In the us...you...them/them...you...us progression, if you're at the point where you’re thinking about the “connection” concept, you’re doing well. It's a good place to be.
This is getting exciting, and it’s nice to talk about something positive. You’ve had to think about condemnation and how it marks the exact opposite of God’s dream for you, you’ve thought about confrontation and how it is often done in an anti-loving way, and you’ve thought about connotation and how it insidiously affects you’re disposition toward those you’re called to love.
Think of how far you’ve come if you (and God) have brought a relationship all the way from condemnation to connection!
Sing (or listen to) a song to really get going with this Spotlight’s materials.
To be connected, we have to be close.
James 4:8 | Come near to God and he will come near to you.
Here’s an interesting thing that happens when a person becomes a Christian: while God, on his half of your relationship with him, has done and given everything totally, wholly, perfectly, and completely
(and therefore every person who believes in God can have total confidence in every promise God has made to them)
it still takes time for us, on our half of our relationship with him, to come around to God.
Every person is holding parts of themselves back, and holding God at arm’s length in some way. God doesn’t want to be at arms length. He knows it’s best for us if he isn’t at arms length. He wants to be closer, and he promises that being closer is better. Still, every person is holding part of themselves back.
Every person, that is, except for Jesus.
Jesus fully understood his connection to God his Father. He spoke of it often.
Take 3.5 minutes (the duration of the song that plays if you choose to press the play button in the bottom left corner) to explore several quotes from Jesus about how much he depended on his connection to his father. Read a quote, think about it for a few seconds, and then move on. (You should have about 17 seconds per quote.)
(Note that the use of this module could be done together as a group or an individual could access this on their own device. That's, like, pretty much always the case. These materials are meant to work with modern use of technology.)
The powerful thing about the perfect connection of Jesus to his Father is that he gives it to you. Even though you can’t comprehend it, don’t deserve it, and probably won’t always take full advantage of it, it’s yours… and Jesus goes further. He helps you manage the connection by becoming the connector.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
It’s not uncommon for people to find that when they start applying this idea to parts of their lives they’d previously held back from God, they see quickly and clearly how good it is to do so.
This doesn’t mean everything suddenly goes perfectly. This isn’t a Christian Hallmark movie. Whether things are pleasant or difficult, having God closer is always better.
If you’re doing this Spotlight in a group and have a story about this happening in your life, consider sharing it with your group.
If willing, please also put your story in the form below.
(Again, some people are going to naturally gravitate toward filling something like this out on their own, on their own device, even during the group's use of these materials. Consider allowing for that shift in your group's dynamic.)
With all that being said, let’s pray for nearness with this video.
Keep the prayer going with this song.
Closer Than a Brother by Josh Garrels addresses God directly and praises him for always staying close enough to carry every burden to the cross.
Let’s learn more about the relationship between something good (connection) and something even better (combination.)
This difference is actually commonly discussed in the business world - they just use slightly different terminology. Business books & gurus typically talk about cooperation (where this series uses connection) and collaboration (where this series uses combination.)
This makes sense! The business world is focused on getting work done by operating and laboring, while God’s kingdom is focused on the people - connecting them to one another and combining them through unity.
Watch this video to see how the business terms (cooperation & collaboration) are distinguished.
With that video in mind, discuss these two questions at the same time:
What do you see as differences between “cooperation” (the corporate term) and “connection” (this series’ term)?
If, for the sake of this series, the “connection” piece is defined as “noticing and paying attention to the positive intersections between people,” what distinctions do you think exist between “connection” and “combination”?
The uniquenesses of combination are the focus of the next and final Spotlight of this series.
How do we make the most of our connections?
It starts by paying attention to them and making sure we don’t suffer from missed connections. It might be true that there are more connection points in your life than you think.
Watch this retelling, by our friend Pastor Kent, of a story in which the early Christians were failing to notice some of their connections.
Let’s think about missed connections.
Considering the connections you might be taking for granted is an example of “not holding back” part of your life from God - specifically, your relationships.
See how highly Jesus places human relationships in this brief exchange:
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
Mark 12:28-31
Jesus wasn’t even asked about the second greatest commandment. He wanted to include it. So should we.
To do this, take a few moments to make a list of people, identifying one unique person for each of the bullets below.
(And hold onto this list so you can use it a little further down.)
One person you know is lonely from quarantine.
One person you often see around holidays that you won’t see this year.
One person you see regularly whose whose name you should probably know - but you just haven’t got around to it yet.
One person you have keep meaning to forge a stronger relationship with but, you know, life.
One person you have a fairly strong connection with that, in retrospect, is surprising. (An unlikely connection.)
One person you believe you could help.
Now go through the list and mark each person with the letters S (for stranger), A (for acquaintance), or R (for relationship.)
Let’s put radical listening to work again this week.
Start by reviewing Radical Listening through this video…which honestly requires radical listening to pay attention from start to finish. (But it’s a great summary!)
(You may have seen this video in a previous Spotlight.)
Last Spotlight, you were asked to find and radically listen to at least three minutes of content you knew you wouldn’t agree with.
Share with your group how that went. If somebody chose to listen to something you agree with, that’s OK. This part is not about viewpoints, it’s about connection points.
Today, you have the opportunity to combine Radical Listening with Missed Connections. Select one of the people on the list you made just a moment ago, and put on your calendar a time to connect with them this week.
When you do, ask how they’re doing and resolve to listen radically.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
James 1:19-20
To answer before listening—
that is folly and shame.Proverbs 18:13
For the rest of the people on your list, consider for yourself: What could be accomplished if you invested 10 minutes into each of those potential connections this week?
Submit a prayer request.
Feel free to share your prayer request using the link below (which opens in a new tab).
Note: Prayer requests can be confidential (please indicate so!) and go directly to Pastor Garrett's email. Those requests that you indicate as public could appear on next week's online Small Group material.
Close out by Listening and praying.
Follow the presentation to pray through the hymn Brothers, Sisters, Let Us Gladly.
(Also, if anyone wants to share a prayer request with their group, allow for that.)
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
(2 Corinthians 13:14)
