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PREPARATION

Read Scripture and background information. Reflect on the questions in the participant's book. Review links suggested in the lesson outline below.

Train of Thought
Moving a congregation into the new paradigm requires a diversity of leadership styles, gifts, knowledge, and abilities. A systems view ensures that all leaders will work together to maximize the potential for transforming lives.

Desired Outcomes
As a result of this session, participants should be able to:

• Recognize the chaotic feelings that change brings, and understand that God brings order out of chaos.
• Realize that change is not to be feared or resisted, but accepted as a natural part of life.
• Understand that transformation does not come from restructuring the congregation or from starting new ministries. God brings transformation as congregations build relationships, share information, and search for who God calls them to be.

Lesson Supplies

• Posters
• Candle and matches
• Prepare for Bible study by reading the New Interpreter's Bible commentary (or other commentaries) on Acts 28.

EXPLORATION AT GROUP SESSION
Total time: 50 minutes

Light the worship candle as a reminder of God's Presence at all times. God is with us when we meet together, just as God was with the early followers of Jesus we have read about in the book of Acts. There are strong parallels in the final scenes of Acts and Luke. Paul is persecuted and misunderstood by his own people, just as Jesus was persecuted and misunderstood.

Bible Study Focus Verses: Acts 28:17-31
This study leads to fuller understanding of Paul's situation as he understood the implications of a global gospel.

Approach this text with the five questions of an investigative reporter— Who? What? When? Where? How? Make lists and write notes on newsprint of the group discussion for the final question.

Who are the individuals and groups in this passage?
What is happening to each of these individuals and groups?
Where is this happening? Where in the world? Where in the city?
When is this happening in chronological time?
When is it happening in relation to other Christian, Jewish, and Roman events?
How are the events unfolding?

Review the answers and discussion and ask, "What are the implications of a global gospel for our congregation?"

Transition to Our Time
Paul's spiritual strength in the face of opposition has been a model for people for 2000 years. The Reflective Moment Along the Way (page 85 of the Bible study) invites participants to remember who has strengthened them in times of need. Ask, "What role models will help our congregation reach out to people who are the 'gentiles' of our time?"

You can find more information on chaos theory for non-scientists at http://www.mathjmendl.org/chaos/.

DISCOVERY — APPLYING IDEAS TO THE CONGREGATION
Total time: 45 minutes

Discussion Questions (30 minutes)
Chaos theory is an emerging understanding of organizational patterns. God's activity in what appears chaotic to us frees us from the burden of needing to control a cumbersome organizational structure for our church. Click here for book suggestions.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus promises that when we focus attention toward him, our burdens are light. As congregational leaders, the burden of maintaining a church structure is lifted.

Leaders cultivate abilities of balance, poise, rhythm, and playfulness through practice. Click here for more notes and examples. Discuss the questions on page 89.

Discovery Exercise
The discovery exercise introduces insights from Margaret Wheatley (see www.margaretwheatley.com), a teacher who has combined her professional competence in human organizational systems with her lifelong interest in life sciences. Meg Wheatley exercises the principles of a learning leader (see "paradigm thinking" in Session 8) to view the mystery of our world from a larger perspective than her own professional field might suggest. Check out books she has written to learn how she lives with balance, poise, rhythm, and playfulness.

Complete the exercise on page 91 with focus on questions that are most relevant to your congregation.

Feedback & Evaluation (5 minutes)
Ask, "What insights do you have from this session? Are there immediate applications for our congregation?"

Sending Forth (10 minutes)
One way leaders can increase poise is called the breath prayer. In closing, ask participants to pray together the prayer on page 83, then to sit quietly paying attention to their own breathing. They can imagine they are breathing in the peace of God and breathing out the turmoil of chaos. After a few moments of silence, close the session with an "Amen."

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