4.14.19 - Messy Church (Clare Bubniak; story by Ashley Cox)

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 13; 1 Peter 4:6


The book of Hebrews explains that the “altar” of the New Covenant isn’t in the middle of a holy Temple but outside the city walls, at the foot of Jesus’s cross and in the middle of the “mess” of this world. Likewise, Jesus’s Church isn’t meant to be safe and self-satisfied; it’s called to go where Jesus would go and live as Jesus lives. Our place is in the middle of our world’s “mess,” and our job is to love our neighbors wholly and sacrificially. This is never easy! But if we are going to commit, as a church, to embracing messiness, it’s going to require true compassion, commitment, and confidence in God’s plan to bring his Kingdom here.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

  1. What do you think a “messy church” would look like? How might it be a good (or a bad) thing?

  2. In what ways is Revolution “messy”? Where is our church meeting people where they are instead of expecting them to come to us?

  3. Where aren’t we doing this, and how can we get better at it? How can you or your group help?

  4. Who is God challenging you to not just feel but show more compassion towards?

  5. How would we know if God’s Kingdom was coming to Annapolis? What could we expect to see changing? Do you believe this is something we should be watching out for?

Kenny Camacho