The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

by John Hay, Jr.
Senior Pastor, West Morris Street Free Methodist Church

Series: The Image of God
Week's focus: "Border Crosser"
Scriptures: John 4:1-42
Week of: May 22, 2005

TRACKING THE WORD IN WORSHIP
Overcoming a distorted image of God includes this perspective:

1. Jesus INTENTIONALLY lead his disciples across the border into SAMARIA to reach a despairing woman and her community. John 4:4-8

2. Jesus expresses the UNIVERSAL border crossing God has been engaged in from THE BEGINNING. John 4:10

3. Jesus CALLS his disciples to be borders crossers as a LIFESTYLE. John 4:35-38

4. Border crossing becomes a DAILY opportunity, challenge, and LEARNING environment for us as Jesus' 21st-century urban disciples.

EXPLORE THE SCRIPTURES
Get into the Word daily; what truth and promise does it hold?

Mon
John 4:1-6
1. Why did Jesus leave Judea?
2. What region did he decide to go through?
3. Where did he stop to rest?

Tue
John 4:7-10
1. Why is the woman surprised by Jesus' request? What "border" is Jesus crossing?
2. What is Jesus' response to her?

Wed
John 4:11-15
1. Of what kind of water is she speaking?
2. Of what kind of water is Jesus speaking?

Thur
John 4:16-26
1. What lets her know Jesus is a prophet?
2. What does Jesus say about worship?

Fri
John 4:27-38
1. What is Jesus' "food?"
2. What are disciples to see and do?

Sat
John 4:39-42
Who believed because of the woman's testimony? What did they say?

GUIDED JOURNALING / DISCUSSION
For personal devotions & journaling or small group discussion

1. Have you ever crossed a border into another country or another culture? What was it like? What did you positively experience or learn? Journal or discuss.

2. What social "territories" or barriers exist in our country and communities that insulate or isolate people from one another? (Example: racism). What does the image of God as "border crosser" do to break down such barriers and build bridges of reconciliation?

3. Try to list as many of the geographic, emotional, social, relationship, and/or spiritual boundaries you cross weekly. What can you learn through these crossings? Pray over this list and ask God to help you hear his voice and bear his grace as you cross back and forth each day.

4. Why do you think people resist crossing borders? Of what are they afraid? How can the Word of God and God's Spirit help individuals and groups overcome their fears and resistances to courageously cross borders which God calls us toward?

MARKINGS LEFT BY PREVIOUS TRAVELERS
Selected quotes on the image of God

THE CROSS AND CONTRADICTIONS. "The cross which many Christians are called to bear involves the contradictions of contemporary life. And these contradictions are especially pronounced in the public realm. Christian faith, the way of the cross, empowers us to live these contradictions creatively instead of retreating from them as we so often do. The way of the cross both leads us into public life and gives us the grace to live there. … The way of the cross challenges us not to remove tension from our lives by avoiding the places where tension is found, or by abandoning the convictions that cause us to feel tension. Instead, the cross point another way, a way of 'living the contradictions,' a way of taking tension into our lives and transforming it from a force of destruction into an energy of creation." - Parker Palmer

FROM BEING SERVANTS TO BECOMING FRIENDS. "Christ's final instruction was that we move from being servants to being friends. Why friends instead of servants? Perhaps it is because he knew that servants could always become lords but that friends could not. Servants are people who know the mysteries that can control those to whom they give 'help.' Friends are people who know each other. They are free to give AND receive help. In our time professionalized servants are people who are limited by the unknowing friendlessness of their help. Friends, on the other hand, are people liberated by the possibilities of knowing how to help each other." - John McKnight in The Careless Society

RESPONSES & OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE
Want to explore The Compass with others? Have questions?

If you'd like to connect with others who are working weekly with The Compass, e-mail me or call the church office (317.632.8311)

If you have questions about Scriptures or some of the questions, or just want to share what your are discovering through The Compass, you are welcome to e-mail me.

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