Affecting Culture – Welcome to St. Tim

1.Affect or effect? Affect is to produce change, effect is the result of a change. When we affect the world what desired effect do we have in mind?

2. What changes have you seen in the culture over your lifetime? Think of 3 that you view as negative and 3 that you view as positive. Ask God to show you where he has directed the culture and where the culture has turned away.

3. Ask God to show you any places in the life of St. Timothy that have access to the world at large and what take some time to explore that connection. Who is meeting there, what things are we sharing, what are we receiving in return?

4. In what ways do you already influence the culture around you? What ways might God be asking you to affect the culture for him and his kingdom?

5. Advent has now begun! Think back to your younger days and see if you can remember someone that changed the direction of your life in a positive way. As you remember that relationship, pray about your current relationships and how you can honor that person’s memory and work.

6. Just like Jesus did when he was born into this world and lived amongst us, Galatians 6:2 tells us to bear one another’s burdens. How do you see this playing out in our culture today? How does bearing the burdens of others fulfill God’s call to love our neighbor? Spend some time in pray as you discern how you might bear some burdens of those around you.

7. In this time of Advent, spend some time thinking of the reasons you are a part of St. Timothy. Ponder upon ways that we as a church can create those reasons beyond our building and in the community at large.

8. Tonight is Christmas Eve, so imagine that Jesus has finally returned to earth again. How would his arrival affect the culture? What can you do to have our culture reflect that future time right now? Ask God to show you what role you can play. Merry Christmas!

9. This is the final week of discernment to affect our culture. What have you learned over the last two months, and what have you put into practice? Where have you seen God move, and where still needs God’s presence? Spend some time thanking God for all the things he has shown you and for helping you to see how you are affecting the culture for him.