Everyone!

Hope you’re well.

Here is this week’s devotion:

Stranger in a Strange Land series (part 7)

“Living in Exile”
Devotional notes

Readings to reflect on throughout the week:

Jeremiah 29:1-9
Titus 3:1-7
John 1:14-18

Next week’s readings:

Jeremiah 46:27-28
Romans 7:14-25
Mark 6:53-56

Personal/group study:

Settle yourself in prayer. If alone, you may like to try just sitting in silence in God’s presence for 5-10 mins. If a group, don’t fill the prayer with lots of words and petitions. Perhaps offer up simple prayers of praise to God.

Check out this short video we showed on Sunday night.

Read Jeremiah 29:1-9

Jeremiah wrote this letter to the people of Israel in exile in Babylon. What strikes you about the letter?

Is this good advice for the church today? Why/why not?

Group: Reflect on the short video. Do you think the church is better suited as the “violinist street busker” or the “influential businessman”? What are positives and negatives of each?

Group: At times the church sees itself and is run as if it is the “influential businessman”. But it is often seen in society more as the “street busker”. How might this reality change the way we operate and be church?

Group/individual: Jordan put forward a warning: avoid a “fairy-tale” or “escapist” Christianity. What do you think he means by this? Does this speak to you?

Group/individual: How can you take concrete action in your life to avoid a “fairy-tale” Christianity? How can you commit more to living in the “real” world?

Group/individual: At the Living Room, we spent some time dreaming what our community could be. Reflect further. How could you as an individual or as a group commit to the Living Room community and to our wider community in Hornby?

Pray alone/together for God’s Spirit to inspire you to be a living hope in your community. Ask for God’s help to commit more to others and to God.

Mp3 of sermon here.

Blessings!

Jordan