YAM eNews Week of June 22, 2003
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
Calendar
Coming Up
[Your Contribution Could Be Here]
Studying Romans With Pastor Charlie: Freedom in Christ, Romans 7:1-13
The Gathering—Welcome Freshmen
Tuesday Bible Study—Big Rocks: Future—Revelation 20:11-15
Soul Work—Get a handle on the Story
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CALENDAR
SUNDAYS
Worship @ 8:45 am—Main Worship Center
Current Study: Pastor Charlie is teaching through Paul’s Letter to the Romans
The Gathering @ 10 am—YAM room
Current Study: “What is church?” taught by Laura
An online summary is available weekly at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/
Eating together (most weeks) @ 11:45 am
TUESDAYS
Bible Study @ 8 pm—YAM room
Current Study: Big Rocks, taught by Laura
Coming in July—Song of Songs
An online version is available weekly at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/
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COMING UP
SUMMER EVENTS… at least so far (send in your ideas!!)
Sparks games
Baseball
Weekend retreat
Taco Saturday
Magic Mountain
Museums
Huntington Library
Getty
Pool Party
MTA Los Angeles Art Tour
and so much more…
LABOR DAY WEEKEND, August 29 to September 1
COLLEGE BRIEFING
Forest Home
In our world we are often faced with hard and challenging situations.
What do you depend on during these times?
Jesus Alone!
…CHRIST IS ALL THAT MATTERS… Colossians 3:11 NLT
Cost: $145, $25 non-refundable deposit due at sign-up
Scholarships available, ask Laura or Tom
Visit http://www.gospelcom.net/foresthome/collegebriefing2003.htm for info
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[YOUR CONTRIBUTION COULD BE HERE]
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STUDYING ROMANS WITH PASTOR CHARLIE
The Christian View of Life, part 16
FREEDOM IN CHRIST
Romans 7:1-13
BEING SET FREE
- WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE LAW BY DIEING TO SELF. (v.1,2)
Romans 6:22
Luke 9:23-25
- WE ARE SET FREE FROM THE LAW BY UNITING WITH CHRIST. (v.4)
Romans 7:4
Galatians 2:20
THE RESULTS OF BEING UNITED WITH CHRIST
- WE HAVE A NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. (v.4): there are two Greek words translated “another.” One word means “another of the same kind.” This is the word Jesus used when he told the disciples that he would send another Comforter—the Holy Spirit. The Spirit was another of the same kind—God. The other word means “another of a different kind.” This is the term used in verse four. When we trust Christ, we are dead to the law so that we may belong to another of a different kind—Jesus. The law is a task-master. Jesus is savior.
- WE HAVE A NEW PURPOSE FOR LIVING. (v.4)
Romans 7:4
Ephesians 2:10
Galatians 5:19-23
What is our purpose?
1. I was planned for God’s pleasure, so I will use this day to get to know and love God better.
2. I was formed for God’s family, so I will use this day to show love to other believers.
3. I was created to become like Christ, so I will use this day to grow in Godly character.
4. I was shaped to serve God, so I will use this day to serve God by serving others.
5. I was made for a mission, so I will use this day to share the Good News.
- WE HAVE A NEW MOTIVATION. (v.6)
Romans 7:6
John 21:15-17
- Notice that when Jesus asks Peter, “Do you love me…feed my sheep,” that Jesus NEVER asks Peter if he likes sheep or if he wants to be around sheep. Jesus commands Peter to serve the sheep.
THE PLACE FOR LAW IN OUR WORLD OF GRACE
- THE LAW STILL DEFINES SIN. (v.7)
- THE LAW STILL REVEALS SINFUL DESIRES. (8,9)
- THE LAW STILL JUDGES SINNERS (v.10.11)
- THE LAW STILL SHOWS US HOW BAD SIN REALLY IS. (v.13)
Galatians 3:23-24
Romans 6:22-23
WANT TO GO DEEPER? SEE “SOUL WORK” BELOW
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THE GATHERING—
[also available at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/]
Well they have arrived. We searched, we seized, and once again a new season arrives. I’d write more, but my brain is running on five hours sleep…
Next Sunday is Kamper Kamp weekend, so we’ll be casual—in fact, how about making breakfast?? Starting Sunday, July 6, we begin unpacking the vision:
We are not this building.
We are this community.
We are part of Baby Lambs, Little Lambs, Preschool, Beginners, Juniors, FW Friends, Salt, Vision, Young Marrieds, Home Builders, Sonseekers, Explorers, King’s Class, Friends in Christ, Fellowship Class, Super Seniors, Choir, Band, Share and Care, ABW, Loaves and Fishes, Committees, Officers, Leaders, Staff, and Pastors, and they are a part of us.
We choose to be part of this community.
We choose to love this community.
We choose to serve this community.
We choose to learn from this community.
We choose to teach this community.
We choose to be this community.
I have a vision for YAM—that when people around here want to see what church looks like, they will look at YAM and say, “That’s church.” So here’s the question: what is church? What does it look like? The next few months—at the very least—will be exploration. Some of the things we’ll try will be a perfect fit. Other things we try will fail miserably. That’s ok. The direction is clear. I challenge you to be revolutionary. I challenge you to live against the grain. I challenge you to be church.
- Laura
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TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY
YAM Tuesday—Big Rocks
[also available at http://tfbyam.blogspot.com/]
[A "Big Rocks" guide will be available sometime in June. This guide can be used to lead communal manuscript studies on your campus. Send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com if you're interested.]
THE MENU
First: Read the passage a few times.
Second: Ask a bunch of questions about the passage—at least 10
Third: Work together to answer your questions.
Fourth: Ask, “So what?” What difference does/should this passage make in our lives?
This Week: Big Rock Nine: Future--Revelation 20:11-15
Here’s a few thoughts from Tuesday:
- The apostle John had these visions and recorded the Revelation while exiled on the Island of Patmos. The church was undergoing persecution the time, and Jesus gave the Revelation to give his people assurance that everything was in his control.
- The dead are those who have not trusted in Jesus. The dead in this passage are judged and condemned, but the Bible says the one who trusts in Christ is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (John 3:18).
- Though the dead are judged based on their works—they claim their works as evidence in their favor—not only do their works not save they, but they are sentenced to the Lake of Fire because their names are not written in the Book of Life.
- People have their names in the Book of life because they Jesus to take away the punishment for rebellion against God—sin—and to make a loving relationship with God possible.
- The sea, death, and Hades appear to be holding cells, as it were. Basically, death row for those who continue to rebel against God and do not trust him or love him.
Thinking it through:
- Something to think about: Does God send people to the Lake of Fire, or do people choose to go? In either case, would/could someone change their mind once they arrive in the Lake of Fire? If they did, what SHOULD happen? Offer proof.
- Calvinism and Arminianism—two theologies concerning salvation—came up in our discussion. Here are some resources for those who would like to do more reading and thinking on the subject of predestination and eternal condemnation. No matter which theology you find more comfortable, the real test is Scripture.
Calvinism-Arminianism Comparison
About Arminianism
About Calvinism
God’s Choice or Ours (online resource from the Radio Bible Class)
Coming up...
Big Rock Ten: Why Do Theology—Matthew 22:37-40
Starting June 30: Romance? Sacred? Studying through the Song of Songs
Completed:
Big Rock One: The Word: 2 Timothy 3:10-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Big Rock Two: God: Psalm 145:17-21; Hebrews 12:4-11
Big Rock Three: Man: Genesis 1:26-31; 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:4
Big Rock Four: Sin: Genesis 2:25-3:7; Ephesians 2:1-3
Big Rock Five: Christ--Isaiah 9:1-7; John 1:14-18
Big Rock Six: Redemption-- Isaiah 53:10-12; John 3:16-21
Big Rock Seven: Spirit--Ezekiel 36:22-32; John 16:5-15
Big Rock Eight: Church--Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ephesians 4:11-22
Big Rock Nine: Future--Daniel 7:13-14
--Laura
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SOUL WORK—Get a handle on the Story
Read the story—read it like a story—you may be surprised at what you find (if you were in Ann’s Sunday School class, you probably already know some of the weird stories in the bible).
HISTORY OF THE O.T.
(4000+ years)
Genesis--Creation to Joseph
Exodus--Deliverance to Sinai
Numbers--Life in Wilderness
Deuteronomy--Preparation
Joshua--Conquest of the land
Judges--Cycles of trouble
1 Samuel--Saul
2 Samuel--David
1 Kings--Solomon and division
2 Kings--Kings and decline
(Captivity to Babylon)
Ezra--Rebuilding of temple
Nehemiah--Rebuilding of walls
HISTORY OF THE N.T.
(70+ years)
The Gospels--Life of Jesus
Acts--Work of the apostles
Reading through the storyline books will give you a good framework for understanding the other books. All the other books—poetry, prophecy, letters—fit into the story. The story gives the context.
Find out more about the storyline, and lots more, by clicking “Knowing God through the Whole Bible.”
As always, read the web with wisdom, and when in doubt check it out.
