G.W. Bill Elliott, Jr once noted;
The struggle of matterlessness is a noise that surely keeps our hearts from hearing the faint call of God Himself.
Week:
3
Community and Witness
Relationships, testimony, hospitality, and mission. This week explores how faith is formed and expressed in community—through honest relationships, shared stories, and intentional hospitality. It equips participants to give and receive testimony, to practice welcome, and to join God’s mission in ordinary contexts. Emphasis is placed on mutual formation: we grow as we serve and witness together.
Objectives
Encourage everyday witness without a platform.
Learn to evaluate criticism and respond with grace.
Practice listening, hospitality, and testimony.
Reflections
What hospitality step can I take this week?
How do I respond to criticism—defend or discern?
Who needs the witness of my life?
NowTo the HowTo
Accountability/Tracking
Each person invites one non church friend to a low pressure event and reports back.
Community Action
Host a “Pull Up a Chair” gathering—invite three people for a 30 minute conversation about life and faith.
Creative Project
Create a simple invitation card (digital or print) to invite someone to a future group meeting.
Leader Prompt
Teach a 3 step testimony framework (problem, turning point, God’s work) and run a practice round.
Personal Practice
Write a one minute testimony and practice delivering it aloud twice this week.
Devotionals
Jesus' Little Secret
For many years, I wondered why Jesus would tell some of those whom He'd healed NOT to say a word to anyone about it... to keep it a secret... to just be hush-hush about it and go on about their lives. Here are several incidents; Matthew 16:20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ . Matthew 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony...
Our Two Edged Lord
Do you ever find yourself treating God kind of like a Bellhop? Too often, we only communicate with Him when we need Him and/or there is something going on that's just too big for us to handle. We know He's "always there"; we know He's ready to meet with us; we even know we can count on Him. So, it is just too easy to reach out to Him when 'we' need/want Him... you know... like a Bellhop. Psalms 105:4 reminds us; " Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore. ", so we really...
Sheep and Goats Part Company
There are many sayings for dividing things that are commingled; the race of the tortoise and the hare, separation of church and state, mixes like oil and water, even the separating the sheep from the goats. Farmers in fact detest weeds because they can voraciously choke out the good crops around them. In our spiritual world, there are so many variations of spiritualism, religions, and faiths... it is so hard to distinguish some from others, and it seems like some are so very ridiculous and...
Pull Up a Chair
" Pull Up a Chair "... Now that's a phrase that just exudes, 'grab a spot, I've something you'll want to hear'. We seem to naturally do that when our favorite sport game is on, or when you have an opportunity to have an exchange with someone (or a group) who share your hobby interest or passion (finances, politics, music, gardening, etc.). We seem to naturally and eagerly focus our attention, give specific concentration, isolate our thoughts and energy on this 'pull up a chair' topic. Our...
Go It Alone
Personally, I find it so much easier to do things alone. Not all things surely, but certain things like; errand running, project work (yard work, construction, cooking, etc), even just simple down time. Not at all that I favor doing things alone, but coordinating efforts with someone else can add more stress, more uncertainty, and worse more of 'not' getting something done 'my way'. Our devotional today reflects on how God made us to 'not' be so solitude in our lives, to include Him more and...