top of page

Christlife Posture: Trusting God's Wisdom

Topic: Celebration--What is Beauty?

​

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

Painting

  • View Christ of St. John of the Cross (Salvador Dali) Can something be beautiful and celebrated even if it is not pretty or comfortable to behold?  What else can you think of that fits into this category?  How does it affect your own understanding of what beauty is?

Video Clips

  • Wondering Wanderer (Letters to the Exiles) Which words or images strike you the most when thinking about beauty?

  • Internal vs. External Beauty (Ross Kaeliner)  How does your own understanding of what is beautiful hinge on external physical beauty?

  • Stars and Whales Singing... (Louie Giglio) Respond to this video and its unusual presentation of beauty and celebration.  Did you find yourself wanting to sing at the end too? Why or why not? 

  • Eyes that See (Letters to the Exiles)  How does this video challenge your understanding of where you might find beauty?

  • Skit: Little Things How does the message of this drama relate to our ability to enter into celebration?

Song

  •  Oh Lord, You’re Beautiful (Keith Green, composer. Performed by Shane and Shane) “Oh Lord, you’re beautiful. Your face is all I seek..” What is the songwriter writing about God or about his relationship with God that is worthy of celebrating?

Video Teaching

  • Worship Beauty and Biology (Rob Des Cotes) Though this is a conference promo, listen to what Rob has to say about wanting to learn more about God by looking at the beauty in creation.  Do you agree that we need different kinds of “worship” leaders to give us a better vision of God?  Why do you think he says that beauty is an “important part” of our humanity?

  • The Unexpected Math Behind Van Gogh's Starry Night (TED-Ed) Does the way this video analyzes Van Gogh's painting increase or decrease your appreciation for this beautiful painting? What is your understanding of the relationship between beauty and science? 

Article

  • Will Beauty Save the World? (Albert Mohler) How do you distinguish between something being beautiful vs. being attractive? How does the author define beauty apart from an attractiveness factor?

Reflection Options  

Journal (Reflect on one or more of these questions)

  • It has been said that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”...

    • What do you find beautiful?

    • What do you think Jesus found beautiful when he walked this earth?

    • What do you think God finds beautiful about you?

  • How difficult or natural is it for you to celebrate the good, the true or the beautiful?

  • Is it more important to be serious about following Christ or celebratory over all that Christ has done for you?

Quote Interaction (Interact by agreeing, disagreeing or otherwise engaging with the quote/quotes)

  • “Art must be an expression of love or it is nothing.” ~Marc Chagall

  • “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, but must be felt with the heart.” ~Helen Keller

  • “We do not want merely to see beauty... we want something else which can hardly be put into words- to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it. That is why we have peopled air and earth and water with gods and goddesses, and nymphs and elves.”- C.S. Lewis

  • “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” ~Vincent van Gogh

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

  • Read “Encourage submission to the Father’s heart regarding masculinity and femininity” (p. 187).  What vision of the masculine or feminine can you share that is reflective of being made in the image of God? How can you celebrate those reflections with each gender?

  • Read “Celebrate Movement” (p. 101). Take some time to think about what you can celebrate about your own or the other person's (mentor or mentee) movement and growth. Be prepared to share next time you meet.

 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.  Search through these scriptures looking for insights about what God considers beautiful or worth celebrating (they are separated into two categories but look for the overlap between them!).    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.

Celebration:

  • Mark 14:6

  • Luke 1:46-55

  • Luke 15:23-24

  • Acts 8:4-8 &16:31-34

  • Psalm 65

  • Isaiah 52:7-10

Beauty

  • I Samuel 16

  • Psalm 27:4

  • Proverbs 31:30

  • Ecclesiastes 3:11

  • Matthew 23:27

  • I Peter 3:3-5

  • Revelation 21:22-27

bottom of page