Saints 02: St. Guinefort

Redemption Church KC Sermon Podcast

1. In his sermon today, Tim talked about the ways in which St. Guinefort was embraced as an example of two of Christianity’s core values: cruciformity & solidarity.
Do you have people in your life who exemplify cruciformity and solidarity especially well in your eyes? In what ways do they do say? Why are they such exemplars for you?
In what areas of your life are these two values particularly relevant? In which ways have you moved or do you want to move more toward cruciformity and solidarity in your own life & community?
Brainstorm as a group some specific small (or large) actions you (individually or collectively) could take that will help you to further embody cruciformity and solidarity in your own life.
2. Tim shared a simple formula for helping us to move our lives more toward cruciformity. He listed some examples of status (see slide below for examples list & formula). Once we identify our own places of status, then we need to be intentional about not using or leveraging those advantages for our own self-advancement (as is the “mind of” our culture). But, instead, we are to pursue the “mind of Christ,” following his example of “kenosis,” emptying ourselves and instead engaging those places of status to help lift others in solidarity.
Which advantages from this status list (or otherwise) do you identify in your own life? What do you think it would look like for you pour out, make void, and self-empty in that regard, rather than exploit or leverage your status/advantage/privilege?
Do you think there should be limits to kenosis in your life? If so, how would one determine where they should be? If not, why not? What do you think influences your answer to this specific question?
3. Tim taught about Jesus’ parable of the sheep & the goats (Matthew 25:31-46). He pointed out that in Jesus’ teaching, “those who refuse God’s grace to others they see as unworthy, are themselves unable to receive it.”
In contrast, “those who practice cruciformity & solidarity with the excluded will come alive with a life that is truly life.”
Further, Tim highlighted that Jesus’ call to cruciformity and solidarity includes no litmus test for who is worthy of that inclusion and solidarity, saying “there is no means testing for God’s grace.”
Where are the areas in which you are most tempted to try to apply restrictions to whom “should” be able to receive God’s grace, your solidarity, and/or any other form of inclusion? Why do you think those hesitations or refusals arise in you? Do you feel willing to move toward more cruciform solidarity in those areas? If so, how might you go about that? If not, why not?