How would you describe the gift that Philip is for the Ethiopian?

3) Is Philip bothered by the man’s nationality?  By his masculinity?

4) What qualifies this person for Philip’s time and interest?

5) Does Philip recognize this man as a servant too?

6) Have you ever come “along side” another where God’s blessings have been evident in the mix?  What happened?

7) How do you feel about living your faith in a “coming alongside” kind of way?  Is this limiting or freeing for you?

8) How did God pave the way for this encounter with Philip and the Ethiopian?  For this message, learning about Jesus through Isaiah 53?

9) What is the relationship between Divine preparation and human initiative in this story?

10) The Ethiopian is reading Isaiah 53, in what ways does Jesus fit the picture of the one described there?

11) Why does the Ethiopian visit Jerusalem (see Acts 2:11)

comealongsideGroup Two

1) At Good Sam, how might a “coming alongside” attitude in our community shape what happens there for those who visit?

2) If we at Good Sam were open to being sent to others in this way, how might we recognize God’s working and guiding and what initiative would we need to be willing to take?

3) Would this question “shall we come alongside this activity (or person)” help us at Good Sam discern what ministries, activities and individuals to support with our effort, energy and communal resources?

4) Does this image for ministry fit well with what Good Sam does in the “Daily Bread Food Pantry”?  in our relationship with St Mary’s Caring Soup Kitchen?  Other places in our ministry activities.

Sermon For Sept 29, 2013 at Good Samaritan Lutheran Church

 

Objectives

  • practice coming alongside another, while watching for what God will do with the connection.

  • Invite leaders and members of Good Sam to adopt this model of thinking and action in ministry planning and activity.

  • Reflect on this ‘coming alongside” image as a tool for bringing into how we think and act in ministry.

Action Step sept 29 alongside

  • Listen for the Spirits guidance and follow – coming alongside another, watching for ways to interact that will be a blessing:  Pair up with another congregation member (perhaps across generations) and learn about the questions they have about faith and life (trying to see things from their point of view).  How would you live out their questions in your life?  Share what you have learned about your own journey in faith as you pair up. What encouragement came out of this discussion?

Devotion

When our individual paths cross, there is great opportunity for God to be at work.  Recognizing these intersections and being ready to make good use of them is always the work of discipleship.  It is perhaps the real definition of “Faith.”  Praying for God’s activity before us and missing our neighbor is like ask God to intervene and then not listening when God does.  “Coming Along Side,” then might just be our greatest mindset and aid in finding the work to which God calls us.  Certainly, it may bring our faith to life and invite us to be active in our faith lives, and welcoming and engaging with our neighbors.

Additional curriculum and ideas

  • Find someone to walk with and see what happens when you watch and look for God’s guidance in the conversation.

  • Practice seeing opportunities to ‘Come alongside” others.

  • Have you ever felt drawn to walk alongside someone else, what happened?

  • Join us for an extended Adult Forum today as we learn from Hospice Grief Counselors what it means to walk alongside those who are going through grief.  Please RSVP to the church office if you are coming to this as there is limited space.