Focus 3|Revisioning Expression
Civilization, culture, and society are the canvas of expression, but what do you do with all the expression around you?
Consider this ice breaker question to get started.
What is the best thing you have bought so far this year?
What is the best thing you have bought so far this year?
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.
Tap on the words "Focus 3" in the image below to read this Spotlight's summary.
Review and see where “expression” fits.
Do you feel like you have a clear definition of civilization, culture, and society at this point in the series?
If not, can you identify what’s unclear and share it with your group? (Someone else probably has the same question!)
If not, can you identify what’s unclear and share it with your group? (Someone else probably has the same question!)
Find “expression” in these verses.
When Christianity’s first major missionary, Paul, was showing God to philosophical Greeks, he said this:
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Acts 17:24–28
Discuss this question with your group: Can you identify what words here speak to the purpose of human expression?
When Christianity’s first major missionary, Paul, was showing God to philosophical Greeks, he said this:
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
Acts 17:24–28
Discuss this question with your group: Can you identify what words here speak to the purpose of human expression?
Welcome Perspective
Civilization, culture and society assist expression.
Civilization, culture and society assist expression.
Name some ways God has expressed himself throughout history.
Throughout the Bible, God shows himself in various ways to people. How many can you think of?
Submit your answer(s) using the link below or QR code.
+ SHARE AN ANSWER
Consider everyone’s submissions to this question below.
https://www.mentimeter.com/embed/c6a43257ff5a649f6866d648e1209c1e/051fe8fabc40
Have each person in your group choose two of the ways (from the list above) that God has shown himself historically and share what they think God was trying to communicate with that version of self-expression.
Throughout the Bible, God shows himself in various ways to people. How many can you think of?
Submit your answer(s) using the link below or QR code.
+ SHARE AN ANSWER
Consider everyone’s submissions to this question below.
https://www.mentimeter.com/embed/c6a43257ff5a649f6866d648e1209c1e/051fe8fabc40
Have each person in your group choose two of the ways (from the list above) that God has shown himself historically and share what they think God was trying to communicate with that version of self-expression.
Be honest about why you need God’s expression of himself.
The prophet Elijah was exhausted. After squaring off with the prophets of the false god, Baal, and seeing God do amazing things to prove he was greater than Baal, Isaiah still found himself on the run.
Find yourself in Elijah’s shoes by reading his story here (from chapter 19 of the book of 1 Kings):
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
Discuss these questions with those in your group.
The prophet Elijah was exhausted. After squaring off with the prophets of the false god, Baal, and seeing God do amazing things to prove he was greater than Baal, Isaiah still found himself on the run.
Find yourself in Elijah’s shoes by reading his story here (from chapter 19 of the book of 1 Kings):
Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.
And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
Discuss these questions with those in your group.
- Elijah experienced an expression of God. How did God use that expression of himself to answer Elijah’s need?
- Have there been times when you’ve felt like Elijah—exhausted, confused, alone, and scared? How would “God in a whisper” feel to you at that moment?
Enjoy God’s expression with this song.
With their song “Captivate Us,” Watermark invites you to ask God to show himself and all of us to respond with admiration.
With their song “Captivate Us,” Watermark invites you to ask God to show himself and all of us to respond with admiration.
Lyrics from Captivate Us by Watermark
Your face is beautiful,
and your eyes are like the stars.
Your gentle hands have healing,
there, inside the scars.
Your loving arms, they draw me near,
and your smile, it brings me peace.
Draw me closer, oh, my Lord—
draw me closer, Lord, to thee.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence falling down.
And, rushing river, draw us nearer.
Holy fountain, consume us with you.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.
Your voice is powerful,
and your words are radiant, bright.
In your breath and shadow,
I will come close and abide.
You whisper love and life divine,
and your fellowship is free.
Draw me closer, oh, my Lord—
draw me closer, Lord, to thee.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence falling down.
And, rushing river, draw us nearer.
Holy fountain, consume us with you.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.
And let ev’rything be lost in the shadows
of the light of your face,
and let ev’ry chain be broken from me
as I’m bound in your grace.
For your yoke is easy, your burden is light—
you’re full of wisdom, pow’r, and might—
and ev’ry eye will see you.
And captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence falling down.
And, rushing river, draw us nearer.
Holy fountain, consume us with you.
And captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.
Captivate us,
Lord Jesus,
with you—
captivate us.
Your face is beautiful,
and your eyes are like the stars.
Your gentle hands have healing,
there, inside the scars.
Your loving arms, they draw me near,
and your smile, it brings me peace.
Draw me closer, oh, my Lord—
draw me closer, Lord, to thee.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence falling down.
And, rushing river, draw us nearer.
Holy fountain, consume us with you.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.
Your voice is powerful,
and your words are radiant, bright.
In your breath and shadow,
I will come close and abide.
You whisper love and life divine,
and your fellowship is free.
Draw me closer, oh, my Lord—
draw me closer, Lord, to thee.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence falling down.
And, rushing river, draw us nearer.
Holy fountain, consume us with you.
Captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.
And let ev’rything be lost in the shadows
of the light of your face,
and let ev’ry chain be broken from me
as I’m bound in your grace.
For your yoke is easy, your burden is light—
you’re full of wisdom, pow’r, and might—
and ev’ry eye will see you.
And captivate us, Lord Jesus, set our eyes on you.
Devastate us with your presence falling down.
And, rushing river, draw us nearer.
Holy fountain, consume us with you.
And captivate us, Lord Jesus, with you.
Captivate us,
Lord Jesus,
with you—
captivate us.
Read and consider this quote before moving on to the Learn section.
Worship Perspective
God expresses himself to us—and he wants you to express yourself to him.
God expresses himself to us—and he wants you to express yourself to him.
Let’s dive into your society’s expression of itself.
Prior to the words he spoke before the Greek’s in the Areopagus, Paul drew a conclusion from the ways he saw the people expressing themselves—specifically, from their idols. Here’s what he said:
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
Acts 17:22–23
Explore stock photo trends to help identify the thoughts and feelings of your society.
Click the button below and scroll through the “15 Most Popular Stock Photo Ideas.” While you do, ask yourself the following three questions:
+ STOCK PHOTO IDEAS
Prior to the words he spoke before the Greek’s in the Areopagus, Paul drew a conclusion from the ways he saw the people expressing themselves—specifically, from their idols. Here’s what he said:
“People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
Acts 17:22–23
Explore stock photo trends to help identify the thoughts and feelings of your society.
Click the button below and scroll through the “15 Most Popular Stock Photo Ideas.” While you do, ask yourself the following three questions:
- Where have you seen this kind of stock imagery used?
- What larger desire does this kind of photo tap into?
- Does that imply something healthy or unhealthy to you?
+ STOCK PHOTO IDEAS
Explore your own expression.
The Atlantic Ocean surges its way into a rental beach house in Avon, N.C., on Sept. 22, 2020. Hurricane Teddy was spinning just off the coast, causing higher than normal tides and tidal surges that were inundating low-lying homes and rental properties.
Consider recent images that have been engaging for you.
The modern eye is constantly bombarded by images—in marketing, in media, in art, in leisure—and screens have made the image what the written word once was.
Your own expression will reflect both who you are and where you are—your own personality and that of the societies in which you participate.
Immediately after Paul was in Athens, he went to the city of Corinth and preached there. He would later write to those Corinthians:
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Discuss the following questions based on the above text.
The Atlantic Ocean surges its way into a rental beach house in Avon, N.C., on Sept. 22, 2020. Hurricane Teddy was spinning just off the coast, causing higher than normal tides and tidal surges that were inundating low-lying homes and rental properties.
Consider recent images that have been engaging for you.
The modern eye is constantly bombarded by images—in marketing, in media, in art, in leisure—and screens have made the image what the written word once was.
- Think to yourself: Think of an image you’ve seen recently that was particularly impactful to you. (There are no wrong answers here. It can be from film or the internet or a book or wherever—it can be of anything from anywhere.)
- Share with your group: What image was it and why was it so impactful?
- Ask yourself (and your group): Does your impactful image make sense? Does it match what’s important/interesting to you?
Your own expression will reflect both who you are and where you are—your own personality and that of the societies in which you participate.
Immediately after Paul was in Athens, he went to the city of Corinth and preached there. He would later write to those Corinthians:
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19–23
Discuss the following questions based on the above text.
- According to these verses, how did Paul view his freedom to express himself?
- At first glance, Paul might seem very disingenuous—simply doing whatever people want with no loyalty to who he was. He is not, though. What does he explain that he is being truly loyal and faithful to as he engages people the way he describes in these verses?
- What, therefore, is one valuable aspect of understanding the ways groups of people around you are expressing themselves?
Learn Perspective
People are struggling to explain what they feel. All you have to do is listen.
People are struggling to explain what they feel. All you have to do is listen.
Empower the expression of the people around you.
Have you run into a style of worship you didn’t understand? How about this one:
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,
“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”
So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever”
So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
Joshua 4:1–9
Let’s think this through further—and begin to apply it.
God places no real limit on worshipful expression with the exception of encouraging “good order” and many encouragements to use the Word. Beyond that, you’re free to serve those around you as best you can. This is true of all art because all art is worship in one way or another.
Have you run into a style of worship you didn’t understand? How about this one:
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,
“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”
So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever”
So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
Joshua 4:1–9
Let’s think this through further—and begin to apply it.
God places no real limit on worshipful expression with the exception of encouraging “good order” and many encouragements to use the Word. Beyond that, you’re free to serve those around you as best you can. This is true of all art because all art is worship in one way or another.
- Try this: Imagine the expression of worship that seems most “you.” Write out some bullet points, draw a picture, express it however works best for you. What would you include? Why?
- Now: Get with a partner and share your ideas. Once you’ve shared, talk to your partner about what you think would make a particularly useful and beneficial—a “to the Jews I became like a Jew”—worship expression for the people you know in Seattle.
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.)
(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.
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.
Serve Perspective
Everyone has a posture that’s comfortable—it just might not be yours.
Take time to see what it looks like for them.
Everyone has a posture that’s comfortable—it just might not be yours.
Take time to see what it looks like for them.
See the point of expression: to love.
Lyrics from Nothing/Something by Pat Barrett & Dante Bowe
I could write a melody
that all of heaven’s choir sings,
but if I don’t have love, then it means nothing.
I can spit out some holy word—
something that you’ve never heard,
but if I don’t have love, it means nothing.
If I can’t love my neighbor like I love myself,
if I won’t move when my brother cries out for help,
if I’m too proud to forgive before the sun goes down—
then this life that I’ve been living, what does it mean now?
At best it all means nothing—
without love, it all means nothing.
I can dine with kings and queens,
my name go down in history,
but if I don’t have love, it means nothing.
Take the old and make me new,
Show me how to love like you,
’cause if I don’t have love, it means nothing.
I don’t want to sound like a crashing cymbal—
I don’t want to be some empty noise.
I’m down on my knees, Lord—
I surrender, Jesus—
help me to love with a love like yours.
And then it’ll all mean something—
I want it to all mean something.
And then it’ll all mean something—
I want it to all mean something.
I want to love my neighbor like I love myself.
I want to move when my brother cries out for help.
Don’t want to be too proud to forgive before the sun goes down.
Then this life that I’ve been living, what would it mean now?
At best, it will all mean something—
with love, it all means something.
I hope it all means something—
with love, it will all mean something.
I could write a melody
that all of heaven’s choir sings,
but if I don’t have love, then it means nothing.
I can spit out some holy word—
something that you’ve never heard,
but if I don’t have love, it means nothing.
If I can’t love my neighbor like I love myself,
if I won’t move when my brother cries out for help,
if I’m too proud to forgive before the sun goes down—
then this life that I’ve been living, what does it mean now?
At best it all means nothing—
without love, it all means nothing.
I can dine with kings and queens,
my name go down in history,
but if I don’t have love, it means nothing.
Take the old and make me new,
Show me how to love like you,
’cause if I don’t have love, it means nothing.
I don’t want to sound like a crashing cymbal—
I don’t want to be some empty noise.
I’m down on my knees, Lord—
I surrender, Jesus—
help me to love with a love like yours.
And then it’ll all mean something—
I want it to all mean something.
And then it’ll all mean something—
I want it to all mean something.
I want to love my neighbor like I love myself.
I want to move when my brother cries out for help.
Don’t want to be too proud to forgive before the sun goes down.
Then this life that I’ve been living, what would it mean now?
At best, it will all mean something—
with love, it all means something.
I hope it all means something—
with love, it will all mean something.
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.
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.
Farewell Perspective
Expression is a gift—love from God. Expressing is a gift—love for others.
Expression is a gift—love from God. Expressing is a gift—love for 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.
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.
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