Sundays at SSCC: Reflections & Recap
Watch the sermon video below if you missed the first week of our "FAMILY FEELS" series or if you would like to revisit the lessons we explored. Pastor Nate explored finding our identity as a family of God.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
In your boundless grace and mercy, you have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. You have adopted us as your own. We stand together, humbly gathered as a testament to your love, as part of your vast global family bonded by faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord, we are grateful for this spiritual family, the Church. May our hearts be knitted closer together, uplifted in spirit, and our faith deepened as we walk together in unity and love. Teach us to embody the love that Christ showed. May we mirror the love that You have shown us.
May our family be a beacon of hope and light in a world longing for connection. Help us welcome others, guide our gatherings with joy, worship sincerely, and reflect divine compassion and wisdom in our actions.
Guide us, O God, in nurturing the bonds of community within Your Church. Help us to support each other in times of need and rejoice with one another in times of joy. May every word and deed glorify Your name and demonstrate the unity and peace found in living as faithful members of the body of Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,
Amen.
In your boundless grace and mercy, you have called us out of darkness into your marvelous light. You have adopted us as your own. We stand together, humbly gathered as a testament to your love, as part of your vast global family bonded by faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord, we are grateful for this spiritual family, the Church. May our hearts be knitted closer together, uplifted in spirit, and our faith deepened as we walk together in unity and love. Teach us to embody the love that Christ showed. May we mirror the love that You have shown us.
May our family be a beacon of hope and light in a world longing for connection. Help us welcome others, guide our gatherings with joy, worship sincerely, and reflect divine compassion and wisdom in our actions.
Guide us, O God, in nurturing the bonds of community within Your Church. Help us to support each other in times of need and rejoice with one another in times of joy. May every word and deed glorify Your name and demonstrate the unity and peace found in living as faithful members of the body of Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,
Amen.
PRIMARY SCRIPTURES
Romans 8:14–17 CEB
All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children.
Galatians 4:4-7 NRSV
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.
All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons and daughters. You didn’t receive a spirit of slavery to lead you back again into fear, but you received a Spirit that shows you are adopted as his children.
Galatians 4:4-7 NRSV
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.
REFLECTIONS & QUESTIONS
- What struggles and behaviors do you exhibit today that were learned or modeled in your childhood?
- Pastor Nate explains that the family of God extends beyond biological ties to encompass spiritual and communal connections. How have you witnessed this in your life?
- Pastor Nate discusses the beauty of being chosen and embraced into God's family through adoption. He highlights that it is not based on our choice but on being chosen. How could this concept impact the way you view God?
- Pastor Nate emphasizes that adoption in God's family gives us a new identity and a sense of belonging, linking identity to adoption. What are some words and phrases you would use to describe your identity?
- Adopted individuals may face challenges in identity formation, differences in physical appearance, biological processing, and feeling disconnected from their biological families. What challenges may we encounter in accepting our adoption into the family of God?
- Pastor Nate describes the spirit of adoption as a welcoming, embracing force that allows for personal growth and confronting fears, whereas the spirit of slavery is fear-based, focusing on not being loved or accepted. How do these differences play out in your life?
- Fears can keep people trapped in cycles of struggle and prevent them from embracing new ideas or changes. What fears are you working on confronting with the help of the Holy Spirit?
SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- The Pax Center Golf Outing: August 23, 2024 - more info at https://thepaxcenter.com/#golf-outing
- State Street Middle School Ministry will kick off again on Wednesday, August 21st!
- The Annual State Street Fall Event is on Sunday, September 8th. This year, we'll be meeting at the Brighton Street Green Space.
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