April 2026 – Week Two
- 4 days ago
- 3 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:
Holy Spirit, help me to live an open life, willing to be seen and known, willing to be challenged and freed, unafraid 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 has been a point of joy and a point of pain in your last few weeks?
How did you experience God through reading Ephesians 1:1-14? What did you sense God speaking to you? What stood out? What are some questions you have?
Learning: God as Father
Read This Aloud Together
As we continue in our series, What is a Christian? Rediscovering the Faith We Didn't Invent as a church, we are going to continue our exploration of the Nicene Creed within our Ethos Communities.
Tonight, we are going to focus on the next line of the Nicene Creed: “the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, visible and invisible.
Read The Nicene Creed Aloud Together
Opening Discussion Questions
How do you relate to God as your Heavenly Father? Do you tend to see God more as distant authority or present Father?
Why do you think “Father” is one of the primary ways God chooses to reveal Himself?
Watch: Who is the Father? (7 minutes)
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you most from the video? What part made sense, and what still feels confusing?
What does it mean that the Father is the source within the Trinity…but still equal with the Son and Spirit?
What would it look like to actually trust God as a good Father, not just believe it intellectually? Where in your life right now is it hard to trust God’s care or provision?
Watch: Did Father, Son, and Spirit create the world? (7 minutes)
Discussion Questions
This video references Genesis 1, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Hebrews 1:3, and Ephesians 4:6. Let’s read these quickly together. What stands out to you in these texts?
Christopher Holmes mentions how although God is the Creator, He did not create evil. How do you make sense of this? What remaining questions or tensions do you have with this topic?
Practice: Sitting with God as your Father
As Jordan talked about on Sunday, Our image of God shapes: how we pray, how we obey, how we handle suffering, how we understand authority and trust, etc. A distorted view of God produces distorted faith. The focus of this practice is to see God as He truly is — a perfect, loving Father.
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.
Reflect
Take some time to consider the following questions with God, asking Him to search you and know your heart (Psalm 139).
What comes to mind when I think of God as my Father? Which image of God do I default to: distant, demanding, or dependable?
Where do I resist God’s authority in my life?
Reflect on areas where trusting God feels difficult.
Talk
Now, talk to God like a child to a parent. You can speak silently or aloud.
Thank Him for the ways He has loved and cared for you.
Confess the ways you’ve doubted or felt distant from Him.
Ask Him for guidance, strength, or healing where you need it.
Listen
Sit quietly and notice any words, images, or feelings God might give you. Remind yourself: He is near, He is caring, and He is fully present in your life. “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:13)
End By Praying Romans 8:15
“So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Optional Practice: The Esau McCaulley Podcast: How Do Father Wounds Impact Our View of God?
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, There is no greater prayer than yours — make us one as you are one, in devotion, in living, in love. Amen.