1. Where We’ve Been

In this week’s teaching, Brian and Josh cast vision for our church leading up to Easter. With Lent as our catalyst, the church was invited to pause and reflect on what we have learned so far in our sermon series on John, “Jesus Be the Center”.

With fasting and refocusing at the center of our response, we were invited to remove anything in our lives that may still be taking the place of Jesus. Instead of getting tiny tastes of what the gospel is week-by-week in a Sunday setting, we were challenged to no longer inoculate ourselves with fleeting flashes of truth—but to ask God to increase our hunger for Jesus daily.

2. Where We’re Headed

Read this from the Bible together:

Acts 2:42-43  
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.

Acts 3:19-21
19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.

Some key statements and questions put forward that are important for us to talk about…

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The early church was constant in their commitment to the rhythms of learning, meeting, praying and eating together. Why do you think it is from these seemingly ordinary acts that awe, wonder, and miraculous signs took place?

Therefore repent and return…in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. The Prodigal Son returned and repented. His physical hunger became the way he developed a hunger for home. What physical needs do you have in your life right now? Do you believe that God can use those needs to increase your hunger for Jesus?

3. Next Steps

The call to “make space” in our church will be fed by our hunger for Jesus. Out of the three ways we were encouraged to engage with this: Safety, Risk, Joy—which one resonates with you the most? Are you someone who creates safe spaces, risks security for the kingdom, or experiences joy in Jesus?

Do you make space for God in your everyday? How would you describe your daily “space making” for God?

Do you make space for others in your life? Are you too busy? Do you have room in your schedule to say yes to an unexpected opportunity to show up for someone?

Do you make space for skeptics in your ilfe? Do you often avoid conversations on doubt in your conversations on faith? Do you self-identify as a skeptic? Do you think doubt can be a part of someone’s process to coming home?