We based core this year around the idea of bringing people together to push their minds and get them to critically think about God and what He wants us to do. We’ve done the Bible study more than anything else, especially with our 9-week reading of Luke. And I think we have somewhat of a home base/recharging feel to core.
I wonder if by covering a bunch of topics lightly, like we do when we read through Luke or cover a new topic each week, we short change each topic not giving it the full weight it deserves and more importantly implicitly say that they don’t deserve more discussion. Obviously we can’t cover every topic in-depth, nor should we. I don’t think it’s very beneficial to discuss at length the signs at the end of the age or what happened at the transfiguration.
Last semester we gave core challenges to try to give opportunities to implement some of the principles we learned about discipleship. But how much focus was on completing the core challenges? How much does there need to be? Obviously we aren’t going for completion just to have number or to even show obedience to the core. Instead, the challenges in essence show willingness to be obedient and make an effort to get closer to God.
What would it look like if we talked about evangelism, for example, then for the rest of the month spent each core (not necessarily Wednesday nights) actually doing evangelism? Or if we talked about servanthood, then we’d spend several weeks serving various people (the girl’s core, campus, NTFB, etc.). Emphasizing that we need to actually DO what we talk about?
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy Two
Later the Master selected seventy and sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he intended to go. He gave them this charge:"What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands. On your way! But be careful—this is hazardous work. You're like lambs in a wolf pack. "Travel light. Comb and toothbrush and no extra luggage. Don't loiter and make small talk with everyone you meet along the way.
"When you enter a home, greet the family, 'Peace.' If your greeting is received, then it's a good place to stay. But if it's not received, take it back and get out. Don't impose yourself.
"Stay at one home, taking your meals there, for a worker deserves three square meals. Don't move from house to house, looking for the best cook in town. When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, 'God's kingdom is right on your doorstep!'
"When you enter a town and are not received, go out in the street and say, 'The only thing we got from you is the dirt on our feet, and we're giving it back. Did you have any idea that God's kingdom was right on your doorstep?'"
What would it look like for our core to adapt this for our campus and do it? Should we have focused on outreach more? If so what would that look like? Do we just feel comfortable resorting to a Bible study?
