Intention & (Artificial) Intelligence

Sunday, January 5, 2025

Scriptures: Judges 14-15

• Sermon Summary

  This week, we kicked off a new series, The Art of…and it’s focus will be on building intimacy in our relationships through intention, attention, and risk. In the first message of the series, Jeremy emphasized the importance of intentionally building meaningful relationships to foster intimacy— with others and with God. He distinguished true intimacy from over-sharing and encouraged us to set healthy boundaries while pursuing connections that matter. By looking at violence and escalation of conflict in Samson’s story, we can see how unresolved anger and revenge can escalate harm when we lack accountability and community. In the section on online engagement and artificial intelligence Jeremy challenged us to pay attention to the narratives behind the emotions that online tools might (and want to) encourage in us. We need to recognize the influence of digital narratives and ground ourselves in offline relationships that counter isolation and disconnection.

• Discussion Guide

  Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
  
  
  Discussion Questions

  Connect: Every January, we like coming back to the topic of relationships in our life. Do you have any new year resolutions or intentions for the new year that are connected with relationships?

  Alternatively, chat about different types of intimacy and how you define intimacy in your life. What steps do you take to build it intentionally in your various relationships?

  Share: Share about a time when a story (from media, Scripture, or your own life) influenced your emotions or actions in a surprising way.

  Samson’s story in the sermon shows the dangers of unprocessed anger and what can happen with our emotions and attitudes when they are not grounded in community or in the real stories of people around us.

  What do you think about Samson’s line, “I merely did to them what they did to me”? How can Samson’s story serve as a cautionary tale for how we approach conflict or disagreement or a bad joke?

  Reflect: Reflect on this quote from the sermon and the power of online and AI narratives:

  “In the absence of relationship, our limbic system will almost always overrule our prefrontal cortex…

  You need other human beings

  In your space

  Face to face

  Relationships that are safe enough for you to talk about what is going on inside…

  And increasingly, alarmingly increasingly in fact, the more “personalized” our computer networks get, the MORE we need to intentionally pursue intimate relationships in which we can actually talk through—and understand—and process what is that we're feeling…

  Emotions are a narrative.

  And narratives aren't bad.

  But they also aren’t…neutral.

  They are moving you somewhere whether you realize it or not.”

  How can you become more intentional in discerning which stories you let shape your worldview?

  Engage: Engage with the idea of intentional living in a digital age.

  
  With the rise of AI influencing narratives, how do you ensure the stories shaping your worldview are reliable and grounded in truth? And how does your faith inform this discernment?

  How do you feel about your online engagement or presence on social media, is it a satisfying experience or a frustrating one? (Or anything in between?) And how do you navigate the influence of those curated online interactions versus the depth possible in offline communities?

  What helps you sort through the stories that are shaping your perspective, and prefer those that foster trust and meaningful connection rather than division?

  Take away:  Take a moment to think about one or two people in your life who provide grounding and support for you - what do they offer to you in those moments?

  What are some of the ways you can practice connection to a supportive and grounding community this year?

  Prayer from the sermon:
  God of new beginnings

  who is always ahead of us,

  inviting us forward,

  encouraging us to begin and begin again,

  Would you be present in the start of this new year,

  as we imagine ourselves in new moments and situations,

  as we learn to love the best about what you have created in us,

  as we survey a new year laid out before us,

  full of possibilities and dangers and triumphs and failures.

  Might we become captured by what you see in us…

  goodness, and kindness, and strength, and resolve.

  Fill our lungs with the fresh breathe of spirit,

  allowing us to see with new eyes the possibilities ahead,

  bring us forward in joy as real as grace

  to celebrate your holy presence in and around us,

  In the strong name of the risen Christ, we pray

  Amen

• Service Songs & Prayers

  CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 118

  MUSIC Curated by Rebecca Santos
  Phil Wickham - This Is Our God
  Maverick City Music - Fear Is Not My Future
  Phil Wickham - Living Hope
  Brooke Ligertwood - A Thousand Hallelujahs

  Epiphany Blessing: Move Toward Wonder in the New Year
  Written by Bobbi Salkeld
  
  It’s easy to leave the Magi behind at this point in the New Year, but in the Christian calendar, the Feast of Epiphany is tomorrow. 

  
  So I’d like to invite you into an epiphany blessing, and within this blessing is a simple invitation: let forces outside of you guide you to Jesus this year. 

  Please join me as we pray. 

  The story of the Magi begins as they spell out their journey from the East following the star toward the newborn king. 
  
  And so we welcome the ways that beauty will guide us this year. 

  May we look for beauty in faith and in relationships. 

  May we look for beauty in the sky above and earth below our feet. 

  And may we follow beauty as it leads us, 

  In wonder, to Jesus. 
  
  The story of the Magi is wrapped up in a system of power as Herod is threatened by a newborn king.

  And so we welcome the ways that Jesus’ life challenges power. 

  May we look for God’s humble way in politics and in community life. 

  May we look for God’s humble way in conflict and in the roles that define us. 

  And may we follow God’s humble way as it leads us,

  In wonder, to Jesus. 

  Finally, the Magi follow the star right to Jesus and to Mary, and they offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

  And so we welcome the ways wonder reminds us to share our gifts this New Year. 

  May we share our love and work so others can thrive. 

  May we share our trust and step toward something so much bigger than ourselves.

  And may every generous act leads us,

  In wonder, to Jesus. 
  Amen. 

  SERIES BUMPER
  The Art of