April 2026 – Week One
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Open In Prayer
Begin by praying together – taking some intentional time to breathe, be still, and invite the Holy Spirit to be with you all as you set aside time to be together.
Below is an optional liturgy you could pray:
Lord, You are holy. You are near. You desire to be with us, and for that we say, thank You. We invite You, Holy Spirit, to form us into people of love. Amen.
Around The Table & Reflect On Last Gathering’s Practice
This is space during your gathering to share a meal, build relationships, and enjoy one another.
What are three words you’d use to describe your week? Why?
How did the know, pray, & serve practice go? What are simple ways God is inviting you into loving those in your sphere of influence?
Learning: Introduction to the Nicene Creed
Read This Aloud Together
Our next Sunday series is entitled: What is a Christian? Rediscovering the Faith We Didn't Invent. Over eight weeks, we’re going to be exploring the Nicene Creed as a means of exploring why we believe what we believe.
Christian faith is not vague spirituality or private opinion, it’s a shared, confessed trust
rooted in God’s revelation…that has been shared for generations throughout church history.
Opening Discussion Questions
What’s something about God that’s always been confusing to you? Or when has He felt hard to understand?
Do you ever think about your faith as something that’s been passed down over time? Does your faith feel like something you’ve received from others, or something you’ve figured out on your own?
Why do you think it was important for early Christians to define what they believed? Do you think doctrine still matters today? Why or why not?
Read This Aloud Together
The Nicene Creed is one of the most famous and influential creeds in the history of the church, because it settled the question of how Christians can worship one God and also claim that this God is three persons.
It was also the first creed to obtain universal authority in the church, and it improved the language of the Apostles’ Creed by including more specific statements about the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit.
The central reason for why the early Church felt the need to develop the Nicene Creed was the question: how can we worship Jesus and worship the Father (who we know is different from Jesus) and still claim to be monotheists who worship one true God?
The fact that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are just as much God as the Father is a nonnegotiable part of Christianity…and the Nicene Creed encapsulates what Scripture says about that relationship and acknowledges the mystery of it.
If the early Christians had lost their nerve and conceded the “lesser divinity” of Jesus, whatever that might mean, then the work of God in Christ for our salvation would have been rendered meaningless. No mere man, nor half god, could possibly intervene to save fallen and sinful humanity, let alone restore all of creation. Only the Creator can enter creation to fix its brokenness and redeem its original, latent purpose.
*Optional (if more historical background information is desired): Video #1 OR Article #1: What is the story behind the Council of Nicaea?
Read The Nicene Creed Aloud Together
Watch: What does it mean for the Trinity to be one? (7 minutes)
Tonight we’re going to focus on the first line of the Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God” and explore the doctrine of the Trinity.
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you most from the video? What part made sense, and what still feels confusing?
Do you tend to relate more to God as Father, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit? Why?
Watch: Does the Trinity work inseparably? (8 minutes)
Discussion Questions
The Trinity shows unity and distinction. Why do you think both are important?
What do you think it says about God that He exists in perfect relationship within Himself? How might this shape the way we think about community or the body of Christ at large?
Practice: Engage in Lectio Divina with Ephesians 1:1-14
Breathe
Begin by becoming aware of God’s presence. If you can, sit in a comfortable, but upright position, where you can breathe deeply. Relax your body and feel the ground beneath you. Begin to take some deep, slow breaths to quiet your mind. The first goal is to come to stillness; to let all the distractions fall away and to begin to open your heart to the voice of God. Pray for the Spirit of Jesus to come and meet you.
Read Ephesians 1:1-14
Read the passage slowly, paying close attention to what stands out to you and what you sense the Spirit is highlighting to your mind or heart. “Chew” on it. Re-read the passages a few more times and reflect on those words or ideas.
Encounter/Pray
Turn what you are hearing into a prayer back to God.
Contemplate
Spend a few minutes sitting in God’s presence to reflect on and enjoy his love and attention. Let this be a slow, unhurried portion of your day. Try to give it at least 20 to 30 minutes.
Then, reflect on these questions:
What does this passage show me about who God is?
What do you notice about how God works? Where do you see the Father? Where do you see Jesus? Where do you see the Holy Spirit? What are they each doing?
What does this passage show me about how He relates to me?
How does this deepen your trust in Him?
Optional Practice: The Esau McCaulley Podcast: Did the Early Church Believe Jesus was God?
Suggested Resources:
Books:
The Trinity: An Introduction by Scott R. Swain
Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith by Michael Reeves
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading by Eugene Peterson
Podcasts:
End in Prayer
Before you conclude, spend some time as a Community praying for one another.
Below is an optional liturgy you could pray:
Lord Jesus, may we receive you personally through your holy Scriptures. May we read not only with our minds, but also with our hearts. May we seek relationship more than information. May we allow ourselves to be wholly shaped by every word. May we discover the joy and beauty of meeting you here. Amen.