Rooted
Life with Others | week 1

For the Participant

The Rooted series is designed to be a a clear way that you can grow in your life with Jesus as a participant in the life of our church. We’ve clustered key concepts in the series into three groups: Life with God, Life with Others and Life on Mission. We believe that as we live into these three areas in increasing measure, we will become more fully formed disciples of Jesus.

So far in the series, we’ve talked about Life with God as the foundation for all transformation, and have given you two spiritual tools—the practice of studying the Scriptures, and the practice of silence and solitude. Today, we’ll begin the second key concept, which is Life with Others.
Learning objective: to be envisioned for how you are created for life in community with God’s people, the church, and to take personal steps to deepen relationship with others.

Prior to meeting with your mentor or small group, please do the following:
WATCH:
READ:
  • “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12)
  • “The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (Genesis 2:18)
  • “Psalm 133 presents what we are after: ‘How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along!’ The psalm puts into song what is said and demonstrated throughout Scripture and church: community is essential. Scripture knows nothing of the solitary Christian. People of faith are always members of a community. Creation itself was not complete until there was community, Adam needing Eve before humanity was whole. God never works with individuals in isolation, but always with people in community. Some determine to find out what God has in mind by placing them in this community called the church, learn how to function in it harmoniously and joyously, and develop the maturity that is able to share and exchange God's grace with those who might otherwise be viewed as nuisances.”
    —Eugene H. Peterson, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction, p. 176-177
Click here to submit your reflection questions
WRITE AND REFLECT:
Rooted Content
  • How important have cultivating good friendships been in your life?
  • In Genesis we see the theological basis for being created for relationship with other people, in addition to relationship with God. God does this by identifying the one thing that is “not good” in perfect creation: Adam is without a partner—so God creates Eve. How does this influence your view on the priority of friendship and community for your life personally?
  • When have you experienced the blessing of a godly friend?
  • What has your experience been of developing friendship and community in our church?
The Bible Project Content
  • A key feature of Jewish literature is that it _________ a lot of key features in much of our present literature yet it is very _____________ literature. 
  • Why did the ancient writers leave such ambiguities in their writing?
  • This dense way of writing forces you to slow down then read __________, embarking on this interactive __________ process through the whole biblical narrative over a ____________ of reading and re-reading.  
  • What is the hope of biblical writers as you meditate on the Scriptures over the whole of your life?
TAKE ACTION:
  • Relationships take investment. How much? That depends on the depth of friendship you desire. Three levels of friendship you might consider are: caught up (on the essentials), connected (emotionally), and honest (vulnerable).
  • This week, consider what level of depth you’d like to experience with a current friend, then make an intentional investment of your time: invite them out to coffee, over for a meal, or out to enjoy an activity together. Afterwards, reflect on the blessing you received as a result of this investment in relationship and community.

For the coach/mentor

The Rooted series is designed to be a a clear way that you can grow in your life with Jesus as a participant in the life of our church. We’ve clustered key concepts in the series into three groups: Life with God, Life with Others and Life on Mission. We believe that as we live into these three areas in increasing measure, we will become more fully formed disciples of Jesus.
So far in the series, we’ve talked about Life with God as the foundation for all transformation, and have given you two spiritual tools—the practice of studying the Scriptures, and the practice of silence and solitude. Today, we’ll begin the second key concept, which is Life with Others.
Learning objective: to be envisioned for how you are created for life in community with God’s people, the church, and to take personal steps to deepen relationship with others.
Coaching objective: to stir people, through vision and conversation, toward passion for developing authentic relationships with others in the church.
REVIEW AND REMIND: 5 MINUTES
  • Hopefully you’ve gotten into a rhythm in Rooted with the material, homework and coaching. Prior to coming to this gathering, we’ve asked you to do week four in your Participant Guide and week four in your Biblical Study Guide. This involved watching a couple videos, a little reading, and answering some questions for reflection and understanding.
  • As a reminder, our material in Rooted is organized around three key concepts which we believe will lead anyone toward a deeper life and more fully formed life with Jesus. Those three concepts are: Life with God, Life with Others (in community) and Life on Mission. Some of you might immediately connect this with our logo: Up, In, and Out. We believe it’s incredibly important for everyone in our church to be familiar with how we think about formation and discipleship, and to move with us in a unified direction. We believe Rooted will help us do that.
  • For the past few weeks, you’ve been engaged in what it means to have an intimate relationship with God and tried out two spiritual practices to help foster that—studying the Scriptures and silence and solitude.
  • Before we talk about what our next concept is going to be, I’d love to hear a few of you share what you’ve experienced so far? How do you see God growing you?
PERSONAL STORY: 5 MINUTES
  • This next key concept is all around Life with Others in community. What fascinates me is that in the beginning when God creates Adam, everything is perfect, there is no sin—and yet God says something is “not good”. “It is not good for man to be alone” he says and then creates a companion for Adam. From the very beginning of time we are created to have Life with God and Life with Others.
  • As a coach or leader, here is a great moment where we want you to share a personal story from your life. This story should be of a powerful moment where you experienced loving and supportive community in the church.
    • Maybe a moment when people came around you when you were sick or injured.
    • Maybe a moment when friends were “there for you” and walked with you through a pain, hurt, discouragement or something similar
GROUP SHARES PERSONAL STORY: 20 MINUTES
  • If mentoring an individual, ask them to share their story in about 10 minutes. If in a group setting, pair participants in groups of 3-4. For the next 15-20 minutes, gather in groups of 3 or 4 and I want each of you to share briefly a moment when you experienced the power of community life.
  • If you don’t have a story to share, that’s okay. You might choose to share with the group one thing you desire in life with others.
COACHING: 10-15 MINUTES
  • Bring the group back together then, as the leader, ask for a volunteer for some live coaching. You’re looking for someone who might have some measure of community, but sees a gap in where they are and where they want to be.
    • When asking for a volunteer, be sure to share: “I’m not going to embarrass you. This isn’t going to hurt. I am asking you to be vulnerable in front of a group of people—which can be a little intimidating—but it’s for the benefit of our whole group so we can learn together.”
  • Here are some possible questions for coaching. The goal is to help them come up with an action to take to deepen their sense of community.
    • When you think of the word, “community”, what comes to mind? Is it a positive or negative word for you?
    • When you imagine what it looks like for you to have deep relationship with others in the church, describe what you see or would like to see.
    • I’m guessing you experience some of that now, but what’s missing?
    • Identify and reflect back what they identify is missing which they desire. Okay, so you would like to experience more…It’s easy to point to our circumstances or others to change, but the truth is we can only change ourselves. What are some possible ways you could find what you’re missing in community?
    • What changes would you have to make in order for that to be a reality?
    • Identify and reflect back their ideas for change. Okay, so you could try…Of those ideas, where would you like to start? When?
    • Review for them the idea and action they came up with: when you imagine deep relationship with others, you envision…Currently, you see that you’re missing…One of the ideas you had to find what you’re missing was to…and you’re committed to trying it out…
    • Thank them for allowing you to coach them!
PRAYER: 20-30 MINUTES
  • What I’d like you to do now is break into groups of four. In your groups I’m going to ask you to take pray for at least one person in the group and as many as you have time for. This is an exercise is trust and vulnerability, which are building blocks for authentic community and deep relationships.
  • For those receiving prayer: share what you want prayer for. Do your best to take one step beyond what feels comfortable as you ask what you want prayer for. Practice letting others into your deeper needs, fears and desires. After prayer, if you sensed God speaking or moving, share that with the group for their encouragement and your own.
  • For those praying: ask permission and then lay hands on the person you’re praying for. Invite the Holy Spirit to come when you begin praying. Pray for their presenting need (the issue) but also pray for their underlying needs, fears, or desires. Keep your eyes open if you can to “watch” what God is doing. Only pray what you sense God putting on your heart to pray; take turns; pause and listen to the Holy Spirit; when they indicated the prayer time is over or you run out of things to pray, end it.
WRAPPING UP
  • Thanks so much for coming. I’m so excited for the journey each of you are on in your life with God. There are a lot of good things that happened today. I would encourage you to go home and within the next 24 hours write down any key take-aways or things you sensed God speak tonight—especially from the prayer time whether you prayed or received prayer.
  • Let me pray to close us out for the night.
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