Week ending March 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—Lament, Don’t Wallow!
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality
SERMON NOTES— God’s Power In Your Life
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOTE: the Bible Discussion section is updated on Wednesday.
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THE STORY OF GOD—Lament, Don’t Wallow!
Sunday, February 27
What about when we REALLY mess up?
David had really messed up. He doesn’t tell us exactly what he had done, but, whatever it was, it was bad. The guilt was making him physically ill. He felt like God was totally peeved at him. He felt so bad, he probably could have chucked it all, but David knew God’s heart. He was hurt, sad, and angry, but he knew God was the only one who could do something about it. So, David, being a songwriter-poet, wrote a song-prayer to God. His lament had four verses: a plea, a prayer, a complaint, and a declaration.
[read Psalm 6]
When you mess up, what do you do? Do you chuck it all and wallow in your guilt? Or do you take your hurt and anger to the only One who can do something about it?
THE BIG PICTURE:
The story of God runs from the creation of everything to the consummation of everything in God’s Kingdom and includes everything God is doing in the already-and-not-yet. The lives of God-followers today are vignettes 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 ongoing story 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.
THE KEY QUESTIONS:
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?
=============================
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
Intent: to create a media piece that communicates to the average South Bay twenty-something the facts, emotions, and participations in the continuing story of God.
Here’s the brainstorm list from Sunday, February 13
Lego stop action
musical
stick figure cartoons
claymation
pantomime
children’s picture pop-up book
puppet show
movie
diorama
beat poetry
haiku
limerick
silent movie
After brainstorming, we settled on a silent movie as the primary media piece, supplemented and interspersed with other forms. Post any ideas, etc. in the comments.
=============================
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
Intent: to implement a student-run, on-going goodness ministry in the South Bay.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Where do we see the entitlement mentality in ourselves?
What decisions or experiences are behind it?
- cultural influence
- not understanding real need
What could have been done to prevent or lessen the effects of these decisions or experiences?
- mission trips
- exposure to true poverty in other countries and in our own country
Given what we now know about ourselves, what can we now add to our community project?
- community project in underprivileged area
STEPS
1. Locate neighborhoods
- Wilmington/Imperial
- PV Drive North/Western
- Scottsdale in Carson
2. Decide our target audience
- people/culture
- demographics (Laura1 will research)
- Churches and Parachurch organizations in the area (DanP will research this)
3. Decide what to do
- discover needs (visit and ask; contact churches in the area; contact law enforcement)
- clean
- paint
4. See what’s going on already
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BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality
TUESDAYS
7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Discussion is potluck style—everybody brings something to share,
so read ahead, pray a bunch, listen, and create.
March 8, 2005
MESSY SPIRITUALITY, pgs 15-20
What are we going to do with the “not-so-little Jesus who, running wild in our hearts, will wreak havoc in our souls, transforming our messy humanity into messy spirituality”? (p.19).
HESED: Worship Readings in the Psalms
Psalm 17
Hesed is God being a persistent cat. (see Anne Lamott on the little cat)
God’s hesed is our refuge.
v.7 ESV Wondrously show your steadfast love (hesed), O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.
Prayer: Through your hesed we are grateful that we can take refuge in you.
Thank you, God, for being my rock.
Thank you for chasing me down.
(Thanks to DanP for being our worship leader! Good job.)
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality-we’re on pg 21
Psalms ‘hesed’ passages—worship readings and prayer response
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SERMON NOTES— God’s Power In Your Life
Pastor Charlie Rice
February 27, 2005
Jeremiah 32:17
"Sovereign Lord, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You ( Jeremiah 32:1, NIV).
EVIDENCE OF GOD'S POWER
Creation: Psalm 19:1-2
Jesus:
Jesus has power over nature (Mark 4; Matthew 21; John 2).
Jesus has power over illness and death (Luke 5, 7).
Jesus has power over Satan (Luke 8).
Word of Caution:
Even in scripture God does not perform visible miracles frequently, except in the case of the life of Jesus. Why? Because God understands the heart of man and what is at stake.
EXPERIENCING GOD’S POWER Ephesians 1:20
You Need God’s power to get started. Romans 7:18; Romans 7:18; Philippians 2:13
You need God’s power to keep going. Psalm 6:2 3; Ecclesiastes 2:11; Isaiah 40:28-31
“Burnout comes from either doing what God never intended for you to do, or from doing
what God intended without God’s power.”
TAPPING INTO GOD’S POWER
Step 1 – ADMIT your own lack of power. 2 Corinthians 12:9 10
Step 2 – ASK God for the impossible. Mark 9:23; Matthew 9:29
Step 3 – ACT in faith. Joshua 3:13
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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
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality and the OT ‘hesed’ passages.
We’re also working on the Story of God media project.
=============================
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Cleaning and Room Redo: March 22 @ 6:30 pm (Mgrs: Jeff B and Laura1)
Dinner, Games, Movies: March 18 (Mgr. Cassie M & JJ)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Camp—old style: June or July (Mgr: Jeff B)
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Week ending February 27, 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
NOTE: Wanna comment? Link is at the bottom
Updated: February 23
=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
THE STORY OF GOD—Worthy Living
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality
SERMON NOTES—A Stable God In An Unstable Life
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
NOTE: the Bible Discussion section is updated on Wednesday.
=============================
THE STORY OF GOD—Worthy Living
Sunday, February 20
Augustine of Hippo (4th century church father) said, “Love God and do as you please.”
How is this possible?
Philippians 1:27-30 laura1’s tfbcollege paraphraseYou TFB Collegians who follow Christ—you are citizens of God’s kingdom. Act like it. Live a life worthy of the Story of God. Live a worthy life, whether people are watching or not. It’s like this: live the sort of life your teachers and pastors would be happy to hear about. Here’s what I’d like to hear: I’d like to hear people from your everyday work-school-play life that you are amazingly tight friends who help each other become better God-followers, even though the culture makes that really hard. I’d like to hear that you help each other stand on holy ground when people make rude comments or enticing propositions. ‘Cause here’s the deal: Don’t be shocked if people and culture are trying to trip up your God-worthy life; that’s a grace gift. Don’t believe it? Believe it! When you help each other stand your ground, it proves to those rude enticers that they’re the ones going down and that you’re the safe ones. It’s all God. Being able to follow God? That’s from God. Being messed with because you’re a God-follower? Oddly, that’s from God, too. You all know culture messes with me and tries to trip me up, just like it tries to trip you up. We’re in this together. We can only live this worthy life together.
Read the ESV version
BASIC IDEA:
1. Live worthy whether you’re watched or unwatched, 27a
2. Worthy living looks like this, 27b-30
- Hold your ground as one, 27b
- Go all-out as one, 27c
- Don’t be shocked by opposition, 28-30
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Here’s the kind of God-followers tfbcollege needs to be:
The type of God-followers that people from your everyday work-school-play life talk about saying that you…
…are amazingly tight friends who help each other become better God-followers, even though the culture makes that really hard.
…help each other stand on holy ground when people make rude comments or enticing propositions.
We’ve been preparing the story to tell, but we are not merely storytellers; we are part of the story. We turn to this issue today. How are we, tfbcollege, going to live a worthy life in Torrance? Sunday, we brainstormed thru four questions to begin answering this question. Look below under “BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece” for the results of the brainstorm. Add your ideas to the comments.
THE BIG PICTURE:
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.
THE KEY QUESTIONS:
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?
=============================
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
Intent: to create a media piece that communicates to the average South Bay twenty-something the facts, emotions, and participations in the continuing story of God.
Here’s the brainstorm list from Sunday, February 13
Lego stop action
musical
stick figure cartoons
claymation
pantomime
children’s picture pop-up book
puppet show
movie
diorama
beat poetry
haiku
limerick
silent movie
After brainstorming, we settled on a silent movie as the primary media piece, supplemented and interspersed with other forms. Post any ideas, etc. in the comments.
=============================
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
Intent: to implement a student-run, on-going goodness ministry in the South Bay.
[NOTE: any idea, even a bizarre one, is encouraged in brainstorming. This allows for creativity and thinking outside the box.]
What do you see as the most important issues facing American culture?
- money
- media portrayal of the good life
- status
- right to life/abortion rates
- relative morality
- controversy over support for and opposition to war
- the culture that led to the treatment of war prisoners
Of these issues, which is the most deeply damaging?
- media portrayal of the good life
- right to life/abortion rates
- relative morality
How are these issues affecting people in Torrance?
- entitlement mentality
- s e x culture
- entertainment as highest value
We boiled these three things down to MORAL WEAKNESS
What are we going to do about it? (brainstorm possibilities)
- make it hard for people to get things
- take away everything
- gentle nagging
- picket abortion clinics
- flood the earth
- billboard: “you are not special”
- infiltrate the media
- tear down the sign at the local JC that says, “ education is a right not a privilege”
- billboard: “don’t jaywalk on Crenshaw”
After looking at the list critically:
- an event using public transportation and not money
- incentives and job bank for 16-year olds to get jobs
- creating public service announcements
- ice cream truck with a message
- reading stories at the local library/book store
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BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality
TUESDAYS
7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Discussion is potluck style—everybody brings something to share,
so read ahead, pray a bunch, listen, and create.
February 22, 2005
MESSY SPIRITUALITY, pgs 9-15
If we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll all admit we’re messed up. Even in the best among us, the inner reaches of the heart contains things we dare not share—a messiness hidden under the mask of spiritual flawlessness. But, what if, as Yaconelli suggests, what if “that messiness is the workshop of authentic spirituality, the greenhouse of faith, the place where the real Jesus meets the real us” (p.15)?
God’s not shocked by our realness. Note the following stories:
Noah drunk and naked Genesis 9:20-28
Abraham lying about Sarah Genesis 20:1-3
David committing adultery with Bathsheba, the murdering her husband 2 Samuel 11:1-17
Peter denying Jesus Matthew 26:69-75
James and John calling down fire on Samaria Luke 9:51-56
We are not alone in our messy spirituality!
HESED: Worship Readings in the Psalms
Psalm 5:4-7 God’s hesed is abundant
v. 7 ESV But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love (hesed), will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple in the fear of you.
Psalm 6:1-5 God delivers for the sake of his hesed
v. 4 ESV Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love (hesed).
Psalm 13:1-6 God’s hesed can be trusted, and when it is trusted, the result is joyful worship.
vv. 5-6 ESV But I have trusted in your steadfast love (hesed); my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me.
Prayer from Tuesday, February 22
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality-we’re on pg 15
Psalms ‘hesed’ passages—worship readings and prayer response
Story of God: telling it and being it
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SERMON NOTES—A Stable God In An Unstable Life
What God Is Really Like, part 4
James 1:17
Pastor Charlie Rice
February 20, 2005
Review:
God’s Omniscience: ALL KNOWING
God’s omnipresence: EVERY WHERE PRESENT
God’s Sovereignty: TOTAL CONTROL
God’s IMMUTABILITY: Never Changes
"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:17(NIV).
"I the Lord do not change!" Malachi 3:6 (NIV)
3 THINGS ABOUT GOD THAT NEVER CHANGE
1. GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU NEVER CHANGES. Jeremiah 31:3; Psalm 119:159; Romans 8:38
2. GOD’S WORD NEVER CHANGES. Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24:35; Psalm 119:152; Matthew 7:24-25
3. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE NEVER CHANGES. Isaiah 14:24; Psalm 33:11; John 10:10; Romans 10:9; John 1:12-13
"Those who trust in the Lord are as steady as Mount Zion,
unmoved by any circumstance."
Psalm 125:1 (LBP)
Next Sunday’s Sermon Title: “God’s Power in Your Life
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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
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality and the OT ‘hesed’ passages.
We’re also working on the Story of God media project.
=============================
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Cleaning and Room Redo: March (Mgrs: Jeff B and Laura1)
Bowling, Dinner, and who knows what else: March (Mgr. Cassie M)
LA Food Bank (Mgr: TBA)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Camp—old style: June or July (Mgr: Jeff B)
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Week ending February 20, 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—Live as Storytellers
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:10-end
TFB HAS A NEW PASTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES—Welcome G!
SERMON NOTES—GOD IS SOVEREIGN
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
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THE STORY OF GOD—Live as Storytellers
Sunday, February 13
Why are we storytellers?
How can we tell the story?
2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13
Focusing on verses 14-15 (laura1's translation)
For the willing love of the Messiah urges us on, having decided this, that one died on behalf of all, so all died; and he died on behalf of all, in order that the living ones no longer live to themselves, but to the one who on behalf of them died and was raised from death.
The willing, substitutionary death of the Messiah makes us a storytelling people.
1. We are a storytelling people because in Messiah it’s not about us, v14
2. We are a storytelling people because in Messiah, it’s all about him, v15
So, let’s tell it and be it. See the two new sections below.
THE BIG PICTURE:
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.
THE KEY QUESTIONS:
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?
=============================
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
Intent: to create a media piece that communicates to the average South Bay twenty-something the facts, emotions, and participations in the continuing story of God.
Here’s the brainstorm list from Sunday, February 13
Lego stop action
musical
stick figure cartoons
claymation
pantomime
children’s picture pop-up book
puppet show
movie
diorama
beat poetry
haiku
limerick
silent movie
After brainstorming, we settled on a silent movie as the primary media piece, supplemented and interspersed with other forms. Post any ideas, etc. in the comments.
=============================
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
Intent: to implement a student-run, on-going goodness ministry in the South Bay.
Prep for Sunday, February 20: What are the real needs in Torrance 90501? How do we go about finding out?
=============================
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:10-end
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.
NEXT DISCUSSION SERIES: Messy Spirituality and the loyal love of God
Laura's Pictograph of Philippians 4:8-9
Tuesday, February 15, we'll look at Philippians 4:10-end
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.
=============================
TFB HAS A NEW PASTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES—Welcome G!
Gyanesh “G” Benjamin will be on board as of Friday, February 18.
The Collegians had a great lunch with G at California Pizza Kitchen. The two main questions from G: What do you expect? How many colleges are in Torrance/South Bay? A tangent-ridden (as per usual) discussion followed.
There will be more details later.
For now, start dreaming. How can we build that proverbial front porch (search the eNews archives in October and November 2004 for info on front porch building) and be the story to those streetside?
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SERMON NOTES—GOD IS SOVEREIGN
Daniel 4:34-35
Pastor Charlie
February 13, 2005
Sovereign means that God makes His own plans and carries them out in His own
time and way.
“…His rule is everlasting, and His kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are
nothing compared to Him. He has the power to do as He pleases among the angels of
heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop Him…” (Daniel 4:34-35, NLT).
God is Sovereign over nature. Isaiah 45:12
God is Sovereign over history. Isaiah 46:10
God is Sovereign over life. Job 14:5
Christ is Sovereign. Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:15-17
HOW TO SEE LIFE IN VIEW OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
Because God is Sovereign OUR PROBLEMS HAVE A PURPOSE. I Peter 1:6-7
Job’s attitude Job 1:21
Joseph’s attitude Genesis 50:20
Paul’s attitude 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Our attitude Romans 8:28
Because God is Sovereign OUR PRAYERS ARE POWERFUL. James 5:16; Ephesians 3:20
Because God is Sovereign OUR PLANS ARE IN PENCIL. Proverbs 16:1; James 4:13-16
Let God hold the eraser. Proverbs 16:9
=============================
=============================
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.
=============================
UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Cleaning and Room Redo: March (Mgr: Jeff B and Laura1
Bowling, Dinner, and who knows what else: March (Mgr. Cassie M)
LA Food Bank (Mgr: TBA)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Camp—old style: July or August (Mgr: Jeff B)
=============================
=============================
Week ending February 13, 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—
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:8-9
WHAT I SAY— Your Words Can Be Here
SERMON NOTES—will return next week
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
EVENTS—Next up: YOUTH PASTOR CANDIDATE February 12
=============================
THE STORY OF GOD—
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 4:8-9
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.
Last week: Laura's Pictograph of Philippians 4:4-7
Philippians 4:4-7 Everything bathed in joy. The evident gentleness known in joy. Anxiety turned to joy thru prayer and petition, brought to God's presence and left there. In all this, real peace guards decidings and doings. All this in Messiah.
Tuesday, February 8, we'll look at Philippians 4:8-9
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.
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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?
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SERMON NOTES—will return next week
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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.
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EVENTS—Next up: YOUTH PASTOR CANDIDATE February 12
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)
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