Encounter Through The Wider Church
March 22, 2026
God is not limited to one place, one style, or one community. Again and again, we discover that God is already at work beyond what is familiar to us, inviting us to see, listen, and learn. This week, we explore how encountering faith in others can deepen and expand our own.
READ
Acts 10:34–48
Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him."
REFLECT
1. When you encounter expressions of faith that feel unfamiliar or uncomfortable, what rises up in you first—curiosity, resistance, comparison, judgment? Why?
2. In what ways has your understanding of God been shaped by a limited set of voices or experiences? What does it look like for that understanding to be expanded?
3. What assumptions do you carry about other churches or traditions, and how are these assumptions shaping you?
RESPOND
1. Attend worship service at another church (or even your own), linger after the service. Notice who talks to whom, what people value, and where connection happens.
2. Sit next to, talk with, or reach out to someone whose background, age, or perspective is different from yours, even within your own church.
3. Send a simple message: “Hey, I’ve been thinking about how God works in different communities—how have you seen God show up lately?”