Community Groups for the Week of October 1
October 2nd, 2017 | Daniel Read
Catechesis
If you want to honestly discuss what you do and don’t believe, then you need to participate in a Community Group this fall.
For the next eight weeks, we’ll be having a discussion we call “Catechesis.” The purpose of the Catechesis series is to discuss how our shared life is birthed out of what the Church has always believed.
According to Michael Frost, “Americans are waking up to the fact that people are sick to death of bad religion.” By, “bad religion” Frost means toxic beliefs that pin people up, and keep them from experiencing the freedom Jesus promises.
Sadly, these toxic beliefs are prevalent in many church communities. There are also political, social and celebrity voices who try tell people what to believe.
If we don’t dig into scripture and history, then we will be at the whim of the voices and agendas in our culture.
What most people do is just keep going. Life is too busy worry about these problems. But the fact is, if we don’t counter toxic beliefs, they creep up on us.
Digging into Beliefs in a Community Group
Imagine having a place where you could say what you really think.
Imagine being able to proudly say “I believe in Jesus, and I want him to take control of my life!”
Imagine being able to proudly say “I am not sure what believe and I don’t like some of the things I have heard the Church believes.”
Imagine a Community Group, where both perspectives, hopeful skeptics and passionate believers, can openly express themselves!
That’s what we hope to cultivate in our Catechesis Discussion Series.
Each week for nine weeks we’ll dig into the topics introduced in the Sunday liturgy. You can listen back here.
Groups will have a discussion guide that will help you to ask difficult questions, and encourage people to honestly share what they think.
If the only thing you get from participating in a Community Groups is a good meal, that would probably be enough.
If the only thing you get from participating in a Community Groups are new friends who you can honestly discuss your beliefs with, that would be even better.
But if you could get a good meal, deeper friendships, and grow in your faith in Jesus, that would definitely be worth it.
Many people will never take the time to truly consider their beliefs. Many people don’t have a safe community to have these difficult conversations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.
How to Participate this Week
- Download the Community Group Discussion Guide. Before you go to your group, you’ll want to take time to read through it. You may want to pray about the questions and journal through them.
- Visit or join a Community Group. You can see a full list here.