Week ending February 20, 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
THE STORY OF GOD—Live as Storytellers
TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:10-end
TFB HAS A NEW PASTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES—Welcome G!
SERMON NOTES—GOD IS SOVEREIGN
REGULAR HAPPENINGS
UPCOMING EVENTS
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THE STORY OF GOD—Live as Storytellers
Sunday, February 13
Why are we storytellers?
How can we tell the story?
2 Corinthians 5:11-6:13
Focusing on verses 14-15 (laura1's translation)
For the willing love of the Messiah urges us on, having decided this, that one died on behalf of all, so all died; and he died on behalf of all, in order that the living ones no longer live to themselves, but to the one who on behalf of them died and was raised from death.
The willing, substitutionary death of the Messiah makes us a storytelling people.
1. We are a storytelling people because in Messiah it’s not about us, v14
2. We are a storytelling people because in Messiah, it’s all about him, v15
So, let’s tell it and be it. See the two new sections below.
THE BIG PICTURE:
The story of God runs from the creation of everything to the consummation of everything in the Kingdom and includes everything God is doing in the mean time. God-followers today are a vignette in that continuing story, joining the millennia of God-followers who live out God’s story. The God-followers here in Torrance, at TFB, and in the TFB college group are part of the vignette that includes believers across the globe. God has commanded us to be his storytellers through our lives, through words, through media, through art, and through any means possible, spreading the Story of God to all who will listen.
THE KEY QUESTIONS:
What is the story of God?
What is our part in the story?
Why should we tell the story?
How can we live out the story in the TFB college group, in TFB, and in Torrance?
How can we tell the story so others will understand?
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TELLING THE STORY OF GOD: the media piece
Intent: to create a media piece that communicates to the average South Bay twenty-something the facts, emotions, and participations in the continuing story of God.
Here’s the brainstorm list from Sunday, February 13
Lego stop action
musical
stick figure cartoons
claymation
pantomime
children’s picture pop-up book
puppet show
movie
diorama
beat poetry
haiku
limerick
silent movie
After brainstorming, we settled on a silent movie as the primary media piece, supplemented and interspersed with other forms. Post any ideas, etc. in the comments.
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BEING THE STORY OF GOD: the life piece
Intent: to implement a student-run, on-going goodness ministry in the South Bay.
Prep for Sunday, February 20: What are the real needs in Torrance 90501? How do we go about finding out?
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BIBLE DISCUSSION—Next: Philippians 4:10-end
TUESDAYS
7:15-9:00 pm— 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.
NEXT DISCUSSION SERIES: Messy Spirituality and the loyal love of God
Laura's Pictograph of Philippians 4:8-9
Tuesday, February 15, we'll look at Philippians 4:10-end
Discussion is potluck style—everybody brings something to share, so...
To prepare, here are some suggestions (pick one, or mix and match):
Savor it…
•Read slowly.
•Stop at the end of each paragraph and mull over what you just read.
Chew it…
•Read like a journalist.
•Look for clues to meaning: connector words (and, but, or, therefore, then, so that, because…); summary statements, inclusio (also known as the “sandwich” where the same phrase or idea is found at the beginning and the end of a section)
Pray it…
•Do a lectio divina on paragraphs that stand out to you.
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)
Step three: Oratio (conversation with God)
Step four: Contemplatio (rest in God)
Journal it…
•After your reading, spend a few moments writing what you’ve learned about God, about yourself, and about the faith community.
•Record any commitments, convictions, confusions.
Question it…
•Ask lots of questions: who, what, where, when, why, how (W5H)
•Ask: What does this passage tell us about our identity in Christ and about specific choices we should make to underscore that identity or enhance our unity and ministry as God's primary means of ministry in the word
Rewrite it…
•Write the paragraphs in your own words.
Draw it…
•Draw pictures, diagrams, cartoons, etc. that help you explain the paragraph.
Story it…
•Write the story behind the letter.
•Write stories of people applying the truths from the letter.
Study it…
•Write a summary sentence for each paragraph.
•Answer the W5H questions you asked.
•Using commentaries and bible handbooks, research historical, cultural, and geographic information.
•Hunt down other bible passages that talk about similar subjects.
•List topics you might like to research further.
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TFB HAS A NEW PASTOR OF STUDENT MINISTRIES—Welcome G!
Gyanesh “G” Benjamin will be on board as of Friday, February 18.
The Collegians had a great lunch with G at California Pizza Kitchen. The two main questions from G: What do you expect? How many colleges are in Torrance/South Bay? A tangent-ridden (as per usual) discussion followed.
There will be more details later.
For now, start dreaming. How can we build that proverbial front porch (search the eNews archives in October and November 2004 for info on front porch building) and be the story to those streetside?
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SERMON NOTES—GOD IS SOVEREIGN
Daniel 4:34-35
Pastor Charlie
February 13, 2005
Sovereign means that God makes His own plans and carries them out in His own
time and way.
“…His rule is everlasting, and His kingdom is eternal. All the people of the earth are
nothing compared to Him. He has the power to do as He pleases among the angels of
heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop Him…” (Daniel 4:34-35, NLT).
God is Sovereign over nature. Isaiah 45:12
God is Sovereign over history. Isaiah 46:10
God is Sovereign over life. Job 14:5
Christ is Sovereign. Matthew 28:18; Colossians 1:15-17
HOW TO SEE LIFE IN VIEW OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY
Because God is Sovereign OUR PROBLEMS HAVE A PURPOSE. I Peter 1:6-7
Job’s attitude Job 1:21
Joseph’s attitude Genesis 50:20
Paul’s attitude 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
Our attitude Romans 8:28
Because God is Sovereign OUR PRAYERS ARE POWERFUL. James 5:16; Ephesians 3:20
Because God is Sovereign OUR PLANS ARE IN PENCIL. Proverbs 16:1; James 4:13-16
Let God hold the eraser. Proverbs 16:9
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REGULAR HAPPENINGS
SUNDAYS
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
TUESDAYS
BIBLE DISCUSSION @ 7:15-9:00 pm— 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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UPCOMING EVENTS
Spring Cleaning and Room Redo: March (Mgr: Jeff B and Laura1
Bowling, Dinner, and who knows what else: March (Mgr. Cassie M)
LA Food Bank (Mgr: TBA)
BBQ (Mgrs: Daniel and Danny)
Summer Camp—old style: July or August (Mgr: Jeff B)
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