Signs and Truths

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, “What images come to your mind when it comes to someone in prison?

Group Dialogue (Approximately 30 minutes). Read Matthew 11:2-11.

John the Baptist appears again in our readings, but where was he this time? He was in prison. “When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing . . .” (Matthew 11:2).]

What did John ask Jesus through the disciples? ["Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" (Matthew 11:3).]

John’s question may have been a heartfelt prayer about the Messiah and John’s desire to know if the Messiah was among them. Do you think John’s question showed doubt or something else?

The Preaching Notes for December 14 say, “Jesus doesn’t ask us to close our eyes to the realities of the world. We are not, as Christians, asked to live blindly, hunkered down against the storm that rages all around us. No, Jesus says, “Open your eyes.” Open them wide enough to really see, to see truth.”

• Look deeper, look around you, and reflect on your experiences. Share your reflections. Do you see Jesus among us? How?

Where was Jesus in your life this week? How can God use you to show the great things God does for us each day?

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:

Gracious and loving God, we come to you asking your Holy Spirit to grant us eyes that can see you, ears to hear you, and hearts to feel your presence among us, even amid conflict, war, injustice, and the many horrible realities that can distract us from finding you. God, guide us to share the joy, hope, peace, and love that only you can provide to those around us.

Rev. Rosedanny Ortiz serves as the senior pastor at Agape Memorial United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. She is a local pastor in The United Methodist Church (UMC) with a master of divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) and a bachelor of computer engineering from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez. Rosedanny is passionate about racial justice, finding new ways to connect with the community, promoting unity and diversity, and working toward creating a multicultural space for all to worship the God of all. You can learn more about Rosedanny and her ministry through her blog, More Faith (morefaithblog.com).