Week of October 27

EKKLESIA: THE Church and This church

Join us this fall for a new series called “EKKLESIA” as we look at the first expression of the Church as recorded in the book of Acts. We will also explore who we are as a church here at Live Oak.  What was the Church like THEN and how should that shape who the Church should be NOW?  We will also explore who THIS church is by exploring our mission, strategy and core values, as well as start exploring “what’s next” for Live Oak Community Church. 

Week 8: Messy Ekklesia

Relationships can and will get messy, even in the church, the ekklesia.  We don’t give up on others because Jesus doesn’t give up on us.  Messy is the middle if we keep going and seeking to be part of what God is doing and what God is building.  Failures aren’t final and messy is not the end of the story.

LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
It’s time for our Fall Giving Initiatives! You can participate in this effort that happens every fall to reach out across the street, across the globe, and into the next generation. We have opportunities to partner with Operation Christmas Child, Lubbock Impact, and Faith Comes By Hearing. We would like all giving initiatives returned by Nov. 17, with a final turn in of Nov. 24. You can check out more at live-oak.org/give2024 

DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
-Share a memory from your childhood about trick or treating.
-What was a memorable costume you dressed up in for trick or treating as a child?

READ: Acts 15:1-41

Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.

OBSERVATIONS:

  • What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
  • What do we see the different messy situations happening in this chapter?
  • What stands out to you about how they navigated the messy ekklesia of the incoming Gentile believers (Acts 15:1-35)?
  • What do you see happening in 15:36-41 between Paul, Barnabas and John Mark?  Why did it get messy?
  • Why do you think it matters and is important that we learn how to navigate the messy ekklesia moments?
  • How do you typically react when things get messy with others?
  • Without giving any names or specifics, who do you relate to more in this week’s sermon, Paul (the one who was bailed on and someone failed you), John Mark (the one who failed and bailed), or Barnabas (the one in the middle of a messy situation)?
  • If you were a consultant or advisor in this situation, what advice or best practices would you give each one here navigating this messy ekklesia situation:
  • What suggestions would you give to PAUL, the one who felt betrayed and let down by someone who failed or bailed?
  • What suggestions would you give to BARNABAS, the one in the middle of a messy situation between others?
  • What suggestions would you give to JOHN MARK, the one who failed or bailed and let others down?
  • Doug talked about the rest of the story and how 10-12 years later John Mark and Paul were restored, connected and ministry partners. That gives us hope for our messy situations.  What are the lessons from their situation of how we navigate messy ekklesia and move forward toward restoration and redemption?
  • What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
  • What is your big takeaway from this week’s sermon?


NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we have learned. What is your next step?  Be specific.

MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:

Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

PRAYER:
Spend some time praying for each other.  And pray this prayer as a group: “Jesus, build your Church and show me my part and show us our path. Help me to not give up when ekklesia gets messy. Use me to extend forgiveness and  Amen.”

***Challenge your group to make this a daily prayer throughout this series:

“Jesus, build your Church and show me my part and show us our path. Amen.”

Scripture References:
Acts 12:12-14; 1 Peter 5:13; Acts 12:25; Acts 13:2-5; Acts 13:13-15; Acts 15:36-40; Acts 15:36-41; Philemon 23-24; Colossians 4:10; 2 Timothy 4:9-11; Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 5:9