SANCTIFY!

eNews 052806

God created us in his image to have loving relationship with him.
We told him, no thanks, but wed rather do this our say. Basically, we dumped him.
Now, the only source of life is God, so when we dumped him, we got death in return. Bummer.
Big problem is that now that were dead (though we trick ourselves because we look so alive) we can’t do anything to fix it.
No problem. God fixed it. He became 100man while staying 100d (wrap your brain around that one), gave his no-seeds-of-death life for humanity.
Now the only thing we need to do is fess up and admit we are dead and can’t fix ourselves (despite the fact that we’ve tried over and over).
Once we do that, we get life, God, and an eternity of being exactly who we were designed to be.

Dang, now ain't that something?

This is the God who commands.
It is the same God who gave himself to fix our desperate death-life.

He loves us even more than we love ourselves--and that’s saying an awful lot.

It’s his word. So, I ask, do you not yearn to hear his voice? If so, then listen to his voice and set the rest aside until you’re satisfied in him.

Yeah, that’s why I get a bit ranty.

Originally posted on the blog at Tangentrider's MySpace.

=============================
SERMON NOTES--Quit Playing God (part 2)
A LIFE TRANSFORMED BY FAITH
James 4:11,12
Pastor Charlie
May 28, 2006

WHEN IT IS WRONG TO JUDGE OTHERS

* When You Are Committing the Same Sin Romans 2:1-3
* When It Blinds You to Your Own Faults Matthew 7:3-5
* When You Draw Conclusions Based On Outward Appearances. John 7:24; 1 Samuel 16:7
* When You Decide Before Hearing The Facts. John 7:51
* When It Is Based On Religious Observances Colossians 2:16
* When It Causes You to Speak Evil about another Christian James 4:11; Ephesians 4:29, 30
* When You Judge Their Motives. 1 Corinthians 4:5

HOW TO BREAK THE HABIT OF JUDGING OTHERS

* Remember That You Will Be Judged By The Same Standards You Use To Judge Others. Matthew 7:1-2
* Remember That Each Person Is Accountable To God. Romans 14:12, 13
* Remember How Much God Has Been Merciful To You. James 2:13

=====================================
“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

Tag: collegeministry

eNews 052106

Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom
05-06 Priorities: Inreach...Outreach...Worship

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 Sunday

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

REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS--Next: Listening to the Bible--May 23
COLLEGIUM--Next Lectio: 1 John 2:1-12
TANGENTRIDER BLOG--BTW, I don't care what it means to me either
SERMON NOTES--Quit Playing God

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

Staff:
Pastor G (TFB Youth Min Pastor) gbenjamin49@gmail.com
Laura (college ministry directoresque, teacher, AKA the mad tangent rider; eNews editor) lkspringer@gmail.com

Leadership team:
Administrator: JJ
Communication: Shaena
Last Tuesday Planner: Dylan
Assistant Collegium Leader: Jonathan

=============================
=============================
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
Conversation, Lectio Divina, and Creativity
Currently: Holy Worldliness

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: Listening with respect and Deciding with wisdom

=============================
UPCOMING EVENTS—Next: The Bible—May 23

Online calendar http://lkscurriculum.wikispaces.com/calendar

The Bible—May 23

EAT!—May 28

LAST TUESDAY: Dinner at a restaurant—May 30

Classic Movie Night (AKA, really bad "B" movies)—date and time TBA

Getty Center—date and time TBA

Freshman Drag—Sunday, June 25, 2006 @ 11 am

COLLEGE BRIEFING—September 1-4

URBANA MISSIONS CONFERENCE—December 27-31

=============================
COLLEGIUM—Next Lectio: 1 John 2:1-12

Spend time this week praying through our next passage...

*see the Collegium wiki for Lectio instructions

=============================
TANGENTRIDER BLOG--BTW, I don't care what it means to me either

A bit of a follow-up to the last post:

One of the biggest issues in my bible reading and study is the tendency to treat the Bible as a textbook rather than as the Word of God. You see, I'm in seminary. That means for me the Bible often is a textbook, of sorts. Often reading and study is an assignment for class. If I leave it there and do no more, then I am treating the Bible disrespectfully and doing myself harm. What do I mean?

If the Bible truly is the Word of God--which, based upon faith and evidence, I believe--then it is not a mere human book. Now, the Bible is ALSO a human book. It was written by a collection of various human authors over centuries of time, in varying cultures. The style, emphases, wording, etc. reveal this human authorship. When the biblical authors finished writing exactly what they had to say, though, what they wrote was also exactly what God had to say. This is what it means for the Bible to be the inspired Word of God. In order to treat the Bible with respect I must respect the human AND the divine authorship.

When I fail to practice both sides of this respect, I do myself harm. The Bible is Gods book and hearing what he has to say is necessary for my very life. If I treat the Bible as if I have authority over it, then I do not hear the voice of God as clearly as I ought. The Bible is also a human book. God used different human authors for a reason. The way they write has something to say about who God is, the sort of person he is, and the sorts of things he does.

I don't care what the Bible means to me because my understanding--like your understanding--is distorted. I care what the Bible means. The question is, how do we discover what that is? That’s the topic for the Tuesday, May 23, Gathering, 7:30 pm, TFB college room.

Originally posted on the blog at Tangentrider's MySpace.

=============================
SERMON NOTES--Quit Playing God
A LIFE TRANSFORMED BY FAITH
James 4:11,12
Pastor Charlie
May 21, 2006

KEY PRINCIPLE: WE PLAY GOD WHEN WE JUDGE OTHERS

WHAT WE ARE TO JUDGE
* GOVERNMENT IS TO ADMINISTRATE JUSTICE Romans 13:4
* SPIRITUAL PERSONS ARE TO JUDGE 1 Corinthians 2:15
* Judge truth and error Galatians 1:8,9; 2 John 7-11
* Judge right and wrong Galatians 6:1
* Judge good and evil Hebrews 5:14

WAYS WE CROSS THE LINE IN OUR JUDGING
* WHEN WE POSSESS AN ATTITUDE OF SUPERIORITY Luke 18:9; Matthew 23:5-7
* WHEN WE IMPOSE OUR EXTRA-BIBLICAL STANDARDS ON OTHERS

WHY WE LIKE TO JUDGE OTHERS
* JUDGING OTHERS HELPS US EXCUSE OUR OWN FAULTS Romans 2:3
* JUDGING OTHERS APPEALS TO OUR PRIDE. Proverbs 26:22

WHY WE SHOULD NOT JUDGE OTHERS
James 4:11,12

James gives us three reasons why we shouldn't judge other people.
* TO JUDGE IS UN-CHRISTIAN (v.11)
* TO JUDGE IS UNLOVING(v.11) James 2:8
* TO JUDGE IS UNJUSTIFIED (v.12)

=====================================
“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

Tag: collegeministry

eNews 051406

My little children, I am writing these things to you
that you might not sin
and if anyone may sin
we have a helper before the Father
Jesus Messiah the Good One
and he is the way of reconciling
concerning our sins
and not only concerning ours only
but also concerning (those) of the whole world.
And by this we know
that we have known him
if his laws we keep
the one who says
that he has known him
and his law does not keep
he is a liar
and in this one there is no truth;
and whoever may keep his word,
truly in him the love of God has been made complete,
by this we know
that we are in him.
the one saying in him to remain
he ought,
as that one walked, also he in the same way should walk.

Beloved, I do not write a new command to you
but an old command
which you were having from the beginning;
the old command is the word which you heard.
[lks translation]

*see the Collegium wiki for Lectio instructions

=============================
TANGENTRIDER BLOG--I Don't Care What The Bible Means To You!

I think one of the most common 'bible study' questions is, "What does this passage mean to you?" To be honest, every time I hear it I bristle. Why? Because I care deeply what the Bible means. You see, there is a vast difference between the two. The first one cares most about personal perception. The second one cares more about what the Bible intends to communicate. And if the Bible truly is the Word of God, then its intended meaning is crucial.

That’s why I care so much about what the Bible means. I believe the Bible is the actual Word of God. First, the Bible is the most well-attested ancient document in existence. We have manuscript portions from within a decade or so of the original writing. No other ancient document can say that. Second, the Bible gives the best explanation for the condition we find ourselves in. Think about the people you know—or about yourself. Each one of us is a bizarre mixture of goodness and badness. The Bible explains that humans are created by God to be like God. This is why each human is good. The Bible also explains that humans chose to go their own way and try to make themselves like God. This explains why humans are bad. Third, the Bible gives the best solution to humanity’s problem. Try as we might—and we have tried a lot—we cannot get rid of our badness. It pops up at the most inconvenient times and leaves destruction in its trail. If you survey the religions of the world they all offer a fix that involves human effort. But human effort has not worked. The Bible explains that God took it upon himself to solve the problem. He only asks that we stop trusting ourselves—which has not and does not work—and trust him.

That is why I don’t care what it means to you. It’s nothing against you. Rather it’s something about the Bible. Your perception—or my perception—is not master. The Bible is master. The Bible tells us what we mean. We do not decide what it means. Rather, we discover what it means.

Tuesday, May 16, we will be talking about how to discover what the Bible means.

Originally posted on the blog at Tangentrider's MySpace.

=============================
SERMON NOTES--How To Avoid Arguments
A LIFE TRANSFORMED BY FAITH, Part 10
James 4:1-10
Pastor Charlie
May 14, 2006

THE CAUSE OF ARGUMENTS IS CONFICTING DESIRES (v. 1).
* THE DESIRE TO HAVE (v. 2).
* THE DESIRE TO FEEL (v. 3). 1 Timothy 6:17
* THE DESIRE TO BE (“you”). Proverbs 13:10

Key reasons are desires are not fulfilled (v.2, 3).
1. We do not ask God to meet our needs.
2. We ask God but with selfish motives. Philippians 4:19

THE CURE FOR ARGUMENTS IS HUMILITY

How to diffuse conflict
* GIVE IN TO GOD. (vs. 7a) Colossians 3:15
* GET WISE TO SATAN (vs.7b) 2 Corinthians 2:11; Proverbs 13:10
* GROW CLOSER TO GOD(vs. 8a) Isaiah 26:3
* ASK FORGIVENESS (vs. 8b) (vs. 9)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interest
but also the interest of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”
Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV).

=====================================
“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

Tag: collegeministry

eNews 050706

What does it mean that Jesus' person (vv. 1-4) is the announcement that God is light (v. 5)?
Why the build-up (vv. 1-4) before the announcement that God is light (v. 5)?
How does this "partnership" (v. 3) look and work?
What does complete joy (v. 4) look like?

1 John 1 (tangentrider's translation)

[FOR REVIEW: vv. 1-4]

What was from (the) beginning
what we have heard
what we have seen with our eyes
what we have observed and our hands have investigated
concerning the word of life
and the life was made plain
and we have seen
and we testify
and we announce to you the life unending
which was from the father
and was made plain to you--
what we have seen and heard
we announce to you
in order that you also may have partnership with us.
and also our partnership (is) with the Father
and with his son Jesus Messiah
and these things we, we have written to you
in order that our joy may be complete.

[FOR LECTIO*: 1:5-2:1]

And this is the announcement
which we have heard from him
and we are announcing to you,
that the God is light
and darkness in him is not, not at all.
If we may say,
that we have partnership with him
and (if) we are walking in the dark
(then) we are lying and we are not doing/making the truth;
and if we are walking in the light,
as he is in the light,
(then) we have partnership with one another
and the blood of Jesus his son is cleansing us from all sin
if we may say,
that we have no sin,
we deceive ourselves
and the truth is not in us.
if we may admit our sins,
he is reliable and good,
that he may cancel our sins
and purify us from all lack of goodness.
if we may say,
that we have not sinned,
(then) we are making him a liar and his word is not in us

My little children, I am writing these things to you
that you may not sin
and if anyone may sin
we have a helper before the father
Jesus Messiah the Good One.

*see the Collegium wiki for Lectio instructions

=============================
TUESDAY GATHERING--A Beginning of Months

Last Tuesday, the TFB collegians researched, planned, and celebrated Passover. It was good, a bit bumpy, but good. What made it good was not the decor, though that was cool. It was not the words, though they were meaningful. What made it good was that the pointthat our God is and always has been a Redeemerwas crystal clear. What made it good was that we all joined a story that has been told for thousands of yearsthat the Lamb takes our place in death. Before the coming of Messiah Jesus, the blood of animals took our place. But now that God himself has come in flesh and given his life as the Lamb, Messiah Jesus himself takes our place. Every time we eat the bread and drink the juice we remember this story and we keep telling this story until Jesus returns to finalize the Kingdom of God.

So, what does this have to do with a beginning of months? For the Israelite nation, Passover was their beginning of months. Remembering their deliverance from slavery by the blood of the lamb started off their year. For the college group, remembering this storyand realizing that it is our story as wellis the beginning of our year. From this point on, everything is new. For Israel, the exodus was the beginning of their becoming a people. For the college group, it is my hope and prayer that it will do the same for us. I pray that we will begin to become a people. One because of the Spirit God has given us. Different because that same Spirit has shaped us and made us unique.

So, we begin anew.

Originally posted on the blog at Tangentrider's MySpace.

=============================
SERMON NOTES--How to Relate Wisely to Others
A LIFE TRANSFORMED BY FAITH, Part 9
James 3:13-18
Pastor Charlie
May 7, 2006

“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (v. 18).

* Wisdom is a lifestyle (vs. 13).
* The lack of wisdom causes problems (vs. 14- 16).

HOW TO RELATE WISELY TO OTHERS (verse 17):
* IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL NOT COMPROMISE YOUR INTEGRITY.Proverbs 10:9
* IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL NOT ANTAGONIZE PEOPLE.Proverbs 20:3

Causes of arguments:
* Comparing 2 Corinthians 10:12
* Condemning
* Contradicting Proverbs 14:29

* IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL NOT MINIMIZE OTHERS’ FEELINGS. Proverbs 15:4
* IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL NOT CRITICIZE OTHERS’ DECISIONS OR SUGGESTIONS. Proverbs 12:15
* IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL NOT EMPHASIZE OTHERS’ MISTAKES. Proverbs 17:9; Galatians 6:1
* IF YOU ARE WISE, YOU WILL NOT DISGUISE YOUR OWN WEAKNESSES.Proverbs 28:13; James 1:5

“In Him (Christ) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”(Colossians 2:3, NLT).

=====================================
“Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” http://www.esv.org/

Tag: collegeministry

tfbcollege

eNews 052806

eNews 052106

eNews 051406

eNews 050706

General Links

Contact Links

Blog Archive

Who visits?

Creative Commons