Small Group Study - becoming Unbound and Outbound

Becoming Unbound & Outbound 

 Reflecting on the State of the Church
A three-part series for small groups and journaling

Open to Pentecost Mission

1. In his episcopal address on the state of the church, Bishop John Schol called upon the church to be “unbound and outbound.”

    • How would you define unbound and outbound? What Bible stories would you use to illustrate these words?

    • In what ways do you think United Methodism is becoming more unbound and outbound?

    • In what areas would you like to see your church take risks to grow more unbound and outbound?

2. In his state of the church, Bishop Schol described an era of Pentecost ission when Methodist was the fastest-growing denomination in the world, starting, on average, one new church a day, or 15,000 new churches in 50 years, along with colleges, hospitals and service institutions.

    • In your opinion, what might inspire the churches of the Baltimore-Washington
Conference to come together more effectively in this same spirit of Pentecost-mission?

    • In what ways might your congregation become more like the Acts 2 community that gave birth to the Pentecost mission?

    • Where in your community and in the broader world is the presence of the church most needed? How might you take a first step to launch an initiative that addresses this need?

3. The Baltimore-Washington Conference is growing missions, growing disciples, growing spiritual leaders and growing congregations. Look through the bishop’s address at the variety of examples of growth in these areas.

     • Which do you find most compelling? Why?

     • In the address, the stories come from a vast array of churches that are large and small; rural, urban and suburban; reflecting a diversity of age, culture and income. If Bishop Schol were to spotlight your church in next year’s state of the church address, which ministry would you like noted? How can you build upon that ministry in the coming year to make it reflect all the possibilities inherent in congregation and community?

Put God’s Word into action

   In your church:

1. How would you define the state of your church? If you narrow your explanation down to two or three words, what would they be? What words would you use to define your “ideal” church? How do these two sets of words compare?

2. Unbound and outbound churches live deeply into the Discipleship Adventure,
making disciples who:

    • Celebrate in passionate worship,

    • Connect as one through radical hospitality,

    • Develop through intentional faith formation,

    • Serve like Christ in risk-taking mission, and

    • Share God’s extravagant story of grace.

Which of these elements of the Discipleship Adventure is your church most effective at? How might you build on that strength in the coming year? Which element does your church find most challenging? How might you work on that so that you’re living out the fullness of discipleship?

3. “We have the opportunity to rethink who we are and how God is challenging us to be the powerful, redeeming, healing church of Jesus Christ,” Bishop Schol said.

    • Take a moment and rethink your church as a verb, as a place of 10,000 doors that cares as much about Monday through Saturday as it does Sunday. Rethinking church, what’s the first step you’d dare to take?

    • Dream together, rethinking who and what your church could be. Cast a vision. What steps would need to be taken to make that
vision a reality? What are you waiting for?

    In your life

1. “Because of your adventuresome spirit and prayerful determination, our communities and the world reflect more of the Kingdom of God,” Bishop Schol said.

    • How do you believe that your life reflects the Kingdom of God?

    • In what ways would you like to grow to further reflect God’s Kingdom?

2. “The adventure we are on is both exhil-arating and challenging. It has left us breathless and filled with the breath of the Holy Spirit. We have sung and danced and we have struggled and persevered. We laughed and were engaged in forthright conversation. Through it all, God has made us stronger, wiser and more ready to be the church,” said Bishop Schol.

    • Look back over the past year, how has God left you breathless? How have you celebrated, how have you grown stronger? Offer up a short prayer thanking God for his presence in your life and church and prayerfully look ahead to the coming year. What are you anticipating? What is God calling you to be and do in the months ahead?

Delve into Scripture

In his state of the church, Bishop Schol cites the following Scripture passages:

    • John 15:5,8

    • Philipians 1:5

    • Acts 2:42-47

    • Jeremiah 29:11

    • Read these passages together, focusing on how they might relate to the state of your congregation and faith. How is God speaking to you in these passages? Which words resonate? Which words challenge?