Week ending March 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
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
THE STORY OF GOD—Taking the Long View
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Messy Spirituality
SERMON NOTES—God Is 100% Trustworthy
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS—Next Up: Stone Soup and Movies, Mar 18
NOTE: the Bible Discussion section is updated on Wednesday.
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THE STORY OF GOD—Taking the Long View
Sunday, March 6: Psalm 17
One of the things they teach in driver training is to take the long view. Drivers who take the short view tend to run into stuff. Drivers who take the long view are safer because everything is put in perspective.
David made a conscious decision to take the long view. Of course, he messed up royally sometimes—like he had before writing Psalm 6, the prayer we looked at last week. Even then he took the long view and went to the only one who could help: God.
In Psalm 17, David is not the one who messed up, but rather the one being messed with.
Laura’s Rewrite of Psalm 17
Hear my just cause, Yahweh.
You’re the only one who can help.
Check the record.
You’ve proved me over and over.
By your own Word, I have walked your ways.
Your hesed proves you will answer.
You’ve proved that over and over.
Keep me safe from my enemies.
These utterly self-centered enemies have surrounded to attack.
Yahweh, save me from them.
They only look to the now and do not see the end.
As for me, I look to the end.
I take my just face and look into your hesed face,
and that is absolutely enough.
Do you take a long view or a short view?
THINK:
Where do you see yourself in five years? ten years? fifty years?
Think over your answers. Is the true long view—God’s perspective—evident in your answer?
Are you really taking the long view: eternity?
STORY BIG IDEA:
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.
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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.
Our timeline is filling up nicely. Sunday, March 13, we begin our jet tour of the timeline stories in preparation for our media piece.
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BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
Intent: to implement a student-run, on-going goodness ministry in the South Bay.
We looked at three towns:
Lomita
Willowbrook
Carson
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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 21-29
“There is no room for pretending in the spiritual life… The essence of messy spirituality is the refusal to pretend, to lie, or to allow others to believe we are something we are not… When you and I stop pretending, we expose the pretending of everyone else. The bubble of the perfect Christian life is burst, and we all must face the reality of our brokenness” (p. 26-27).
HESED: Worship Readings in the Psalms
Psalm 18
God shows his hesed to his chosen ones by bringing justice to their enemies.
v. 46-50 The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation—the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who delivered me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you rescued me from the man of violence.
For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love (hesed) to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.
Prayer:
Help us to be honest.
Help us to care.
Help us not to make faces when people pray funny.
Help us to forgive.
That our prayers will be endless.
That we will be slow to judge.
Thanks to Jake D for being our worship leader! The additional verse about God's justice was excellent.
ASSIGNMENT FOR SUNDAY: During patio time, ask some people how they are. Really mean it and use follow-up questions.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Mike Yaconelli’s Messy Spirituality-we’re on pg 29
Psalms ‘hesed’ passages—worship readings and prayer response
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SERMON NOTES—God Is 100% Trustworthy
Pastor Charlie Rice
March 6, 2005
Psalm 33:4
"For the word of the Lord is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does." (Psalm 33:4, NIV).
Review:
God’s Omniscience: All-Knowing
God’s Omnipresence: Every Where Present
God’s Sovereignty: Total Control
God’s Immutability: Never Changes
God’s Omnipotence: All-Powerful
*God cannot do wrong. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
*God cannot lie. (Hebrews 6:18)
*God cannot break a promise. (Numbers 23:19)
THE GREATEST EXAMPLE OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS -
ISRAEL Joshua 21:45; Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 145:13
GOD'S TRUSTWORTHINESS
1. YOU CAN COUNT ON GOD TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS. 1 John 1:9
2. YOU CAN COUNT ON GOD TO GIVE YOU GUIDANCE. Proverbs 3:5-6
When you are confused and uncertain, do the following:
A. Remember what you know to be true.
B. Seek understanding from God's Word, the Bible.
C. Seek godly counsel from other Christians.
3. YOU CAN COUNT ON GOD TO SETTLE THE SCORE. Romans 12:19; 1 Peter 2:21-23
4. YOU CAN COUNT ON GOD TO REWARD YOU GENEROSITY. Luke 6:38; Galatians 6:7,9; Hebrews 6:10.
5. YOU CAN COUNT ON GOD TO KEEP YOU SAVED. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:13; John 10:28; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Corinthians 1:20a
Next Week’s Sermon: The Four Sides of God’s Love
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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.
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UPCOMING EVENTS—Next Up: Stone Soup and Movies, Mar 18
Spring Cleaning and Room Redo: March (Mgrs: Jeff B and Laura1)
Stone Soup, Movies, and Board Games: March18 (Mgr. Cassie M & JJ P)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Camp—old style: June or July (Mgr: Jeff B)
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