The Compass

A Daily Personal Reflection & Small Group Discussion Guide

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

Series: Crossing Cultures
Week's focus: When It's Time to Get Beyond Ourselves
Scriptures: Acts 10-11
Week of: June 11, 2006

TRACKING THE WORD IN WORSHIP
What signals God's desire that we "move on" and "move out" with faith?

1. When our habits, PREFERENCES, traditions and self-interest DULL us to God's present, forward-looking work in the world. Acts 11:5-8

When do the routine, non-spiritual things in my life become a barrier to fresh faith and my ability to see God's work in others' lives?

2. When we find ourselves RESISTING God's voice of challenge to our "narrowness," "STUCK-ness," or "ME-ness." Acts 11:8-10

What will it take for God to shake me loose from my cocoon of familiarity, convenience, and excuses?

3. When God SENDS people our way who need and want to know about the faith we have been GIVEN. Acts 11:11-14

Who has God sent my way in the past six months with hopes, hurts, and spiritual longing? What has been my response? What can I do when this happens again?

4. When God REVEALS overwhelming grace in lives and groups we had written off, suspected, or EXCLUDED. Acts 11:15-18

Where in the world and in what groups is God's grace being embraced…and what changes in attitude, care, and camaraderie does this call for?

5. When to stay where we are in our faith--or to not SHARE our faith--will hide God's light and NULLIFY our witness. Matthew 5:13-16

Am I willing to obey God today as I am called let go of "dead weight" and to walk into a future of witness and growth as God leads me?

GUIDED JOURNALING / DISCUSSION
Explore these questions in personal devotions or group discussion

1. Read Acts 10. What do you think are some of the spiritual lessons Peter learns through this encounter? What personal barriers did Peter have to confront in order to help others? What kind of barriers do you feel like you would need to get through in order to grow spiritually and serve different people?

2. Read Acts 11:1-18. Why did Peter share this story with the church leaders in Jerusalem? What was their response to his story? What change or opportunity does this signify for the early church? Why do you think their positive or negative response was so important?

3. Read Matthew 5:13-16. To what are Jesus followers compared? What are some of the ways you feel you let your light shine? In what situations do you feel like you are salt? What hinders your light or takes the taste out of your saltiness in life and witness? What can intensify or maximize it?

4. Take each question in the five points under "Tracking the Word in Worship" and respond to them in your personal spiritual journal or small group.

MARKINGS LEFT BY PREVIOUS TRAVELERS
Consider what other believers have explored about crossing cultures

ESSENTIAL FOR EVANGELISM "Being an extrovert isn't essential to evangelism-obedience and love are." -- Rebecca M. Pippert

DON'T GET CONFUSED. "Our business is to present the Christian faith clothed in modern terms, not to propagate modern thought clothed in Christian terms. Confusion here is fatal." -- J. I. Packer

WHAT IS OUR MISSION? "'Mission,' simply put, is everything the church is sent by to be and do in the world. This assumes that God initiated the mission of the church and continues to direct it. Likewise, this affirms that churches are sent, since the very word 'mission' implies being dispatched or sent to perform a task or service. The church is by nature a sign and an agent of the kingdom of God here and now." -- Ray Bakke and Sam Roberts

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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