Week of October 3, 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.
=============================
IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
METANARRATIVES ARE …
POG—History…wrapping it up! (for now)
DREAMING AHEAD…
WHAT’S NEXT? 40 Days of Community
CHOOSING A TRANSLATION
LECTIO DIVINA— Hebrews 12:1-2
REVIEWS—Put yours here…
SERMON NOTES—Why We Need Each Other
=============================
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
WORSHIP GATHERING @ 9:15 am—Main Worship Center
“COFFEE HOUSE” @ 10:30ish—TFB Courtyard
SUNDAY COLLEGIUM @ 11 am—TFB College Room
Coming October 10: Being Community
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Coming October 5: Being Community: Paul’s Letter to the Philippians
=============================
METANARRATIVES ARE …
a) It totalizes reality (explains everything),
b) It is based on the rational self (rather than on tradition),
c) It is the principle of legitimation (makes some things "good", "right", "true", or whatever, and others the opposite),
d) It is abstract (it is not generated from particular instances, but rather is applied to the particulars).
e) It is emancipatory (gives us a way out of our problems)
Is God’s story a metanarrative? If so, is that a good thing or a bad thing?
From The Metanarrative
=============================
POG—History…wrapping it up! (for now)
[* POG = People Of God]
During, the past few weeks, we have taken a jet tour through nearly 2000 years of POG History, from Abraham (b. 1977 BC) through David (b.1040 BC). Beginning October 10, we’re taking a side trip on community, so it’s time to look back and figure out where we’ve been. The so-called “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11, gives a good summary, and a New Testament perspective, on POG History. That’s where we are this week. So, grab a bible (or click the link) and let’s go.
Read Hebrews 11.1-12.2. As you read, list what the story says about God's characteristics, the people's characteristics, and what God wants his people to look like.
Here's the brainstorm stuff from Sunday:
God's Characteristics
- He's the boss
- He's the commander!!
- Gracious
- To be obeyed
- To be trusted
- Has a plan
- Creative
- Condemner
- Promiser
- Not ashamed
People's Characteristics
- Faithful
- Inept
- Bold
- Too old to make babies
- Humanness
- Assummers
- Confident
- About to die
What God Wants His People to Look Like
- Faithful
- Believer
- Seeekers
- Hopeful
- Nomads
- Not afraid
When you finish reading, look at your list and summarize your findings in some short, meaty statements.
=============================
DREAMING AHEAD…
OK, so take a look at your summary statements from the POG wrap-up and do some dreaming on this question:
If the TFB college group could be all God wanted it to be in three years, what would it look like?What we came up with Sunday (this is a basic list):
Nomads: not here, out of this class, branch out, be missionaries where we are, bring back stories, electronic connectedness, snail mail, outpost at El Camino
About to Die: people come first, helping, be there, look out for each other, phone, do things for friends not expecting a return, spend time, create a front porch, plan events
Inept: out of the box (we're here because we're afraid of discomfort and failure), be a place where risking and failure are safe.
Add your dreams to the comments at the top of this page.
=============================
WHAT’S NEXT? 40 Days of Community
SUNDAY AT 11:00 AM
40 Days of Community Topics and Passages
October 10: What matters most, 1 Corinthians 13:1-11
October 17: Reaching Out Together, Matthew 28:18-20
October 24: Belonging Together, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
October 31: Growing Together, Deuteronomy 30:11-16
November 7: Serving Together, Luke 10:25-37
November 14: Worshiping Together, Psalm 22:23-29
TUESDAY BIBLE STUDY, 7:15 PM
Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, basically verse by verse
DAILY READER, THINKER, PRAY-ER
These will be handed out Sunday, October 3 and Tuesday, October 5. If you missed getting a copy, send an email to the editor :-)
TFB SERVICE PROJECTS (More info in the Sunday Worship Gathering)
Beach Clean-up
Children’s Outreach
ER Nurse Appreciation Day (10/15)
Flu Shot Drive
Blood Drive (10/17)
LEARNING PROJECTS
Scrapbook
Film
Poetry
Research communities
Essay
Study Guide
Art
Songs
(Details are in the Daily Reader, Thinker, Pray-er)
Whatever: be creative and think of something else, and then talk it over with your teacher/facilitator.
=============================
CHOOSING A TRANSLATION
There are a lot of bible translations out there. Some are very similar and some are very different. Anchor your Life gives a good summary of the three major translation philosophies and a handy chart to see where different translations are on the continuum. Go to here for the full article, but here is a short summary:
“The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek and has been translated into English… 1) Literal -- This is a ``word for word" translation… 2) Dynamic-equivalent --- This is a ``thought for thought" translation that translates the biblical words and phrases into clear and contemporary English equivalents… 3) Paraphrase or free translation -- These translations are more concerned with clarity than exact wording… Smart Bible students will take advantage of all 3 types of translations…”
If you have any questions about a certain translation, or if you’d like some recommendations, send a email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com.
=============================
LECTIO DIVINA— Hebrews 12:1-2
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 this next week and do a lectio on the following passage(s):
Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
=============================
REVIEWS—Put yours here…
[this space left sadly blank…]
=============================
SERMON NOTES—Why We Need Each Other
What In The World Are WE Here For?
40 Days of Community
Pastor Charlie
“Together you are the body of Christ…” (1 Corinthians 12:27, NCV).
“…Since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others” (Romans 12:5, NLT).
WE CAN FELLOWSHIP BETTER TOGETHER. Acts 2:44; 1 Corinthians 1:10
Four Levels Of Fellowship
Fellowship of socializing together 2 Timothy 1:7
Fellowship of studying together Acts 17:11
Fellowship of serving together 1 Corinthians 3:9
Fellowship of suffering together Philippians 3:10
“Let love be your highest goal…” (1 Corinthians 14:1, NLT).
WE CAN WORSHIP BETTER TOGETHER. Leviticus 23:3
Why God Wants Us To Worship Together
Worshiping together can increase our joy. Psalm 68:4; Psalm 55:14
Worshipping together can enlarge our perspective. Psalm 73:16,17
Worshiping together guarantees God’s presence. Matthew 18:20
Worshiping together helps others believe. Psalm 40:3
WE CAN GROW BETTER TOGETHER. Ephesians 4:16
How We Grow Together
We grow together by accepting each other. Romans 15:7
We grow together by affirming each other. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
We grow together by teaching each other. Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:30-31
WE CAN SERVE BETTER TOGETHER. Philippians 2:1-2
How We Can Serve Each Other
We can serve each other by using our talents. 1 Peter 4:10
We can serve each other by offering practical help. Galatians 6:2 ; 3 John 1:5
We can serve each other by sharing our resources. 2 Corinthians 8:14
WE CAN REACH OUT BETTER TOGETHER. Philippians 1:27
How We Can Reach Out Together
We can reach out together by using our group to bring people to Jesus. Mark 2:3
We can reach out together by giving to our church’s outreach. 3 John 1:8
We can reach out together by praying for our city. 2 Thessalonians 3:1
“This is God's purpose: when the time is ripe, He will gather us all together from wherever we are, in heaven or on earth, to be with Him in Christ forever”
(Ephesians 1:10, Living Bible).
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
