The Perch - A New Season, A New Neighborhood, Part 2 | Learning Guide

March 19th, 2023

10:15am I Facebook Live

Watch last week's message here

Title

The Perch - A New Season, A New Neighborhood (Pt 2)​

Text

Philippians 1:3-11 (NET)​

Introduction:​

This Sunday is a continuation of our presentation on March 5th. You'll be able to see the new building where we will be located and we will continue to explore what this will look like as we enter into this new season. Show up at 716 W Sycamore in Fayetteville for the first time pre-renovations at 10:15am.

What Is a Neighborhood Prayer Walk?

A neighborhood prayer walk is not just walking around. It’s not just praying. It’s walking through the neighborhood praying with your eyes and your heart wide open. It’s noticing signs of hope and signs of need, and how God calls you to be present to both. So this Sunday we are going to take a walk and listen closely, pay attention, and pray. We’re going to take time to notice what God is up to.

How Should We Pray?

Pray for discernment – Seek the gift of seeing the community through Christ’s “lens,” and to discern what God is already doing

Place matters to us as apprentices of Jesus for many reasons. First and foremost, as we study Jesus’ life, we see that incarnation is foundational to the nature of God’s love for humanity. The Message version of John 1:14 says it so well, “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood…” People were able to see who God was by rubbing shoulders with Jesus. More than just Jesus’ mere presence, it was his actions that truly transformed the place he was in. By looking at Jesus' example, we can say with confidence that place and presence go hand in hand when it comes to holistic transformation. God’s work in a certain time and place requires God’s people to be present and make space for God’s presence in the world. This is the work of the church. God’s transforming love becomes “so much more tangible and compelling when the local church is actually a part of the community, connected to the struggles of the people and even the land itself."

God has been and continues to be present and moving in the neighborhood we are moving into. Our new neighborhood is filled with diverse people from all walks of life and our goal is to grow relationships with our neighbors– getting to know them right where they are. It is easy for us to put tasks ahead of relationships. Our society teaches us to prioritize efficiency and the “product”. In doing so, building reciprocal and collaborative relationships falls to the wasteside. But Jesus teaches us to be incarnational, to plant ourselves somewhere and to get to know the people there, and let our roots grow deep in our neighborhood. Then we can see the seeds of the kingdom grow. By doing life in this neighborhood, alongside our diverse neighbors, the Spirit will transform our lives and demonstrate God’s love to the world through our relationships.​

Grace and peace y’all,

Betty Wilton and the leadership team

Take Away:

This is an exciting season for us as a church as we move from being nomads to rooting ourselves in a new neighborhood. This is also a season with a lot of change and risk. We know that such big changes are not easy, but they are worth it.

Questions for Table Groups and personal devotions:

• Explore the exercises we did during last Sunday and talk about what you observed about the building and the neighborhood. Identify the businesses and organizations that surround the location. Dream about possible ways we can serve the community as we wait and listen.

• You can also take the scavenger hunt given on Sunday and participate in it virtually or even go with your small group on location to find the items.

Resources

• The Perch Building Plan

What's Next?

Continuing Lent on March 26th at Clapp Auditorium up on Mount Sequoyah.

Contact Grace Church NWA here