[UPDATE: Bonfire has been postponed to August 28 due to the China Team Report on August 6]

Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom

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

A fresh eNews is posted each Monday and updated on Wednesday

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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY COLLEGIUM— Prayer: The Judge
THE STORY OF GOD—What we’re up to…
STORY-CONNECTING STORIES
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: China Team Report: Saturday, August 6

tfbcollege pix on flikr
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Staff:
Pastor G (TFB Youth Min Pastor) gbenjamin49@gmail.com
Laura (teacher, AKA the mad tangent rider; eNews editor) lkspringer@gmail.com

Leadership team:
TBA

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SUNDAY COLLEGIUM— Prayer: The Judge

Luke 18:1-8
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'

4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "

6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

Study:
List the phrases that describe the judge.
What sort of person was he?
How is God like the judge?
How is God not like the judge?

Apply:
Name an everyday need.
Assume that God is exactly like the judge and write a prayer about that need.
Assume God is nothing like the judge and write a prayer about that need.


Thinking back on your prayer journaling this past week, where do they fall?
1 = My prayers last week show that I believe God is exactly like the judge.
5 = My prayers last week show that I believe God is nothing like the judge.

August 7: Prayer 3 of 3—The Widow, led by Stef M
August 14: TBA

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THE STORY OF GOD—What we’re up to…

As the leader of the first rebellion against God’s rule and the Adversary who has now officially lost the war, Satan fights a desperate, losing battle against God’s rule. Deluded by twisted memories of personal glory and haunted by piercing visions of his own demise, this dangerous enemy recklessly takes advantage of the pervasive corruption caused by humanity’s rebellion, warring against the inevitable completion of God’s rule in Jesus Christ.

Movements:

Beginnings, Genesis 1-12
Israel, Genesis 12-Malachi
Christ, the gospels
Church, Acts –Jude and church history
Endings, Revelation and other passages

The Problem: Rebellion against the rule of God and the mind-body-spirit-world results of that rebellion.

The Solution: Jesus Christ. Everything before Christ points toward Christ and everything after Christ points back to Christ. In the end, everything is returned to God’s original design in Christ.

What came before… The story of Israel. Tuesday, August 2:


Next: Tuesday, August 9
Genesis 12-50… Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

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STORY-CONNECTING STORIES
When tragedy comes, knowledge, religious activities, and emotional experiences are not enough. A decision to trust God, no matter what, is enough. This past week tragedy hit TFB. A young mother took a nap and never woke up. She was healthy. Now she is dead. What in the world do we do with that?

The children of Israel had knowledge—God gave them his covenant on Mount Sinai. They had religious activities—God gave them the tabernacle and the Levitical law. They had emotional experiences—God gave them amazing signs of his person and presence. Yet the generation that God delivered from Egypt was unable to enter the Promised Land because they failed to trust God. Of the thousands and thousands that left Egypt, only two entered the land: Joshua and Caleb. Not even Moses entered the land. Joshua and Caleb entered because they decided to trust that God would give them the land despite apparently insurmountable opposition from the inhabitants. When life took an apparent nose-dive, Joshua and Caleb acted out of their decision to trust God.

Question: Have you decided to trust God? Not just “going forward and praying the prayer”, but really trusting God. Take a hard look at your decisions and responses. Then go to God, tell him what you have seen in yourself, and decide to trust him.

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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
Collegial teaching time led by collegians

TUESDAYS
TUESDAY GATHERING @ 7:15-9:00 pm— TFB College Room
Hangout and conversation, guided by a teacher-facilitator; often resembles Mr. Toad’s wild ride, but with bibles.
Currently: Writing a screenplay for the Story of God media project

DAY varies…
WEEKEND GATHERING (contact Pastor G for details)
Hang out, talk, bring your friends.

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UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: China Team Report, Saturday, August 6

China Team Report: Saturday, August 6, 7 pm (TFB)
Beach Bonfire: Sunday, August 28—details TBA
Ministry and EAT!: Sunday, August 28— Torrance flea market ministry at 11 am; lunch around 12:30 (location TBA)
College Briefing: September 2-5—Forest Home: cost $155

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Posted by Laura Springer at Wednesday, August 03, 2005