Week ending January 16, 2005

Know the story…Be the people…Expand the Kingdom

If you would like to contribute to the eNews or converse with the editor (Laura1), send an email to tfbyam1@hotmail.com

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IN THE eNEWS THIS WEEK

HOLY VOCAB—Getting past fancy talk!
COMING SOON… Sharing your story without being a jerk
UPDATE! –and now for a word from the Project Managers…
WHAT I SAY— Abraham’s Worldview, by Stef M
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
EVENTS—next up: Winter Retreat, January 21-23

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HOLY VOCAB—Getting past fancy talk!

“That's just fancy talk SpongeBob! Hey! You know what? If you want to act fancy, just put your pinky up!” – the wisdom of Patrick


January 16: Sharing the Story

We’ve gathered some information about salvation. Now it’s time to go digging. Starting January 16, we’ll start figuring out how to tell this story of salvation (and as Francis of Assisi said, if necessary use words). We leave our dictionary building with many questions—as you can see below—so we’ll work through those, and probably create more questions. The goal of our story sharing? To teach another class at TFB what we’ve learned. The adventure begins.

Two questions:

1) In ten words or less, what is the absolutely, no doubt about it, most important thing people need to know about Jesus?

2) If you were teaching this absolutely-no-doubt-about-it,-most-important-thing-people-need-to-know-about-Jesus truth to someone, what evidence would show they actually got it?

The questions that remain:

What should we do to prevent ourselves from getting stuck in ruts about issues?
How do (the other) words relate to orthodoxy and orthopraxy?
Is there really a right way and a wrong way to worship God?
How do we as people of God determine what is orthodox and what is not?
What things do we need to teach to those who are in the heterodoxy and heteropraxy categories?
What does ‘abate’ mean?
How do propitiation and reconciliation relate to atonement?
What is the difference in reconciliation between the OT and the NT?
How do we let others know what atonement is?
What the most effective way to teach others about atonement?
How can non-Christians and those who believe in the Lord and are struggling ask for redemption?
What makes us give up our evil nature?
What will glorification be like?
Given 1 John 33 (“and all who believe this will keep themselves pure, just as Christ is pure”), how can we remain pure?
Why does Jesus need to remain in heaven until the end of time? He’d do a lot more good, I would think, if he came sooner.
How can we restore peace with those with whom we have animosity (or animosity towards you)?
If the Lord forgives us but we don’t forgive others, what happens (Colossians 3:12-13)?
How could people before Jesus know they were safe, since they obviously could not perfectly obey God’s covenant?
Is it still necessary to follow the law?
Why are Christians so judgmental of adulterers, homosexuals, etc. if all of us struggle? Christ can save us all.
How can you explain why Jesus needs to be both fully man and fully God?
What is meant by “sharing his suffering” (Romans 8:17)?
How can you pinpoint being ‘reborn,’ for so many people dedicate and rededicate over and over again?


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COMING SOON… Sharing your story without being a jerk

Resources:
Coffeehouse Gospel, by Matthew Paul Turner

Bruce and Stan’s Pocket Guide to Sharing Your Faith


More later…

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UPDATE! –and now for a word from the Project Managers…

Winter Retreat dates: January 21-23—due to weather and other considerations, we are waiting for an update on the condition of the facility and the roads leading to it (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)

Bowling Party: January or February—email your preference (Mgr. Jennifer M)

If you have questions or suggestions, contact the managers, or email tfbyam1@hotmail.com and your message will be forwarded.

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WHAT I SAY— Abraham’s Worldview, by Stef M
Stef M 9/1/04

Abraham’s Humanity vs. Abraham’s Faith

1. Where is Abraham? Who is Abraham?

Abram was born in Ur, Mesopotamia to Terah, a descendent of Noah. Ur was a flourishing civilization during the time of Abram’s occupancy, implying that Abram may have had the opportunity of both education and wealth. However, Ur also housed the shrine to the moon-god Nanna, and was a place of idol worship.

Terah later led Abram, his wife Sarai, his other son Haran and his grandson Lot to the land of Haran, where they settled. According to Joshua 24:2, Terah was a worshiper of “other gods,” and would therefore have felt comfortable in either Ur or Haran, since both were pagan cities.

Although Abram grew up surrounded by polytheistic faith, when the LORD commanded him to leave his home and travel to Bethel in Canaan, he obeyed. Abram is therefore a trusting man, for he willingly left his father and all he had ever known to follow a God that none of his peers obeyed. This does not mean that he was henceforth without conflict. A famine in the land caused Abram to move to Egypt- another place of idol worship. However, the Pharaoh sent Abram back to Canaan, where God later made a covenant with Abram that he would be the “father of many nations.” His name was then changed to Abraham, meaning “father of many.”

Abraham was initially skeptical of God’s promise, for his wife was barren. But just as the LORD had said, Abraham eventually had a son with Sarah (her name was also changed to denote the nations that would arise from their lineage) named Isaac, but not before he fathered Ishmael to the maidservant Hagar. After Sarah’s death, Abraham had six more sons by his second wife, Keturah. Abraham died and was buried near his wife Sarah in Canaan, showing his devotion not only to his first wife, but also to God, for he wanted to be buried not in the land of his fathers, but in the land where God had sent him.

Abraham was unique among people of his time, because of his faith in one God, but he was also human. His humanity is shown through his occasional skepticism and impatience during his life, but his faith is shown through his perseverance in striving towards what God has told him to do, even when it is difficult to understand.

2. What’s wrong? What’s the remedy?

As previously mentioned, Abraham has faith in God. But his faith is not flawless. In fact, many times Abraham acts in ways that signify confusion with the direction God is leading him. Although Abraham sometimes does things seemingly “wrong,” he is able to remedy them through submission and prayer.

The first example of Abraham’s faith struggle occurs when Abraham leaves Canaan during a famine to travel to Egypt. Abraham had shown extreme trust initially when he left everything he had ever known to travel to Canaan, but when famine struck he left for Egypt, even though God did not command Abraham to leave the land that was promised to his family. To further matters, Abraham tells the Pharaoh of Egypt that Sarah is his sister, so the Pharaoh takes her as his wife. Because the LORD inflicts punishment upon Pharaoh for adultery, it may be inferred that the LORD did not approve of Abraham’s lie. A similar situation occurs when Abraham and Sarah travel to Gerar and Abraham once again claims they are brother and sister. Abimelech king of Gerar also tries to wed Sarah, but the Lord appears to him in a dream and tells him the truth. Now caught in a lie, Abraham poorly tries to justify the situation by saying that they have the same father. It appears as though Abraham’s reason for this lie was because he thought someone would try to kill him in order to possess Sarah. Abraham’s lies seem to show a lack of trust in God’s promise to make him a great nation, which is a problem. However, Abraham’s remedy to the situation is prayer, such as when he prays for God to reopen the womb of Abimelech’s wife, which had been closed because of Sarah.

Another example where Abraham appears to be impatient in waiting for God’s will is when he decides to father a son through Sarah’s maidservant Hagar. God had told him that he would have many descendents, but because Sarah was barren, both were skeptical and decided to aid God by birthing a son through another woman. This seems to show a severe mistrust on both Abraham and Sarah’s part, for even though both were aging, God can do anything. Later on after Hagar’s son Ishmael is born, God says that Sarah will give birth to a son named Isaac, and through him will come many nations. Even now Abraham protests, saying, “If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!” Abraham showed his humanity through his doubt in God’s decision. However, Abraham remedies his moments of weak faith through instances of obedience. An example of Abraham’s submission to God occurs at the same time as the previous example. God makes a covenant with Abraham, telling him to circumcise all males, and on that very day both Abraham and his son Ishmael are circumcised.

A final example of a time when Abraham appears to question God’s judgment occurs when God wishes to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. In hopes to save his nephew Lot, Abraham pleads with God to spare the town, even if for only ten righteous citizens. Even though Abraham realizes it is bold for him to try to persuade the Lord, it does not stop him from trying.

A final example of a “remedy” for Abraham’s occasional lack of faith is perhaps the climax of Abraham’s trust in God. God commands Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, through whom Abraham’s line is supposed to continue. However absurd and heinous the command may have seemed, Abraham obeyed without comment, showing an amazing trust that God would fulfill his promise. Any previous doubts that Abraham had had about God’s judgment is covered in this example of total reliance on God.

Abraham, like any other person, has moments of weakness and loss of trust that God knows best. However, the remedy was submission through prayer and ultimate obedience.

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REGULAR HAPPENINGS

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
Fifteen minutes of random yapping,
followed by 45 minutes of tangent-surfing and bible searching

BIBLE STUDY @ 7:15-9:00 pm on Tuesdays— TFB College Room
Bible study meets hangout. Thirty minutes of random yap
followed by directed digging. Right now we’re going through
Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

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EVENTS—next up: Winter Retreat, January 21-23

EAT! (Mgr: TBA)
Winter Retreat, January 21-23 (Mgr: Daniel and Danny)
Bowling, TBA (Mgr: Jennifer M)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Retreat, TBA (Mgr: Jeff B)

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