That’s right.. Phase Two begins this coming weekend. If you have any questions about what is involved in this phase, you can get your info right here: https://theorchard.life/returnandrestart/#phasetwo
Aren’t you ready to be back with your brothers and sisters, corporately worshipping together?
Lifegroup Discussion
On Sunday, we talked about our love/hate relationship with our screens. You know… That thing you’re using right now to walk through these discussion questions. How did you feel about that? Can you relate? How have screens been helpful/hurtful to you in recent months?
When you think about technology, do you perceive it as something good, or something bad? What shapes your perception?
As we’ve gone through these last few months, our screens have undoubtedly been useful to us, helping us stay connected to some degree to each other, right? So why do we get so frustrated with them?
The author of Hebrews spends several chapters showing how Jesus is better than everything. He’s better than Moses, Abraham, Melchizedek, and even the Old Covenant itself. He is the best.
Maybe today, we would say that Jesus is better than Amazon, or Netflix. Jesus is better than Fox News. Jesus is better than America. How much better is Jesus? Why?
Here is what the Author of Hebrews says:
And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19-22
Why is this better than all the other things that we can identify with?
So what should our response to him be, according to Hebrews?
Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 10:23-25
Why do you think the author of Hebrews emphasizes meeting together with one another?
Great tools like FaceTime or Zoom sure to make meeting together possible during a pandemic, but is it a good, permanent substitution for the real thing? Why or why not?
When is a time your faith was encouraged or bolstered by being with others?