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Making Earth Look More Like Heaven
Co u rt e
by Jeremy Steele
sy o f A
n g e la A
li A la rc
on
We Are Next
It starts here. Now. From the beginning of the world, God has been
working to bring all of creation into a full connection with Godself—and
we are going to be part of it. We are going to make a difference. We are
not going to sit by idly while the world passes into deeper brokenness,
conflict, and division. We are going to do something.
We are going to make our lives count. We may not start the next
multibillion-dollar company or eradicate the most threatening disease,
but we are going to use whatever influence God has given us to make
earth look more like heaven.
We do this not because we have some false feeling of humility, nor
because we want to make ourselves feel better about our self-involved
lives. We have a single reason, the only reason that ultimately matters:
Jesus. Jesus did not only call us to go into our world as agents of light
and transformation—he did it himself. He did it for us. He spent his
life making a way for all of humanity to be able to connect with God.
Because we have received the precious gift of God’s presence and
power, we are going to live for something bigger than ourselves, bigger
than personal enlightenment, bigger than emotional highs in a worship
concert. We are going to live for the world—this beautiful, precious,
broken world. We are going to pour out our hearts, our souls, and our
lives in service of a single purpose: making earth look more like heaven.
What started with Jesus has spread throughout history and comes to us
today. We are what’s next.
On the cover: Demanding Democracy for Hong Kong.
Session 1
The Center of Us All:
The Imago Dei
We begin at the beginning. Before Microsoft and Mac;
before Plath and Brontë; before Wesley and Luther,
Buddha and Confucius; before Esther, Deborah,
Abraham, and Noah—there is God.
The message of Genesis is clear: God (through whatever
means) creates the world. God creates it from within
God’s very being. As a novelist gives birth through the
written word to beings previously unknown, God gives
birth to a world through divine words. God breathes life
into creation, and as the Creator looks upon the created,
there issues forth a simple refrain: “And it was good.”
Discover that refrain for yourselves by reading Genesis
1:1–2:3. (This is a very visual text. Consider closing your
eyes and trying to see what it is saying in your mind’s eye.)
How does this refrain inform the different parts of
this story?
This affirmation of life and creation is the starting point. It
is the lens through which we are to see the entire narrative.
It is even the lens though which we are to see the fall.
(More on that later.) Since we are part of that creation,
it is the lens through which we are to see ourselves.
Genesis 1:1–2:3 is one of the most beautiful and brilliant
philosophical poems ever created. It is intricate, layered,
and full of rich metaphor. As with any good poem or
philosophical work, many messages and many truths can
be mined from within its verses. If it is a brilliant poetic
introduction to the story of God and God’s people, the
next verses (starting with 2:4) are the beginning of the
narrative that fills the rest of Genesis.
Though the stories have two unique styles, two perspectives, and in all probability even two different authors,
they give us insight into the same big topic: origins. Who
are we? Why are we here? Why is the world the way it is?
These are the sorts of questions being explored here,
and they are the sorts of questions that have major
implications on our lives and role in the world.
Let’s read from the first account in Genesis again:
Genesis 1:26-27.
Created in the image of God. This profound mystery,
this divine birthmark has captivated theological minds for
thousands of years, and it passes to us today. Many sages
have expressed it as humankind being the image-bearers
of God. We not only bear the stamp of the Creator, but
we carry that image into the world.
Being—and recognizing— the Imago Dei (Latin for “the
image of God”) should transform our relationships.
Unfortunately, we have a tendency to forget or ignore
that image. When this happens, we stop viewing people
(and other parts of creation) as holy and start treating
them as mere objects, valuing them based only on what
they can do for us. However, when we recognize the
image of God within us and within others, we transcend
objectification, recognizing each other’s value and
purpose and allowing ourselves to be caught up together
in the great mission of God in the world.
What elements of God’s image have you observed in others?
When have you observed people objectifying others
rather than focusing on the image of God in them?
When have you experienced someone relating to you as a
“holy other” who bears the image of God?
page 3
Session 1
The Center of Us All: The Imago Dei
If humans had remained simply and purely divine
image-bearers, the world would be a better place, but
our story does not end there. The second creation
account that begins in Genesis 2:4 dives into the
brokenness of the world and the disconnection and pain
created by human action.
All of this leads us to examine the world in which we live.
Our world is immersed in sin and the pain of broken lives
and relationships. Yet we can also see glimmers of light
—the image of God. Within each of us is a fundamental
understanding that the world is not supposed to be this
way. We are meant to have centered selves, peacefilled relationships with each other, intimacy with God,
and a partnership with creation. Though our world is not
centered and peace-filled right now, we know deep down
that there is a better way. We know the world is broken,
and we long to be part of setting it right.
Read Genesis 2:4-14.
This is truly our story. From perfection and harmony
erupt ego and discord. Replace the particulars and it
becomes the story of your teenage rebellion, of our
country’s politics, or of global conflicts. The theme
echoes through the plots of your favorite television
dramas and of this year’s bestselling novel. Let’s turn
to this second account now.
For instance…
In the United States
• 7.35 million children belong to a household (of
Read Genesis 2:15–3:24.
four) that earns an annual income of $11,641.
(Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center)
This story has relationship at its core. In the beginning we
see the way the authors imagined humans were originally
intended to live, intimately connected with self, with each
other, with God, and with creation. Brokenness, pain, and
polluted air simply did not exist. Creation exemplified
perfect health, wholeness, and connection.
• 775,000 teenagers between the ages of 16 and
19 are not enrolled in high school and are not high
school graduates. (Source: KIDS COUNT Data
Center)
• There are now 532,000 children in the foster care
system without adoptive parents.
But humanity abandons this perfection to chase the self.
Adam and Eve eat the fruit, and in that decision the
connection breaks. Honor turns to shame. Purity and
health degenerate into sin and sickness.
• 10% of U.S. children drop out of school before they
complete high school.
Sin is intimately connected to relationship. How is that
different from how you grew up hearing about sin? How is
it similar?
In the World
• The poorest 40% of the world’s population
accounts for 5% of global income. The richest 20%
accounts for three-quarters of world income.
(Source: Compassion International)
• Only 58.5% of the adult population in least-
developed nations is literate. (Source: UNICEF)
If sin is ultimately tied to relationships with one’s self,
others, creation, and God, how can an individual recognize
and repent of (turn from) sin?
• 99 million children under age 5 were underweight
in 2012. (Source: UNICEF)
Now think about the city and state where you live.
Take a moment to Google some statistics:
______ Percent of our city/state lives below the poverty line
______ Number of homeless persons in our city/state
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Session 1
The Center of Us All: The Imago Dei
What other statistics have you heard that bother you?
What can we do about these problems? As we continue
exploring what it means to participate in God’s work in
the world, let’s look at the story of someone who is
embodying the work of redemption right now.
NEXT Story: Andrew Millman
When Andrew began his placement in Russia as a Global Mission Fellow (see page 24) he had no
idea how far his work would stretch him beyond his experiences in Virginia Beach and Washington,
D.C. When he arrived in Russia, he began working with people who had big visions for what God might
do in their community. Theirs was a vision for redeeming their relationship with creation, partnering
with migrants and refugees, and growing closer to each other and their Creator.
Andrew sat down with his new partners in ministry and listened as they shared what was little more than a
dream to employ the marginalized communities, feed their neighbors, and begin to use responsible farming
practices in their hometown. Andrew was going to bring community-supported agriculture (CSA) to Russia.
The dream had begun three years before Andrew arrived, and they were ready to begin to move
forward. Andrew was not a farmer, but he was able to share the knowledge he gained from some
experiences he had with CSA and organic farming back home. The idea was to pre-sell shares of a
season’s crops to the local community. With that money, seeds would be purchased, individuals would
be employed, and the community would pray for rain. As crops ripened, the farmers would take part
of the harvest to feed their families and the rest would be divided among those in the community who
had bought shares. All of this would be done with responsible organic farming techniques that did not
pollute the ground or the air.
Photo by Irina Kruglova
This method of farming was a huge
blessing to the farmers because they
did not shoulder all the risk. If it did not
rain, or if pests invaded the fields, the
entire community would bear the
burden together. The community was
bound together in the project, and a
young man who grew up on the East
Coast of the United States was given
the gift of coordinating this powerful
work of God with the people in Russia.
Now Andrew gets to wake up every day Andrew, second from left, with fellow CSA farmers in Russia.
and spend his time and energy being
part of God’s work in the world. He gets to partner with migrants, refugees, and the people of Russia
to bring healing and wholeness where there was brokenness and marginalization. They get to be part
of this re-creation with a different set of religious tools: shovels, seeds, and soil.
page 5
Session 1
The Center of Us All: The Imago Dei
What broken relationships is Andrew’s work rebuilding in
the community? (Think in terms of the Genesis story:
humans, God, and creation.)
NEXT Actions
1. The statistics on page 4 were broken roughly
into city, state, church, and world. Are there
other groupings that make more sense? If so,
together, divide the problems into categories
on a basis other than geography.
In what ways do you think Andrew’s lack of understanding
about farming might have helped him in serving this
community?
What long-term effects could this type of ministry with
the people in Russia have?
2. Individually, rank the groups in order of
where your interest or passion lies, from
most to least compelling. Find others in
the room who share your top one or two
interest areas.
You may not move to Russia any time soon or even know
a group starting a CSA, so where do you start? When you
read those statistics earlier, the realities they represented
troubled the Imago Dei within you because they were
the opposite of God’s character and plan for the world.
But some of them bothered you more than others.
Some of them captured your heart and imagination,
causing you to feel pain or anger but also making you
want to do something.
3. Split up with the people who have similar
passions to your own and do some research
on the problems in that interest area. Then
return to the large group to share some of
your findings.
These feelings don’t mean that some issues are more
important or significant than others; rather, they simply
mean that they connect to your particular God-given
passions. Your work and ministry will be most meaningful
and effective if you focus on the areas where you are
most troubled or excited, where the Imago Dei calls you.
That is where we are headed. We will begin by identifying
broader passion areas; then we will explore the specific
problems that exist in those areas.
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Session 2
Small Beginnings
The brokenness of the fall impacts everything. It changes
every relationship. We take advantage of each other. We
lie to get our way. We are hurt by others. We rebel against
loving parents. We even abuse the earth God put in our
care. We feel the brokenness in our own minds and
bodies, and we see it in our families, in our schools, and
throughout the world. Like many of the problems we
began exploring last week, the relational brokenness
created by sin is layered, confusing, and continually
growing. One might expect God to solve this complex
problem with an equally complex solution. But God had
a surprise in store.
In the final centuries BCE (BC), the people of Israel were
almost universally poor, were oppressed by another
nation, and had corrupt political and religious leaders.
They were eager for someone to lead them in a spiritual
and political revolution. A legend developed that when
this deliverer came, he would stand on the corner of the
temple and reveal that he was the Messiah, the anointed
one, their liberator. He would rally the people and lead
them in an overthrow of the occupying government—
the Roman Empire.
When Jesus began his ministry, he was one of many
leaders the people hoped might be that promised Messiah.
The people were ready to follow, if only he would seize
power and lead a revolution. But very early on, Jesus took
an unexpected path. He didn’t begin as the head of a
national uprising. His beginning would be much quieter.
Read Matthew 4:1-11.
This story sets the tone for Jesus’ ministry. He will walk
out of this wilderness temptation and begin his ministry.
Understanding this passage is vital to grasping the rest of
the Jesus story. Let’s go a bit further.
What does each of these temptations say about the
character of Jesus’ ministry (i.e., about how he relates to
sin, power, community, and wholeness)?
1.
2.
3.
It should be clear at this point that God is doing something quite different than simply dispatching the spiritual
and military leader that the people were expecting. Jesus’
followers grow exponentially, until, in John 6:10, Jesus
ministers to a group of 5,000 men. Since the writers
didn’t count women and children in the mix, we are most
likely talking about more than 15,000 people! Beginning
with just a handful of disciples, Jesus’ followers swell in
just three years to a gathering of more than 15,000.
What an incredible success. Until…
Read John 6:53-67.
From 12 to 15,000 in three years – and back to 12 in a
couple of minutes.
How would you feel as a disciple when the ministry grew
to more than 15,000?
Let’s dive beneath the surface meaning of these
temptations.
What are the deeper layers of each of the temptations?
With what is Jesus REALLY being tempted?
1.
2.
3.
page 7
Session 2
How would you feel after the crowds abandoned Jesus
and you were left with the group of 12 that was there
from the beginning?
The rest of Jesus’ ministry is a roller coaster of highs and
lows, popularity and abandonment. By the time of the
crucifixion, Jesus’ followers are in much the same state as
they are here—just a small group huddled together when
the crowds have walked away. After Jesus rises from the
dead, a spark of hope is rekindled among some that he
still might become the military/spiritual leader they had
wanted, leading them to fight a war of freedom with their
muscles and swords. Others wonder if he will pick up his
ministry where he left off, teaching and healing and
rebuking religious leaders. As is his pattern, Jesus goes in
a completely different direction. He takes his disciples to
a mountaintop and does one of the most radical things in
all of church history.
Read Acts 1:8-9.
Not only does Jesus totally destroy the expectation of a
military movement, he leaves the whole movement in
their hands and says, “Go!”
Small Beginnings
Share a story of a time when a large task was placed in
your hands. How did you handle it? How did you feel in
the process?
And the craziest thing? The most improbable piece of it
all? They do it! The disciples go; they share; they live out
the revolutionary teachings of Jesus. And it happens.
Little by little, bit by bit, the movement grows. Lives are
changed and the tides begin to turn in the battle against
brokenness. And it doesn’t start with 5,000 or 15,000.
It starts with 12.
If God had not done it this way, and you were designing
an approach to deal with sin, brokenness, and oppression
on earth, what might you do differently?
What does this small beginning say about God’s methods
for changing the world?
page 8
Session 2
Small Beginnings
God tends NOT to do things the way everyone expects.
God’s plan almost always has a small beginning. Let’s look
at someone who is in the business of helping fuel small
beginnings and brilliant stories.
NEXT Story: Erica Granados de la Rosaan
The world sometimes seems to be caught in endless debate: People lining up on opposite sides of
issues, arguing and debating their stances, without ever listening to or engaging the other side.
But when Erica looks at the Jesus stories in the Bible, she doesn’t see a lot of argument. Rather, she
sees Jesus and the disciples constantly telling stories, painting word pictures with parables, and really
listening to people.
If you were to ask Erica about her work, she would tell you that she is involved in spiritual artivism.
“Spiritual” is a simple enough term, but what does “artivism” mean?
Erica realized early in life that everyone has been
wounded, and we tend to perpetuate cycles of
violence and oppression unless we find healing.
As a student at Texas Women’s University, Erica
co-founded The Wounded Healer’s Collective, an
organization dedicated to creating space to teach
and share different artistic forms so that people
could begin to understand and share their own
stories and the stories of others in their communities.
In storytelling, Erica sees the power to bring
transformation. Stories humanize situations. Erica
believes that rather than breaking something
down into cerebral propositions, stories teach us
how to connect, help us listen compassionately,
and encourage us to enact liberation. Through
everything from open mic nights to hip-hop sessions
to painting classes, Erica works with communities to form spaces where people can tell their stories,
creating communal vulnerability and accountability to the world.
Because Erica believes that every story has the power to change the world.
page 9
Photo by Monique Johnson
Artivism happens when activism or advocacy is done
through art that tells stories. For Erica, artivism
happens primarily through hip-hop, spoken word,
and forms of poetry that bring together the personal,
the political, and the spiritual experience.
Session 2
Why are stories and art powerful in different ways than a
traditional debate?
Small Beginnings
Like Erica using hip-hop and other forms of art as a form
of activism, God is constantly surprising us by using
different people and methods than we would ever expect.
God chooses people like the people you know. God
chooses people like you to work on the big problems in
the world.
Take a moment to think through one of these big
problems like human trafficking, global hunger, or poverty
and homelessness in your community. You can use a
problem you identified in the last session or use a new
one. Fill the space here with every specific issue you
can think of related to that problem in two minutes.
For example, if you choose global hunger you might link
overconsumption, resource distribution, awareness,
politics in struggling countries, etc.
How have you experienced art or storytelling as a means
of shared vulnerability, healing, or activism?
How does Erica’s storytelling follow the pattern of Jesus’
ministry and the disciples’ commission?
With such complex problems, where do we start? How do
we make an impact? How do we join God in changing
the world?
page 10
Session 2
Small Beginnings
NEXT Actions
1. C
learly define the problem you want to
address. Instead of “poverty” you might say
“poverty in Mobile, Alabama” or “poverty
created by overconsumption” or “rural
poverty in Uganda.” Get as specific as
you can.
2. Now split up into the smaller groups or
partners with similar passions that you used
in the previous session. Try to answer a
simple question: What are a couple of ways
that a handful of young adults (fewer
than six) could make a difference in
[your problem]?
3. C
ome back together with the whole group
and talk about the different ideas. What
seems to be the simplest idea? Which ones
are appropriately small? Which ones capture
your imagination?
page 11
Session 3
Messy Plans
Life isn’t easy. In fact, life can feel practically impossible
at times. There are moments when the whole world seems
stacked against you. There are moments when you have more
to do than anyone could ever accomplish. Into that packed
schedule you have people ask you to “give God 100%.” It’s
a nice sentiment. But when you look at your life, you have
nowhere close to 100% to give to God. The goal needs to
be trying to maintain a constant awareness of the spiritual.
That means that even things we didn’t think of as particularly spiritual endeavors have the potential to connect us
with what God is doing in the world. The Bible is full of
examples. Let’s look at one now.
Read Proverbs 31:10-31.
This passage is about a brilliantly strong woman, and
finishes with an interesting couple of verses. Verse 30
begins wrapping this passage up by describing this woman
as a woman who fears the Lord. The “fear of the Lord” in
this passage refers to a reverence for God. One who fears
God is one who honors God by doing good, not harm.
NEXT Story: Janjay Innis
Janjay Innis is very familiar with what it feels like to be caught up in the messy plans of God. She is
serving for two years as a Global Mission Fellow at Tacoma Community House in Tacoma, Washington.
Janjay is an advocate for the people who participate in the community home.
The community home provides social services, including welfare, immigration resources, Englishlanguage services, and help addressing domestic violence. Janjay is trying to find ways that all of that
social service can translate into social action, but it hasn’t been an easy road.
After many weeks of training in preparation for her placement, Janjay was excited to get to Tacoma
and get to work. She had many ideas of how she could make a difference as a social justice advocate
and was full of energy and passion to throw herself into the work. Then she landed in a city almost
3,000 miles from her home in Massachusetts and found a host of other tasks on her plate.
Melissa Winter
Rather than designing a campaign or program, she
attended staff meetings and met with directors to
get an overview of how each of the many services
they provided worked. When she was not learning
the organizational culture, she observed everything
from appointments to board meetings.
Janjay at Tacoma Community House in Tacoma, Washington.
Janjay was initially frustrated to postpone her
exciting plans for action, but over time she learned about the struggles of implementing a new
program or idea, became acquainted with the staff and clients, and formed more partnerships.
Several months into her mission service, Janjay was given more creative license. She realized that
her time learning the culture of the organization was a blessing that increased the effectiveness of her
efforts. The disruption in her plans allowed her to be far more knowledgeable, connected, and
successful in planning the next steps for the Tacoma Community House.
page 12
Session 3
Messy Pl ans
How does this woman demonstrate her fear of the Lord
in the verses leading up to verse 30?
Looking back at the passage in Proverbs 31:10-31, where
and how do you see the woman’s passion being expressed?
Looking at your own life, what are the 21st century
versions of the sorts of things described here as “fearing
the Lord”?
What we see here is the spiritual value in planning practical
details of life and ministry. In other words, making plans
and anticipating stumbling blocks is a spiritual endeavor.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be wise stewards,
and that quality enables us to make a meaningful, positive
impact on the world.
What is it about planning that can make it feel less
spiritual for some of us?
How did Janjay “fear the Lord” in her situation?
Tell a story of a time you had to wait to begin a task about
which you were passionate. What was difficult? How did it
turn out in the end?
What prevents you from thinking ahead and making plans?
If planning is a spiritual enterprise, how do we do it? What
does the Bible call us to do when we plan? What kinds of
values should our plans embody?
How could the organization have better responded to
Janjay’s passion?
Read the scriptures below silently and write out the
planning value or goal they convey.
Verse
Proverbs 14:22
Proverbs 15:22
Micah 6:8
Matthew 25:37-40
Ephesians 5:1
What negative aspects of passion can be seen in this story?
page 13
Value/Goal
Session 3
Messy Pl ans
Come together as a group and discuss these values. Were
there any values or goals that were surprising?
NEXT Actions
Let’s make some real plans. Remembering the
goal of starting small, we are going to make
some plans to impact your big problems. If you
haven’t selected a solution from last week yet,
it’s time to commit now.
Which of these values/goals are difficult for you?
1. Begin by writing your idea in two sentences:
The end goal:
Which of these are easiest for you? Which come naturally?
How I am getting there:
2. Split up into pairs or small groups. You can
keep the same group or swap to gain new
perspective on your project. Think through
what steps are required between here and
your end goal. What has to happen?
3. What could you simplify or remove to allow
you to launch in three or four weeks?
page 14
Session 4
With
God came down to earth and became human.
Read that again. It is not a normal sentence. It is not an
everyday occurrence. It is far from common.
God came down to earth and became human.
Read Philippians 2:5-8.
This is huge. It represents a sea change in how humanity
interacts with God. From time to time in the preceding
centuries, religion had devolved from a relationship with
God to an externalized ritual performed by a professional
religious person. But with Jesus, relationship is restored
and taken to a new level: God dons flesh and blood and
enters the world as one of us in the person and mission of
Jesus. But it doesn’t stop there. Jesus did not just live
some sort of deified, sanitized life devoid of trial.
As we discovered in the second session, Jesus was
tempted. He struggled. He was hungry. He got angry.
But he did not sin. He lived a completely human life,
experiencing all the love, grief, laughter, and pain life can
hold, so that we might connect with God and be caught
up in God’s amazing plans for the world.
What aspects of this surprise you?
Why do you think God waited so many centuries to enter
the human experience in this way? Why didn’t God send
Jesus immediately after the first sign of human rebellion
and broken relationship?
providing a model for us to follow. Through his words and
actions we can find patterns for life.
Read John 13:12-15.
Jesus is teaching the disciples about servanthood and
humility. Jesus wants us to follow him as an example.
He wants us to model our lives after his own. Ministry
with people entails being present, having a humble spirit,
and being available.
What are some of the ways you have heard people talk
about living like Jesus?
Have you ever noticed that Jesus did not give another list
of dos and don’ts? Rather than telling us what not to do,
he gave us freedom to live our lives in response to our
world, with him as our guide.
Jesus was the incarnation of God, or God “in the flesh.”
Jesus didn’t observe our situation from afar. He didn’t drop
letters from the sky or post 140 characters online for the
world to see. He came from heaven and was with us.
There are several levels of being “with” someone. Take a
moment and arrange these forms of engagement in order
of their “with-ness” with 1 being “most with” and 5 being
“least with”: blog post, tweet, phone call, text, dinner.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are the limits imposed that makes each one less
“with” people than the one above it?
Jesus’ life is more than something for us to study and
discuss. It is more than a set of propositions. One of
the things Jesus was doing in his life and ministry was
page 15
Session 4
With
Relationships are the same way. Some relationships are
more “with” than others. Look at your own life. Arrange
these types of relationships along the same “with-ness”
scale: parent/guardian, best friend, teacher, girlfriend/
boyfriend, new acquaintance.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
What changes about each of these relationships that
makes them less “with” than the one above it?
NEXT Story: Austin Sauerbrei-Brown
Austin Sauerbrei-Brown’s church is on an economic dividing line in Nashville between public housing
and some of the most valuable real estate in the city. While he was in college, his church formed a
committee to investigate how they could expand their community ministry.
Rather than ministering to those who were struggling in their community, Austin’s church partnered
with the community to help bring the kingdom of heaven more fully to earth. They involved the
community in the planning process by dialoging with community organizations, polling the residents,
and listening to the parents of kids in the church’s afterschool program.
Ccourtesy of Austin Sauerbrei-Brown
After exploring the many ministry
opportunities in their area, they
decided to provide walkable access to
inexpensive household goods. Austin’s
senior year project for college was
developing the business model for a
“Free Store” where there was no
charge for the items being sold. This
was just what the church wanted to
start, and he was asked to lead the
implementation team.
The implementation team met for a
year to gather all the details together
Austin, far left, with volunteers at the “Free Store” in Nashville.
and launched the store in December.
After two months, they were already serving 40 people every Saturday in partnership with the
community. Anyone who donates or shops becomes a member, and all members help run the store
and hang out on Saturday mornings to share coffee and conversation. People bring whatever they
have to share; one member even opened a bike clinic at the Free Store. Through this ministry,
Austin’s church is forging deep relationships with the community and discovering even more ways
to come together as the diverse body of Christ in Nashville.
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Session 4
With
How did involving the community from the beginning
affect the outcome of the church’s work?
NEXT Actions
In the last session, we made plans to address a
big problem in the world. Now we will evaluate
those plans in terms of their “with-ness.” There
are times when the problem means that you
may not be able to be fully with people;
however, there are always ways to connect. We
want to make these ideas for ministry with (as
peers) rather than ministry to. There is a quote
often credited to Lilla Watson that says, “If you
have come here to help me, you are wasting
your time. But if you have come because your
liberation is bound up with mine, then let us
work together.” It is this togetherness that we
must constantly seek.
How could you imagine this free store sparking more
“ministry with” instead of “ministry to”?
What projects have you done or been a part of that God
might use for greater things?
1. What kind of relationships is being formed in
your plan? Are all parties acting as peers? If
that level of relationship is not possible, how
can you develop a relationship with a person
in the work you are doing?
2. How could you change the interactions in
your project to turn charity or service into
collaboration or partnership?
3. What about the people working on the
project? How are you building in time for
them to be with each other? What intentional aspects can you add or tweak to help
those relationships grow deeper?
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Session 5
Bigger Than Culture
Read 1 Corinthians 12:7, 12-26.
Have you ever noticed how your culture can get mixed
up with your faith? Have you ever come to a moment
when the two were so intertwined that it was hard to tell
them apart?
This is quite contrary to the standard American mode of
operation. These verses highlight Paul’s teaching to the
Corinthian church, which is suffering from divisions and
non-cooperation. The scriptures tell us that when God
gives us a gift or ability, it is not just for our own success
or happiness. It is for the good of everyone—the common
good. In other words, our unity in Christ enables us to be
united and supportive of one another.
What are some American values (like democracy and
punctuality)?
This isn’t a new development with Jesus. We see the same
desire for the common good in God’s covenant with
Abraham (called Abram here):
How have you seen the values you listed combined with
Christianity in a good or bad way?
Read Genesis 12:1-3.
Why did God bless Abraham? So that all the people on
the earth would be blessed! All the people. When God
blesses us, it is for others!
If we combine the values of our faith with the values of
our culture too closely and too often, we can stop hearing
the prophetic voice of our faith and scriptures. The
primary role of a prophet in the Bible was not to tell the
future. The role of a prophet was to call people back to
faithfulness. A prophet was to stand up to the powerful
and speak the truth no matter the consequence.
This brings us, of course, to the movie Iron Man —a great
example of the American value of individualism. Iron Man
flies through the sky, defeats criminal masterminds, and
captures the hearts of all the ladies. And he does this, in
the words of every 3-year-old ever, “All by himself.”
“By myself” is a big thing for Americans. We teach it to
our children, we strive for it in our careers, and we punish
people in school for collaborating on the most important
exams and papers.
Tell the story of a time when someone else’s talent or
resource helped you out.
Take a moment to think about your talents and resources.
How could you use them to support what someone else
is doing?
Where are you weak? Where are you lacking an ability
that another member of the body of Christ has?
However, God does not call us to a life of excellence in
isolation. On the contrary, in the scriptures, we are called
to a radical connection, a brilliant community. We are
called to each other.
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Session 5
Bigger Than Culture
What does this say about how God wants us to go about
our work?
If we look at life as an organic, interwoven family, it is
clear that God will call us to do things that we cannot
accomplish on our own. There are going to be times
when, no matter how hard we try, we simply do not have
what is needed to accomplish the task set out for us
“all by ourselves.”
NEXT Story: Tiffania Willets
When Tiffania Willets went to Argentina for 18 months as a Global Mission Fellow, she had no idea
that the biggest impact on her life would not be the mission work itself. Not long after she arrived in
Buenos Aires, Tiffania began attending a church called Iglesia Metodista Congregación Cristo Rey
(Christ the King Methodist Church). She figured that it would be a nice place to worship each week
when she wasn’t doing her daily work as a missionary.
She knew something was going to be different when they closed the service by reciting the famous
quote by John Wesley: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you
can.” Only a couple visits later, she was asked to serve in their small group ministry. After being
asked several times to do several different things, she said yes.
The week before the giveaway, Tiffania gathered several teens and young adults to stuff backpacks
and organize everything so that they were prepared for the onrush of schoolchildren. When the
day came, everyone who attended church brought every school-aged child they knew who needed
school supplies. All the children got what they needed and were able to attend school the
following year.
Tiffania discovered far more than how to organize a school supply drive. She found a church that
empowered its members to use whatever they had to make a difference in their community and
encouraged them to follow through. She experienced the body of Christ.
page 19
Ana Maria Buela
This church constantly worked to live out John
Wesley’s advice. They made sure every child they
knew had uniforms and school supplies, because
without them, the children would not be allowed
to attend classes. For several weeks before school
each year the church collected donations of
backpacks and school uniforms. Tiffania listened
week after week for a month as the pastor
reminded them of the date for passing out the
needed supplies.
Session 5
Bigger Than Culture
How do you think Tiffania’s culture influenced how she
expected to engage with a new church in this different
cultural context?
NEXT Actions
It’s time to get serious. We are just a couple
weeks away from implementing our plans. We
need to talk about people power.
1. Look through your plan. Think about what
jobs and responsibilities are in the plan. What
tasks should be done by one person? What
should be shared? Make a set of rough job
descriptions.
How can your church, small group, or other ministry
follow the example of the church in Argentina in being
the body of Christ?
Tell the story of a time when you were part of a group
that accomplished something together that you couldn’t
have accomplished on your own.
2. Look at those descriptions and think about
what kinds of personality types and special
talents would be best suited for the people
to fill those roles.
3. Think about which role you would do best.
4. Split up into pairs or small groups. You can
keep them the same group or swap to gain
new perspective on your project. Share your
ideas and begin to brainstorm who you
should invite to fill the different roles.
Before the next meeting, try to fill all the
essential roles you developed here.
page 20
Session 6
Next Stop: The New Jerusalem
Through all of the glory and sin, forgiveness and tragedy,
purity and depravity, we come to our lives today. Though
Jesus lived, died, rose, and sent the Holy Spirit, the world
wasn’t fixed. We still have death, wars, and disease. We
still have bullies, criminals, and thieves.
In Revelation, suffering and evil are completely wiped
away, and reality is instead defined by God’s sustaining
presence.
When we look at the world through the lens of 24-hour
news channels, we might think the world is headed to hell
in a handbasket but that is not the case. The scriptures
point to a beautiful ending, a compelling vision of our
future. At the end of the Bible stands a brilliant lighthouse
marking our way through the stormy night of the present.
Read Revelation 21:1-6.
What does this say about where our focus should be as
Christians?
Of all the things listed in this scripture, which capture
your heart? Which do you long for the most?
God doesn’t press reset. God doesn’t return us to the
garden. What was lost in the garden is lost forever. We
cannot go back there, but what is ahead of us is something profound: a city.
How does the image of a city contrast with that of a
garden?
We are not in the new city. We are still in the middle of
things, living the story between the garden and the city of
God. The kingdom of God has come in part, but it is not
yet fully here. The reins have been passed to us and we
hear the words of Jesus to his disciples. We are working
with God to create something new!
Read Matthew 28:16-20.
What could this city metaphor mean in contrast to the
garden in Genesis?
These are Jesus’ final words in Matthew’s Gospel before
his Ascension, and they challenge us as much as they
equip us. We are called to further the kingdom of God by
enacting the life and teachings of Jesus. Our call is not
merely a physical one; it is a spiritual one.
In this new city, God is at the center. God is the ruler, and
Jesus is the light.
Where do you think we miss the mark as a church in
fulfilling Jesus’ command here?
What could it mean that Jesus is the light of this new
city? What might that mean for us now?
page 21
Session 6
Next Stop: The New Jerusalem
What part of this work is most difficult for you?
What does this verse imply about the role of Holy Spirit?
What does this verse imply about why Christians receive
the Holy Spirit?
Read: Acts 1:8.
We read Matthew’s version of Jesus’ final words earlier;
here we read Luke’s version, recorded in Acts. Here Jesus
challenges us to break out of our local setting and to think
both locally and globally, but if that is all we focus on we
are missing part of the story. Before Jerusalem and the
ends of the earth, there is the Holy Spirit.
We have another partner in our work, one who empowers,
inspires, and connects. We find the source and power
for all our work in this ever-present third person of the
Trinity. Just like Jesus commanded at the end of Matthew,
the Holy Spirit goes before us and with all of creation
challenges us to GO!
NEXT Story: Larry Randolph
Larry Randolph went to the job fair at his school looking for an interesting summer job. He found
something that would change his life forever. He walked up to a booth for Project Transformation, an
organization that provides summer day camps for low-income, at-risk, or underserved communities.
He thought, “I’ll try that out.”
Paco was a typical eighth-grade bully strutting
around like he knew everything – but on the inside,
his world was upside-down, and he was full of
questions. After a couple weeks, Paco began to
open up to Larry and tell him the deep, troubling
questions he had about God.
By the end of that first summer, Paco was a leader
Larry, front left, working at Project Transformation.
and had been transformed by the power of the Holy
Spirit through his relationship with Larry. But Paco was not the only one transformed. God transformed Larry as well. As God used Larry in ministry with Paco, Larry discovered the reality of life in
these difficult neighborhoods. The Holy Spirit allowed Larry to see the image of God within the people
he once dismissed and join with them in being part of God’s transformation of the world.
Both Paco and Larry returned to Project Transformation the next year and became friends and
partners in ministry in the inner city.
page 22
Courtesy of Project Transformation
For the first part of the summer, Project Transformation was exactly what you’d expect. Larry was
playing sports and doing crafts with underserved kids. About a week into the program, he pulled a
young man named Paco out of a fight. Paco was close to being kicked out of the program, but
something inside Larry told him to stick close to Paco.
Session 6
Next Stop: The New Jerusalem
How do you see the Holy Spirit at work in Larry’s story?
NEXT Actions
Let’s start by making sure everything is ready
to launch.
What does this have to do with the city on a hill in
Revelation?
1. Start by making a list of loose ends: What is
left? Who is left? What has not yet been done?
2. Star the things that must get done for the
project to be able to launch at all.
It’s time to go. It’s time to serve. It’s time to live out the
words of John Wesley: “Go not only to those that need
you, but to those that need you most.”
3. Look over what remains on your list. For
each item, make a note to either cut or
postpone it until after the launch. If you can
neither cut nor postpone, it will have to be
completed before launching the project.
4. Next to each item that must be finished,
write the date it will be completed and the
person who has agreed to complete it.
5. M
ake a list of everything you need to have
on launch day: Promotional materials?
Supplies? Sign-up sheets? Presentation?
Share, Evaluate, and Celebrate
It’s not over yet! After you’ve launched your project, share photos and stories with others at umcollegiate.org/next.
Then gather your team to evaluate what went well, what you would do differently next time, and how it might be
continued or expanded in the future. Remember—lasting change most often happens through long-term, sustained
engagement in a community or issue. Finally, make sure you celebrate with all the people who helped make it happen.
A community celebration is also a great way to announce next steps and gather support for the future. Want to
learn about what God is doing through other young people in communities around the world? Consider becoming a
Global Mission Fellow, Global Justice Volunteer, or Individual Volunteer. Find out more at www.umcmission.org/gt.
page 23
Big ways to engage with god’s mission
Generation Transformation is an initiative of Global Ministries
to increase opportunities for young adults
to engage in mission throughout the connection.
This includes supporting mission service within
The United Methodist Church and Global Ministries’ flagship programs
for young adults. These Global Ministries programs include:
GLOBAL MISSION FELLOWS ­
TWO YEARS OF MISSION SERVICE
GLOBAL JUSTICE VOLUNTEERS
TWO MONTHS OF MISSION
INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS
For every generation, young adulthood
is a time of personal transformation.
This is when we discern our calls and
define our relationships
to the church, others, and society.
At this critical moment in
each person’s life,
Generation Transformation
provides opportunities
for great change and growth.
Rac h e l
d eB o s
FLEXIBLE MISSION SERVICE FROM TWO MONTHS TO TWO YEARS
page 24
• 3.5 months transition, itineration, and project-
Global Mission Fellows
oriented reintegration, which could include helping
to train the next class of Global Mission Fellows,
itineration, being a Missionary-in-Residence,
or developing/joining a local project This program sends young adults between the ages
of 20-30 out of their home context for two years of
mission service. This is a faith- and justice-centered
program that grew out of the historic US-2 and
Mission Intern programs. Global Mission Fellows:
• ENGAGE with local communities,
• CONNECT the church in mission, and
• GROW in personal and social holiness.
This program develops strong young leaders who are
committed to building just communities and a peaceful
world. They commit to 24-25 months of service.
Applicants from the United States can choose to serve
either domestically or internationally. At this time,
applicants outside of the United States will be serving
internationally, outside of one’s home country.
Global Mission Fellow US-2 Track
24 months serving with a marginalized community
within the United States.
• 1 month of training and itineration
• 23 months of service within the United States
• Service begins in July with training
• Service ends in July, 24 months later
Global Mission Fellow International Track
• 25 Months serving outside of one’s home country • 1.5 months of training and transition
• 20 months of international service
• Service begins in July with training
• Service ends in August, 25 months later
Global Justice Volunteers
This program is a short-term service opportunity for
young adults, ages 18 to 30. Participants are from all over
the world and serve all over the world. Small teams of
volunteers spend eight weeks during the months of June
through August exploring the links between faith and
social justice as they work with local grassroots organizations.
Volunteers work alongside their host community to
address critical issues such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, human
trafficking, and migrants’ rights. This program gives
volunteers the opportunity to develop new skills, to learn
from local experts, and to channel their passion to help
build just communities.
Individual Volunteers
This program offers individuals and couples the flexibility
to volunteer for a period of two months to two years
at placement sites all around the world, including the
United States. Every effort is made to accommodate a
volunteer’s placement choice. Raise your own funds,
get trained, join with other volunteers, and be immersed
in another culture.
Get more information and apply on our website.
Follow this link to fill out an application.
UMCollegiate Ministries is your one-stop shop for resources, events, and connections for college students and campus
ministers. Find out more about how you can become part of the United Methodist Student Movement, connect through
the national NEXT gathering or regional events, access Bible studies and leadership development resources, and share your
stories with others at umcollegiate.org.
page 25
Presented by
www.gbhem.org
umcmission.org