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Christlife Posture: Loving Like Jesus

Topic: Reaching Out to Co-Workers and Neighbors

Suggested Approach: Choose 1 thing from each of the three boxes

OR Choose 1 from Media or Reflection + 1 from Scripture 

Media Excursions           (Watch/read/listen and be ready to discuss Q's)

Photo

  • Embrace by Michael Belk  Have you ever considered intentionally reaching out to someone from another faith? Why or why not?  What "groups" are hard for you to reach out to? 

Video Clip

  • #Eat Together  What kinds of ideas or actions does this clip inspire for you?  Do you think something like this could work in your neighborhood or at your work? What would you adjust or change?

  • Anonymous Love Letters (Upworthy) Sometimes reaching out to others can be more powerful and more simple than we think.  What ideas do you get from this video (or beyond this video) to reach out?

Song

  • Won’t you Be My Love (Thad Cockerell)  When you think of reaching out beyond your comfort zone, which of the three scenarios in this song challenge you the most?   Is there someone near or far that this inspires you to reach out to?

Article

  • 100 Ways to Reach Out (Harborside Church) Wow, now that is a lot of ideas! Some of them are particular to this specific church but many are widely applicable.  Find two or more to discuss and possibly pursue in the next few weeks. 

  • Being a Good Neighbor (Steven Halter) What do you think of Dr. Moore's poll results? Which of the ideas in the article seem like they would be most effective in your context? Which would be least effective?

  • Making an Impact in the Workplace (Lynne Thompson) How can you be adaptable at work without compromising spiritual integrity? How could being willing to live transparently help you reach out to co-workers? 

Video Teaching

Reflection Options  

Journal  (Reflect on one or more of these questions)

  • When you hear “outside of my circle of relationships”, what do you think of? Who or what groups of people come to mind?  What are some reasons you have not reached out to them before?

  • Did anyone make an effort to reach out to you from outside your circle?  What was that like? What things can you learn from that person’s actions (whether it’s things to avoid or things to emulate)?

  • Think of an instance of Jesus reaching out beyond the Jews.  Make a pro/con list of what the effect of that was.  Why do you think Jesus did it anyway? What were his motivations?

Quote Interaction  (Agree, disagree or otherwise engage with the quote/quotes)

  • You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves. (St. Francis de Sales)

  • Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.  (Benjamin Franklin)

  • Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?  (Abraham Lincoln)

  • Christians need to have a vision. What they do in the workplace is paramount to bringing the kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. (C. Peter Wagner) 

Reading & Reflection from the book, Shaping The Journey of Emerging Adults:

  • Read the “Intentionality” ideas for chapter 9 (pp. 155-160).  Do any of these ideas fit the conversation you have been having? Think about them for yourself.  Then explore potential strengths or weaknesses in relational pursuits together.

Explore Scripture

Meditate on one or more of the following passages. Always look them up in context.  Take some time to really explore the verse in relation to this topic.  Look for examples of reaching out or wisdom in how to reach beyond your comfort zone from these verses.  Make a note of what you discover to share later.  See "Learn More About Ways to Study Scripture" below for help in getting the most out of the verse.

  • Matt 5:44-48

  • Luke 7:34

  • Luke 10:30-37

  • Luke 14:12-24

  • Luke 15:1-10

  • Romans 13:10

  • Romans 15:7

  • 1 Corinthians 9:22

  • I Corinthians 12:21

  • I Corinthians 13:1-13

  • James 1:19-27

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