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Next: 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 page 4 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. page 6 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. page 16 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? page 17 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. page 18 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