Tell in the Light

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost - Tell in the Light, The Path of the Disciple: Learning to Grow - Revision

Fellowship – Snacks or a Meal (10 minutes with snacks; longer, obviously, if there is a meal).

Gathering Time (5-10 minutes). In pairs or groups of three, have participants answer, “Discuss a time you were faced with a difficult decision and trusted God for an answer. Did anything stop you from following through with the decision?”

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Genesis 21:8-21 and Matthew 10:24-39.

• Who are the people in your life who affirm the best in you? What scriptures let you know how valuable you are to God? In what ways has God affirmed how much God loves you?
• “And God heard the voice of the boy; and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid; for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Come, lift up the boy and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make a great nation of him (Genesis 21:17-18).
  The message from God was, “Don’t be afraid.” What is your natural reaction when you are afraid? Is it fight or flight? What did Hagar do? [She prayed: ‘She lifted up her voice and wept’ (Gen. 21:16).]
• The Preaching Notes say, ‘So, start shouting. “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops” (Matthew 10:27). Jesus tells us that even though we feel that we don’t have all the answers, we can go on as though we do—because we know where the answers are.’ Celebrating before we have the solutions for life’s challenges is not often practiced among Christians. With Matthew’s encouragement, is this something that you find easy or difficult?
• Jesus is talking to the disciples before sending them out in ministry. I imagine that they would have been overwhelmed and unsure that they could fulfill the expectations of their assignment. They were being asked to do the same things as their master; and in their minds, they may have been saying, “Can I really do that?” “So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:31, NRSV). Has there been a time in your life that you have felt unqualified for the task that you have been asked to perform? Are there times in your life when you have felt like an imposter at work or in ministry? What helped you move forward?
• "Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32). Are you prepared to share your faith story? How can our churches help members feel more equipped to share their stories? In your small group, discuss:
  • When fear is present, I grow my faith by …
  • This week, I invested in my discipleship by …
  • My story about the love of God that the world can’t live without is …
  • This week, I shared my relationship with God with …

Prayer (10 minutes). Share prayer requests and respond appropriately.

Sending Forth (2 minutes). End with the following prayer, a similar prayer, or the Lord’s Prayer:

Faithful God, as our lives encounter times of transition and transformation, please deepen our faith so that we are not overwhelmed with fear. Strengthen our faith to give us the patience to wait on your answers for direction and assurance. Teach us to live and love like our Master Teacher, Jesus. Amen.

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Rev. Dr. William T Chaney is the senior pastor of Chesterbrook UMC in the Virginia Annual Conference. He coaches pastors and church leadership teams to grow congregations and start new faith communities.