Listen to Podcast - https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210612-shalom
 
This week Keegan spoke about Peace as part of the Fruit of the Spirit. Here is the message. The discussion questions are:

1. If you were to describe peace as explored in the Scripture, how would you explain it.
2. List three things that you have been thankful for in the past fifteen months.
3. Where do you see peace?

Podcast Audio - https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210605-joy-explained

 This past Saturday Greg spoke about Joy.
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Main Verse: John 16:16-24 NIV 16 Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.” 17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.” 19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him about this, so he said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me’? 20 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. 21 A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. 22 So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. 23 In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
 
Discussion Questions:
1. Describe a time this week when you felt happy.
2. How have you over come a personal struggle?
3. What is a something that you are looking forward to in the next year?

We have been talking about being a church on mission.  The gifting's of the Holy Spirit. Today we are celebrating the day that the church became the church. 
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Main Verse:
Acts 2:1-17,41

Listen to the podcast - https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210522-in-the-last-days

Discussion Questions:
1. Why is it important to remember that we don't work for God with just our own abilities?
2. What do you think about the phrase experiencing the Holy Spirit was both extraordinary and ordinary?
3. The speaker in the video said we need another Pentecost. What do you feel when you hear that?
 
Here is what I am asking.  Would you take 10 days in the two weeks to pray specifically about what God has for us as a community.  What he wants us to do as a community. 
You can devote 10 minutes or 10 hours a day.  I feel at this time that we don’t need to try create, another Pentecost but that we prepare for another one.  Opening ourselves up to the direction and power of the Holy Spirit. 
Here is the direction of prayer that I would like to encourage you to do with me. 
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Monday May 24 – Take time sit silently with God.  Ask God what do you like about me?
Tuesday May 25 – Pray for those who are suffering directly from Covid-19 in our province.  Pray for healing, recovery, wisdom to act safely, and protection.
Wednesday May 26 – Ask God to examine your heart and to point out anything that needs to be removed.
Thursday May 27 – Pray that God will help the people you don’t like or that you are mad at.  Proclaim forgiveness where possible. 
Friday May 28 – Pray for friends or family who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.
 
Each day we will be posting a prayer video on our social media platforms and our YouTube channel. 

Listen to the podcast
https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210515-spirit-infused-intuition\

We wrap up our series Being APEST. We have looked at 4 of the 5 gifts as listed in Ephesians 4.

Greg and Dave have a discussion about Spirit Infused Intuition - The Prophet.

Group Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever had a prompting to check in on someone?
2. How can we encourage the gifting of the Prophets in our Converge Community?
3. Do you have any other questions, about the Prophet that you would like to ask?

Ephesians 4
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

We're continuing our series called Being APEST.
Greg is speaking on the role of the "Teacher".
Main Verse: Ephesians 4: 11-13 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
 
Discussion Questions:
1. Based on your pervious knowledge and poll questions would you say that you have the gifting of a teacher?
2. What makes teachers so important in God's Family?
3. What are some of the difficulties that those with the giftings of a teacher encounter?
 
We also watched this video as a community before the recording started.
We did reference it in the message.
 
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/what-is-bible
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We're continuing our series called Being APEST.
Matt is speaking on the role of the "Shepherd".
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Main Verse:
Ephesians 4: 11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Discussion Questions:
1. Other than the paid pastor position, what roles might someone with a Shepherd gifting do particularly well in the church.
2. Given what we have been talking about (what makes up a Shepherd), when was a time that you took on the role of a shepherd? Explain.
3. Given the strengths, community, and personal focus of the Shepherd, how might a Shepherd go about creating community during Covid19?

Podcast: https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210424-shepherding-the-shepherds

Right from the very beginning the work of God’s people confused and amazed those who observed from the outside. 

Ephesians 4
Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
 
Here is the scenario – after an 18 month worldwide health crisis, a small community focused church is wanting to rebuild the sense of community that has been lost through the difficulties of the last year and a half.  
Based on what you know of the initiator – apostolic giftings.  How would someone with these giftings propose to address rebuilding the sense and practices of community.  Assuming that health restrictions are no longer in place.
Follow Up question – How could those with the other giftings ensure that these initiatives truly rebuild the community to carry out the mission of Christ.  Use the giftings that you think apply to you.  If you are the intuitive one, how does your intuition/hearing from God help the community.  If you are the inviter, what would you need to know in order to invite others.  If you are the includer, what needs to happen to rebuild a community or caring and inclusion.  If you are the information person, what do you need to know and what do we need to communicate about practicing meaningful community together.
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Listen to the Podcast
https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210417-the-initiator-the-apostle

Easter recognizes that time when through his death, resurrection and accension to heaven that Jesus broke the oppressive power that sin and death held over all people and began the restoration of his kingdom. 

Jesus Has Risen
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. 
The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Discussion Questions

1. What does the story of the Resurrection of Jesus mean to you?
2. Why do you think that the leaders tried to cover up the story of Jesus Resurrection?
3. Why do you think that Jesus last instructions to his followers was to spread the Good News of Salvation?

Listen to Podcast of Message - https://podpoint.com/converge-winnipeg/20210403-he-is-risen