Still going well….
A while back, I wrote about a bible study process that I was using in a mid-week bible study time… as a way of testing if it could be used as the “message” part of a new worship gathering for young adults. Well, it is still going strong on Wednesday nights. Last week, I used it with 18 Sr. and Jr. High youth and that went well and was positively received and affirmed by the youth. So, today, I decided to use it in both Sunday a.m. worship gatherings. It was the conclusion of our series on James… 5:13-20. The process is to read the scripture passage aloud three or four times.  Today I read it once, a volunteer from the congregation read it and then we all read it in unison… I provided a printed version in the program and on the screen. Then I asked the 5 questions and moderated the comments and concluded with a special musical ensemble singing “Anoint Us, Lord” while folks came forward to experience anointing. It was a phenominal experience in both gatherings!  I think this process can be used effectively with all ages, all levels of spiritual maturity from longtimers to seekers.
 The five questions are…. 1. What do you like about what we just read? 2. What don’t you like about what we just read? (this one opens the window the widest for the Spirit to enter our midst!) 3. What don’t you understand? 4. What did you learn about God from this passage? and 5. Regardless of where you are on your faith journey, if you applied what you learned about God from this passage to your life this week, what would it look like?
 I highly recommend this process for any setting! It is very spiritually enriching!
19 Oct 2008 Martin Hutchison
Thanks for this Martin. Glad to hear that it went well in the context of a “regular” worship service, that’s really exciting.
For the past several weeks we’ve been having a conversation group that’s using a similar set of questions I’ve adapted. Here’s my version:
1. Where do you feel connections with this scripture?
2. Where do you feel disconnections?
3. Where is it hard to understand or make relevant?
4. What does it say to you about the nature of God?
5. How can it be lived out in your life and faith?
Thus far they have been a great catalyst for our conversations. It’s been interesting to see how different scriptures and topics work with these questions.
Who knows, maybe someday we’ll try this on a Sunday morning as well. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Martin,
Thanks for sharing some great news from your congregation! I always like hearing how new things are tried and people’s reactions.
It sounds great that you have so many Jr. and Sr. High youth!
Matt, I appreciate your similar questions. Regarding the first two, in the church I attend they are phrased this way:
1. Where do you find resonance with the scripture?
2. Where do you find dissonance with the scripture (or teaching)?
Both of your questions get at the same thing with different wording. Its important to know who your people are and what words communicate the best.
Martin, how did you Hog Roast go this year? Do you have any community connection stories to share?
Blessings to you,
Jeff
Matt and Jeff, I agree the questions get at the same thing… the cool thing about the questions and asking them is that they are open ended… with no agenda! Also, as my daughter (one of the youth) said after doing the bible study with them, “It doesn’t matter if we answer the questions outloud or not… because we are all answering them to ourselves.” She is so right!
I hope that God hurry’s up and provides the music leadership to launch a new worship gathering, so I can test it there. In the mean time, I will continue the wednesday gathering and will use it with youth and on Sunday a.m. on occassion.
I have tested these questions with an old testament passage and some epistles… so, it works for most of the genres of the Bible.
Jeff, the Pork Roast was attended by about 200-225 people… made some connections with folks in the community… none have found there way to joining us on Sunday yet… but who knows. One college student that I met … I saw three times the following week walking by when I was working in the yard and I called him by name… finally on the third time he could call me by name. You could tell it meant alot to him that I remembered his name.
This past Saturday, we had a Fair Trade Christmas Gift Market and made some neat connections in the community as well. We featured Guatemalan weavings, coffee, and crafts from the community where our young adult BVS couple is serving and where I visited in May. Having “Guatemalan Weavings” on our sign out front… attracted the attention of a support group of 7 couples that have adopted Guatemalan children… 3 of the 7 came and enjoyed connecting with us. It will be interesting to see what comes of that!
Thanks for the exciting updates on your out-reach attempts to your community. Its all about building relationships (those are your words) and developing different ways to make those connections, whether its calling-out the name of a college student or putting “Gutemalan Weavings” on the church sign.
I think I’ve asked this question before, but have you tried to get musical leadership from the university? Are there any Christian organizations you could contact for this, or the music department?
God bless you and your ministry to Salisbury!!
Jeff
Wow! Sound like you discovered one of the forms of lectio divina. I have used it in many settings, and people really like it. There are many varieties, of course. And you picked good questions.
I love the fact that this form of scripture study turns the scriptures themselves into living words that speak directly without one of us “wise pastor/leader/teacher” making it clear to them.
Marla