June 2026 – Week One
- May 28
- 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 excerpt of Psalm 25 you could pray:
Show us Your ways, Lord. Teach us Your paths. Guide us in Your truth, for You are God our Savior, and our hope is in You all day long. Amen.
Around The Table
This is space during your gathering to share a meal, build relationships, and enjoy one another.
What’s been one point of pain and one point of joy in your past week?
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.
During this gathering, we are going to continue to focus on the section of the Nicene Creed that speaks to the Church:
Read This Portion of The Nicene Creed Aloud Together
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
Read This Aloud Together
What comes to mind when we think about church? For some, it's family, worship, and
belonging. For others, it's disappointment, hurt, or confusion. Jordan’s message challenged us to reconsider our relationship with the church by asking a more important question: What does Jesus think about the church?
The Nicene Creed invites us to confess that we believe in one, holy, universal, and
apostolic church…not because it's perfect, but because it belongs to Jesus. Despite scandals, failures, and hurt, the church continues to thrive globally (perhaps the greatest evidence of God's sustaining grace). We're called to shift from being consumers of church to becoming committed members of God's family.
Unity doesn't mean we agree on everything, but that what unites us in Christ is far greater than our preferences or differences. The early church in Acts 2 devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, and prayer…creating communities so life-giving that the world wanted in. When we practice real forgiveness, interrupt loneliness, and carry one another's burdens, we become the believable people the world is searching for. This isn't about perfection; it's about becoming the church Jesus envisioned: a community marked by sacrificial love.
Read These Scriptures Aloud Together
Leader Note: Invite everyone to underline or circle words in these passages that stand out to them…
Ephesians 4:2-6
"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each
other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the
Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just
as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith,
one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all."
Acts 2:42-47
“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.
A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity - all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
Break Up Into Same-Gendered Small Groups + Discuss:
What stood out to you in the Scriptures we just read? Why?
What comes to mind when you think about church? How have your experiences with the body of Christ shaped your understanding of God’s love, of others, of yourself?
What’s a current ache or desire that you feel as it relates to your commitment to your Ethos family?
As you read verses 2 and 3 of Ephesians 4, what do you feel is the most challenging to actually live out? Where is God inviting you to depend on Him?
In your life in general, what is one burden you feel like you’re carrying and one is one point of celebration/joy?
Practice: Pray For One Another Daily
Throughout the Bible, followers of Jesus are encouraged to commit to praying for one another (ie: Hebrews 10:24-25, Ephesians 6:18, James 5:16, Galatians 6:2, etc).
The practice for this week is simple: pray for one another daily. Pray specifically for those in your Ethos Community…but you are invited to commit to praying for Ethos Church, our leaders, and the global Church at large.
As you commit to praying for both Ethos and the larger body of Christ, you may have days where you feel led to encourage someone…when you have the thought to encourage someone, do it! Let’s spur one another on.
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.