RhythmDiscipleship Group

Study Guide

Forming Disciples who make Disciples

Meeting Outline (75 Minutes)GATHERING (5 minutes)

• As people gather, allow 4-6 minutes to catch up with one another. PRAYER (2 minutes)

• Open with prayer. Try to start consistently and promptly at 4-6 minutes after the appointed time, to live into the expectation of honoring the group by arriving on time and ready to participate. TEACHING VIDEO (10 minutes)

• Screen the day’s teaching video. (First week only).BIBLE MEDITATION (15 minutes)

• Invite the group to listen to the day’s scripture as it is read and pick out the word or phrase that stands out to them.

• Invite a group member to read the passage slowly and clearly.

• Go around the circle and invite each person to share the word or phrase that stood out to them. At this point, we are only sharing the words, not commenting on why they stood out.

• Invite another member to read the passage a second time. • Go around the circle again, this time inviting each member

to share in one minute how the passage connects with their life today.TEACHING (5 minutes)

• Small group leader wraps up the Bible meditation, sharing a personal example of how the day’s scripture meets their life, or touching on the teaching bullet points given in each lesson. DISCUSS (30 minutes)

• Choose one or more of the discussion questions.LIGHTNING ROUND (5 minutes)

• Reserve 5 minutes at the end of the meeting for each person to share in 30 seconds or less their take-away for the day. CLOSE IN PRAYER (8 minutes)

• Invite people to share any prayer concerns they have.• Close in prayer, using either the written prayer or praying

extemporaneously.

Introduction Much has changed in the two millennia since Jesus called his first disci-ples, but the bedrock of our lives and faith remains the same. We follow the risen Christ who has called to all who would hear, “Follow me.”

Jesus’ followers soon learned that Jesus’ call “Follow me (Mark 1.17)” is always followed by his call “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations . . . (Matthew 28.19)”. This is the life of discipleship: Entering into relationship with Christ and learning to be like him inevitably leads to going forth for him. Disciples disciple others.

Our call is like that of Jesus’ first followers: to go into our families, neighborhoods, and workplaces with new purpose which is found in the kingdom of God. In this post-Christendom time, no longer is the pattern of the church such that clergy carry out the mission of the church on the peoples’ behalf. As Jesus intended from the beginning, every Christian will become a disciple who is equipped to witness to the life of Christ in all the various spheres of his or her life.

Discipleship is following to go. It touches everything of life. And although Christian discipleship is a vast subject and a lifelong process, we stress five core patterns derived from Jesus’ own example:

• Attentiveness• Rhythm• Relationships• Leadership• Mission

All discipleship ultimately is intended to lead to mission, and all mission is deeply dependent on sound discipleship. They are part of the same activity of God in Christ. Our calling and sending are rooted in worship: the mystery and wonder of God’s incarnation, cross, and resurrection life.

This study on Rhythm will help us learn to hear Jesus more clearly and consider how to respond. We are grateful that you are entering into this group and hope that after completing these studies, you might consider also leading a discipleship group.

Contents

Introduction iii

Devotions

1. Learning to Develop a Fruitful Lifestyle 2 2. Jesus Embodies the Created Pattern of Rest & Work 6

3. Jesus’ Promised Blessing as we live into Healthy Rhythm 10 4. Emerging Vision 14

5. God Calls us to Model Healthy Rhythms for Others 18

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1LEARNING TO DEVELOP A FRUITFUL LIFESTYLE THAT EMBODIES HEALTHY

RHYTHMS OF REST AND WORK

God created humans to thrive as we work from our rest

This double activity, this swinging between rest and work – this alone, they say, is truly the life of man; because this alone represents on human levels something of that inex-haustibly rich yet simple life, ‘ever active yet ever at rest,’ which they find in God. When he gets to this, then man has indeed been actualized in his union with Reality…

Evelyn Underhill, Practical Mysticism

The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. Psalm 23: 1-3a

Reading at a Table 1934 | Oil on Canvas | 162.2 cm x 130.5 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Pablo Picasso | 1881-1973

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Opening Prayer O God our heavenly Father, you have blessed us and given us dominion over all the earth: Increase our reverence before the mystery of life; and give us new insight into your pur-poses for the human race, and new wisdom and determination in making provision for its future in accordance with your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For the Future of the Human Race: Book of Common Prayer, p828

Video 1 | Rhythm

Bible Meditation |Genesis 1.26-2.3

Teaching If knowing and trusting in our identity as children of the Father is our first spiritual challenge as a parish, embodying a healthy and holy rhythm for life (or lack thereof) may be second. On the whole, we are an extremely busy people carrying high demands, responsi-bilities and aspirations for success. This session introduces a five-week discussion on 1) the biblical basis, 2) the promised blessings, and 3) the practical development of an intentional rhythm of life.

This introductory session is an opportunity to speak into the chal-lenges of living into a healthy rhythm of life. Group leaders are encouraged to offer some personal stories: What are specific chal-lenges you face regarding rhythm? What are some patterns you’ve developed that honor our God-given need for rest and Sabbath?

Be aware that identity questions are often tied up in our strug-gles with healthy rhythm. “Who I am is bound up in how busy or productive or in-demand I am.” This false vision of fruitful-ness is deeply embedded in our cultural consciousness. However, in Christ, “Who I am” is already given, and we are freed to work out of a place of belovedness and security rather than striving or fear.

In Genesis 1, God created us for two things: Relationship (Cov-enant), and Fruitfulness (Kingdom). How do these realities touch on rest and Sabbath? Note that the first full day of human life (Day

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7) is a day of rest (Genesis 2:2-3). What does this tell us about God’s intentions for our relationship with Him and our fruitfulness?

WE DO NOT REST FROM WORK; WE WORK FROM REST.

Discussion Questions Have the group hear Psalm 23.2-3a: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul. . .”

• Where do we experience green pastures, still waters, restora tion? Bear in mind that these experiences do not happen only in solitude or prayer with God or even only in worship. They are also experienced in time with others, those closest to us.

• What would a healthier DAILY rhythm of life look like? • Are there relationships or patterns of life into which God

might be inviting you as he calls to you, “Follow me” and “Go forth?” How might you fold those relationships or practices into your life in the next two weeks?

• What is one practical step that you might make in the next two weeks to move into a healthier rhythm?

Gather Prayer Concerns

Closing Prayer Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplica-tions of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany: Book of Common Prayer, p215

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2 JESUS EMBODIES THE CREATED PATTERN OF REST AND WORK

A secure sense of identity in Christ allows us to live into healthy rhythms and relationships

The Sabbath is a reminder of the two worlds—this world and the world to come; it is an example of both worlds. For the Sabbath is joy, holiness, and rest; joy is part of this world; holiness and rest are something of the world to come.

Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11.28-30

Chapel of Saint Joseph, Saint Tropez 1904 | Oil on canvas | 59.7 cm x 72.1 cm The Pierre and Maria-Gaetana Matisse Collection, 2002 Henri Matisse | 1869-1954

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Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, th at in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Morning Prayer - Collect for Guidance: Book of Common Prayer, p100

Bible Meditation | John 14.8-17, 25-27

Teaching A secure sense of identity in Christ allows us to live into healthy rhythms, neither overworking nor underperforming, and into healthy relationships, neither over-functioning nor with-drawing. In this session we are invited to examine our rhythms and how we are functioning in our relationships and consider what God might be revealing to us about our identity in Him.

God designed us to be productive. In fact, Jesus promises that with our lives we will do “greater works than these (John 14.12).” However, when we build our identities around our activities we are not living into the truth of who God created us to be. Jesus gives us the promise “My yoke is easy and my burden is light (Matthew 11.30)” yet we continue to pack heavy burdens on our backs.

When we work to rest, rather than rest to work, our work is often driven by fear and striving rather than flowing out of security and clarity of vision. This fear and striving both causes us to overwork, burning ourselves out, and also to swing too hard into rest where we disengage from the relationships and activities that would re-fresh us and give us life.

On the other hand, when our identity rests in what Christ did for us on the cross and the promise that we are loved and accepted by him, we are more able to live in a rhythm of life that allows us to balance being productive with being at rest. We are more able to live in healthy relationships, neither taking on too much responsi-bility for others nor withdrawing. Resting in our identity in Christ

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increasingly allows us the suppleness to be attentive to what the Father and Jesus, through the Spirit, are doing, and to respond, not in our strength and power, but in His. Scripture attests that being caught up in the life and rhythm of the Spirit brings peace, thank-fulness, and rejoicing, even in the midst of suffering. (Philippians 4:4-7)

Discussion questions• Where in your life are you experiencing life in your rhythms

and relationships right now? Why do you think this is the case?

• Where in your life are you experiencing stress or feeling out of balance? How might these be connected to your sense of identity?

• What do you think God is up to in you, and how might you respond? How can this group help with accountability?

Gather Prayer Concerns

Closing Prayer O God, who wonderfully created, and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that we may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our human-ity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Of the Incarnation: Book of Common Prayer, p252

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3 JESUS’ PROMISED BLESSINGS AS WE

LIVE INTO HEALTHY RHYTHMS

We flourish when we allow God to lead us through daily, weekly, seasonal, and annual rhythms of abiding, growth, fruitfulness, and

pruning

No person should spend so much time in contemplation that they ignore the needs of the neighbor. No person should spend so much time absorbed in action that they dispense with contemplation of God.

St. Augustine, City of God

Since the day we heard of your love in the Spirit, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure every-thing with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1.9-14

Redgreen and Violet-Yellow Rhythms 1920 | Oil and ink on cardboard| 37.5cm X 33.7 cm The Berggruen Klee Collection, 1984 Paul Klee | 1879-1940

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Opening Prayer O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immor-tality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen Tuesday in Easter Week: Book of Common Prayer, p223

Bible Meditation | John 15.1-11

Teaching Jesus wants us to flourish. So he invites us into a rhythm of life that swings freely, like a pen-dulum, between rest and work. Or as Jesus calls it in John 15.1-11, between abiding and fruitfulness. Just as vines in a well-tended vineyard live in seasonal rhythms of abid-ing, growth, fruitfulness, and pruning, humans also flourish best when we submit ourselves to daily, weekly, seasonal, and yearly rhythms of abiding, growth, fruitfulness, and pruning.

We start our days and weeks dwelling in Jesus’ love. As we abide, we are drawn afresh into the identity the Father has given us in our baptisms: We are his beloved children with whom he is well-pleased. Starting from this rootedness in God’s promise, we are freed to grow: throughout the day, throughout the week, or throughout this season of our life. Just as in a well-tended vineyard, growth leads naturally to fruitfulness. And a wise gardener prunes his or her vines immediately after they bear fruit – cutting away sick and dead branches, and removing selected healthy branches too. This helps the vine move again into abiding and prepares it for even greater fruitfulness in the next season.

Explore John 15, inviting commentary from the group on the images in the text. In human terms, what is abiding? What is growth? What is fruitfulness? What is pruning? What is Jesus saying about these realities? Where do we see it in action with Jesus?

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Turn to Mark 1. We see that Jesus emerges from his wilderness “abiding” (vv 12-13), engages in extremely active ministry (vv. 14-34), and early the next morning retreats again (vv. 35-36). Jesus’ own ministry models the pattern of abiding, fruitfulness, and a return to abiding.

Discussion Questions• Where in your life are you experiencing particular fruitfulness

right now? Why do you think that is the case? • Where in your life right now do you sense God calling you to

pruning? What might that look like? • How can this group help with accountability?

Gather Prayer Concerns

Closing Prayer O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. Order for Evening Prayer - Prayer for Light: Book of Common Prayer, p110

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EMERGING VISION Vision and discernment emerge from

intentional times committed to Sabbath rest and retreat

Teach us to care and not to care. Teach us to sit still.

T. S. Eliot, Ash Wednesday

Come, behold the works of the Lord; see what desolations he has brought on the earth.

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields with fire.“Be still, and know that I am God! I am exalted among the nations,

I am exalted in the earth.”The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Psalm 46.8-11

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Send Forth your Spirit1974 | Watercolor, gouache, ink, pen, colored pencil on paper| 34 x 24.1 cm Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1995Anselm Kiefer | 1945-

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Opening Prayer Almighty God, who after the creation of the world rested from all your works and sanctified a day of rest for all your creatures: Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties, may be duly prepared for the service of your sanctuary, and that our rest here upon earth may be a preparation for the eternal rest promised to your people in heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Morning Prayer - A Collect for Saturdays: Book of Common Prayer, p99

Bible Meditation | Mark 1.32-39

Teaching Today’s focus deepens conversation from the previous three weeks. We have seen in Genesis 1.27-2.3 how God created humanity to move rhythmically between rest and work, finding energy and vision for the next season of work in the rest that comes prior to it. Jesus’ pattern of resting and working is seen in Mark 1.12-36. His missionary activity emerges out of his retreat with the Father (Mark 1.38). As we rest, we abide with God and reconnect with the Cov-enant he has made with us. With fresh energy and vision, he sends us out to be fruitful co-workers in his Kingdom. Developing a rhythmic quality of life whereby we balance restfulness and work allows us to be most fruitful. We seek to embody the truth that the fruitfulness of the branch is impossible without abiding in the vine (John 15.)

Specifically in this session, we consider how vision and discernment (necessary to “process” Kairos) require intentional times committed to Sabbath rest and retreat.

Focus some time on the theme: Vision for our life and vocation ome to us in times of retreat and rest. Often fresh vision emerges near the end of a period of retreat, just as we are beginning into a new season of growth. The leader is invited to share a story about a time when rest or retreat have brought clarity or fresh vision in his or her own life.

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Discussion Questions• How have these weeks of engagement with rhythm inspired

some new vision for ordering life amont the group? The leader should draw out some specific ‘action and account-ability’ plans from members, if appropriate, encouraging all to develop tangible and ‘doable’ plans for greater rhythm and restfulness.

Gather Prayer Concerns

Closing Prayer Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with thy most gracious favor, and further us with thy continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy Name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For Guidance: Book of Common Prayer, p832

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GOD CALLS US TO MODEL HEALTHY RHYTHMS FOR OTHERS

We impact our families, communities, and workplaces as we live into healthy rhythms and

embolden others to grow into life-giving rhythms, too

The word blessing has come to mean more often than not a pious formality such as ministers are continually be-ing roped into giving at high-school graduations, Rotarian wienie roasts, and the like, and to say, “God bless you” to a person, unless that person happens to have just sneezed, is generally regarded as a pious eccentricity. It was not always so.

In the biblical sense, if you give me your blessing, you irreversibly convey into my life not just something of the beneficent power and vitality of who you are, but some-thing also of the life-giving power of God. Fredederick Buechner, “Blessings” in Beyond Words

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I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who

waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages accord-ing to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working to-

gether; you are God’s field, God’s building 1 Corinthians 3.6-9

The Conversion of Saint Paul c.1391-91 | Tempura on Wood, gold ground | 30.2 x 29.5 cmRobert Lehman Collection, 1975Spinello Aretino (Spinello di Luca Spinelli) | 1345/52 - 1420

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Opening Prayer Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in ask-ing: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. For Labor Day: Book of Common Prayer, p261

Bible Meditation | I Corinthians 4.15-17

Teaching In today’s Bible meditation St. Paul invites the members of the church in Corinth to imitate him as they see him imitating Christ. This is an invitation he offers each church he mentors (see I Corinthians 11.1, Ephesians 5.1, Philippians 3.17, 1 Thessalonians 1.6). He additionally encourages the persecuted church in Thesso-lonica to look to the churches in Judea who also experienced perse-cution, to imitate them (1 Thessalonians 2.14). Paul works on the premise that Christianity is “better caught than taught.” That is, we learn how to live into our new life in Christ from those who disciple us, however imperfectly. And others learn to more closely follow Christ by following our example, however imperfect we feel it is. We are all called to be both apprentices and mentors, one to another. Part of our calling as Christians is to allow others to see our lives so they can imitate what is Christ-like and perhaps offer their own men-toring in those parts of our lives that are less Christ-like.

The leader is invited to briefly share about someone whose life they have imitated and why. Please also share something about the rhythm of your life that others might (or perhaps already do) imitate. These others might include spouses, children, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc. How do the ways you live into healthy rhythms em-bolden others to grow?

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Discussion questions• As you consider your daily, weekly, seasonal, and annual

rhythms of abiding, growth, fruitfulness, and pruning, what might be worthy of imitation by your spouse, children, friends, co-workers, or neighbors? What do you think God is saying about those things?

• Are there particular people God might be calling you to bless through your life rhythms?

Gather Prayer Concerns

Closing Prayer Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. For Social Service: Book of Common Prayer, p260

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