Called Deeper
Rev. Sarah Robles Wise
You have been chosen and equipped to be part of something so much larger than any of us can imagine, but such an undertaking requires depth in your relationship with Jesus in order to sustain the journey. Take this time to dive deep into Christ and let the Spirit transform you even as you are called deeper.
Questions to unpack:
How do we understand the ever-expanding ripples of relationships between ourselves and God, self, others, and the world?
What is the story of Jesus and the church in Luke-Acts, and how does it relate to me? • How does the identity crisis of the Jesus community experienced in Luke-Acts inform us today? • What am I called to do as a believer, a part of this community, and a servant of God’s mission in the world?
Session 1 – Deep Distractions
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1-4
What distracts me from answering the call to go deeper? Our human predisposition to orientate our world around our needs, emotions, and desires is the biggest distraction from the deep dive. Christianity outside of a total surrender of self-orientation is shallow, purposeless religiosity. Humility is the gateway to the deeper places, but it requires that we let down the walls, let go of ourselves, and go where we are led. It requires the total surrender of self for the sake of something greater.
Session 2 – Deep Doubts
Scripture reading: Luke 24:36-48
What parts of this story do you struggle with?
How do I deal with doubt when I answer a call to go deeper? All doubt stems from the question, “Can I really trust God with (fill in the blank)?” How do we let go of control and trust God’s best when things are seemingly not going according to our plans? How do we deal with our doubts? It requires humble vulnerability to be honest with ourselves, with God, and with each other. It also requires humble obedience to hear with listening ears the faith-filled hope inspired by God’s legacy of goodness in our lives and in God’s story with creation.
Activity: Use a single piece (or multiple sheets) of paper, fold, shape, crumple, etc (be as creative or simplistic as you need it to be) to represent how you feel your soul is today / your relationship with God.
If you could do it over again, would you have changed anything about your paper? How would you like it to look/feel? What do you think it needs to get to that place?
What ideas or images from the message resonated most strongly with you? How does it interact with your faith story?
To be honest, how would you fill in the rest of this statement: Can I really trust God with_____?
Session 3 – Deep Delight
Scripture reading: Acts 1:1-11
What results from answering the call to go deeper? Having dealt with the distractions and doubts, what is there to look forward to? How does a surrendered life, characterized by humility, empower you for the journey ahead? The beauty of Christ’s calling is its paradoxical logic – you lose your life to gain it, its leaders are servants, and the willingness to die to self is the beginning of a full life. Sacrifice and surrender are not the end of the story, joy is. Our joy is made complete in humility.
Activity: Using a pen and paper, draw an image or write a word that represents what makes you unique. No colors. Just doodling magic.
Think of a story from your life that illustrates the quality you shared.
Notice the details of the story you share. Where were you? How did your context change, modify or emphasize the quality you shared? Why?
How does your uniqueness relate to how you live out your faith? If so, how? If not, why?
How can the people in your life help you in identifying, cultivating or using your gifts at Wesley and beyond?
Session 4 – Deep Dwelling
Scripture Reading: Acts 15:1-41
How do deep individuals transform the world? Christ’s community is defined by those who dwell in delight brought forth by their deep relationship with God and others. The infectious joy of his people saturates their relationships and, in turn, penetrates the places to which they are called. Humility is the cohesive factor for this community. It is the glue that enables them to continue growing deep and wide even as they are sent out as kingdom builders.
