Our first get-together of the New Year and there’s no message series to kick us off. So what do a group of mostly Catholic guys do to begin a New Year? You reach a bit (or maybe a lot for some of us) and ask each guy to bring and share a scripture verse that reflects their hopes for the New Year.
If you want to know if God really shows up in small groups, check out the richness of the scripture that this bunch of self professed bible illiterate Catholic guys were able to pull together on very short notice.
I hope in the New Year that I…
Proverbs 3:5-6 = trust God more and rely less on my own wisdom and power
James 2:23-26/4:13-17 = have the courage to do the right thing no matter what the personal cost
Exodus 4:39-42 = know the Lord more than know about the Lord (Rahner)
Romans 12:9-13 = keep faith, practice love, and share myself even in midst of my struggles
Matthew 6:25-34 = worry less and focus on what I really need, not want
Romans 8:28 = really come to know (not wish or hope) that God is working always for my good even if I can’t see it
Psalm 46 = will become more quiet, know that God is God, and that God is okay with my struggle
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 = serve my clients at work better by working harder
Psalm 19 = can translate the ability to see God’s greatness in nature into seeing God’s greatness in my life
Jeremiah 29:11/Ecclesiastes 7:14/Joshua 1:9/Psalm 23 (obviously, some of us are better versed in scripture than others or just couldn’t settle on one!) = commit to what God, not I, want for my life and deal with my anger issues better
Ephesians 4:17-32 = live a more God honoring life and not just say the words
It continues to amaze me what can happen in small groups. Two years ago, this exercise would have been a difficult (if not threatening) one for most of us. We all had a “passing acquaintance” with scripture, but never really encountered God in the words of scripture. And now, scripture’s richness, comfort, guidance and hope are real parts of our group. The practical scripture application from the pulpit at Nativity and the message series definitely help. But you if you only sit in rows on Sunday and never join the circle of a small group, you will really miss out on an important part of your journey. God’s word speaks more clearly to us in our circle, has more practical meaning in our lives because of what we share with each other, and, more and more, our hopes are built on those words and how they resonate more clearly through the voices of our group members.
What would your scripture verse be for the New Year? It’d be great if you’d share it with us - and your own small group. We’d love to add your hopes to our prayers for the New Year.
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2011 a year to hope.
I was reading a book today and came upon this quote... "It is imperative for us to conserve all that is natrual, moral, Christian and orderly in America..."
A 21st century sound bite from one of those who would be arguing against the right of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters to marry? Actually it is very close to a Sarah Palin or Glen Beck quote or one of the many Christian ministers preaching the hate of homophobia. But the reality is that it is a quote from a Christian minister in defense of slavery circa 1857.
It is ironic how the same argument, the same rhetoric can be used 150 years later to, in the name of Jesus Christ, oppress members of our society.
Maybe just maybe in 2011 we can stand up, shoulder to shoulder, and demand an end to this travesty. We can point to the institutional sin committed by those entities that continue to preach hatred. That through these preachings these institutions, ones we participate in, are directly complicit in the murder, through suicide, of thousands of young teens each year who have their human dignity stolen from them.
Perhaps 2011 is the year that the message of Jesus is reclaimed as one of love not hate. And that as a community we stand up against those who use the message of the New Testament to do damage to those created by God. That we demand that our leaders be true to this message of love and understanding by accepting all our borthers and sisters not just the ones we feel most comfortable around.
I see it happening in the small groups but sadly that same spirit does not seem to be transcending to the larger community.
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