Week ending February 6, 2005

Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom

If you would like to contribute to the eNews or converse with the editor (Laura1), send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com

=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

THE STORY OF GOD—Condemnation-Free-Zone Romans 8:1
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:2-?
WHAT I SAY— Your Words Can Be Here
SERMON NOTES—Where Is God When You Need Him?
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
EVENTS—Next up: BIG SCREEN SUPERBOWL!
=============================
THE STORY OF GOD—Condemnation-Free-Zone Romans 8:1


NEXT WEEK: Jonathan P continues the Story of God (Laura's away at Emergent).

What will happen if I risk being who I really am? According to Romans 8:1, there is now absolutely no sentence of doom to those in Messiah Jesus.

Condemnation is removed based on salvation through Messiah as seen in Romans 3-7 (v.1a)
The condemnation-free-zone is NOW (v.1b)
The condemnation-free-zone is for all who exist in Messiah (v.1c)

Throughout the story of God, from creation to this very day, God-followers have risked because they knew they were safe with God. When they forgot that or decided to trust themselves, they did not risk. Think through the story of God, from creation to this very day. Name some riskers and non-riskers and leave the story in the comments.

So, how are we doing at being a condemnation-free-zone? Rate it 1-5:

How easy is it to be myself in this faith community?
(1=no way, what will others think; 5=absolutely, it’s totally safe)


The story of God runs from the creation of everything to the consummation of everything in the Kingdom and includes everything God is doing in the mean time. God-followers today are a vignette in that continuing story, joining the millennia of God-followers who live out God’s story. The God-followers here in Torrance, at TFB, and in the TFB college group are part of the vignette that includes believers across the globe. God has commanded us to be his storytellers through our lives, through words, through media, through art, and through any means possible, spreading the Story of God to all who will listen.

What is the story of God?
What is our part in the story?
Why should we tell the story?
How can we live out the story in the TFB college group, in TFB, and in Torrance?
How can we tell the story so others will understand?

PROJECTS:

TELLING THE STORY: A student-created media piece that communicates to the average South Bay twenty-something the facts, emotions, and participations in the continuing story of God.

BEING THE STORY: A student-run, on-going “doing good” activity in the South Bay.


=============================
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:2-?
TUESDAYS
7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room

Bible study meets hangout. Thirty minutes of random yap
followed by directed digging. Right now we’re going through
Paul’s letter to the Philippians.



Laura's pictograph of Philippians 3:17-4:1
- Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus are one blueprint Paul tells the Philippians to imitate.
- We are not those of the culture of distruction and distortion, but of the culture of glory.


Tuesday, February 1, we'll look at Philippians 4:2-?
Discussion is potluck style—everybody brings something to share, so...

To prepare, here are some suggestions (pick one, or mix and match):

Savor it…
•Read slowly.
•Stop at the end of each paragraph and mull over what you just read.

Chew it…
•Read like a journalist.
•Look for clues to meaning: connector words (and, but, or, therefore, then, so that, because…); summary statements, inclusio (also known as the “sandwich” where the same phrase or idea is found at the beginning and the end of a section)

Pray it…
•Do a lectio divina on paragraphs that stand out to you.
Step one: Lectio (read the passage once or twice aloud, then once or twice silently; your goal is to experience the passage rather than to merely understand it)
Step two: Meditatio (chew on the Word by focusing on a word or phrase that jumps out at you)
Step three: Oratio (conversation with God)
Step four: Contemplatio (rest in God)

Journal it…
•After your reading, spend a few moments writing what you’ve learned about God, about yourself, and about the faith community.
•Record any commitments, convictions, confusions.

Question it…
•Ask lots of questions: who, what, where, when, why, how (W5H)
•Ask: What does this passage tell us about our identity in Christ and about specific choices we should make to underscore that identity or enhance our unity and ministry as God's primary means of ministry in the word

Rewrite it…
•Write the paragraphs in your own words.

Draw it…
•Draw pictures, diagrams, cartoons, etc. that help you explain the paragraph.

Story it…
•Write the story behind the letter.
•Write stories of people applying the truths from the letter.

Study it…
•Write a summary sentence for each paragraph.
•Answer the W5H questions you asked.
•Using commentaries and bible handbooks, research historical, cultural, and geographic information.
•Hunt down other bible passages that talk about similar subjects.
•List topics you might like to research further.

=============================
WHAT I SAY— Your Words Can Be Here

You know all those papers you write for school?
How about sharing some of your hard-won knowledge?

=============================
SERMON NOTES—Where Is God When You Need Him?
Psalm 139:7-12
Pastor Charlie Rice
January 30, 2005

“Am I a God who is only in one place? asks the Lord. … Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth? asks the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:23,24 (NLT)

“…though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. …”
Acts 17:27b,28(NLT)

HOW GOD'S PRESENCE BENEFITS YOUR LIFE

1. When You Are Lonely, God Is Your Companion. Psalm 25:16; Hebrews 13:5; Psalm. 16:11

God's Presence Can Fill You With Joy When You Are Lonely.


2. When You Are Worried, God Is Your Confidence. Isaiah 42:2,3; Psalm 16:8-9; Psalm 23:4

God’s Presence Can Calm You When You Are Anxious.


3. When You Are Tempted, God Is Your Counselor. 2 Corinthians 10:13; Job 13:27

*Our temptations are common

*God is with us when we are tempted

*God will help us stand up to temptations

God’s Presence Can Help You Say No When You Are Tempted.


4. When You Are Discouraged, God Is Your Comforter. Psalm 34:18; Psalm 116:8-11

God’s Presence Can See You Through When You Are Discouraged.


HOW TO "PRACTICE GOD'S PRESENCE"

*Invite Jesus into your life, if you have not already done so (Ephesians 3:12, Col. 1:22)
*Be quiet before the Lord. (Psalm 46:10, James 4:8)
*Talk to God about everything. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Psalm 62:9)
*Develop the habit of praise. (Psalm 100:4)

=============================
=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS

SUNDAYS
WORSHIP GATHERING @ 9:15 am—Main Worship Center
Intergenerational worship gathering with indy-folk-rockish music and good preaching… too fun!
“COFFEE HOUSE” @ 10:30ish
Coffee, conversation, and donut holes in the TFB Courtyard.
COLLEGIUM @ 11 am—TFB College Room
Fifteen minutes of random yapping,
followed by 45 minutes of tangent-surfing and bible searching

TUESDAYS
BIBLE DISCUSSION @ 7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Bible study meets hangout. Thirty minutes of random yap
followed by directed digging. Right now we’re going through
Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

=============================
EVENTS—Next up: BIG SCREEN SUPERBOWL!

BIG SCREEN SUPERBOWL! February 6 @ 3pm in the Youth Room
YOUTH PASTOR CANDIDATE February 12 (email Laura for details)
EAT! (Mgr: TBA)
Bowling, Dinner, and who knows what else: February (Mgr. Cassie M)
LA Food Bank (Mgr: TBA)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Camp—old style: July or August (Mgr: Jeff B)

=============================
=============================