This week, we explored Nicodemus’s nighttime encounter with Jesus, reframing his confusion not as a failure of faith, but as a natural response to the mysterious, "rambling" wisdom of a Mystic. We moved past the common, individualistic interpretation of John 3:16 to see it as a call to collective trust in a God who loves the whole world and empowers us to resist the oppressive systems of "empire." Ultimately, the message highlighted that being "born anew" by the Spirit is an ongoing process of becoming fully human—beings made of dirt and "wet with Spirit"—who embody God's kingdom here and now.
Discussion Questions for the Week
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Trust vs. Belief: We often think of "belief" as an intellectual agreement with a set of facts, but the sermon suggests translating it as "trust"—like a "trust fall" with God. How does your daily life change if you view your faith as a physical act of leaning into God rather than just a mental opinion?
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The "Wind" of the Spirit: The Spirit was described as being as close to us as our own breath or the air conditioner blowing on our skin—unpredictable and unharnessable. Where have you felt the Spirit "blowing you in a new direction" lately, especially in ways that surprised you or challenged your existing categories?
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Becoming Fully Human: Quoting Howard Thurman and Luke Powery, we discussed that "we are dirt, wet with Spirit" and that we aren't quite "fully human" yet. In our current world—filled with systemic injustice and the "marks of oppression" in our flesh—what is one practical way our community can help each other become more "whole" and "human" this week?
