Hello lovely Book Club friends! Happy Easter! I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend. ✝
I have to say that “The Last Supper on the Moon” has been more convicting than I thought it would be! It has been a good reminder of all that we gain in Christ because of the cross.
Alright, here are this week’s questions:
Chapter 6 Houston, We Have a Problem
*”The gospel only has one hero, and you are not it” (pg. 105). Do you find yourself in the trap of religion believing you are not the one who needs to be rescued? How does this trap lead to a transactional relationship with God?
*Apollo 13 was considered a success because of how they responded to failure rather than because their mission was accomplished. How can you respond today to any drift that might be happening, or any failure you might have endured?
Chapter 7 Fifteen Seconds to Paradise
*Why is the reality of hell and the cross so important to who God is?
*Do you have a 1202 alarm that is going off? How can you leave margin so that you don’t feel overloaded?
Chapter 8 If Not Me, Another
*Do you feel that you need to shine in your own light, rather than be a reflection of God’s light? What is the difference between the two?
*Levi writes that to conquer our inner space we need to:
- rest content in the fact that we don’t have to do anything to prove ourselves
- lean into the grace in your life
- stop wishing God gave you someone else’s calling
- follow the example of John the Baptist by asserting that “He must increase, and I must decrease”
How do these things help us to shine the light of God into a dark world?
Chapter 9 Out of This World
*“Worship that hurts like hell heals like heaven” (pg. 150). Do you believe that God will grow you through your trials? Have you found that clinging to God through difficult times grows your faith?
*The message written to the church of Smyrna was that Jesus noticed them and knew that they had endured much. However, He encouraged them that “through their pain he was producing something powerful” (pg. 156). Why is it that the church seems to rise and grow from persecution? What hope does that give you for the state of the church now?
Chapter 10 Nine and a Half Fingers
*“There is no more important sound for you to tune your ears to than his voice saying your name” (pg. 172). Is there a particular name God calls you by that is especially endearing to you?
*Jesus says He is both our Shepherd and our door. Why is it critical that He is both of these to us? What does it mean to you to have a Shepherd who is willing to lay His life down for His sheep? Do you believe that Jesus stands in the door of your life so that nothing of harm can reach you?
Chapter 11 Rite of Passage
*Did you go through a rite of passage when you became a teenager or an adult? Do you feel that you have any growing up to still do?
*In Matthew 18:1-5, Jesus tells us to be like little children. What is the difference between being childish and being childlike?
Scripture of the Week
John 10:7, 11
Matthew 5:14-16
Prayer of the Week
Father God, as we celebrate Easter this weekend we thank You for the cross. It is the only way we are saved! We thank You for loving us enough to make a plan for our redemption even though we didn’t deserve it. Help us to remember that You love us so much and we don’t have to work for or perform for Your love. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
For Next Week
*Read Chapters 12-17
It’s frightening how easily religion creeps into relationship. Surprisingly, what is being done can quickly transition from an act of obedience and love to a scheduled, ritualistic, often obligatory deed. And perhaps the worst part is that the focus shifts from the receiver to the “giver.” Suddenly we start thinking we’re so awesome for doing all these things. Pride interjects and we begin believing we need recognition for all the greatness being done (even if those things are basic 🙃).
The transactional relationship mindset seeps in, I believe, because our insecurities flare-up, particularly when we are not in the spotlight. If we give, we recognize we’re not receiving, so we think there’s got to be some “payback” in order for us to be filled again with what was extracted.
Within the last few years God has called out my prideful, religious mindset, helping me see how transactionally-minded I’ve been. As Eugene Peterson stated, as referenced in this book: “the subtlety of sin is that it doesn’t feel like sin when we’re doing it.” (Page 93) Part of the problem, I think, is that we view some sins as more serious than others. We don’t associate all sin being on the same level. The other part of the problem, I believe, is that we think, “Surely, our words and actions have to count for something!” – that God weighs them against our sins and that makes a difference in how He sees us.
Yes, our actions and behaviors matter to God, but it’s not in the “you scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours” kind of way. It comes down to the motive and attitude of the heart. Why are we doing the good we’re doing? Who are we trying to please? God already knows we can’t succeed on our own, so He doesn’t – isn’t – holding this against us. He’s the One who’s perfect and He calls us to follow and walk in His ways. We won’t do it perfectly, but He comes along side of us, allowing us to be transformed.
This transformation, this rebirth, is SO hard! Mostly because we’d rather be the ones transforming ourselves, in our time and on our terms. We want to get the credit; we want to shine on our own. But any light we shine on our own 1) isn’t enough and 2) is tainted because it shows off our flaws. Showing our imperfections, in reality, is a good thing, but coming to the end of ourselves – in a good way – is often painful and takes time.
Just as Levi says that the moon doesn’t shed its own light but reflects the sun’s light, so we too must realize where our true light comes from. And in that realization, we can begin to understand how we, like the moon, don’t have to strain – we just need to reflect the Light. (paraphrased from Page 141) This is when you can start to see how “the responsibility to shine is not yours.” (Page 146) And breathe a sigh of relief that it isn’t!
If I can put it this way: God GIVES us an amazing deal; He doesn’t MAKE a deal with us. All our striving to be perfect, or live life with an “at least a passing grade” mentality can stop. God doesn’t change His mind about us when we give more or less effort; He measures our heart. And a heart given to Him can be transformed…it won’t happen overnight, but little by little, day by day, we can experience the process of being molded by Him.
If “there is less of you that you are willing to allow Him to use” (Page 144), He can’t really do much. I want to be used by God. I want to be ok with my brokenness. I want His light to shine through my broken pieces. And so it starts with me throwing away my flashlight and stepping out into the Son.
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