Highlight Reel – Week 1 Discussion Guide
There are 168 hours in each week, and we get to spend ONE of those learning and worshipping together as a community, but we want to give you the tools to carry this into your daily life.
Use the following guide to dive deeper into Ryan’s teaching, and have discussion with those you do life with. You can do that all week in a Growth Group or Mission Team, with your Few, or over in our Digital Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/OLHendo).
Open:
Share the full story behind one of your own “highlight reels” that didn’t quite tell the whole story. Bonus points if you can share a photo or video, too!
Exploring the Text:
Ryan walked through the entire “meta-narrative” of the Bible. This is basically a 30,000 foot view of the bigger, unified story the entire Bible is telling us. Most of the time, we take closer looks at individual stories that make up this larger story, but sometimes it is useful to take a step back and see the much larger picture.
- What stood out most to you from Ryan’s overview of the entire Bible?
- What specific story in the Bible, whether Ryan mentioned it or not, really stands out to you as illustrating this idea of “community” happening between the highlights?
- Watch this short illustration of the overarching story of the Bible: https://youtu.be/7_CGP-12AE0
Exploring the Teaching:
- According to research, 61% of people 18-25 -or- mothers of young children report feeling lonely frequently or almost always. How does this statistic make you feel?
- Have you ever felt this loneliness amidst so much “connection” around you?
- Ryan posed that community provides three key things in our lives. They are:
- A bigger story to belong to
- A purposeful role to play
- An environment to learn and grow
Which of these most resonates with you? Why?
Practical Application:
There are three practical ways you can work toward building authentic community in your life that can lead to radical belonging, restorative hope, and Jesus-centered transformation. They are:
- Invest Time
- Invest Resources
- Invest in Others’ Highlight Reels
- How can you be more intentional with using your time to get to know people in your immediate surroundings, whether at work, church, or elsewhere?
- In what areas could you invest your resources to help meet the needs of others?
- Who’s one person whose “highlight reel” you could begin investing in by simply being there with them when the highlights happen?
- In what practical ways can you be more intentional about starting to invest or expanding your investment in each of these areas?
Reflect:
According to Luke, the author of the book of Acts, the very first expression of the Church was incredibly innovative.
“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:41-42, ESV)
What do you think may be the next innovation of Christ-centered community that multiplies radical belonging, restorative hope, and Jesus-centered transformation in our city and beyond?
Challenge:
Take one small step toward investing your time in community this week. Arrive a few minutes early or stay a few minutes late during service or your Group this week to meet someone new or get to know someone more deeply.
While you’re at it, post a photo of you and your new or closer friend to add to each of your highlight reels.