Seven Sacred Spaces – Llandaff Diocese Course
Session 2 – CHAPEL
Why do we do mission?
Why do we go to all the bother and effort of praying, building relationships, looking for opportunities to love and
serve, having conversations, leading people into a relationship with Jesus and accompanying them in a journey of
discipleship?
Why do we not just say – “I’m all right Jack, everyone else can just do what they like”?
What is our motivation?
(3 minutes discussion in pairs then feedback)
Read the following statements, what do they tell us about the motivation for mission?
“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Mission exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is
ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the
redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But
worship abides forever.” ‘Let the Nations Be Glad’ by John Piper
The Church exists by mission, just as fire exists by burning. ‘The Word and the World’ by Emil Brunner (p. 108)
Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever. Westminster Shorter Catechism
(3 mins discussion in pairs and then feedback)
Show and talk through the NEARER DNA graphic
Give out binders and go to last pages –
Where are you on the 1 to 4 scale for CELL (personal prayer), what are you going to try to do to improve in that
area?
Show CHAPEL Video to 5:22
(https://youtu.be/ua5oWW3n2Ls)
Questions to discuss in pairs and then feedback:
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What inspires you from that story?
What challenges you from that story?
A statement was made that said ‘public worship is absolutely vital to our life’. Do you agree with this or not?
What are your reasons?
The parish decided that instead of a group of half a dozen people getting the crib ready they wanted to
involve the whole community. They wanted non-believers to be a part of what the Church was doing. What
are the opportunities and the dangers in this approach?
One of the goals in this venture was to be church where people are. Is this a good idea? If so how might
NEARER do this, where are the opportunities/invitations?
The use of contemporary forms of music and presentation was felt to be a key element, why is this so? What
is the challenge to NEARER in this?
It was said that ‘worship tells us a lot about who we are and our faith journey’. Do you agree with this? What
does the worship that takes place in NEARER say about us?
We were challenged ‘to allow ourselves to be invited into the mystery of God’s love’ and to ‘take a chance
on God’. What might this mean for you and for NEARER?
Show CHAPEL video from 5:22 to end
(https://youtu.be/ua5oWW3n2Ls).
Questions to discuss in pairs and then feedback:
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What inspires you from that story?
What challenges you from that story?
They created a space where they could offer hospitality, make connections, and create opportunities for
non-Church people to be involved. Where are the opportunities for NEARER to do this?
What do you take away as the most important learning from tonight?
What are you going to see differently as a result of tonight.
Go to last pages in binders –
Turn to the last pages in your binders.
Discipleship Wheel - Where are you on the 1 to 4 scale for CHAPEL (worshipping with others), what are you going to
do to try and improve in this area?
Action Planning Wheel – What should NEARER do?