Disorderly Conduct - Politeness is Passing (Focus 3 of 4)

While judgmentalism and shame are to be avoided, finding orderly ways to function together can be helpful to everyone. What makes this “order” good, though, isn’t that it is orderly. It’s that it is considerate.

Chat about this ice breaker question to get started.
When was the last time a restaurant or delivery service got your order wrong? How far off was it?

See what this Spotlight—and series—is focused on.
Tap on the words "Focus 3" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.

Let's talk about God's rules.
Listen to this section when you’re ready to begin today's Spotlight.
(And welcome, by the way! It’s great that you’re here!)

Let's say a prayer together as we dive into this Spotlight.
Lord,
You arranged the universe with order not because you were obsessed with control or power, but because you are obsessed with loving us well. Help us see your order as a method of care.
Amen.

Welcome Perspective
Good order is good when it is a means to show the ways that you care.

Find comfort in God's reason for creating order for you.

Worship Perspective
God turns the tables when they stand between him and the people he loves.

Talk about the difference between orderly and good.
Walk through the concept by following along with what it below. 

Step 1: Learn about a remarkable politeness practice. 
You have 5 minutes to learn about one unique practice from a culture other than your own. Choose one of the ones below or find your own. You’ll then share about the practice you learned by answering the following questions: 

1. Where is this practice from? 
2. What makes it remarkable? 

Japanese Gift Giving: 

Korean Bowing Practices: 

Once you’ve talked through the practices you found, take a minute and reflect with one another: What do you like/appreciate about any of the practices shared?
 
Step 2: Listen to James talk about how we show respect
James 2:1-13
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”  you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”  also said, “You shall not murder.”  If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.
12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

• What version of “bad order” is addressed in these verses? 
• What are the negative results of favoritism according to these verses? 
• What do you think the “law that gives freedom” is? (It might help to think about what the opposite of the law that gives freedom is…)

Step 3: Let mercy triumph over judgment.
(This is hard.)
If what James writes is true, and mercy does, in fact, triumph over judgment, we have a lot of rethinking to do. 
As sin works to re-wire us, we find ourselves believing things that are the opposite of what God says is true. He says “mercy triumphs over judgment.” We tend to think the opposite.  

• Consider James’ example of someone who is poor vs. someone who is rich. What kind of “judgment over mercy” logic have you heard people apply when they’re talking about rich vs poor people? 
• People who buy into “judgment over mercy” thinking are often miffed when they see someone who worked hard not get rewarded and/or someone who didn’t work hard end up with something good. Can you give an example of this? 
• Using the examples that were just given, what might a person who is trying to function as though it really is true, as God says, that “mercy triumphs over judgment” think when they observe what you’ve just described? 

The idea that “mercy triumphs over judgment” isn’t always a simple one to believe, let alone put into practice. Your job as Christians is to work through this together, so you can be a people among whom this is true. How can you encourage each other in this? 

Learn Perspective
God's good order comes when mercy triumphs over judgment among us.

Feel free to submit a prayer request by filling out the below form.
(If you choose to make your request public, you'll see it display in the Current at the end of the Spotlight along with anyone else who did the same.)

Pray through your requests—together—as a group.
After submitting your requests in the above form, take some time to share with your group whatever requests the group might have for this week.

Follow along with this prayer guide with your group.
Follow this simple, written suggestion on how to pray about the prayer requests shared during this Spotlight.

• Gather as a group or individually in a quiet space.
• Take turns sharing your prayer requests or concerns.
• Listen attentively to each person's request and offer support.
• Pray together, lifting up the shared requests to God.
• Spend a moment in personal reflection and individual prayer.
• Close with a prayer, expressing gratitude and seeking God's continued presence.

Serve Perspective
Hospitality seeks to speak universal language when it can.

Let's recap what we have learned in this Spotlight—and series.
Discuss: Are there specific areas in your life where pushing at the expected order could be valuable?

Sing along with (or listen to) this song to close out this Spotlight.'

Feel free to sing along or simply listen. Do what makes you comfortable—but do whatever helps you focus on the song's meaning best.

 1Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth, and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Farewell Perspective
You can love order, but never love order more than you love others.

Let's wrap things up by taking a look at what's Current at Illume.

Tap on the buttons in the frame below to see what’s currently happening at Illume—information on everything from current and upcoming online content to live events and opportunities to serve in the community can all be found here.