The Advent season was a time to be frank before God in our waiting. We begin this year with a focus on who we are as followers of Jesus. In this two part series, we’ll walk through the book of Matthew as written in the First Nations Version. In part one we’ll focus on who Jesus is as Wisdom - as teacher - and how his teachings inform our identity and the rhythms of our lives. In part two, during Lent, we wrestle with the shadows, becoming familiar with discomfort - grief, lament, struggle, making meaning through storytelling.
WEEK BY WEEK:
FINDING IDENTITY IN WISDOM
January 7: Hybrid Brunch Gathering with Series Intro and Stories of Togetherness (in lieu of a January Community Conversation)
January 14: Matthew (1.1-17) 2.1-9 - Genealogy + Seekers of Wisdom/Jesus
January 21: Matthew 5.13-20 - Salt and Light and Fulfilling the Sacred Teachings
January 28: Matthew 5.21-25 - You Have Heard it Said, But I Say: Part 1
February 4: Matthew 5:43-48 - You Have Heard it Said, But I Say: Part 2
February 11: Matthew 7.1-11 - Seeing Others Clearly + Keep Dancing Your Prayers
WRESTLING WITH THE SHADOWS
Ash Wednesday February 14 - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
February 18: Matthew 16.1-12 - Signs of the Times. Is Your Faith So Small?
February 25: Matthew 17.1-13 - He Talks to the Ancestors
March 3: Matthew 18.15-22 - A Family Member Wrongs You
March 10: Matthew 23.1-39 - Bad Spiritual Leaders
March 17: Mathew 26:57-68 - You Have Said So, But I Tell You
March 24 (Palm Sunday): Matthew 21 - Coming to You in a Humble Way
Good Friday March 29th - Matthew 27:33-66
March 31 (Easter Sunday): Matthew 28 - The Sun Began to Rise
DISCUSSION PROMPTS:
-As you explore the book of Matthew, what is capturing your attention? What have you noticed as new?
-Wonder together. What is the Spirit revealing to you about identifying as a follower of Jesus? How is wisdom speaking to you/us?
-What spiritual practice might you be invited to as you seek Wisdom in this season? Experiment. Choose just one practice and commit to consistently engaging in it for one month. If the experiment fails, try something else. Listen, learn, grow, be gracious with yourself and those around you.
-What does it look like for you to keep dancing your prayers this week?
-As you journey with Jesus toward the cross, what pieces of faith and identity - particularly the shadows - are you wrestling with?
-What rhythms do you notice emerging in your faith journey? What do you need from God and/or those around you right now?
RESOURCES:
Sacred Self-Care by Chanequa Walker-Barnes
Finding Meaning by David Kessler
First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament
Trinity’s Guide to Lent
Good Friday Supper
Reclaiming my Theology - Lent Guide
SEASONAL SMALL GROUPS:
In conjunction with the sermon series, Trinity Seasonal Small Groups in the winter of 2024 will form around Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves by Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes. If you need assistance in acquiring a copy, please contact your group’s host. Please contact the group host for more details and to generally RSVP.
Fishers - Monday lunch hour (12-1pm) Zoom, starting January 22
Midtown/Downtown - Wednesday evenings 6:30-8:00pm, Starting January 24
Queer Affinity - Thursdays 7-8:30pm, starting January 25
Broad Ripple - Thursdays 6-7:30pm with pitch-in dinner, starting January 25