The eNews...Week of September 19, 2004
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.
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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
A BIT OF A PARABLE
BIBLE STUDY—POG History
LECTIO DIVINA—Sacred Reading
THINK—If God is truly in control, why doesn't he fix this stuff?
SERMON NOTES—Our Vision & Values
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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”)
Coming October 10: Being Community… not Doing Community
TUESDAY GATHERING @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Currently: The Gospel According to Mark
Coming October 5: Being Community: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
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A BIT OF A PARABLE
Okay, so you’re standing in the middle of a 50-yard long, door-less (except for the doors on either end), tiled hallway with a boogie board leashed to your right ankle. Fifteen people, holding fire hoses attached to 1-¾ inch connections stand in the north doorway and turn on the water. You have a split second to decide what to do before just over one-hundred gallons of water per second knock you off your feet. What do you do? Why?
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BIBLE STUDY—POG History
[* POG = People Of God]
You can reject his will, but he's still in charge
1 Samuel 8:4-22
Spend some time reading the passage and asking and answering who, what, where, when, and how questions.
When you’ve got the story down, think about the possible reasons (past) and the purposes (future) for the things that happened in the story.
Here’s an outline to give you some handles:
8:4-9 Those who reject God's will find that God still rules and that his rule becomes increasingly oppositional.
8:10-18 If you choose to follow human will, then God will let you be taken advantage of by human will.
8:19-22 Those who keep rejecting God's will are left to the consequences of their choice.
Next Week:
Saul Loses the Throne; David Anointed King 1 Samuel 16:1-13
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LECTIO DIVINA—Sacred Reading
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 passages:
Judges 21:25 ESV
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Proverbs 3:7 ESV
Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful.
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THINK—If God is truly in control, why doesn't he fix this stuff?
Police held over homeless murders
South Bay family mourns soldier killed in Iraq war
Baghdad Violence Leaves at Least 52 Dead
National authority rates the MLK-Drew Medical Center low in patient confidentiality and safety.
Radio system shut down when maintenance wasn't done. Five planes flew dangerously close to one another during outage.
Romania's blighted street children
Candidate 'poisoned' in Ukraine
Israel raids kill 10 Palestinians
A Palestinian suicide bomber on a bicycle has attacked an army patrol near a West Bank checkpoint
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SERMON NOTES—Our Vision & Values
Pastor Charlie
September 19, 2004
OUR VISION
SHARE The Good News Of Christ With Others. 2 Peter 3:9; Philemon 6
MODEL Christ In All Aspects Of Life. James 2:22-25
ENGAGE In Loving Relationships With Other Believers. Acts 2:42-47
SURRENDER Our Lives Joyfully To God. Romans 12:1; Romans 6:13
SERVE God And Others With Our Abilities And Resources. 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Corinthians 8:7
OUR VALUES
We value CONNECTION with God.
We stay in close relationship with Jesus. John 15:4-5
We apply God’s word to our lives. James 1:25; 2 Timothy 3:16-17
We choose a God-honoring lifestyle. Philippians 1:27
We faithfully serve our Lord. Galatians 6:9-10; Ephesians 2:10
We value COMMUNITY with fellow believers.
We demonstrate a servant’s heart. Philippians 2:4-8
We work together. Romans 12:5-6
We act in love toward others. 1 Peter 1:22
We speak in ways that build people up. Ephesians 4:29
We meet regularly together to encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25
We pray for one another. Ephesians 6:18
We support and follow our leaders as they follow Christ. Hebrews 13:17
We give financial support to God’s work. 2 Corinthians 8:7-8
We value CREATIVITY in worship and ministry.
We express our praise of God with enthusiasm and variety. Psalm 150:3-5
We adapt our methods in order to reach people. 1 Corinthians 9:19-24
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