Large Group - Maturity and the Rag Program

Hi CCFers,

In our final Large Group of term, we will be talking about Christian maturity. To contextualize this conversation, we will examine a “coming-of-age” program (called the YMCA Rag Program) involving different stages that one will encounter as a maturing Christian.  In the early 1990s CCF adopted the Rag Program and modified it slightly to suit the needs of our fellowship (although, like many things we do, it is a purely optional program designed only as a tool and a framework for personal growth as a Christian). Through the lens of the Rag Program, we will examine seven different ‘steps’ of growth to maturity as a Christian and emulating Jesus more and more (although, again, there are clearly other ways of thinking about it!). Jonathan Gardner, a CCF alumnus will be joining us to share his perspective on “The Rag.”

May you know faith, hope, and love,

Peter

P.S. Here are the discussion topics:

1. Do all mature Christians look the same? Recall our discussions of 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 and Ephesians 4:1-6. Are unity and uniformity different?

2. The Rag Program divides up the path to maturity into seven different colors, with each step building on the lessons learned and growth in the early steps. The ‘goal’ of dividing it into different steps is to allow one to focus on particular areas of growth. My personal experience (and of many ‘Raggers’ I have talked to) is that this works. In general, for each step, one chooses a mentor (someone who has already taken the challenge to grow in the ways defined by that particular color), and creates 3ish personal goals related to the general theme of the color, and then asks for God’s help to grow generally in the theme of that color and specifically for those personal struggles. As many of us know, asking God to grow us can be quite scary! The mentor is often a good way to start a discipleship and to help guide us as we grow.

The colors (very briefly):

1. Blue, “Leaving.” The general theme can be summed up as making a commitment to Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  That is, to take a first step into devoting your life to God and to trusting Him. What are some of the things that stand in our way of making this commitment?

2. Silver, “Finding.” The theme of the Silver Rag is to commit to finding out more about who God is—a servant God—and to commit to emulate him, as well as to finding out more about who you yourself are. Philippians 2:5-11 and Luke 10:27 touch on this idea. What are some ways we can understand who God is (scripture, prayer?)? How can we better understand who we are (perhaps in community with others?)?

3. Brown, “Service.” The commitment to the brown rag is the commitment to grow in service and the building of a servant’s heart. Matthew 25:34-36 and 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 introduce these concepts nicely. In what ways can we serve individually, as a group? How can we develop and grow a servant’s heart (maybe asking God, or choosing to act in a particular way even when we don’t feel like it)?

4. Gold, “Understanding.” The gold rag is the commitment to take service to an even deeper level, more than just providing for the general needs that we all have. This commitment is to grow to a level of understanding of those around you that you can serve them personally and know how to build them up, even when they are different than you. Ephesians 4:29 and 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 generally describe the commitment of the gold rag. How can we put ourselves in someone else’s shoes; how can we love one another personally?

5. Red, “Sacrifice.” Taking the red rag means that you are committing to sacrifice of your time, talents, and personal will and to submit fully to God. This is a hefty commitment. The challenge of the red rag is well summed up in Isaiah 6:8 and Matthew 26:39.

6. Purple, “Deepening.” For n raggers, there exist > n+1descriptions of the purple rag. To me, the mood of Psalm 139 comes closest to capturing the feeling of the purple rag, that of deepening in understanding of the five commitments that have come before the commitment to the purple rag.

7. White, “Standing (A Lifetime Commitment to Christian Service).” Ephesians 6:13, “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” The white rag is the commitment to be a disciple of Jesus, through-and-through, that to be a Christian is the defining characteristic of who you are.

Large group - Leadership

Hi CCFers,

This week we will be talking about leadership, looking at both biblical examples and thinking about leadership in CCF (including a brief introduction about how leaders are chosen next term).  First and foremost, we must remember that we serve a servant God who, though He is master of the universe, humbles himself to die for us.

May you know faith, hope, and love,

Peter

P.S. I have attached this week’s discussion questions below:

1. Our God is a servant God. How does Jesus call us to lead (Matthew 20:25-28)? See also Philippians 2:5-11. What happens when we don’t lead as servants?

2. 1 Samuel 8:1-22. Start with 1 Samuel 8:3-5; is there an extra special responsibility to walk in God’s ways as a leader? Compare how Samuel’s sons acted with the way Daniel (who also has much power) acts in Daniel 2:27-28 and Daniel 2:46-47. Now continue on in 1 Samuel: what does God say to Samuel in 1 Samuel 8:6-8? What is the importance of this? Samuel warns the people in 1 Samuel 8:10-18 (if you’re familiar with 1 and 2 Kings, did this happen?); now consider the state of the world, or simply the USA. How does it compare with Samuel’s warning?  In 1 Samuel 8:19 the people ask to be like all the other nations. How does this compare with Matthew 20:25-28?

3. What happens when we don’t listen to God (as leaders)? See 1 Samuel 15:26; see also Ezekiel 34:1-16. How can we be good stewards of leadership and listen to God and walk in His ways (hint: think back to previous Large Groups)? Perhaps Proverbs 11:14 is helpful?

4. Nehemiah 5:1-18. How does Nehemiah help the poor?  Is he firm? Do you think that the nobles liked hearing what he was saying? Now, zoom in on Nehemiah 5:17-18. Nehemiah gives up many things that are his right as governor. But he still has some ‘perks’ (i.e. he still has food made for him every day and wine prepared for him frequently and lots of people come dine at his table). Are there some benefits due to a leader? How much? How little? How does Nehemiah choose what is enough and what is too much?

5. Exodus 18:13-26. Is it okay to delegate? Is it okay not to delegate? In which circumstances? What does this story about Moses tell us? How should one delegate tasks (see Nehemiah 13:13, for example)?

6. Take a look at Hebrews 13:17. Leaders have special responsibility and special obligation to serve; being a leader is not easy (see, e.g., Numbers 11:1-23). What are ways that we can support those who have chosen to take on the burden of service and leadership?

7. Discuss how Family Business Meetings (FBMs) work to pick leaders for CCF.

Large Group - Service

1.  Love. Perhaps one of the best known passages on love is 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. How does love relate to service? Is love a feeling, or an attitude, or a decision, or all of these, or something else? Connect this with Philippians 2:1-4; how does humility fit into the picture (Romans 12:3-21 and 1 Peter 5:6)?

2. Acts 20:32-35, Matthew 25:34-46. Here are some passages about service. How do they relate to love? See an example of Pharisee-ism (Matthew 23:4; especially, “will not lift a finger”). How is service at odds with Pharisee-ism; how are the hearts and attitudes different?

3. Let’s look at faith and works in James 2:14-26. What is the difference between faith and works?  How are they complementary? How does this passage relate to our discussion of the previous questions? What is the attitude behind service?  Does that attitude come naturally?  Can that attitude be built up? How?

4. Here is a poem/prayer about service, from the YMCA Rag Program:

O, Lord, I pray, that from this day
No love of ease
Nor pride prevent my good intent
Not to be pleased, but to please.
This, too, I pray, that from this day
I may not swerve
By foot or hand from Thy command
Not to be served, but to serve.

Is it easy to serve?  How does this poem/prayer make you feel?  Mark 10:43-45 might be encouraging. Whose example do we follow; why do we serve?  Recall what Jesus has done for us (stop and think about it!). As always, where does our strength come from (see Isaiah 40:29-31, Psalm 119:28)? How are ways we can be strengthened to serve (see prayer & scripture: Psalm 1, speech: Proverbs 10:11 & Ephesians 4:29, works: Hebrews 10:24-25). Will being in a community of people living out their faith strengthen us and encourage us (see 1 Thessalonians 3:6)?

5. Discussion about how we (as CCF) want to put this discussion into action.

Large group - The Power of History and Legacy

This week we will split our discussion into two parts, starting with some of the history of CCF and then moving into discussion of the power of history and legacy. As we will discuss this week, the idea of history and roots runs deep in the bible. History brings glory to Jesus, encouragement to us, and helps us to understand each other better.

I am very pleased and encouraged about the community we are developing and the love I see demonstrated in our community. I encourage us to continue more and more! “Brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more,” 1 Thessalonians 4:1. I pray that we will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ daily (2 Peter 3:18).

To Him be the glory and power now and forever.

--Peter

P.S. Here are the discussion points for this week; please take a look at them and feel free to reply-all and start a conversation

1. The bible is predominantly made up of stories; the interactions of human beings with God and each other. A fairly concise example: Nehemiah 9. What is the significance of the fact that God chooses to reveal himself mainly through stories (e.g. the stories of the Old Testament, Acts, Jesus’ parables, etc.)? Consider Psalm 78:4.

2. Is there intrinsic value in understanding our roots and knowing about them?  Why does God bother to tell us about genealogies (e.g. most of Numbers, Matthew 1:1-17)? What does that reveal about the nature of God? (Consider this briefly and then flesh out your thoughts in the next questions).

3. History is instructive, and glorifying to God. Consider Job 8:8-10 and the context of the Book of Job. See also Nehemiah 8:12; why were the people encouraged and joyful?

4. Understanding of history and traditions is encouraging, e.g. Romans 15:4.  See alsoNehemiah 8:12. In what ways have you been encouraged by deeds of the past. Corporate history is also encouraging and glorifying to God, as we see in many of the epistles, and also in 1 Samuel 7:12 and Joshua 4:20-22. What are some of the ebenezers in your life, or in your church community (feel free to ask what ‘ebenezer’ means).

5. Understanding out history and our forefathers helps us to understand ourselves, e.g. Luke6:40. See also 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 and Matthew 16:18.

6. How does our history relate to our present and our future? The idea of continuity and growth: for example, 1 Timothy 4:11-16. This passage also relates to us, as members of CCF, in a very personal way, since for almost 50 years now the rising leaders of CCF have been blessed each year with the laying on of hands by their elders and contemporaries (who are older than us!). And how ought we to grow, persevere, and progress (see 2 Peter3:18)? And what are practical ways we are called to grow (Philippians 1:9 and Hebrews 5:11-6:3, e.g. discernment of good and evil and becoming trained teachers)? How does that growth relate to those who will come after us? Are we called to grow (and will that always be comfortable)? Share about a way in which you have grown.

Large group - Corruption

We are now deep into term, and it is midterms time. We are definitely tired! Not many were able to come to Large Group this past week, and the ones who came were very sleepy. I (and I am sure many others in CCF) have been praying for our perseverance in the face of work, for rest, and for extra energy and good sleep. I want to encourage us in two specific ways:

(1) To remember that Jesus has already won us and that, as long as we hold to our faith in Him, no failure or success on our part has the power to change that.

(2) To seek out the replenishment of prayer, scripture, and the community of other believers so that we can support each other. Stress can lead to isolation, which hurts :/

I hope that Large Group can be a replenishment, also.  So, this week we will again have just a short discussion and then have an activity together that will hopefully refresh us.

I hope to see you at Large Group, and I exhort those of us who are feeling stronger to go and seek out those who are more distressed and tired in order to build them up. (This obviously includes seeking out both Christians and non-Christians to encourage :D).

Love in Christ,

Peter

P.S. This week we will be talking about corruption

corrupt  [kuh-ruhpt] adj.—

1. guilty of dishonest practices, as bribery; lacking integrity; crooked: a corrupt judge.

2. debased in character; depraved; perverted; wicked; evil: a corrupt society.

3. made inferior by errors or alterations, as a text.

4. infected; tainted.

5. decayed; putrid.

2 Peter 2:17-22. Obviously, corruption is bad. Galatians 6. What leads to corruption? What sorts of things can be corrupted? Matthew 6:24 (money), Matthew 23:1-12(respect, power, popularity), Hosea (sex), Luke 18:9-12 (religion, prayer, tithes), etc. (everything except God Himself…). How do we avoid corruption? Maybe prayer, accountability, not walking into temptation, anything else? Matthew 6:13, James 5:16. How do we know our limits and what temptation we can stand against?

Large group: Stewardship pt. 2!

Last week we talked about stewardship of the gifts God gives us. God also gives us material blessing, how do we steward that blessing?

Genesis 1:1, Romans 11:33-36. Everything belongs to God, including us—recall that we belong personally to Jesus (Romans 1:6), who died for us and to whom we owe our lives! Malachi 3:6-12. How do we think about tithing? Are we graciously allowed to keep 90% of the things God gives us to steward, or is God taking 10% of our money? Leviticus 27:30-33, Nehemiah 10:37-39, Leviticus 23, Zechariah 7. Where did the money go in the Old Testament? (Hint: was it to (a) the priests, (b) the house of the Lord, (c) to festivals, or (d) to compassionate gifts to the poor and alien?).  What modern day analogs do our tithes go to; why are these important to fund? Where do taxes figure in (Mark 12:13-17)? Do we give from our net income or our gross income (see, e.g., 2 Chronicles 31:5, what are firstfruits)?

Large group - Stewardship!

Let’s think about stewardship. God gives us gifts to use in service to others. Most importantly, He gave us the ultimate gift: Jesus, to die for our sins, who loves us and is the purpose behind all that we do!  

How do we steward the gifts that God has given us?  This week we will look at stewardship of our own gifts and also a bit about service and leadership (because we will be picking new leadership for CCF at the beginning of next term, and now is a good time to start thinking about whether you will serve through leadership next year).

Additionally, I encourage you to come to the CCF Prayer Meeting this coming Saturday (Feb. 4). It is a place where I learned a lot about my gifts as a Christian through the mentorship of the older folks who watch over CCF.

Finally—our Large Group homework—have we been putting our gifts to good use and stewarding them well? Have we been living out what talk about in Large Group? Have we been inviting friends to join in Christian community? Are we spending time together and growing in love with each other as a community? Are we reaching out to those who are struggling? I encourage us to consider these matters and pray in the Spirit that we might die to ourselves and become more like Jesus every day!

Love in Christ,
Peter

P.S. Potential leadership positions! Email Robb, me, or CCF Council (ccf-council@caltech.edu) with any inquiries!  Also, CCF Council meetings are open to everyone—they are Thursdays at 12:10 just outside the Red Door Café—please stop by if you want :)

President—makes sure things happen in CCF, usually leads council meetings, is spiritual cover for CCF, and takes care of miscellaneous things
Secretary—takes notes at council, is in charge of treasury things, does reimbursements, mostly behind the scenes things
LG Coordinator—leads Large Group (doesn’t have to do it the way I do!)
SG leader—leads a small group (about bible study/worship/service/Veggietales/etc.)
Event Coordinator—Might take on some or all of the following roles:
Retreat Coordinator—plans and does logistics for retreats each term
SG Coordinator—makes sure small groups are happening
Dig-In Dude—organizes a major (day or 2-day (even better!)) bible-study once per term
Turtle prayer coordinator—makes sure someone is there (themselves or a delegate) is at Turtle Pond for prayer every day

Let me know if anyone notices that I forgot a role!

P.P.S. I have attached this week’s discussion prompts; please reply (or reply-all!) to start a discussion if any of these catches your eye.

1.      Let’s start with arguably the best-known parable in the bible about stewardship: the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30 or Luke 19:12-28).

a.       What is the main point of this parable? Who is the master? Who are the servants? What do the bags of money/minas represent?

b.      Things do not go well for the lazy, wicked servant (Matthew 25:26-30); what does this tell us about the kingdom of God?  Notice also that the servant makes excuses (Matthew 25:24-25).  How does the master respond?

c.       Is the reward that the master gives to the diligent servants here on Earth, or something to look forward to in heaven? How does this story fit into the rest of scripture? Perhaps think about the Luke version and the conjunction of Luke 19:26 and 19:27. Consider also Luke 8:16-18 and any other biblical evidence you can think of.

2.      Next let’s think about Ecclesiastes: a book about the meaning of life and toil and labor under the sun (and, of course, about Jesus!) written by King Solomon.

a.       Ecclesiastes has a lot to tell us about the purpose of life, our talents, and our labor, and gives context for how to steward our gifts. (I highly suggest reading it because it’s a good book for young people—our age—who are pondering the purpose of their life.) Let’s start with Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 and Ecclesiastes 3:1-14). Does it make sense to use our talents on ourselves? Will our use of our talents always look the same throughout our lives (the Ecclesiastes 3 passage)?

b.      Now let’s think about “the conclusion of the matter” (Ecclesiastes 12, especially 12:13-14). Compare this with Ecclesiastes 9:9-10. Now, compare this with the parable of the talents! What do Ecclesiastes and this parable have to tell us about stewardship, our talents, and the reward for talents put to good use (e.g. Matthew 25:19-23 and question 1c). Is everything meaningless? (Or only meaningless without God?). How then should we use our talents?

3.      What are our talents? How should we use them? As you read through these callings, consider your personal talents and how you fit in the body of Christ (recall 1 Corinthians 12), and how they might apply to you—I encourage sharing your thoughts with the group you’re in!  God did give you talents and has a plan for you (see Psalm 139:13-16 and Jeremiah 1:5 for encouragement).

a.       Tell others in your group about one of your talents.

b.      Each person (person A) pick one other person (person B) in their group and A tell the group what they see is B’s talent.

c.       Now let’s think about some universal callings.

                                                              i.      The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Does this look the same for everyone? Consider the juxtaposition of Paul (Acts 9:15-16) and the demon-possessed man (Luke 8:38-39).

                                                            ii.      The Greatest Commandments (Luke 22:34-40).

                                                          iii.      The call to persevere (Jude 17-23).

                                                          iv.      Love enemies and be merciful (Luke 6:27-36). Why? See 1 John 4:19.

                                                            v.      There are many others… Are there any on your mind in particular?

d.      Personal callings and prayer. Psalm 1:1-3. How do we know whether we’re doing the right thing? Share about times when God has directed you specifically.

e.       How do we support each other to steward our gifts well? I’m hinting at thinking about topics from previous large groups! :)