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To the Mighty Men and Women of Axis,
The title of this month is Jesus | Now What? For the past eight months we have been studying
the life of Jesus—his birth, death, resurrection, and the time in between. So the question is, Now
what? After Jesus ascends to heaven, what are those he left on earth supposed to be about?
Jesus has conquered sin and death, and with that action he made possible a new kind of
kingdom—a kingdom of hope and love, a kingdom that looks entirely different than the
kingdoms of this world. At the end of John, over and over again Jesus tells his disciples “Do what
I command… love each other.” His desire for the Church is no different. We are to be a place of
hope for the world (week 1), shining light to the poor and oppressed (week 2), humbly loving
each other (week 3), and showing the world the testimony of God’s love for us (week 4). We are
a people commissioned to testify to and resemble the ultimate act of love—the Cross.
In Jesus’ kingdom, the poor are blessed, people don’t hoard wealth, and people lay their lives
down for each other. We are to strive to make this kingdom a reality in our lives and our
communities. This month, be mindful of the contrast between Christ’s kingdom, which we are to
bring about as his body, and the kingdom of this world, which is actively opposing Christ’s
kingdom.
Please incorporate Bring Hope 2010 into every hub gathering this month, as a tangible and
immediate expression of outward pouring love. As a community, we will Reflect Hope in our
discussions and via emailed devotionals, Plant Hope in the Willow Care Center’s newly expanded
gardens, Extend Hope by relating to under‐resourced kids at the Royal Family Kids Camp, and
Fund Hope through an Axis‐wide garage sale which will raise money for House of Hope, an
orphanage in Prague which Axis has partnered with for the last three years.
In Axis, we say that we want to be known by love, live by faith, and bring hope to a broken world.
In the coming months, we’ll try to learn more about ourselves as hope‐bringers and to better live
out this statement as a community. We can’t wait to see how God will continue to craft us in His image.
Amy and Kimberly
WEEK ONE—APRIL ll-l7
JESUS | NOW WHAT?: LOVE WINS.
In the past eight months, we have studied how Jesus lived—the way He served, loved, What’s the Big Idea?
taught, related, healed—and how he chose to die for humanity. But the story doesn’t Christ’s death and
end there. In His resurrection He conquered sin and death and the world changed. So resurrection changed reality
now what? Christ described a new kind of kingdom—a kingdom ruled by hope instead and ushered in a kingdom
of power and status. How does this change how we live? What should the Church— where love and hope prevail
Christ’s body in this world—look like? over power and status.
Truth:
Framing Questions
John 16:5‐7
• What do you think of when you think of a kingdom? … Nevertheless I tell you the
• What comes to mind when you think of the Kingdom of God? truth. It is to your advantage
What Does Scripture Say? (Head) that I go away; for if I do not
• Read John 14:25‐26 and John 16:5‐7. How does this promise change the reality of go away, the Helper will not
the Kingdom of heaven? come to you; but if I depart, I
• Read about the Helper’s arrival in Acts 2:1‐13. will send Him to you.
• How does the Holy Spirit help the disciples to live out the teachings of Jesus? Acts 2:1‐13
… And suddenly there came
Which Means What? (Heart)
a sound from heaven, as of a
• Read Acts 3:6‐10. How are the disciples empowered to bring hope in this story? rushing mighty wind, and it
• How does Peter’s response to the beggar show that the disciples are living in a filled the whole house where
new kind of Kingdom? they were sitting. Then there
• How does this interaction bring hope to the beggar? To the community? appeared to them divided
How Does This Change My Life? (Hands) tongues, as of fire, and one
• Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit guiding you? sat upon each of them. And
• In this story, the beggar was literally strengthened and lifted up. When people’s they were all filled with the
lives intersect with yours, are they lifted up? Holy Spirit ...
• As a community, how can we bring hope to each other and to the people we Acts 3:6‐10
encounter? Then Peter said, “Silver and
• We are all called to bring hope to a broken world, but we are all built differently. gold I do not have, but what I
How has God uniquely designed you to bring hope to the world? do have I give you: In the
name of Jesus Christ of
Stretch Activity Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
This week, we’re beginning our Bring Hope 2010 serving initiative. Over the course of And he took him by the right
the next month, Axis will be sending out a daily devotional email, designed to help you hand and lifted him up, and
Reflect Hope—to reflect on your experience, and to become better at reflecting the immediately his feet and
love of Christ through service. Take some time to sign up for this opportunity, and ankle bones received
spend some time over this next week thinking about how God has designed you to strength… all the people saw
bring light into the dark places. him walking and praising
God.
Details, Details…
• Sign up for the Bring Hope
2010 devotional.
• Plant Hope at the Willow
Gardens this Saturday!
• Check out
generationaxisblog.com for
more details.
WEEK TWO—APRIL l8-24
JESUS | NOW WHAT?: LOVE SERVES
Last week we talked about the Kingdom as a place of hope. Hope for ourselves, and What’s the Big Idea?
hope that we can extend to others through love and truth. Jesus continually invited us Living for the Kingdom of
to bring hope by loving those often overlooked by society, and bringing “good news to God calls us to lay down our
the poor.” own little kingdoms, and
What Does Scripture Say? (Head) serve those less fortunate
than us.
• Read Matthew 25:31‐46. What stands out to you in this passage?
• Why did Jesus tell this story? Truth:
• When Jesus first preached in the Jewish synagogue, he read from Isaiah 61. Read Luke 12:33
Luke 4:16‐21. Why does Jesus say “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your Sell your possessions and
hearing.”? give to the poor. Provide
• How can the church continue to fulfill this scripture? purses for yourselves that
• Why do you think Jesus cares about the poor and oppressed so much? will not wear out, a treasure
in heaven that will not be
Which Means What? (Heart)
exhausted, where no thief
• Jeremiah 22:16 says “ ‘He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all comes near and no moth
went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’ declares the LORD.” So, what destroys.
do we do with this verse? How does loving the poor mean knowing God?
• How often do we think about global poverty, or do anything about the almost 3 Mark 10:21
billion people who live in desperate poverty—living on fewer than two dollars a day? Jesus looked at him and
• How do money and possessions fit into all this? loved him. "One thing you
• It has been said “There is enough for everyone need, but not enough for lack," he said. "Go, sell
everyone’s greed.” Is this true? Do our lifestyles directly relate to others poverty? everything you have and give
• Read Luke 12:33. In a very real sense, we daily choose which kingdom we are to the poor, and you will
investing in—our own little kingdoms, or God’s eternal kingdom. How does how have treasure in heaven.
we use our time, spend our money, invest in people show which kingdom we are Then come, follow me."
living for? Proverbs 19:17
• How does loving the “least of these” fit in to all this? He who is kind to the poor
lends to the LORD, and he
How Does This Change My Life? (Hands)
will reward him for what he
• In your own life, what would it mean for you to really take these commands to
has done.
heart? How would your life look?
• What are some tangible ways you can store up treasures in heaven instead of on James 1:27
earth? Religion that God our Father
• How well do you advocate for the poor and the oppressed? accepts as pure and faultless
is this: to look after orphans
Stretch Activities and widows in their distress
1. Apply this immediately by getting involved in Bring Hope 2010! (See announcements and to keep oneself from
to the right or check out the information page supplied in this packet. being polluted by the world.
2. Take 10 minutes and prayerfully make a list of 10 tangible ways you can show love
Details, Details…
to people this week—things that are above and beyond what you normally do. Take
• Plant Hope at the Willow
care of someone in your life, like your spouse, parents, friends, coworkers, maybe even
Gardens this Saturday!
strangers (for example, pay for the next person in line in a drive‐through or buy a
sandwich for a person who is hungry). Invite God to stretch you and teach you more • Announce details for the
Fund Hope garage sale in
about loving your neighbor this week through these activities.
your quadrant
Need ideas? Here are a few to get you thinking: • Check out
generationaxisblog.com for
• Send your Grandma a card.
more details.
• Take out your co‐worker’s trash.
• Spend 15 minutes praying for someone you have trouble liking.
• Call your parents and thank them for being parents.
• Do your roommate’s chores (as well as your own).
WEEK THREE—APRIL 25-MAY l
JESUS | NOW WHAT?: LOVE SEES
What Does Scripture Say? (Head) What’s the Big Idea?
• It has been said that humility is “an accurate perception of oneself and others.” Do In the Kingdom we are called
you agree, or does this conflict with your thoughts about humility? to a humble love which sees
• Read Philippians 2:3‐4 out loud in your group. What stands out to you in this accurately, so that we can
passage? put others before ourselves
• What does Paul mean by “selfish ambition and vain conceit”? and use our own unique gifts
• From this passage, what should the Church look like? Does today’s church reflect a to strengthen each other.
new kind of kingdom?
• If the Church does look like this, would it really “shine like the stars in the heavens” Truth
as it holds out the word of life? Philippians 2:3‐4
Do nothing out of selfish
Which Means What? (Heart) ambition or vain conceit, but
• How can we be “one in spirit and purpose”? in humility consider others
• Why is it so difficult to “consider others better than ourselves”? Why is it better than yourselves. Each
important? of you should look not only
• How does Jesus’ example of this type of humility show us the ultimate act of love? to your own interests, but
• Read John 15:12‐13. How does this shed light on the conversation? also to the interests of
• How do we do this in a healthy way? Is there an unhealthy way? others.
• Read Romans 12:4‐10. How can knowing our individual gifts help to humbly serve
Luke 22:26
the whole body of Christ, and not just ourselves?
But it is not this way with
• How is this type of Kingdom humility and love seen in Philippians in direct
you, but the one who is the
opposition to the way of the world?
greatest among you must
How Does This Change My Life? (Hands) become like the youngest,
• Are there particular areas of your life you have difficulty exalting others above and the leader like the
yourself in? The workplace? Your marriage? Your roommates? servant.
• Do you know what your gifts are in the body of Christ? Do you use them to serve
John 15:12‐13
the community?
My command is this: Love
• What are ways your hub could grow in looking more like the picture painted in each other as I have loved
Philippians 2:2‐5. How can you start practicing those things?
you. Greater love has no one
than this, that he lay down
Stretch Activity
his life for his friends.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 out loud, slowly to your community. Before you do though, ask
them to pick out one specific aspect of love that stands out to them that may be new Romans 12:10
or difficult. This week try to practice that aspect of love in new ways. Spend some Be devoted to one another in
time discussing what each person chose, and ideas for how to better live that out this brotherly love; give
week. preference to one another in
honor…
Details, Details…
• Announce details for the
Fund Hope garage sale in
your quadrant
• Check out
generationaxisblog.com for
more details.
• Axis Experience: May 7 in
Café Twenty
WEEK FOUR—MAY 9-l5
JESUS | NOW WHAT?: LOVE SPREADS
What Does Scripture Say? (Head) What’s the Big Idea?
• Read Matthew 28:16‐20. Why do you think these are the final instructions Jesus God showed us incredible
gives his disciples before he goes? love, and as His followers we
• Why does the writer of this gospel include that some doubted? should spread that love and
• Why is baptism important? tell others about it.
Which Means What? (Heart) Truth:
• How does Jesus having “authority in heaven and earth” help the disciples in their Matthew 28:18‐20
commission? Why does Jesus tell them this? All authority in heaven and
• How does this give us confidence in the message of the Gospel? on earth has been given to
• What does it mean to be a disciple? me. Therefore go and make
• Here are some verses that address this question. If appropriate, assign people to disciples of all nations,
read each passage and read them all rapid‐fire. baptizing them in the name
John 13:35 (love); 1 John 3:14 (not hating); 1 John 2:15 (loving God) of the Father and of the Son
1 John 1:7 (living in the light); 1 John 3:23‐24 (believing in Jesus/ loving) and of the Holy Spirit, and
1 John 2:3‐6 (obedience); 1 John 5:2‐3 (obedience/ love) teaching them to obey
1 John 2:9 (loving our brethren); 1 John 5:18 (repentance) everything I have
• Does anything surprise you or stand out to you in these verses? commanded you…
• Why does Jesus want His followers to make disciples of all nations? 1 Timothy 2:3‐5
• Read 1 Timothy 2:3‐5. How does this shed light on the discussion? This is good, and pleases God
How Does This Change My Life? (Hands) our Savior, who wants all
men to be saved and to
• How motivated are you to “live on mission?” Do you invite others into this Kingdom
come to a knowledge of the
of Hope?
truth. For there is one God
• How have you been uniquely gifted to help disciple others (mentoring, evangelism,
and one mediator between
teaching bible studies, serving, etc)?
God and men, the man Christ
• Jesus says to the disciples “Surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus, who gave himself as a
Is this still true for us? How does the Holy Spirit fulfill this promise? (See John 14:26‐
ransom for all men—the
27).
testimony given in its proper
• Have you experienced Christ being “with you” in the Holy Spirit?
time.
• Who in your life could you help disciple their journey toward Christ? Who could you
ask to disciple you? John 13:35
By this all men will know that
you are My disciples, if you
have love for one another."
Details, Details…
• Don’t miss next week’s hub
where we’ll be celebrating
what God has done this
year.
• Please invite your leaders
to this year’s Leaders
Celebration on May 27.
WEEK FIVE—MAY l6-22
JESUS | YEAR IN REVIEW
Stay tuned—we’ll be passing out some resources for this last week at the April Conversation on Thursday, April 29.
Please mark your calendars for our Leaders Celebration on Thursday, May 27th!
WEEK ONE: LOVE WINS.
Big Idea: Christ’s death and resurrection changed reality and ushered in a
kingdom where love and hope prevail over power and status.
Matthew 25:31‐46 Luke 12:33
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, Mark 10:21
when did we see You hungry and feed You, or Proverbs 19:17
thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a James 1:27
stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe
You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, Announcements
and come to You?’ And the King will answer and • Plant Hope at the Willow
say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as Gardens this Saturday!
you did it to one of the least of these My • Announce details for the
brethren, you did it to Me.’ Fund Hope garage sale in
your quadrant
• Check out
generationaxisblog.com
for more details.
Q. Notes
• What comes to mind when you think of the Kingdom of
God?
• Read John 14:25‐26 and John 16:5‐7. How does this
promise change the reality of the Kingdom of heaven?
• Read about the Helper’s arrival in Acts 2:1‐13.
• How does the Holy Spirit help the disciples to live out
the teachings of Jesus?
• Read Acts 3:6‐10. How are the disciples empowered to
bring hope in this story?
• How does this interaction bring hope to the beggar? To
the community?
• Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit guiding you?
• In this story, the beggar was literally strengthened and
lifted up. When people’s lives intersect with yours, are
they lifted up?
• As a community, how can we bring hope to each other
and to the people we encounter?
• We are all called to bring hope to a broken world, but
we are all built differently. How has God uniquely
designed you to bring hope to the world?
Q. Notes
• Read Matthew 25:31‐46. What stands out to you in
this passage?
• Why did Jesus tell this story?
• When Jesus first preached in the Jewish synagogue,
he read from Isaiah 61. Read Luke 4:16‐21. Why
does Jesus say “Today this scripture is fulfilled in
your hearing.”?
• Why do you think Jesus cares about the poor and
oppressed so much?
• How often do we think about global poverty, or do
anything about the almost 3 billion people who live
in desperate poverty—living on fewer than two
dollars a day?
• How do money and possessions fit into all this?
• Read Luke 12:33. In a very real sense, we daily
choose which kingdom we are investing in—our own
little kingdoms, or God’s eternal kingdom. How does
how we use our time, spend our money, invest in
people show which kingdom we are living for?
• What are some tangible ways you can store up
treasures in heaven instead of on earth?
• How well do you advocate for the poor and the
oppressed?
WEEK THREE: LOVE SEES
Big Idea: We are called to a humble love which sees accurately, so that we can
put others before ourselves and use our own unique gifts to strengthen each other.
Philippians 2:3‐4 Luke 22:26
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, John 15:12‐13
but in humility consider others better than Romans 12:10
yourselves. Each of you should look not only to
your own interests, but also to the interests of
others.
Announcements
• Announce details for the
Fund Hope garage sale in
your quadrant
• Check out
generationaxisblog.com
for more details.
• Axis Experience: May 7 in
Café Twenty
Matthew 28:18‐20 1 Timothy 2:3‐5
All authority in heaven and on earth has been John 13:35
given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of
all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have Announcements
commanded you… • Don’t miss next week’s
hub where we’ll be
celebrating what God
has done this year.
• Please invite your
leaders to this year’s
Leaders Celebration on
May 27.
Q. Notes
• It has been said that humility is “an accurate
perception of oneself and others.” Do you agree, or
does this conflict with your thoughts about humility?
• Read Philippians 2:3‐4 out loud in your group. What
does Paul mean by “selfish ambition and vain
conceit”?
• From this passage, what should the Church look like?
Does today’s church reflect a new kind of kingdom?
• Why is it so difficult to “consider others better than
ourselves”? Why is it important?
• How does Jesus’ example of this type of humility
show us the ultimate act of love?
• Read John 15:12‐13. How does this shed light on the
conversation? How do we do this in a healthy way?
Is there an unhealthy way?
• Read Romans 12:4‐10. How can knowing our
individual gifts help to humbly serve the whole body
of Christ, and not just ourselves?
• Are there particular areas of your life you have
difficulty exalting others above yourself in? The
workplace? Your marriage? Your roommates?
Q. Notes
• Read Matthew 28:16‐20. Why do you think these
are the final instructions Jesus gives his disciples
before he goes?
• Why does the writer of this gospel include that
some doubted?
• How does Jesus having “authority in heaven and
earth” help the disciples in their commission?
Why does Jesus tell them this?
• How does this give us confidence in the message
of the Gospel?
• What does it mean to be a disciple?
• Why does Jesus want His followers to make
disciples of all nations?
• Read 1 Timothy 2:3‐5. How does this shed light on
the discussion?
• How motivated are you to “live on mission?” Do
you invite others into this Kingdom of Hope?
• How have you been uniquely gifted to help disciple
others (mentoring, evangelism, teaching bible
studies, serving, etc)?