Week Four

XYZ, from Alpha to Omega

U-Z is a famously tricky sequence in A to Zs as we get to some of the less common starting letters in the English language. Luckily we have thousands of years to draw on and were surprised how easily we could fill it. We promise there won’t be any Zebras or Xylophones! (Although if you want to bring in Zebras and Xylophones be our guest...) Join us as we run the gauntlet of the alphabet’s end thinking about how we ourselves factor into the unfolding story of our faith and the relationship we have with Christ — the love that changes everything.
 

Check out our A to Z Resource Pack to see all the letters U to Z.

SEEDS TO SOW: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE VIRTUOUS? *

Read 2 Peter 1: 5-8

V - Virtue. Often in wider society when we think about virtue we think of being overly pious or sanctimonious, ‘holier than thou’. But in our rich theological tradition we can rediscover a sense of virtue — not as a status symbol, but rather as an ongoing process of being shaped by God. Virtue is not an end in itself, rather it is allowing ourselves to be respond to Christ’s compassion to become more compassionate ourselves through discipleship.

Our reading demonstrates a virtuous cycle where good habits help propel us onwards. We are not virtuous in order to achieve God’s love, but out of God’s love we can discover our virtuosity: a desire to model Christ’s compassion for others. What are some virtues and good habits we could do with cultivating, not as an end in themselves to earn God’s love, but to find new ways to thrive in the light of that love?

Read Psalm 139: 13-18

Y - You. This reading is about you! You reading this now! Your very identity, your personhood comes from God and it is a reflection of the very person of God. Personhood cannot exist in isolation, we grow into who we are in the context of our relationships. As disciples we are becoming who we are in the context of our loving God.

What makes you — you? What does God delight in about you do you think?

Read Romans 12: 9-13

Z - Zeal. We’ve made it to the end of the alphabet! And what a word to end on: Zeal is the expression of the energy of the Spirit of God at work in our life. Zeal is not something that you own or can bottle. You can’t just whip up real zeal. It is the contagious, generous work of the Spirit, enthusing and empowering us in the midst of our lives. The root of the word enthusiasm means to be en-spirited, filled with the spirit.

How can love (verses 9-10) and rejoicing, patience and hospitality (verses 11-13) help us to discover a sense of zeal and enthusiasm?

* SEEDS TO SOW: These are open-ended and optional prompts and are designed for people wanting to develop their own resources in response to the themes. Perhaps if you are using this material as a group you could use these prompts to inspire a time of prayer, or drawing, or creative writing? They are a short and sweet, simply a starting off place for you and your imagination. Tailor and develop as suits your group.