And so began Mike's journey - a journey that led him to the darkest corners of America as well as deeper into his own faith. We begin this book discussion with a look at the first two chapters of Under the Overpass.
Chapter One gives us a glimpse of the internal journey that led to the beginning of Mike's endeavor to live with (and as) the homeless - to really strive to understand. Beginning with a challenge from the preacher, "Be the Christian you say you are," the foundation of Mike's work came from an honest appraisal of his own life and "report card" as a Christian. He reflects on the ease with which he drove past the "least of these" on his everyday journey, the hypocrisy in his own life, the intellectualization of faith that had not yet led him into action. And then it came.
The Holy Spirit like lightning struck. In scripture we can read of the Spirit coming as fire, or a rush of wind - Mike refers to the flicker of lightning. He doesn't call it the Holy Spirit, but the calling had every element of the Spirit's call. Not just an idea, but a picture that came with that idea, and then more ideas that supported the initial desire, and finally, confirmation from others, many of whom from which Mike expected the opposite reaction. And so they went, two together, to begin this new journey.
Discussion Questions:
Chapter One gives us a glimpse of the internal journey that led to the beginning of Mike's endeavor to live with (and as) the homeless - to really strive to understand. Beginning with a challenge from the preacher, "Be the Christian you say you are," the foundation of Mike's work came from an honest appraisal of his own life and "report card" as a Christian. He reflects on the ease with which he drove past the "least of these" on his everyday journey, the hypocrisy in his own life, the intellectualization of faith that had not yet led him into action. And then it came.
The Holy Spirit like lightning struck. In scripture we can read of the Spirit coming as fire, or a rush of wind - Mike refers to the flicker of lightning. He doesn't call it the Holy Spirit, but the calling had every element of the Spirit's call. Not just an idea, but a picture that came with that idea, and then more ideas that supported the initial desire, and finally, confirmation from others, many of whom from which Mike expected the opposite reaction. And so they went, two together, to begin this new journey.
Discussion Questions:
- What does it mean to "be the Christian you say you are"?
- Are you honest about your relationship with Christ and his commission to us to be disciples? Where do you succeed? Where do you fall short?
- Where have you heard or felt the calling of the Holy Spirit in your life? What was your reaction?
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