THANK YOU for participating in The Rescue Project at St. Jude! We’ve created this page to help you get the most out of the experience. The only thing that we ask is that you do not “pre-watch” these videos. If you miss a session, please watch the session you missed. You may also re-watch previous episodes. But we highly recommend watching a video for the first time at our in person session.
A full participant guide is at the bottom of the page. We provide handouts of the “Questions to consider.” The PDF below has additional content that you might be interested in.
There are 8 weeks and 9 sessions. Sessions will be on Monday evenings beginning October 13. The retreat, which will include Chapters 7 & 8, will be on Saturday, November 22. It will last about 6 hours. This session is a VERY IMPORTANT session and should not be missed.
Each session begins with prayer, a meal, followed by praise and worship, a video and then discussion about the video.
We passionately believe that the most urgent task is the compelling proclamation of the gospel, one that not only shares it in an attractive – and concentrated – way, but that also offers people a way of seeing reality, and of making sense of the world, history, and life that is vastly different from the story our modern culture tells.
Until this happens, the Christian faith is often experienced as a mere set of rules and disciplines, and simply going to Church isn’t likely to lead a person to embark on the great adventure that is following Jesus and continuing His mission of the rescuing of this world.
October 13
Chapter 1: “Why stories are important” – Everyone sees reality through a particular worldview, a set of lenses, if you will. In this introduction, we offer a set of lenses that brings hope.
Questions to consider:
- What is the story that gives me meaning, purpose, and guides my life?
- What is my image of God?
- Where did that image of God come from?
October 20
Chapter 2: “Why is there something rather than nothing?” – Chapter Two examines Scipture’s answer to this profound question and the impact it can have on our lives right now.
Questions to consider:
- How does pondering the grandeur of creation instill a sense of wonder and awe in my life? How or why?
- Is my image of God changing? Yes or No? Explain.
- What’s causing me anxiety right now? How does the God of the biblical story impact that?
Please read Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation “Dei Verbum” solemnly promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965). PDF Version for download.
October 27
Chapter 3: “The enemy is the enemy” – Why is everything so obviously messed up? Chapter Three shines light on why things are not as they should be, and identifies the one and only enemy of the human race.
Questions to consider:
- Where is the enemy accusing me right now?
- What lie is crippling me right now?
- Where is the enemy causing division in my life right now?
- Where is the enemy flattering my ego right now?
- What temptation is strongest in my life right now?
- Where am I most discouraged right now?
November 3
Chapter 4: “It gets worse” – Chapter Four helps us to understand what the dire predicament every single human person is in and why we need someone to rescue us.
Questions to consider:
- What am I thinking and feeling right now?
- Did God reveal something new to me about how the enemy works in my life?
- How does the Biblical Story’s vision that the enemy is the enemy (and that he divides and accuses) change the way I think about what is happening around me right now?
November 10
Chapter 5: “What if anything has God done about it?” – We turn our gaze to Jesus and ask, “Was he simply a wise, kind, and good man – or did He come to rescue us from powers against which we could never compete on our own?”
Questions to consider:
- What am I thinking and how am I feeling now?
- How does the story of Jesus as a warrior coming to rescue me change how I see him?
- Does understanding that Jesus didn’t only do this for me change how I see and treat others?
November 17
Chapter 6: “What difference does it make?” – Chapter Six delves into the many ways a person’s life can be changed right now because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Questions to consider:
- What am I thinking and how am I feeling right now?
- Which result of the resurrection of Jesus resonates most deeply with me and why?
- Calling to mind the importance of stories from Chapter One, what impact is the biblical story having on my life?
November 22 (Saturday Retreat)
Chapter 7: “Words are not enough” – Chapter Seven reminds us that as important as a compelling argument can be, there is something — Someone — necessary to move me to surrender.
Questions to consider:
Reflection on the Spirit
- Holy Spirit, help me to know these are not just words.
- Holy Spirit, take me to Calvary.
- Holy Spirit, convince me that Jesus is on the cross for me.
- Holy Spirit, convince me that God is my Father.
- Holy Spirit, convince me that I am his beloved son/daughter.
- Holy Spirit, overwhelm me now.
Chapter 8: “What does God want from me?” – Does God have a preferred way to be thanked? We think He does and Chapter Eight breaks open the unexpected answer.
Questions to consider:
- What are the idols in my life?
- What would detaching from the idols in my life look like practically?
How do I surrender?
- The easier part: Clinging to the Lord who rescued you
- The harder, more challenging part: Detaching from your idols
November 24
Chapter 9: “Getting clarity on the mission” – What are we supposed to be doing with our lives right now? Chapter Nine breaks open 6 answers to this question.
Questions to consider:
- Please read the reflection “Two other essential missions: Prayer and Suffering” in the participant guide below. What resonates with me and why?
- Has my understanding of the mission of the disciple changed? How and why?
- Which mission(s) speaks the most to me? Why?
As we conclude this chapter, prayerfully discern how God may be inviting you now to write the next chapter of His-story. If that includes getting more involved at St. Jude, check out the many groups and ministries we have.
Story Guide (Participant Guide)
Optional for participants. Complements the weekly experience. As you go through every chapter, you will have summaries, questions to ponder, and additional resources and recommendations.