Soul Food series (part seven)
“Living in the Presence of God”
Small group devotion
The purpose of this discussion is to introduce the idea that living in God’s presence is about living with others in community.
Share a moment in which you’ve become very aware of God’s presence. Where/when was it? If you’ve never felt God’s presence, what do you expect it to be like? Where do you look for it?
By way of introduction, you might like to watch this music video (or part of it):
With the music video in mind, read Luke 24:13-29.
I like to imagine that the dancing sign-holder is like the two disciples after Jesus comes among them and tells them the same story but in a different way. Their hearts burn within them and they are filled with this joy and hope.
What might this scripture passage and/or the video tell us about living in God’s presence?
If your Christian faith were like a “Condos Now Selling” sign, how would you be holding it?
Now read Luke 24:30-35.
At what point do the disciples recognise Jesus?
What does this say to you about what it means to live in God’s presence?
What do you think is the significance of Jesus disappearing at this point?
Here is a helpful video. It is aimed at young adults — watch it first to see if you think it would work for your group:
Given the Luke reading and what Susan says on the video, what strikes you? What do you struggle with?
If living in the presence of God cannot be separated from living with and for others, how does that impact the way we live and practice our faith?
Come up with concrete actions of how you can better be aware of God’s presence in your own life.
Leader’s notes:
Sign-holding is a pretty dull job. Often our Christian faith can be a bit like that. We’re expected to stand at the corner and proclaim the good news…only thing is often we really don’t want to! The disciples on the road to Emmaus believed in Jesus but were filled with despair and hopelessness after the crucifixion. Jesus reinterprets scripture to them but this time injects hope and joy — the hearts of the disciples burn within them. I wonder if this is like the sign-holder holding his ordinary “Condos Now Selling” sign but with such life, and joy. This is the effect of living in the presence of the risen Christ — we can’t help but proclaim the good news…and it’s eye catching to all around!!!
The disciples recognise Jesus when he breaks bread. As soon as they recognise him they disappear from his sight. I don’t think this was a “magic trick”. Rather, by disappearing at this point, the disciples were left looking at each other around a table. In other words, we recognise Jesus most profoundly when we break bread with one another, share hospitality together.
Living in the presence of God isn’t something we firstly do as individuals and then as a community. Rather Jesus is recognised firstly around the table in community! As individuals the disciples’ hearts burned within them on the road but they did not recognise him at this point. If living in the presence of God is a communal thing, it profoundly shapes how we practice our faith and how we think of Church. Faith is practiced with and for others. And the Church community is collectively the body of Christ — in which we as individuals participate.