Who then can be saved?
If the entire story of the Bible is about God’s redemption of humanity through Jesus, then what does it mean to be “saved”? How does it happen, and what does it do?
Community Practices
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Preparation
Take turns having one person in the community commit to bringing bread and grape juice to share for communion on a given week. If you’re going for authenticity, use matzo (unleavened) bread. But really, any bread that everyone enjoys will do. Your first couple of times taking communion together in community, watch this video together before you take the bread and the cup.
Gather together as a community for dinner as usual, with the bread and the cup on the table alongside the evening meal. Have someone from your community volunteer to lead.
CommunionTo begin the evening meal, the leader will invite everyone to take a piece of bread and a glass of grape juice and will choose one of the following Scriptures to read:
Matthew 26:26–28
Mark 14:22–24
Luke 22:19–20
1 Corinthians 11:23–26
After reading one of the Scriptures, the leader will pray, giving thanks for the body and blood of Jesus. The leader might have everyone take each element individually, reciting the sacramental phrases, “ this is the body of Christ broken for you," and, "this is the blood of Christ shed for you,” before each element. Or, the leader might simply give thanks, then invite the group to eat and drink. With the sacrifice of Jesus in mind, everyone takes the bread and the cup, and then the community meal begins!
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One: Identifying Paradigms
Pray
Gather together as a community in a comfortable setting, then have one person read Titus 3:4-7 and invite the Holy Spirit to guide your time.
Recap
When Christians talk about salvation, what is it that they mean? Is salvation about escaping the fiery punishment of Hell and ensuring that, one day, you’ll get to live a disembodied existence somewhere up in the clouds? Is this achieved in a singular moment, only by saying a specific prayer, or is salvation an ongoing process? And is salvation concerned solely with the future, or does it have any bearing on our lives right now?
Our paradigm for salvation can be shaped by a lot of things–the church we grew up in, the way our family of origin talked about it, the pastors, authors, or Christian influencers we follow online. But how does the Bible actually talk about salvation? How did the people of God talk about it in the Hebrew Scriptures, and what did Jesus have to say?
The reality is that the Scriptures talk about our salvation in the past (God saved you), present (God is saving you), and future (God will save you) tenses. The God of mercy, not in anger but in love, chose to lay himself down for our sake, so that we might enter into a lifelong and eternal covenant relationship with him. Think of this as a marriage between a husband and wife, one that grows and deepens as the years go by. Yes, there was a specific day when the vows were said and the papers were signed, but the marriage is continuous and something that each party has to be very intentional about. Salvation is not achieved by our effort or work, but it is something that, in relationship and partnership with Jesus, we are called to pursue with intention.
Discuss
Take the next 30 minutes to discuss the following questions and prompts. If you don’t have time to discuss them all, feel free to choose the ones you think will be the most engaging or applicable for your community.
What is the earliest paradigm for salvation you can remember holding? Where or how did you learn about this paradigm?
Do you feel like your early paradigm for salvation was biblical? Have you unpacked this paradigm into one that is more based on Scripture? What has that process been like?
If someone were to ask you how you were saved, what would you say? Is there a moment you can point to when you decided to follow Jesus, or has it been a more ongoing process? If there was a moment you can pinpoint, what was that moment like?
Is there more to salvation than you’ve ever considered, or are there lies you’ve been believing about salvation?
How do you think God wants to grow or shift your paradigm for salvation?
Practice
This week, set aside time in your regular rhythm of being with Jesus to read and reflect on what the Scriptures say about salvation through Lectio Divina. This is a form of contemplative prayer that uses the slow, meditative reading of Scripture to hear from God. As you do this, consider the current paradigms you’ve held about salvation, and ask the Spirit if he wants to say anything to you about those. Take note of anything impactful and be ready to share about your experience with your community the next time you meet.
Read the listed Scriptures, and as you do, follow the Lectio Divina steps below.
John 17:3
Romans 6:23
Romans 1:16a
The steps of Lectio Divina:
Read: Slowly and carefully read the text to yourself. Take your time. As you move through the text, pay close attention to what words and ideas draw your attention in unique ways. When your focus is drawn to a particular word or thought, pause momentarily to reflect on it.
Reflect: Upon completing the passage, return to the beginning and read again. On your second time through the text, allow it to connect with you personally. Which words or phrases assume a particular significance in your heart, your season of life, or your relationships? Write these down.
Respond: Talk to God about your experience. If you’re confused, say that. Moved? Express gratitude to God. Upset? Tell him about it. If the text has brought something else to mind, talk to God about that.
Rest: Finish your time by sitting quietly in God’s presence. You might express wonder, awe, gratitude, or praise through words, or you might allow yourself to feel and experience these things in silence before God.
Pray
End by having someone read Revelation 7:9-12 as a prayer over the group.
