The eNews Week of September 12, 2004
If you would like to contribute to the eNews or converse with the editor, send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
COLLEGE BRIEFING—Vocab?
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY 8/29—Date Setting, sign watching, or what? Mark 13:1-37
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY 9/7—An Irony Sandwich, Mark 14:1-11
IS IT JUST A NOTION? Collegium, or some such thing…
SUNDAY GATHERING—POG History
LECTIO DIVINA—Sacred Reading
SERMON NOTES—Our Purpose And Mission
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP GATHERING @ 9:15 am—Main Worship Center
“COFFEE HOUSE” @ 10:30ish—TFB Courtyard
SUNDAY COLLEGIUM @ 11 am—TFB College Room
Currently: POG History (see below for an explanation of “POG”)
TUESDAY GATHERING @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Currently: The Gospel According to Mark
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COLLEGE BRIEFING—Vocab?
We have noticed in the four years we’ve been going to Briefing that there appear to be lots of new vocabulary words. JJ, our resident “court reporter” of sorts, took notes:
Retroscendence
Acclimated
Sherppa
Dichotomy
Jostling
Quirk
Scourged
Smitten
Conduit
Heresy
Heretic
Emaciated
Visceral
Extrapolate
Paradoxical
Autonomous
Innate
Emanate
Exude
Pragmatic
Paradigm
Fervently
Audacity
Predicated
Irrevocably
Eccentric
Yearn
Connotation
Chalet
Epistles
Soteriology
Behoove
Papyrus
Oxymoron
Catharsis
Profane
Meticulous
Apostasy
Hodgepodge
Gnosticism
Vellum
Jeer
Vicarious
Voyeuristic
Zealot
Regiment
Nard
Emmenagogue
Work on your vocab… look these up on the American Heritage Dictionary (Note: some may not be there… have fun!)
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TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY 8/29—Date Setting, sign watching, or what? Mark 13:1-37
Big Idea: Follow Christ, not signs.
Rough outline
13:1-2: Even good stuff “dies”; trust God, not stuff.
13:3-13: Until Christ returns, life is messy, so be careful.
13:14-23: There is one true sign; all the rest are labor pains.
13:24-27: It will get worse before it gets better.
13:28-31: Jesus prepared us, so bad or good, be prepared.
13:32-37: Timing is nothing; faithfulness is everything.
Dig:
What three (more/less) time periods are referred to in Jesus’ prophecy?
What command(s) does Jesus give the disciples?
Compare the “not-sign(s)” and the “sign(s)”.
Put Jesus’ command(s) in your own words.
How does Jesus’ prophecy wrap up his kingdom message and prepare for his passion?
Think:
What conclusions can be drawn about phenomena such as the Left Behind craze?
Suppose your world history professor gave this assignment: Write a paper entitled: “The History of the World in the Common Era.” What implications might the prophecy of Mark 13 have in writing such a paper?
What criteria would you put on a “sign” test?
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY 9/7—An Irony Sandwich, Mark 14:1-11
Big Idea:
Rough outline (paragraph titles developed during bible study)
14:1-2 (bread): Plan to capture Jesus, seeking how to kill him
14:3-9 (meat): Wealthy Jane Doe spoils Jesus
14:10-11 (bread): Seeking how to betray him; shady Judas plots.
Dig:
This section of Mark has a very obvious inclusio (sandwich), with vv. 1-2 and vv. 10-11 forming the “bread”. Compare the two paragraphs, looking for repeated words, phrases, and ideas.
Take a look at the middle section (vv. 3-9). How does the middle paragraph compare and contrast with the two outer paragraphs? Why do you think Mark used such a stark contrast?
This section forms a transition from Jesus’ teaching and healing ministry to his passion. What do you think Mark want his readers to know-feel-do as a result of this transition?
Think:
The woman’s worship was extravagant. Many in the room thought it was too much. Jesus thought it was just right. How much is too much? When is too much too much? How do you know?
Extra
We took a little internet fieldtrip on Tuesday, looking for “nard.” We found it, and the stuff is till expensive. In today’s dollars, the anonymous woman anointed Jesus with about $14,000 worth of Nard Oil. One source for Nard Oil sells 1 ounce for almost $110—still pricy. Here’s the link in case you want to lay down some bucks:
Spikenard Oil
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IS IT JUST A NOTION? Collegium, or some such thing…
Collegium: A group whose members pursue shared goals while working within a framework of mutual trust and respect [Source: American Heritage Dictionary ]
What if Sunday morning became an intergenerational collegium?
What would that look like?
What might our shared values be?
Some possibles:
Know the story.
Be the people.
Expand the Kingdom.
Ponder on…
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SUNDAY GATHERING—POG History
[* POG = People Of God]
September 12 The Judges—Worshiping God anything else is a really bad idea Judges 2:11-23
Before the people entered Canaan, Moses reviewed the Exodus-part of the Story. In Deuteronomy 29, he rehearses before the people how God graciously cared for them as they wandered for 40 years. He reminded them that God even kept their shoes and clothes from wearing out—imagine shoes that last 40 years of constant walking!
In Deuteronomy 30, he reminds them of their part in the Story, telling them that when they walk in God's ways (religious, civil, and social), they will have life, and if they don't they will have death. Serious business!
When Moses dies, the leadership passes to Joshua. Judges 2:6-10 is one summary of the end of the Joshua-part of the Story. During Joshua's life, the people took care of their part of the Story; they walked in God's ways. After he and his generation died, it was a whole different story. And that's where we are today.
The people were messing up big-time, but that's not the real story. The real Story is that God brings himself glory by keeping covenant even when his people worship God+ —even when his people don't keep their part of the Story. Because of who he is God will do whatever is necessary to protect his good name and keep his Story on track. That's the key to the Judges-part of the Story.
Look at verse 16: Because of the situation they had gotten themselves into, Yahweh sent judges—deliverers—to get them out of their mess. This raises a few questions. First, how did they get themselves into this mess?
They got themselves into this mess by not keeping their part of the Story, by worshiping God plus something else. Worshiping God+ makes God mad. It brings his anger--his wrath--because his glory will not be ignored and his name will not be profaned. Remember God said if they keep his ways, then they will have life. They didn't trust that, and added fertility-god worship to Yahweh worship.
Look at verses 11-13. They didn't trust Yahweh to provide what they needed, so they decided to do it their way and walk in the ways of the surrounding culture. They got themselves into this mess by worshiping God+. Second question: Who was plundering them, and why?
Who was plundering them? The pagan nations they didn't kick out. The big question is why, and that's where the Story is. Remember I said that God will do whatever is necessary to protect his good name and keep his Story on track? When those who worship God+ make God mad—and they definitely made him mad--he will do whatever he must to bring himself glory. By worshiping the Baals and the Ashteroth, they earned God's wrath, death, being cut off from God's pleasure.
Look at verses 14-15. They walked their own way, so God no longer gave them his life--his pleasure. Instead, he gave them death—his wrath. Now, how did they respond to this wrath, this plundering?
They responded with distress. How did God respond? He protected his name by keeping his covenant. He stayed faithful to his choosing Israel as his people. He acted according to his loyal love and sent judges—deliverers—to save his people from the plunderers. But how did Israel respond to Yahweh's gracious loyal love?
They repented, right? NO! They responded by getting worse. They continued to worship God+. When God's people continue to worship God+, they disrespect God's deliverance, ignore the history of faith, and reject God himself.
Look at verses 17-19. What did they do? They looked at the whole Exodus-part of the Story, and frankly, flipped the bird. They looked at the faith-walk of their own history—their own parents and grandparents--and said, “Whatever!” The looked at God himself and told him that he wasn't enough and that they could do better. Now, you know how God responded.
He protected his name. He flexed his glory. He was really mad! When God's people continually worship God+, he ceases his protection against temporal evil. When his people refuse to walk in his ways, he lets the consequences bite back. He lets evil smack 'em in the head.
Look at verses 20-23. They didn't get rid of the soul-polluting nations; God wouldn't either. They wanted to “go whoring” with other gods; Yahweh left them to it. God is serious about his glory. He is serious about his Story. He is serious about his worship. Worshiping God+ is a really bad idea.
The book of Judges is the story of what happens when God's people worship God+. It is the story of the God+-wrath-grace- God+ cycle. Twice in the book, the author gives us the “plot” of the story. In 17:6, he says, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” He repeats it in 21:25. So, there's the choice: your ways or God's ways? You pick; you pay!
Israel Wants a King 1 Samuel 8:4-22
Saul Loses the Throne; David Anointed King 1 Samuel 16:1-13
David Prepares Solomon for the Throne 1 Kings 2:1-9
Solomon’s Wisdom and Sin 1 Kings 11:1-13
The Kingdom is Split 1 Kings 12:12-20
Northern Kingdom Taken to Assyria 2 Kings 17:6-18
Southern Kingdom Taken to Babylon 2 Kings 25:1-7, 18-21
Returning to the Land—Rebuilding the Temple Ezra 1:1-11
Returning to the Land—Rebuilding the Walls Nehemiah 2:11-20
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LECTIO DIVINA—Sacred Reading
If you didn’t get a chance to do the lectio from August 29, there’s still time.
Lectio Divina has four steps: lectio, meditation, oratio, and contemplatio The terms are a bit fancy, but the process is basic.
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)
- What does this word/phrase bring to mind?
- What does this word/phrase feel like to me?
Step three: Oratio (conversation with God)
- God, what do you want me to do with what you’ve given me today?
Step four: Contemplatio (rest in God)
- Get quiet and simply be. In today’s noisy world, this is very difficult, so when the stray thoughts come—and they will—don’t stress out, just lay them down and move on.
Spend some time these next two weeks and do a lectio on the following two passages.
Exodus 20:20
"Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin."
Hebrews 4:16 (text in brackets [ ] added for context)
[Therefore, because of Jesus’ sacrifice and priesthood] Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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SERMON NOTES—Our Purpose And Mission
Pastor Charlie
September 12, 2004
OUR PURPOSE: TO GLORIFY AND ENJOY GOD FOREVER BY LOVING HIM WITH ALL THAT WE ARE
WE WERE CREATED TO GLORIFY GOD. 1 Corinthians 10:31
We bring glory to God when we are fruitful. John 15:8; Galatians 5:22,23,25
We bring glory to God when we obey Christ. John 15:5; John 15:10
We bring glory to God when we praise Him. Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 50:23
WE WERE CREATED FOR A LOVE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
God created us to be loved by Him. Ephesians 1:4; John 3:16-17; 1 John 4:9-10
God created us for us to love Him. Mark 12:29-30
OUR MISSION: TO INTRODUCE PEOPLE TO JESUS AND BRING THEM INTO A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WHO HELP EACH OTHER BECOME FULLY DEVOTED FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
Matthew 28:18-20
“go” – literally as you are going
“make followers” – a command, not an option
The key meaning of disciple is to line up with the master in belief and behavior. 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2
The key method of disciple-making is transformation through community. Acts 2:42-47
“baptize them” - a public statement identifying yourself with your Master.
Submission – your new master has absolute authority over you
Surrender – you will give up all you possess and all your plans to follow your Master
Identification – you are now known as a follower of your Master.
“teaching them to obey” – the mission is transformation of character and conduct, not the learning of information.
BARRIERS TO DISCIPLE-MAKING IN THE CHURCH TODAY
Our lecture approach to teaching
Our spiritual individualism and surface approach to community Galatians 6:1-2
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