From Distance to Presence
James 1:22-25, 2:1-8, 14-17
Jonathan Nolasco, Mission & Outreach Associate Director, jonathann@churchbcc.org
James warns us about what distance can do to harm our relationships and our faith. But the love of Jesus delivers us from the harms of distance and empowers us to be a community of loving presence.
In our text today we will see how disciples of Jesus can offer a more clear and faithful reflection of His life within us by saying yes to three invitations:
- Dangers of Distance
- Delivering Love
- Chaplains of Presence
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Discussion Questions
Before questions, attempt to give the group a bit of a summary of the main points of the sermon and then choose a few questions that fit your group’s needs and style. We don’t intend for you to use all of these. Three to five questions may be a good number.
- What was your go-to snack as a child?
- In the same way listening and doing belong together, faith and embodied works belong together in the life of Christian disciples. How have you experienced the tension between claims in faith and embodiment of the same faith? (See James 2:14-17)
- How would you think about yourself if those around you either treated you as if you were invisible or a burden on society?
- What would you think about God and how he saw you as a result of that?
- Take a moment to reflect silently on the questions, “is my own faith dead? Am I someone who only listens to God’s word but doesn’t really do what it says?” Write down a prayer of lament. Option to share your laments aloud or as prayer partners.
- In what ways has learning (or consuming content) actually undermined faith and served as a cover for a shallow commitment to following Jesus? (Consider examples from history, personal life, community)
- As we begin to reconnect in person with friends and family, discuss as a group, who are we leaving out?
- How might our future regathering reflect the values of the Kingdom of Jesus vs/ those of the rest of the world?
- Are we just going to return to our old habits of social distancing from the poor and the marginalized?
- What does it look like to be a community that embodies a different way of living?
- How do you practice a love that is not only proximate to our neighbors, but a love that confronts their exclusion, welcomes them into community, seeks their deliverance, and is empowered by God’s Spirit, his loving presence?
- Chaplains of Presence” is a great way to describe the calling of every Christian.
- How can you be a Chaplain of Presence in every space you inhabit? What practices would we need to do that?