"Sharing Hope" Series 2024

By -


“Sharing Hope” Series Summary
So much seems at stake these days amid political tensions, economic and environmental concerns, and a loss of community.  The good news is that Christ offers us hope amid current challenges, such as biblical principles and practical strategies that help us live out the Great Commission.  Join us this fall as we explore how creativity, courage, and joy empower us to share hope with our community and beyond.

Note: This series is grounded in Dr. Mark Teasdale's work on becoming a Great Commission congregation (Teasdale, 2017).  


Sept. 29
CHRIST ABOVE ALL: Christ is not Jesus’ last name but a call to action.  In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus gives the church a mission known as the Great Commission.  Shifting our perspective from "What now?" to "What if?" can open our future to imaginative faith.  What is Christ calling us to do where we are?

Oct. 6
RETREATING FORWARD: Often, we think of mission as going out and doing something, but mission also relies on seeking strength from God.  In Genesis 7:1-4, Noah sought God’s protection for his family and the animals aboard the ark.  Instead of despairing, we can use desperate circumstances as motivation for depending on God.  What helps you turn to God?

Oct. 13
FOLLOWING GOD’S LEAD: Mission does not take place in a vacuum.  It happens in relationships.  In Exodus 4:27-31; 7:14-18, Aaron and Moses fulfill their commission by connecting with both the powerful and those in need.  Who do you stand up for?

Oct. 20
STANDING FIRM: Sometimes we encounter opposition to God’s mission.  In Nehemiah 6:10-14, Tobias and Sanballat tried to intimidate Nehemiah with death threats, but he stood firm in his mission.  How do you respond to naysayers?

Oct. 27
AVOIDING THE EXILE: Sometimes we make God’s mission about us instead of God.  In Jeremiah 20:1-6, a false prophet borrows trouble by promoting alternative facts and a message contrary to God’s truth.  What helps you put God first?

Nov. 3
RECONCILING WITH GOD AND OTHERS: Many of us prefer peace over conflict, but we cannot ignore the pain of broken relationships.  In 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Paul reminds us that we are called to share in God’s ministry of reconciliation, which starts with God and extends to others. How does God relate to imperfect people?

Nov. 10
CELEBRATING: There is nothing wrong with being happy, but for too many people, being a Christian means being a pouty prude.  In Ecclesiastes 9:7-10, the teacher encourages us to celebrate life.  When have you felt full of joy?

Nov. 17
BEING CONSECRATED: No one likes a hypocrite.  The way we conduct ourselves can make us more receptive to God and more credible to others.  But behaving badly can have the opposite effect.  In Leviticus 10:8-11, God’s servants abide by a code of conduct so they can distinguish what is holy and what is not.  What helps you commit to something?

Nov. 24
REVEALING THE SECRET: Most of us like to be in on a secret.  The key to God’s mission lies in the formula that disciples make disciples.  To enact God’s mission, we must seek to grow in our faith, engage in creativity and self-giving, and direct our gifts to God’s mission.  In Ephesians 4:7-8, 11-16, Paul identifies specific roles needed for God’s mission.  What is your gift?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Wholeness of Being" Series 2026

By -
Image
“Wholeness of Being” Series Summary for Eastertide (April 12-May 24) Easter reveals God’s commitment to the wholeness of the world.   T heologian Ilia Delio argues that science and faith are not rivals but essential partners in understanding the mystery of life and God's ongoing work.  She says: “We are one body, and we seek one mind and heart so that the whole may become more whole, more personal and unified in love” ( The Unbearable Wholeness of Being ).   Join us this spring as we explore connections between science and faith for a season of becoming whole so that we can live as agents of love’s unfinished future.  Apr. 12 | Easter 2 - Communion  LOVE IS COMMUNITY: One is the loneliest number, according to the 60s ballad.   In Luke 24:13–35 , Jesus accompanies the disciples to Emmaus and eats with them.   Resurrection is discovered in relationships, not isolation.   Delio argues that, in an evolving universe, Christ is found in communal belongi...
Read more

"Healing Wounds" Series 2026

By -
Image
  “Healing Wounds” Series Summary (Feb. 18-Apr. 5) What do we do with wounds that won’t close—grief that lingers, shame we carry quietly, a world that feels fragile?   In Lent, we will take those questions seriously through an encounter with Jesus, not as a distant savior but as a wounded healer who knows pain firsthand.   Guided by Erik Varden’s Healing Wounds and a medieval devotional prayer by Arnulf of Leuven, we will linger with Christ’s scarred body and discover how God’s love works not by erasing suffering, but by entering it and transforming it.   Each week, we will recommend a different prayer posture.   Join us this Lent for a season of honest prayer and surprising hope as we open ourselves to the promise that what hurts most can become the place where new life begins. Feb. 18 | Ash Wednesday AFFLICTION: We are wounded people living in a wounded world.   In Mark 8:31-35 , Jesus says that following him means taking up a cross rather than chasin...
Read more

“Faith and Film” Series 2026

By -
Image
  “Faith and Film 2026” Series Summary (May 31-June 28) Movies can be modern parables that reveal our deepest longings, struggles, and hopes. They not only reflect who we are, but they can also offer glimpses of God’s presence in our world.   In our annual Faith and Film series, we will explore how some of this year’s Oscar-nominated films speak to the human desire for healing, justice, and reconciliation.   The films that were chosen by Trinity Wilmette members include Hamnet , F1 Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, KPop Demon Hunters .   They reflect the stories that resonate most with our community. Join us in June as we engage these films through the lens of faith, discovering how they challenge, inspire, and point us toward God’s truth.   May 31 | Trinity Sunday HAMNET : In the wake of devastating loss, Agnes and William Shakespeare embody the disorienting, uneven journey of grief. Their story invites us to honor sorrow not as something to rush past, but ...
Read more